Mechanisms of Ischemic Preconditioning in Rat Myocardium

Abstract

The results indicate that preconditioning causes inhibition of rat heart mitochondrial ATPase that persists during reperfusion so that the enzyme is inhibited from the very beginning of the sustained ischemia. This inhibition leads to sparing of high-energy phosphates and improves the time-averaged energy state during ischemia. Although a causal relationship is difficult to prove, this reversible inhibition may contribute to postischemic recovery of the heart.