Glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) protein is present in human myocardium.

Glucose and fructose enter mammalian cells via facilitated diffusion, a process regulated by five glucose transporter isoforms (GLUT1-5) at the plasma membrane. The tissue-specific pattern of GLUT isoform expression likely reflects differing needs for glucose transport by various tissues. Myocytes must respond expeditiously to increased metabolic demand. A basal isoform, GLUT1, and the insulin-regulatable glucose transporter, GLUT4, have been demonstrated in human myocytes. GLUT3 has a high affinity for glucose, but its presence in human myocardium has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study was to determine whether GLUT3 protein is present in human cardiac myocytes. We examined rapidly frozen myocardial tissue from the explanted heart of seven patients undergoing cardiac transplantation, from the heart of a young, previously healthy male organ donor, from the heart of a 67-year-old woman without known cardiac disease who had a fatal stroke, and from the heart of six human fetuses. GLUT3 protein was detected by immunoblots and localized by light and electron microscopy immunohistochemistry. The presence of GLUT3 protein was verified in myocardial tissue by both immunoblots and immunohistochemistry. Light and electron microscopy confirmed that GLUT3 was in cardiac myocytes. GLUT3 was also demonstrated as a 48 kDa protein in fetal myocardium, which was present at 10 weeks, increased at 15 weeks, then decreased at 20 weeks of gestation. GLUT3 is present in human adult and fetal myocardium. Human myocardial GLUT3 regulation and its role in myocardial glucose uptake remain to be elucidated.

Role for glucose transporter 1 protein in human breast cancer.

Glycolysis is increased in cancer cells compared with normal cells. It has been shown that glucose enters cells via a family of five functional glucose transporters (GLUT). However, GLUT expression appears to be altered in human breast cancer, which may serve as a selective advantage and facilitate the metastatic potential of these cells. The relationship of GLUT isoform expression and breast cancer cell invasiveness has not been adequately addressed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether an association exists between GLUT expression and human breast cancer cell invasiveness. Invasiveness of the human breast cancer lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-231 was measured using an in vitro assay and compared with cellular GLUT isoform expression, assessed by Western blot analysis and verified by immunohistochemistry in a poorly differentiated human ductal breast cancer. Cell surface GLUT-1 expression was associated with the invasive ability of MCF-7 (2.0 + 0.02%), MDA-MB-435 (6.4 +/- 0.4%), and MDA-MB-231 (19.3 +/- 2.0%). However, GLUT-2 and GLUT-5 were inversely associated with invasiveness; GLUT-3 expression was variable; and GLUT-4 was undetected. In a poorly differentiated human ductal breast cancer, in situ GLUT-1 staining was intense. GLUT-1 expression was associated with the in vitro invasive ability of human breast cancer cells which was validated in situ. If this relationship is found to exist in a larger number of human breast cancer tissues, it may be possible to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on targeted GLUT isoform expression.

Hyperglycemia-induced angina pectoris in a patient with diabetes mellitus.

A patient with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease presented with recurring episodes of worsening angina not associated with angiographic changes. Correlation with blood sugars demonstrated that angina would occur during episodes of hyperglycemia. During cardiac catheterization, coronary vascular responses including coronary flow reserve and responses to atrial pacing were measured with a Doppler flow wire before and following a glucose challenge. Coronary microvascular responses were impaired by hyperglycemia.

Emission-based attenuation correction of myocardial perfusion studies.

BACKGROUND: Nonuniform attenuation in the thorax can generate artifacts in single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion studies that mimic coronary artery disease. In this article we present both phantom and simulation data, as well as clinical data, in support of an emission-based method that provides reliable correction for attenuation effects without the need for a transmission measurement. METHODS AND RESULTS: The attenuation map is derived from the measured distribution of 99mTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin in the lungs and a radioactive binder wrapped about the thorax. This information is acquired as part of a dual-isotope acquisition during the rest 201Tl study. Segmentation is used to define the interiors of lung and body compartments, which are assigned a single attenuation coefficient for each of the two tissue types. The appropriateness of this approach was investigated by examining the measured attenuation coefficients in a group of 80 individuals (40 male, 40 female) from positron emission tomographic transmission studies. The correction technique was evaluated with computer simulations, a physical phantom, and clinical data acquired from 20 patients. Analysis of the positron emission tomographic data found a small SD in the mean attenuation coefficients for the body (<5%) and lungs (<15%). The application of emission-based attenuation-correction technique produced a substantial reduction in the magnitude of the attenuation artifact in images obtained from both the phantom and the simulation studies. The emission-based attenuation-correction technique was easily applied to myocardial perfusion studies, where it had a significant effect, resulting in changes in interpretation for nine of 20 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide strong support for the concept that an attenuation map can be generated with fixed attenuation values in place of those that are directly measured. Thus the emission-based attenuation-correction technique can be considered an inexpensive alternative to transmission-based correction methods. Because the emission-based correction technique does not require any additional hardware, it has the major advantage of being applicable to all single-photon emission computed tomographic systems.

Evaluation of diabetic patients for renal and pancreas transplantation: noninvasive screening for coronary artery disease using radionuclide methods.

Pharmacologic stress thallium scintigraphy is commonly performed in the risk assessment of diabetic patients with nephropathy before kidney and/or pancreas transplantation; however, controversy exists regarding the test's accuracy in detecting coronary artery disease. Our purpose was to compare pharmacologic stress thallium scintigraphy and also exercise radionuclide ventriculography with coronary angiography in diabetic patients undergoing evaluation for transplantation. In addition, we also determined the association of the test results with outcome after transplantation. The medical records of 47 patients (mean age, 37+/-9 years) without clinical evidence of coronary artery disease were reviewed. Forty-one patients had pharmacologic stress thallium scintigraphy performed during their evaluation. Sensitivity was 62% and specificity was 76% for detecting > or = 75% coronary artery stenosis (sensitivity was 53% and specificity was 73% for > or = 50% stenosis). Thirty-five patients had exercise radionuclide ventriculography performed. Sensitivity was 50% and specificity was 67% for detecting > or = 75% coronary artery stenosis (sensitivity was 44% and specificity was 63% for > or = 50% stenosis). Thirty patients had both pharmacologic stress thallium scintigraphy and exercise radionuclide ventriculography performed; when either test was abnormal, sensitivity in the detection of > or = 50% or > or = 75% stenosis tended to increase compared with pharmacologic stress thallium scintigraphy alone (0.05

Selection of patients for cardiac evaluation before peripheral vascular operations.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the value of preoperative cardiac screening with dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy and radionuclide ventriculography in vascular surgery patients. METHODS: From July 1, 1989, to Dec. 31, 1991, we routinely (irrespective of the patient's cardiac history or symptomatology) performed dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy (DTS) and radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) in 394 patients being considered for an elective vascular operation. Patients with reversible defects on DTS underwent coronary arteriography. RESULTS: DTS results were normal in 146 patients (37%), showed a fixed defect in 75 (19%), and showed a reversible defect in 173 (44%). Patients with and without a history of angina or myocardial infarction had identical rates of reversible defects. Normal left ventricular function (> 50%) was noted in 76% of the patients; 17% had moderate dysfunction (35% to 50%) and 7% had a low ejection fraction (< 35%). The finding of severe coronary artery disease led to cardiac revascularization in 17 patients who had no prior history of cardiac disease and in 13 patients with a history of angina or myocardial infarction. Two deaths and nine major complications were associated with coronary arteriography and cardiac revascularization. Vascular procedures (144 aortic, 53 carotid, 146 infrainguinal) were ultimately performed in 343 patients, with a mortality rate of 1.7% (3.5% aortic, 0% carotid, and 0.7% infrainguinal bypass). The nonfatal perioperative myocardial infarction rate was 2.0%. We monitored all 394 patients for cardiovascular events, with a mean follow-up of 40 months. Patients who underwent cardiac revascularization had a 4-year survival rate of 75%, which was similar to those with a normal DTS. Late cardiac events were significantly more frequent in patients who had either a reversible DTS or RVG < 35%. CONCLUSIONS: Routine cardiac screening of vascular surgery patients had similar impact on patients irrespective of their prior history or current symptoms suggesting coronary artery disease. Routine screening did not result in substantial benefit. Screening studies such as DTS or RVG may be most useful as part of an overall risk versus benefit assessment in patients without active symptoms of coronary artery disease who have less compelling indications for vascular intervention (claudication, moderate-sized aortic aneurysms, or asymptomatic carotid disease).

Gender-related imaging issues in assessment of coronary artery disease by nuclear techniques.

Heart disease is a major threat to women's health. However, noninvasive evaluation of women for the presence of significant heart disease is often problematic. Cardiovascular nuclear tests interrogate different consequences of physiologically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Myocardial perfusion imaging supplies information about regional myocardial blood flow. Radionuclide angiocardiography provides information about ejection fraction and regional wall motion. Infarct and metabolic imaging yield information about myocardial viability. This article briefly discusses the concepts and radionuclides involved in cardiovascular nuclear testing and reviews published studies as they relate to assessment of coronary artery disease in women. Myocardial perfusion imaging is a reasonable test for detection of coronary artery disease in women, especially when attenuation artifacts from breast tissue are taken into account. Intravenous dipyridamole stress provides comparable overall accuracy in women and men although women reportedly have a higher incidence of side effects; gender-specific data have not been reported for adenosine. Sufficient gender-specific data are also not currently available for either 99mTc or positron-emitting perfusion tracers. Exercise radionuclide angiography can help determine the probability of significant left main or severe three vessel disease but provides only limited prognostic information in women with CAD. Thus in women, although choice of testing using nuclear techniques depends in part on local experience and expertise, myocardial perfusion imaging appears preferable to radionuclide angiocardiography for detection of significant CAD. To determine the most accurate methods to evaluate women for the presence of significant CAD, all current and future studies of diagnostic testing for CAD should analyze data separately for women and men.

Thrombolytic-associated cholesterol emboli syndrome: case report and literature review.

Thrombolytics can cause cholesterol embolization syndrome (CES). This adverse effect has received less attention than other risks of thrombolytic therapy, such as systemic bleeding and hemorrhage, with only sporadic reports of CES in the literature. Risk factors have not been consistently identified and emphasized; therefore, occurrence of CES after thrombolysis remains difficult to predict, it results in substantial morbidity and mortality, and it lacks effective pharmacologic treatment. Heightened awareness of the disorder can aid in its correct identification and reporting.

Prediction of change in mitral valve area after mitral balloon commissurotomy using cine computed tomography.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Mitral balloon commissurotomy (MBC) can successfully increase the mitral valve area (MVA) in mitral stenosis, but the outcome is variable. In multicenter studies, qualitative echocardiographic scores obtained before MBC are only weakly predictive of the increase in MVA after MBC. METHODS: To evaluate whether the change in MVA after MBC can be predicted by evaluating mitral valve morphology using cine computed tomography (CT), we studied 12 women with mitral stenosis and 11 female control subjects. RESULTS: In the patients with mitral stenosis, MVA increased from 1.13 +/- 0.24 to 1.93 +/- 0.56 cm2 (P < .0001) after MBC. A standard echocardiographic score assessment of mitral valve morphology before MBC was not associated with the change in MVA after MBC in these patients (P > .20). However, the total mitral valve morphology score evaluated by cine computed tomography was strongly associated with the change in MVA after MBC (r = -.87; P < .0005). In addition, the individual morphologic characteristics of mitral valve mobility (P < .0025), leaflet thickness (P < .05), and subvalvular disease (P < .05) were significant predictors of the change in MVA after MBC. CONCLUSION: Cine computed tomography may be useful for predicting immediate increases in MVA in patients after MBC and may be helpful for preoperative assessment of these patients.

Assessment of cardiac volumes and left ventricular mass by cine computed tomography before and after mitral balloon commissurotomy.

We used cine computed tomography (CT) to determine whether decreased mitral valve gradients and pulmonary artery pressures resulted in decreased right ventricular and atrial volumes after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy (MBC). In patients treated for severe mitral stenosis, previous studies have shown that after the mitral valve gradient decreases, the left atrial volume is reduced and left ventricular stroke volume is increased. The effects of commissurotomy on right heart chamber sizes have been difficult to assess with angiography and echocardiography. Moreover, in follow-up studies performed after surgery, changes in cardiac chamber volumes occurring after the mitral valve gradient and pulmonary pressure are reduced are confounded by the effects of thoracotomy. Our group has previously demonstrated that cine CT can accurately measure both left and right cardiac chamber volumes. We studied 11 female patients before, immediately after, and at 1 year after MBC, and 9 female control subjects of comparable age. To assess cardiac chamber volumes, we used cine CT. To assess the effects of MBC, we used cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomographic scintigraphy with intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise.

In patients who cannot perform treadmill exercise, both intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise have been used with thallium-201 scintigraphy to detect significant coronary artery disease. However, no study has directly evaluated the results of intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise thallium scintigraphy as compared with coronary angiography. It was the purpose of this study to compare intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) scintigraphy for detection of significant coronary artery disease in patients who could not perform treadmill exercise. Data are presented for both intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise thallium-201 SPECT scintigraphy in 18 men who could not perform treadmill exercise, and results are compared with those of coronary angiography. Ten of 11 (91%) patients with significant coronary artery disease were identified correctly, and the results of intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise thallium scintigraphy were comparable. In patients without significant coronary artery disease, intravenous dipyridamole thallium images were interpreted correctly. However, initial arm exercise thallium images demonstrated a fixed inferior wall defect in two of seven patients without significant coronary artery disease. Images in one of these patients could not be retrieved from tape for further analysis. Review of the images in the other patient demonstrated relatively high background radioactivity, and when the images were displayed without background subtraction, the inferior wall was correctly interpreted as normal. We conclude that results of intravenous dipyridamole and arm exercise thallium-201 SPECT scintigraphy are comparable.

Assessment of coronary artery patency with cine computed tomography in a dog model of occlusion-reperfusion.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Determination of coronary artery patency may have therapeutic and prognostic significance particularly in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. Previous studies with cine computed tomography have demonstrated remarkable accuracy in the determination of coronary artery bypass graft patency. Recent improvements in resolution capability have afforded the potential for determination of native coronary artery patency. The accuracy of coronary artery patency determined by cine computed tomography is investigated in an animal model of coronary occlusion-reperfusion. METHODS: Seven anesthetized dogs were studied during control, coronary occlusion, and reperfusion conditions. Cine computed tomography was performed using electrocardiogram-triggered serial scans after intravenous injection of contrast medium. Coronary patency was determined by dye appearance in the epicardial artery coincident with its appearance in the left ventricular cavity. RESULTS: Patency was determined for the left anterior descending and left coronary arteries during three separate conditions in each dog, for a total of 42 patency determinations, and yielded the correct result in all cases. CONCLUSION: High-resolution cine computed tomography scanning can provide accurate determinations of coronary artery patency in an experimental model of occlusion-reperfusion.

Accurate preoperative diagnosis of pericardial constriction using cine computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of cine computed tomography in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. BACKGROUND: Constrictive pericarditis is characterized by abnormalities of both cardiac structure and function. Accurate diagnosis requires detection of both a thickened pericardium and abnormal ventricular diastolic filling. At present, no one diagnostic technique has demonstrated sufficient accuracy in this setting. Cine computed tomography is a relatively new cardiac imaging mode with very high time and spatial resolution that has the potential to accurately diagnose constrictive pericarditis. METHODS: Twelve consecutive patients were retrospectively identified who had catheterization findings suggestive of constrictive physiology, had undergone a cine computed tomographic examination and had pathologic data that delineated the status of the pericardium. Group 1 (with constrictive pericarditis; n = 5) had surgical confirmation of thickened pericardium and improved clinically after pericardiectomy. Group 2 (no constrictive pericarditis; n = 7) had cardiomyopathy with normal pericardium. Seven normal volunteers (Group 3) were also studied. Cine computed tomograms were obtained for the entire heart (8-mm slices, 17 frames/s, nonionic contrast medium). Pericardial thickness was measured at 10 degrees intervals at three ventricular levels in each subject. The rapidity of diastolic filling was assessed by calculating the percent filling fraction in early diastole. RESULTS: Pericardial thickness was 10 +/- 2 mm (mean +/- SD) in Group 1, 2 +/- 1 mm in Group 2 and 1 +/- 1 mm in Group 3 (p < 0.05, constrictive pericarditis vs. no constrictive pericarditis). Left ventricular filling fraction was 83 +/- 6% in Group 1, 62 +/- 9% in Group 2 and 44 +/- 5% in Group 3. Right ventricular filling fraction was 93 +/- 5% in Group 1, 62 +/- 14% in Group 2 and 35 +/- 6% in Group 3 (p < 0.05, Group 1 vs. Groups 2 and 3). Both indexes provided a clear-cut distinction between patients with and without constriction. CONCLUSIONS: Cine computed tomography simultaneously provides both anatomic and physiologic data that allow accurate preoperative diagnosis of pericardial constriction.

Nonangiographic assessment of coronary artery bypass graft patency.

Coronary artery bypass graft patency can be assessed using the indirect techniques of evaluating patients' symptoms and exercise tolerance, changes in stress electrocardiogram, radioisotope regional perfusion, and myocardial wall contraction. The direct techniques assess graft patency directly by visualizing grafts using conventional computed tomography (CT), ultrafast CT, magnetic resonance imaging, digital subtraction angiography, and echocardiography. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these modalities are reviewed. At the present time, ultrafast CT and possibly magnetic resonance imaging and Doppler appear to be the only techniques besides angiography that can consistently evaluate bypass graft patency. Although they have the advantage of being minimally invasive, they cannot show graft stenosis or sequential graft patency. These techniques are best used in following patients after coronary bypass graft surgery and ruling out graft closure as the source of chest pain.

Dipyridamole thallium imaging in patients being considered for vascular procedures.

We routinely performed intravenous dipyridamole thallium imaging and resting radionuclide ventriculography on 190 patients being considered for elective vascular procedures. Patients with thallium redistribution underwent coronary arteriography. Patients in group 1 (n = 78) had clinical evidence of coronary artery disease, and patients in group 2 (n = 112) had no history or electrocardiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. The frequency of thallium redistribution was not significantly different in the two groups (45% in group 1 and 46% in group 2). Coronary arteriography identified severe three-vessel or left main disease in eight patients (10%) in group 1 and 16 patients (14%) in group 2. Selection of patients for dipyridamole thallium imaging prior to vascular reconstruction should be based on whether or not documentation of the extent of coronary artery disease would influence therapy rather than on clinical indicators of coronary disease.

Pretranslational regulation of two cardiac glucose transporters in rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia.

To investigate the mechanism by which cardiac glucose utilization increases during hypoxia and increased work load, we studied the effect of 2 and 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia on the expression of two subtypes of the facilitative D-glucose transporter, the GLUT-4 or "insulin-regulatable" isoform and the GLUT-1 isoform thought to mediate basal transport. Rats lose weight when exposed to hypobaric hypoxia, so fasting controls were used in the 2-day studies and pair-fed controls in the 14-day experiments. Hypobaric hypoxia (PO2 69 mmHg) resulted in right ventricular (RV), but not left ventricular (LV), hypertrophy. RV and LV GLUT-1 mRNA levels increased 2- to 3-fold after 2 days and 1.5- to 2-fold after 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia compared with both fasted rats and normal controls. RV GLUT-1 protein increased approximately 3-fold and LV GLUT-1 protein increased 1.5-fold after 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia vs. both pair-fed and normal controls. RV GLUT-4 mRNA decreased to 26% and RV GLUT-4 protein decreased to 54% of normal control levels as a result of 2 days of hypobaric hypoxia. RV GLUT-4 mRNA decreased to 64% of normal control levels with no change in RV GLUT-4 protein as a result of 2 days of fasting. We conclude that hypobaric hypoxia increases cardiac GLUT-1 expression at the pretranslational level in both ventricles. The greater increase in GLUT-1 protein on the right suggests an additive effect of pressure overload. GLUT-4 expression is reduced early in the development of RV hypertrophy.

Coronary artery disease and cardiac events with asymptomatic and symptomatic cerebrovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of coronary artery disease and coronary events during follow-up in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, transient ischemic attacks, or small strokes. METHODS: We prospectively studied 60 consecutive patients with thallium-201 scintigraphy followed by coronary arteriography according to an established protocol. RESULTS: The 201Tl testing was abnormal in seven of 15 patients (47%) with asymptomatic carotid stenosis and in 19 of 44 patients (43%) with transient ischemic attacks or small strokes (p greater than 0.05). In 33 patients with no history of coronary artery disease, 11 (33%) had reversible 201Tl defects. In 26 patients with a history of coronary artery disease, 15 (58%) had reversible and/or fixed defects (p = 0.054 compared with patients with no history). A history of peripheral vascular disease was the only risk factor significantly associated with an abnormal 201Tl test (p = 0.032). Coronary artery stenosis of greater than 50% was identified in one or more vessels in 14 of 15 patients undergoing coronary arteriography. Over a mean follow-up period of 311 days, four patients (7%) developed new onset of angina. There were four coronary events among 14 patients (29%) with both a reversible area on the 201Tl and abnormal coronary arteriography. In comparison, there were only four coronary events among 46 patients (9%) without reversible defects on the 201Tl studies (p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that one third of patients with no history of coronary artery disease had an abnormal 201Tl test and that nearly one half of patients with either symptomatic or asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease had abnormal 201Tl tests. Patients with a reversible 201Tl defect and significant stenosis by coronary arteriography were at higher risk for subsequent cardiac events. These findings demonstrate the utility of screening patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic cerebrovascular disease for cardiac disease.

Detection of coronary artery disease with positron emission tomography and rubidium 82.

Myocardial blood flow was evaluated in 31 subjects with not only visual but also, for the first time, circumferential profile analysis of rubidium 82 (82Rb) images acquired with positron emission tomography. Fifteen were control subjects and 16 subjects had significant coronary artery disease, defined as 50% or greater diameter stenosis in a major coronary artery or a first-order branch. Simultaneous 82Rb images at three myocardial levels were obtained before and after intravenous dipyridamole plus handgrip stress. In patients with significant coronary artery disease, visual analysis correctly identified significant disease in 26 (76%) of 34 arteries and its absence in 12 (86%) of 14 normal arteries. According to circumferential profile analysis, these numbers were 91% and 86%, respectively. Thus circumferential analysis of 82Rb images, obtained before and after intravenous dipyridamole plus handgrip stress, yielded improved sensitivity and comparable specificity compared with visual analysis.

Quantitation of the extent of acute myocardial infarction by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (P-31 NMR) spectroscopy is able to identify alterations in myocardial high energy phosphate metabolism associated with acute infarction. It was hypothesized that the extent of acute myocardial infarction could be quantitated from changes in the tissue content of inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) derived from P-31 NMR spectra. Nine isolated, perfused rat hearts were studied at 121.5 MHz. After baseline spectra were obtained, varying locations of either the right or the left coronary artery were occluded without removing the heart from the spectrometer. Spectra were then collected during regional ischemia at 15 and 45 min after occlusion. Phosphate metabolites were quantitated from the baseline and 45-min regional ischemia spectra, times at which the metabolites are at steady state for the normal and ischemic conditions. The heart was removed from the spectrometer, perfused for a total duration of 2 h and sectioned into 2-mm thick slices for triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Percent infarct was determined by manual tracing of magnified, digitized images of the stained sections. Coronary blood flow, heart rate and blood pressure were monitored throughout the experiment. Significant linear relations were found between percent infarct (by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining) and the percent change of beta-ATP (r = -0.74), Pi (r = 0.83) and the PCr/Pi ratio (r = -0.71) at 45 min after coronary occlusion. Coronary flow was also found to correlate significantly with percent infarct (r = -0.70). These results are applicable to in vivo P-31 NMR studies of acute infarction where the volume of interest may include both normal and acutely infarcted myocardium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)