Modification of adrenochrome-induced cardiac contractile failure and cell damage by changes in cation concentrations.

Adrenochrome has been shown to produce cardiac necrosis as well as failure in the isolated rat hearts. These effects of adrenochrome were influenced by alterations in the Ca2+, Na+, K+, and Mg2+ concentrations of the perfusion medium. Increasing the Ca2+ or K+ concentration or decreasing the Na+ concentration of the adrenochrome-containing perfusion medium partially maintained contractile force but increased the severity of ultrastructural damage. Reducing the K+ concentration of the medium did not alter the failure of contractile force development but increased the severity of ultrastructural damage due to adrenochrome. Reducing the Ca2+ or increasing the Mg2+ concentration of the perfusion medium completely prevented myocardial necrosis due to adrenochrome. Omission of Mg2+ from the perfusion medium neither altered the time course of contractile failure nor effected the severity of necrosis due to adrenochrome. These results for the most part parallel the influence of similar ionic interventions on the severity of necrosis produced by excessive amount of catecholamines.