Effects of timolol on blood flow distribution in the feline myocardium with acute regional ischaemia during controlled haemodynamic conditions.

The beta-adrenergic blocking agent timolol was given to cats with acute coronary artery ligation under controlled haemodynamic conditions. Regional myocardial tissue flow was measured by the distribution of labelled microspheres. Timolol reduced cardiac contractility and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure rose, whereas heart rate and ventricular systolic pressure were kept constant by atrial pacing and aortic clamping. The systolic period increased following timolol administration under these conditions. Myocardial blood flow remained unchanged in central ischaemic and border areas, whereas flow increased both endocardially and epicardially in normally perfused area following timolol administration. Without pacing there was a significant flow reduction in the epicardium of the normally perfused area, compared with the situation where heart rate was constant. Under controlled haemodynamic conditions, therefore, timolol appears to improve coronary perfusion in normal myocardium, whereas blood flow to ischaemic myocardium remains essentially unchanged.