Perfusion-induced changes in cardiac contractility and oxygen consumption are not endothelium-dependent.

OBJECTIVE Are substances released from rat coronary endothelial cells responsible for the increase in contractility and oxygen consumption (Gregg phenomenon) seen with an increase in cardiac perfusion? METHODS In an isovolumically contracting, Langendorff, crystalloid perfused rat heart (n = 6) at 27 degrees C, coronary flow was changed (from 4.4 to 15.4 ml.min-1.gww(-1)) before and after the endothelium was made dysfunctional by Triton X-100. Vascular endothelium and smooth muscle function were tested with bradykinin (BK, 1 microM, an endothelium-dependent dilator) and papaverine (PAP, 1 microM, an endothelium-independent dilator) in a preconstricted vascular bed (vasopressin, VP, 3 nM). RESULTS Before Triton X-100, coronary resistance (at constant flow) decreased significantly in response to BK and to PAP. After Triton X-100 treatment the dilatory response to BK was abolished while the PAP response was still present, suggesting endothelial dysfunction with intact smooth muscle function. Due to Triton X-100 treatment, coronary resistance increased significantly. Therefore coronary flow changes were also applied during a similar increase in coronary resistance induced by VP infusion (3 nM) before Triton X-100 treatment. During control, developed left ventricular pressure (dev Plv) increased with 68 +/- 21% and oxygen consumption (VO2) increased with 122 +/- 25% in response to the maximal increase in coronary flow. During increased coronary resistance with and without functional endothelium, dev Plv increased by 57 +/- 16 and 64 +/- 22%, respectively, and VO2 increased by 126 +/- 21 and 103 +/- 20%, respectively, in response to the maximal increase in flow. These changes were not significantly different from control. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the arterial endothelium is not involved in the Gregg phenomenon.