Transmural distribution of myocardial blood perfusion and phasic coronary blood flow pattern in a canine model of acute ischemia

Background Although several investigators have analyzed coronary artery blood flow under various conditions, almost all these studies have measured only some branches of the left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), or right coronary (RCA) artery. Methods In a canine model of acute ischemia (n = 5), we simultaneously assessed (a) regional myocardial blood perfusion using microspheres and (b) phasic coronary blood flow patterns as measured by three epicardial flow probes placed around the LAD, LCX, and RCA. Results The results from this study indicated that the LAD supplies blood to the epicardial (r = 0.687, p < 0.0001), midwall (r = 0.556, p = 0.0021), and endocardial layers (r = 0.666, p = 0.0001) of the LAD area; the LCX supplies the midwall (r = 0.514, p = 0.0051) and endocardial layer (r = 0.621, p = 0.0004) of the LCX area, antero-lateral papillary muscle (r = 0.548, p = 0.0025), and postero-medial papillary muscle (r = 0.641, p = 0.0002), especially during the diastolic phase; and the RCA supplies the right ventricular apex (r = 0.559, p = 0.0020), left atrium (r = 0.618, p = 0.0005), right atrium (r = 0.471, p = 0.0114), and postero-medial papillary muscle (r = 0.486, p = 0.0088), especially during the systolic phase. Conclusions These results are potentially relevant to understanding the physiology of myocardial blood perfusion and to improving treatment of acute myocardial ischemia and infarction.