Myocardial reactive hyperemia in the unanesthetized dog

Abstract

Studies of myocardial reactive hyperemia in dogs 5–24 days after the implantation of electromagnetic flowmeters on coronary artery branches reveal that the duration of occlusion and the control flow rate are independent determinants of the volume of reactive hyperemia flow. Flow debt is almost always overpaid, the average figure being 500 ± 200%. Phasic coronary flow curves show an increase in both systolic and diastolic flow during reactive hyperemia, the increase in systolic flow being due in part to decreased myocardial contractility. Myocardial reactive hyperemia is thought to be due to the accumulation of vasodilator metabolites during the period of coronary occlusion.