Effects of pH and pCO2 on performance of ischemic myocardium.

Contractile performance of ischemic feline myocardium was evaluated under conditions of selective changes in perfusate in pH and pCO2. A substantial increase in myocardial performance was noted when the pCO2 was lowered at constant pH, and depression of performance was noted when the pCO2 was increased at constant pH. Perfusate acidosis at constant pCO2 resulted in depression of performance and decreased performance only after 20 min of exposure. Alkalosis did not increase performance and decreased performance transiently during mild ischemia. These studies suggest that performance of myocardium during ischemia is closely related to tissue pCO2 and is minimally related to the level of extracellular pH.