Effect of Acetaldehyde on the Isolated, Non-working Guinea-Pig Heart: Independence of the Coronary Flow Increase from Changes in Heart Rate and Oxygen Consumption

Abstract

Guinea-pig hearts were perfused at constant pressure with Krehs–Henseleit bicarbonate buffer equilibrated with 95% O₂ – 5% CO₂. Acetaldehyde at 1 and 5 mM increased coronary flow, oxygen consumption, and heart rate. At 0.2 mM, it increased coronary flow and oxygen consumption only. In the rapidly paced heart, 1 mM acetaldehyde increased coronary flow, but not heart rate or oxygen consumption. Acetaldehyde increased coronary flow and oxygen consumption of the potassium-arrested heart. Acetaldehyde increased all parameters of the hypoxic heart (25% O₂ gas phase), but the anoxic heart was not affected (coronary flow was already maximal).Reserpine (in vivo) and catecholamine β blockers (dichloroisoproterenol and propranolol) (in vitro) blocked the heart rate increases and moderated the rise in oxygen consumption. Dichloroisoproterenol plus phentolamine blocked the increases of both heart rate and oxygen consumption. None of the compounds affected the increase of coronary flow produced by acetaldehyde. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and tyramine increased the heart rate and oxygen consumption, but not the coronary flow. Theophylline increased all three parameters. Neither tranylcypromine nor atropine modified the acetaldehyde effect. We conclude that the increase in heart rate is mediated by catecholamine β receptors. The increase in coronary flow is independent of the increase in heart rate or oxygen consumption and is not mediated by catecholamines.