Differential effects of acetylcholine on coronary flow in isolated hypothermic hearts from rats and ground squirrels.

This study was designed to determine whether cholinergic receptors are operative in the coronary vessels of a hibernating species (golden mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis) and a nonhibernating species (rat, Rattus norvegicus) under normothermic and hypothermic conditions. Coronary flow and left ventricular systolic pressure were measured in isolated perfused hearts from squirrels at 37, 20 or 7 degrees C and from rats at 37 and 20 degrees C. During cooling, rat hearts became arrhythmic and failed between 15 and 12 degrees C.

Coronary autoregulation and metabolism in hypothermic rat and ground squirrel hearts.

An isovolumic Langendorff preparation was used to perfuse rat and ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) hearts at 37, 27, 17, and 7 degrees C. Perfusion pressure (PP) was randomly increased or decreased (40, 60, 70, 110, 120, or 140 mmHg) from a control PP of 90 mmHg. Coronary flow (CF) was measured immediately after each PP change (initial CF) and after stable flow was observed (final CF).