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Combined enzyme histochemical and ultrastructural study on cryostat sections of pig heart to detect early reperfusion damage after ischaemia
Author(s) -
Frederiks Wilma M.,
Tukkie Raymond,
Gründeman Paul F.,
Hoebe Christine,
Schellens Jacques P. M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711750312
Subject(s) - lactate dehydrogenase , ischemia , pathology , myocardial infarction , artery , in vivo , enzyme , cardiology , biology , medicine , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
In cardiac surgery, recognition of peroperative myocardial infarction may improve patient selection for prolonged circulatory support. The value of enzyme histochemistry to discriminate between reversible and irreversible myocardial damage at short periods of reperfusion was studied in an in vivo model of regional ischaemia in pig hearts. The left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) was clamped for 45 min followed by 2 h reperfusion (group 1, n =3). Post‐mortem heart tissue showed markedly decreased activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and beta‐hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH) as demonstrated in cryostat sections, accompanied by massive leakage of LDH in the venous effluent. The depleted areas showed irreversible cell damage based on the presence of flocculent densities in mitochondria. In group 2 ( n =6), LADCA flow was reduced to 40 per cent of the base‐line value followed by 2 h reperfusion. Heart tissue showed normal LDH and BDH activities, except for some cells surrounding blood vessels, which activity was minimally decreased. Flocculent densities in mitochondria were never observed. We conclude that enzyme histochemistry of LDH and BDH activity on cryostat sections is a useful tool for detecting irreversible myocardial cell damage as early as 2 h reperfusion after ischaemia of the pig heart. The technique has potential applications in the detection of peroperative infarction in human biopsies.