Factors affecting the loss of mitochondrial function during zero-flow ischemia (autolysis) in slow and fast heart-rate hearts.

The (uninhibited) mitochondrial ATPase comprises approximately 90% of the total ATP hydrolyzing activity present in quiescent, ischemic canine heart muscle and its inhibition by its natural inhibitor protein plays a pivotal role in the slowing of tissue ATP depletion during ischemia. While dog heart mitochondria contain a full complement of mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor capable of fully down-regulating the enzyme activity present in this species, rat heart mitochondria contain a much lower level of inhibitor, sufficient to inhibit the enzyme activity present in this species by only approximately 20%. Moreover, this fractional complement of inhibitor remains largely inoperative in the ischemic rat heart. As shown in the present study, one apparent result of the lack of a functional complement of mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor in the rat heart is a more rapid rate of cell ATP depletion during zero-flow ischemia. This in turn results in a more rapidly developed and initially more severe cell acidosis in the ischemic rat heart because ATP hydrolysis produces protons. Finally, and consistent with earlier studies by us, the more rapid ATP depletion together with the more severe acidosis appears to result in a marked increase in the rate of loss of mitochondrial respiratory function in the ischemic rat heart compared to the ischemic dog heart. Our findings suggest that slow heart-rate hearts which contain in situ functional mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor, possess an effective mechanism for sparing cell ATP stores during early ischemia, whereas fast heart-rate hearts which lack in situ mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor function, possess a less effective ATP sparing mechanism.