IMPROVED POSTISCHEMIC VENTRICULAR RECOVERY IN THE ABSENCE OF CHANGES IN ENERGY-METABOLISM IN WORKING RAT HEARTS FOLLOWING HEAT-SHOCK

We have previously demonstrated that induction of the heat-shock response in rats results in improved recovery of isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts subjected to low-flow ischemia followed by reperfusion (Currie et al., 1988). The mechanisms underlying this protective effect of heat-shock are uncertain although the protection was associated with enhanced content of the antioxidant enzyme catalase but not superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase (Currie et al., 1988). Various investigators have suggested the importance of improved energy metabolism in determining recovery following ischemia (Pasque and Wechsler, 1984; Haas et al., 1984; Devous and Lewandowski, 1987). We therefore examined, using a working rat heart model subjected to 10 or 15 min zero flow ischemia whether changes in energy metabolistes could account for the protective effect of the heat-shock response. Hearts perfused 24 h after induction of heat-shock failed to demonstrate significant improvement of recovery following 10 min ischemia, however recovery was significantly enhanced in hearts reperfused after 15 min ischemia. Ischemia produced a depression in both ATP and creatine phosphate (CP) content whereas a moderate elevation in ADP and AMP and a marked increase in tissue lactate were evident. These changes were unaffected by prior heat-shock treatment. For both durations of ischemia tissue metabolites were determined during early (5 min) and late (30 min) reperfusion. Although partial recovery in high energy phosphates and a return of ADP, AMP and lactate to near-normal levels were evident, no differences in energy products were observed between hearts from normal or heat-shocked animals, in spite of significantly enhanced recovery. This study therefore shows that induction of the heat-shock response results in improved recovery of working rat hearts subjected to zero-flow ischemia. The improved recovery in function was dissociated from any improvement in metabolic status either at the end of ischemia or to the metabolic recovery following reperfusion. © 1990.