Autoradiographic evaluation of myocardial collateral circulation in the canine heart

Abstract

Although islands of viable muscle are found in areas of myocardial infarction, standard techniques for studying myocardial collateral circulation have not satisfactorily demonstrated a similar heterogeneous pattern of tissue blood flow. In the present study, a non-uniform distribution of myocardial blood flow has been graphically demonstrated in dogs after experimental coronary artery occlusion by use of a macroscopic autoradiographic technique. Patchy blood flow was found in areas of both brief and prolonged ischaemia. These autoradiographic findings were confirmed by similar studies using a fluorescent dye.