Functional development of the coronary collateral circulation during coronary artery occlusion in the conscious dog.

We studied changes in the coronary collateral circulation during coronary artery occlusion in 14 conscious dogs by: a) determining simultaneous changes in peripheral coronary pressure (PCP) and retrograde flow (RF) after abrupt coronary artery occlusion; b) correlating these functional indices with quantitative anatomic indices (AI) of coronary collateral development (Menick et al: Am Heart J 82:503-510, 1971); and c) observing changes in these indices after repeated reocclusions of a coronary artery. These dogs were subjected to left circumflex coronary artery (LCCA) occlusions for 2 hours to 8 days; pressure tubes were implanted in the aorta and LCCA, the latter tube placed distal to an occlusive cuff for PCP and RF measurements. Afterwards the animals were sacrificed, their hearts injected with a modified Schlesinger's gelatin mass, and AI determined. During 2 to 24 hour LCCA occlusions (11 dogs) mean PCP rose to levels 50 to 80% of prevailing aortic pressure. During repreated 2- to 24-hour occlusions (2 dogs) in the same dog, the rate at which PCP rose increased. Retrograde flow was unchanged during 2- to 24-hour occlusions. Anatomic indices of these dogs were in the same range as those observed in unoccluded controls. When LCCA occlusion was maintained for more than 4 days (3 dogs), mean PCP rose during the first 24 hours and then remained stable; RF did not change until 4 days into occlusion and then increased. Anatomic indices of dogs occluded for more than 4 days were significantly greater (P < 0.001) than those of the 2- to 24-hour occlusion groups. Our study shows that: a) the early PCP rise after occlusion is not associated with an increase in RF, b) RF is a better index of collateral function and c) RF correlated well with the anatomic development of the collateral bed.