Hemorrhagic shock impairs myocardial cell volume regulation and membrane integrity in dogs.

An in vitro myocardial slice technique was used to quantitate alterations in cell volume regulation and membrane integrity after 2 h of hemorrhagic shock. After in vitro incubation in Krebs-Ringer-phosphate medium containing trace [14C]inulin, values (ml H2O/g dry wt) for control nonshocked myocardial slices were 4.03 +/- 0.11 (SE) for total water, 2.16 +/- 0.07 for inulin impermeable space, and 1.76 +/- 0.15 for inulin diffusible space. Shocked myocardial slices showed impaired response to cold incubation (0 degrees C, 60 min). After 2 h of in vivo shock, total tissue water, inulin diffusible space, and inulin impermeable space increased significantly (+19.2 +/- 2.4, +8.1 +/- 1.9, +34.4 +/- 6.1%, respectively) for subendocardium, whereas changes in subepicardium parameters were minimal. Shock-induced cellular swelling was accompanied by an increased total tissue sodium, but no change in tissue potassium. Calcium entry blockade in vivo (lidoflazine, 20 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 during the last 60 min of shock) significantly reduced subendocardial total tissue water as compared with shock-untreated dogs. In addition, calcium entry blockade reduced shock-induced increases in inulin impermeable space and inulin diffusible space. In vitro myocardial slice studies confirm alterations in subendocardial membrane integrity after 2 h of in vivo hemorrhagic shock. Shock-induced abnormalities in myocardial cell volume regulation are reduced by calcium entry blockade in vivo.