Energetics of Acute Pressure Overload of the Porcine Right Ventricle. In Vivo 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

In vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the right ventricular (RV) free wall was employed to determine (a) whether phosphorus energy metabolites vary reciprocally with workload in the RV and (b) the mechanisms that limit RV contractile function in acute pressure overload. In 20 open-chest pigs, phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP ratio (an index of energy metabolism inversely related to free ADP concentration), myocardial blood flow (microspheres), and segment shortening (sonomicrometry, n = 14) were measured at control (RV systolic pressure 31 +/- 1 mm Hg), and with pulmonary artery constriction to produce moderate pressure overload (RV systolic pressure 45 +/- 1 mm Hg), and maximal pressure overload before overt RV failure and systemic hypotension (RV systolic pressure 60 +/- 1 mm Hg). With moderate pressure overload, PCr/ATP declined to 89% of control (P = 0.01), while contractile function increased. Adenosine (n = 10, mean dose 0.16 mg/kg-min) increased RV blood flow by an additional 41% without increasing PCr/ATP, indicating that coronary reserve was not depleted and that the decrease in PCr/ATP from control was not due to ischemia. With maximal pressure overload and incipient RV failure, PCr/ATP fell further to 81% of control and RV blood flow did not increase further, even with adenosine. Thus: (a) The decline in PCr/ATP with moderate RV pressure overload, without evident ischemia or contractile dysfunction, supports the positive regulation of oxidative phosphorylation by ATP hydrolysis products. (b) Depletion of RV coronary flow reserve accompanies the onset of RV failure at maximal pressure overload.