The effects of pressure-induced right ventricular hypertrophy on left ventricular diastolic properties and dynamic geometry in the conscious dog.

To determine whether chronic pressure overload and hypertrophy of the right ventricle alter the diastolic properties of the left ventricle, six adult dogs underwent banding of the pulmonary artery and were instrumented for studies 8 months later. Fourteen control dogs were also studied. Pressure and dimension data were collected from the dogs while they were awake and unsedated. The anterior-posterior, septal-free wall, and base-apex axis diameters of the left ventricle were measured with ultrasonic dimension transducers. Right and left ventricular pressures were measured with micromanometers. Pulmonary arterial banding resulted in increased right ventricular/body mass ratios (2.70 +/- 0.36 g/kg vs 1.52 +/- 0.15 g/kg control; p less than or equal to .05) and increased left ventricular/body mass ratios (4.84 +/- 0.64 g/kg vs 4.21 +/- 0.49 g/kg control; p less than or equal to .05). Right ventricular peak systolic and end-diastolic pressures were higher among the banded dogs (50 +/- 20/7 +/- 5 mm Hg vs 31 +/- 6/3 +/- 2 mm Hg control; p less than or equal to .05). A rearrangement in the three-dimensional geometry of diastolic filling occurred in the banded dogs. Extension from unstressed diastolic dimension (strain) in the base-apex axis was significantly larger in the banded dogs at left ventricular transmural pressures of 12, 8, and 4 mm Hg; strains in the septal-free wall axis were significantly smaller at transmural pressures of 12 and 8 mm Hg. Normalized diastolic left ventricular pressure-volume data and midwall circumferential stress-strain data were fit to the Kelvin viscoelastic equation. The normalized pressure-volume relationships of the banded dogs lay significantly to the left of those of the controls, indicating a loss of left ventricular chamber compliance. The midwall circumferential stress-strain relationships of the banded dogs were also shifted to the left, indicating a loss of intrinsic myocardial compliance. Thus, during the course of right ventricular hypertrophy caused by right ventricular pressure overload, alterations in the mass, geometry, and material properties of the left ventricle occur. At 8 months the chamber compliance of the left ventricle is compromised by these changes.

Effects of global ischemia on the diastolic properties of the left ventricle in the conscious dog.

The alterations in regional diastolic mechanics that occur during regional myocardial ischemia (creep and increased myocardial stiffness) may be the result of interactions between the ischemic and surrounding nonischemic myocardium rather than the direct result of ischemia. Thus similar changes may not occur when the entire left ventricle is ischemic. Thus similar changes may not occur when the entire left ventricle is ischemic. To investigate this proposition, left ventricular diastolic mechanics were studied in seven chronically instrumented conscious dogs during global left ventricular ischemia. The anterior-posterior, septal-free wall, and base-apex axes of the left ventricle were measured with ultrasonic dimension transducers. Left and right ventricular pressures were measured with micromanometers. Myocardial blood flows were measured with left atrial injections of 15 microns radioactive microspheres. Global left ventricular ischemia was induced by hydraulic constriction of the left main coronary artery, which resulted in a 54% decrease in mean left ventricular subendocardial blood flow. Left ventricular volume, midwall circumference, and midwall circumferential stress were calculated from ellipsoidal shell theory. To construct pressure-strain and stress-strain relationships from diastolic data collected during vena caval occlusions, all measured and calculated dimensions were normalized to Lagrangian strains (fractional extension from unstressed dimension). During ischemia, creep (elongation of unstressed dimension) occurred in each of the three left ventricular axes. The mean unstressed dimension of the anterior-posterior axis increased from 5.39 +/- 0.53 to 5.85 +/- 0.50 cm ( p less than or equal to .05); the septal-free wall unstressed dimension increased from 5.11 +/- 0.53 to 5.72 +/- 0.80 cm (p less than or equal to .05); and the base-apex unstressed dimension increased from 7.04 +/- 0.61 to 7.25 +/- 0.65 cm (p less than or equal to .05). The relationship between diastolic midwall circumferential stress and strain shifted upward and to the left with ischemia, indicating that an increase in intrinsic myocardial stiffness had occurred. As a result of these mechanical alterations, there was a decrease in left ventricular chamber compliance that was manifested by a leftward shift of the diastolic pressure-volume strain relationship. Neither systolic bulging nor dysynchronous systolic shortening occurred in any of the three left ventricular spatial axes during ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Characteristics of ventricular function in severe hemorrhagic shock.

Although left ventricular (LV) function appears altered by severe hemorrhagic shock (HS), the mechanisms of this dysfunction have been difficult to characterize. Depression in the LV function curve could be caused by altered diastolic or systolic function. It has been difficult to assess the systolic function, but the use of the rate and load independent index of contractility, Emax (the slope of the end-systolic pressure-dimension relationship), offers a new approach to the quantification of systolic mechanical performance. Emax and the LV diastolic pressure-strain relationship were measured in 15 chronically instrumented dogs by sonomicrometric and micromanometric techniques. Gradual LV unloading was obtained from transient vena caval occlusion. After control study, each dog underwent 2 hours of HS (mean aortic pressure 40 mm Hg), followed by reinfusion of all shed blood. Upon reinfusion, Emax was not decreased; however, all dogs had a significant decrease in LV compliance. During the next 4 days, the LV compliance of the eight survivors progressively returned toward control, while Emax remained stable. All seven nonsurvivors demonstrated progressive loss of LV compliance, and Emax was significant decreased prior to death. Cardiac contractility appeared improved immediately after shock, but a consistent decrease in compliance was observed. Reversal of abnormal diastolic function was demonstrated in all survivors and progressive depression in all nonsurvivors. Depression in systolic function was observed only in nonsurvivors immediately prior to death.

Alterations in left ventricular three-dimensional dynamic geometry and systolic function during acute right ventricular hypertension in the conscious dog.

Fifteen chronically instrumented, conscious dogs were studied to determine whether, in the intact circulation, mechanical interactions dictated by the anatomic contiguity of the two ventricles significantly alter left ventricular (LV) dynamic geometry and systolic function during acute right ventricular (RV) hypertension. The three-dimensional geometry of the left ventricle was monitored with three pairs of ultrasonic dimension transducers; ventricular pressures were measured with micromanometers. Data collected during pulmonary artery constriction (RV pressure 68 +/- 8/7 +/- 4 mm Hg) were compared with control data collected at matched heart rates (RV pressure 32 +/- 8/4 +/- 4 mm Hg). During pulmonary artery constriction, mean calculated LV end-diastolic volumes decreased from 69.2 +/- 20.0 to 56.2 +/- 21.3 cm3 (p less than or equal to 0.05). Mean systolic stroke volume decreased from 20.6 +/- 5.5 to 14.0 +/- 6.3 cm3 (p less than or equal to 0.05). These changes were entirely accounted for by alterations in the behavior of the LV septal-free wall minor axis and rearrangements in LV equatorial geometry. When the pulmonary artery was constricted, elongation of the septal-free wall axis occurred during isovolumic systole and was accompanied by a reciprocal decrease in anterior-posterior dimension. Most of the decrease in septal-free wall dimension occurred during relaxation and early diastole rather than during ejection. Mean septal-free wall end-diastolic dimension decreased from 5.45 +/- 0.69 to 4.90 +/- 0.75 cm (p less than or equal to 0.05). The mean systolic decrease in septal-free wall dimension fell from 0.36 +/- 0.18 to 0.14 +/- 0.22 cm (p less than or equal to 0.05). The end-diastolic dimensions and systolic shortening of the LV anterior-posterior minor axis and base-apex major axis were not significantly altered by pulmonary artery constriction. These findings suggest that during acute RV hypertension, impairment of LV systolic function and rearrangements in LV dynamic geometry are primarily the result of the anatomic contiguity of the two ventricles.

Freeze-drying of spermatozoa.

Bull semen was diluted to a concentration of 2 X 10(8) cells/ml, cooled to 5 degrees C in 5 h, frozen in 0.025 ml spheres on the surface of solid carbon dioxide, and stored in liquid nitrogen. 50% by volume of the diluent was 325 m0sm Tes:N-tris (hydroxymethyl) methyl-2-amino ethane sulfonic acid titrated to pH 7.2 with 325 m0sm Tris:tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane. The diluent also contained 30% by volume isotonic sodium citrate and 20% by volume egg yolk. The frozen spermatozoa were freeze-dried in 400 mg quantities in test tubes at -50 degrees C with a condenser at -196 degrees C. Moisture content was determined by weighing the individual samples before and after freeze-drying. Drying the samples for several days at 20 degrees C removed 868 mg from each gram of frozen material and this was considered the zero moisture level. Samples were stored at 20 degrees C or -196 degrees C after freeze-drying. The freezer-dried samples were rehydrated by flooding with five times their original volume of isotonic sodium citrate. Tests of the recovered spermatozoa included percentage motile cells, acrosome damage, enzyme release, protein denaturation, hypotonic swelling and fertility testing. Sperm motility decreased with dryness until it reached zero at 3% moisture. Acrosome morphology and enzyme release appeared normal down to 1% moisture. Preliminary results showed some fertility at all levels of dryness with -196 degrees C storage, and fertility at less than 1% moisture with 20 degrees C storage. Additional fertility testing is underway.