Coronary Blood Flow in Dogs After Cardiac Transplantation

Abstract

In the course of cardiac transplantation, all tissue connections between the body and heart are completely divided; this necessarily eliminates extrinsic neural regulation of the coronary circulation for an extended period. 1 Changes in other cardiac regulatory mechanisms, including altered hormonal responses, 2 might also exert an effect on coronary blood flow. Because of the role of vasculitis and impaired tissue perfusion in the homograft rejection process, it seemed important to measure coronary flow in the autotransplanted heart as a basis for assessing changes superimposed by immunologic or immunosuppressive mechanisms. Methods We have studied coronary blood flow in ten dogs after excision and reimplantation of the heart by a technique reported previously. 3 The studies on coronary flow were made at least two months following the procedure. This period provides adequate time for recovery from the acute effects of the procedure, but is less than the interval after which reinnervation