Pyruvate‐enhanced phosphorylation potential and inotropism in normoxic and postischemic isolated working heart: Near‐complete prevention of reperfusion contractile failure

Bioenergetic and hemodynamic consequences of cellular redox manipulations by 0.2–20 mM pyruvate were compared with those due to adrenergic stess (0.7–1.1 μM norepinephrine) using isolated working guinea‐pig hearts under the conditions of normoxia, low‐flow ischemia, and reperfusion. 5 mM glucose (+ 5 U/I insulin) + 5 μM lactate were the basal energy‐yielding substrates. To stabilize left ventricular enddiastolic pressure, ventricular filling pressure was held at 12 cmH₂O under all conditions; this preload control minimized Frank‐Starling effects on ventricular inotropism. Global low‐flow ischemia was induced by reducing aortic pressure to levels (20–10 cmH₂O) below the coronary autoregulatory reserve. Reactants of the creatine kinase, including H⁺ and other key metabolites, were measured by enzymatic, HPLC, and polarographic techniques. In normoxic hearts, norepinephrine stimulations of inotropism, heart rate × pressure product, and oxygen consumption (MVO₂) were associated with a fall in the cytosolic phosphorylation potential ([ATP]/([ADP] · [P_i])) as judged by the creatine kinase equilibrium. In contrast, infusion of excess pyruvate (5 mM) markedly increased [ATP]/([ADP] · [P_i]) and ventricular work output, while intracellular phosphate decreased; MVO₂ remained constant under the same conditions. During reperfusion following ischemia, pyruvate effected strking and concentration‐dependent increases in MVO₂, phosphorylation potential, and inotropism. Pyruvate dehydrogenase flux was augmented during reperfusion hyperemia followed by near‐complete recoveries of [ATP]/([ADP] · [P_i]), contractile force, heart rate × pressure product, and MVO₂ in the presence of 5–10 mM pyruvate. Pyruvate also attenuated ischemic adenylate degradation. Omission of glucose from the perfusion medium rendered pyruvate ineffective in postischemic hearts. Similarly, excess lactate (5–15 mM) or acetate (5 mM) failed to reenergize reperfused hearts and severe depressions of MVO₂ and inotropism developed despite the presence of glucose. Apparently, subcellular redox manipulations by pyruvate dissociated stimulated mitochondrial respiration and increased inotropism from low cytosolic phosphorylation potentials. This was evidence against the extramitochondrial [ADP] · [P_i]/[ATP] ratio being the primary factor in the control of mitochondrial respiration. The mechanism of pyruvate enhancement of inotropism during normoxia and reperfusion is probably multifactorial. Thermodynamic effects on subcellular [NADH]/[NAD⁺] ratios are coupled with a rise in the cytosolic [ATP]/([ADP] · [P_i]) ratio at constant (normoxia) or increased (reperfusion) MVO₂. In postischemic hearts the effect of pyruvate required the presence of glucose. It is proposed that pyruvate energization may improve ion pumping by the sarcoplasmic reticulum and hence Ca²⁺‐handling by the latter which, in turn, might increase the contractile state; decreased intracellular [P_i] due to improved phosphate fixation may also be contributory. In addition, augmented pyruvate dehydrogenase flux during reperfusion seemed to expedite cellular reenergization and functional recovery in the postischemic hearts.