Chronic Catheterization of Coronary Artery: Induction of ECG Pattern of Myocardial Ischemia by Intracoronary Epinephrine.

Abstract

In an attempt to determine whether the alleged effect of "nervous stress" in the pathogenesis of coronary disease may be mediated by neurohumoral transmitters acting directly on the heart, a technic for chronic catheterization of the coronary artery of the dog has been developed. Infusion of epinephrine or norepinephrine into the coronary artery of the unanesthetized dog produced high, upright, peaked T waves with depressed ST segments. After cessation of the infusion the ecg approached normal, then gradually developed depressed and coved ST segments and inverted T waves which persisted for 7-10 days. The postinfusion ecg could be restored to normal by intracoronary infusion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, procaine, or phenoxybenzamine. The persistent alteration of the ecg in these animals was remarkably similar to that attributed to subendocardial ischemia in man. No evidence of structural changes was noted in the heart of one dog sacrificed after several months of infusions.