BIOENERGETIC EFFECTS OF REPEATED -HEART - A P-31-NMR STUDY ON ISOLATED HEARTS(GZ ACCELERATION ON RAT)

This investigation was designed to determine whether repeated exposure to high sustained +Gz acceleration induces persisting changes in the myocardial energetic metabolism. Rats were exposed to three plateaus o f 30 s at 10 +Gz, four times a week, for 4 weeks. Myocardial concentra tions of high-energy phosphorylated compounds were evaluated by P-31-n uclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on isolated hearts submit ted to isovolumic aortic perfusion. Heart performances were recorded u sing the intraventricular balloon method. Compared to the hearts of co ntrol rats (n = 5), the hearts of centrifuged rats (n = 5) had higher concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi:1.40 +/- 0.33 mM vs. 0.36 +/ - 0.07 mM; p < 0.01), decreased phosphocreatine concentrations (PC:15 +/- 0.39 mM vs. 15.69 +/- 0.19 mM; p < 0.01), and a lower left ventric ular developed pressure (LVDP) (21 +/- 1 mmHg vs. 34 +/- 2 mmHg; p < 0 .01). The workload was increased by sequential augmentation of calcium in the perfusion medium. The relationship between LVDP and the Pi/PC ratio showed that the cost of the cardiac work was greater for the cen trifuged rats.