ACCELERATED GLYCOLYSIS IN EARLY HYPERTENSIVE LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY

Changes in energy metabolism have been demonstrated in established lef t ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). It is not known if cardiac energy met abolism is shifted toward anaerobic pathways during the early stage of hypertensive LVH. Accordingly, glycogen, pyruvate, and lactate levels from left ventricular homogenate were measured in 8-week-old spontane ously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) . Systolic arterial pressure and left ventricular weight were determin ed to establish hypertensive state and LVH, respectively. The glycogen and pyruvate levels in SHR versus WKY were lower by 19 (p < 0.05) and 12% (NS), respectively. The lactate level in the SHR was 14% higher ( p < 0.05) than in WKY. The lactate/pyruvate ratio in the SHR was highe r than in the WKY, but did not reach statistical significance. These d ata suggest that the anaerobic metabolism is induced early in the deve lopment of hypertension, before the development of substantial LVH.