Abstract
Age-dependent differences in the effects of ischemia and reperfusion on ATP breakdown were studied in perfused adult and newborn (10 days old) rat hearts. No-flow ischemia (15 min at 37, 30, or 23 degrees C) was applied and reperfusion (20 min at 37 degrees C) was studied after ischemia at 23 or 37 degrees C. Hypothermia during ischemia protected both age groups to a similar degree against ATP decline, which was linear with temperature. Reperfusion after normothermic ischemia resulted in higher ATP levels in newborn hearts with less release of ATP catabolites (purines). We found no age-related differences in lactate release but large differences in purine release. During normoxia, adult hearts released mainly urate (80% of total) and inosine (7%), but newborns released hypoxanthine (64%) and inosine (15%). Early during reperfusion adult hearts released inosine (58%) and adenosine (18%), but newborns released inosine (53%) and hypoxanthine (38%). These data suggested a lower activity of the potentially deleterious enzyme xanthine oxidoreductase in newborn hearts, which was confirmed by enzymatic assay. ATP-catabolite release during reperfusion was less in newborn than adult hearts, and this coincided with lower xanthine oxidase activity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
