Age-dependent effects of ischemia and reperfusion on cardiac function and Ca2+ transport in myocardium.

Experiments on isolated hearts from adult and old rats have proved an age-dependent decrease in the resistance of contractile function and cardiac rhythm to ischemia and reperfusion. The restriction of coronary flow by 70% produced significant changes in various links of the Ca2+ transport system (an increase in sarcolemmal permeability for Ca2+ and a decrease in Ca(2+)-accumulating capacity of sarcoplasmic reticulum included). These changes, more marked in old animals, seemed to play an important role in the mechanisms of disturbances in cardiac function following coronary insufficiency.