Different relations between infarct size and occluded bed size in barbiturate-anesthetized versus conscious dogs

The relation between infarct size and occluded bed size in barbiturate-anesthetized (n = 32) and conscious (n = 34) dogs was compared using models of the left anterior descending (n = 43) and circumflex (n = 23) coronary arteries with 2 day old infarcts. Infarct and occluded bed (postmortem coronary arteriography) masses were measured by computerized planimetry of weighed left ventricular rings. For either type of occlusion, infarcts were larger in anesthetized than in conscious dogs (56 versus 33% occluded bed, p less than 0.001), with greater slopes of the linear regressions between infarct size and occluded bed size (p less than 0.001) and less epicardial sparing (p less than 0.05) on topographic mapping. Although arterial and left atrial pressures were similar in the two groups, heart rates were higher in the anesthetized dogs, both before (127 versus 88 beats/min, p less than 0.001) and after (151 versus 109 beats/min, p less than 0.001) occlusion. Myocardial blood flow distribution (radioactive microspheres, n = 33) favored the epicardium in anesthetized dogs, with lower endocardial-epicardial flow ratios pre- and postocclusion. Also, the level of total plasma catecholamines (radioenzymatic assay) was higher in barbiturate-anesthetized (n = 5) than in conscious (n = 5) dogs. Increasing the heart rate in conscious dogs (n = 18) to that of the anesthetized group (139 beats/min) by pacing produced larger infarcts and greater linear regression slopes, as seen in anesthetized dogs. Decreasing the heart rate in anesthetized dogs (n = 7) to that of the conscious group (98 beats/min) by sinoatrial node destruction and pacing resulted in smaller infarcts and lower linear regression slope, as seen in conscious dogs. Thus, the larger infarcts in barbiturate-anesthetized dogs appeared to be related mainly to the tachycardia, although transmural maldistribution of flow and increased circulating catecholamines might have contributed.