Activation of neutrophils in the microvasculature of the ischaemic and reperfused myocardium

In 11 rats, the microcirculation of the repeatedly ischaemic (stunned) left ventricular myocardium was studied using in vivo fluorescence microscopy. Stunning was provoked by six subsequent 10 min ligations of the left anterior descending coronary artery, each of them followed by a 20 min reperfusion period. In the stunned myocardium showing hypokinetic wall motion, myocardial blood flow dropped by 55%; in this region, leukocytes often appeared in slow-flow capillaries plugging capillary branches. Closely linking to leukocyte adherence, a rise of microvascular permeability was documented by extravascular clouds of fluorescent dextran. After nifedipine treatment, in ischaemic regions marked dilatation of larger A1 and A2 arterioles was noted, in addition to the ischaemia-induced dilatation of smaller A3 and A4 arterioles. Furthermore nifedipine and nisoldipine reduced the number of adherent leukocytes in post-capillary venules and capillaries of the repeatedly ischaemic myocardium. In 12 patients with coronary one-vessel disease and without previous transmural myocardial infarction, elective coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed (balloon inflation for 2 min). After elective PTCA of the LAD, a significant rise in the proportion of activated neutrophils was noted. After elective 2 min PTCA of the LAD, coronary sinus blood samples showed a marked rise of FMLC stimulated superoxide anion production, whereas passive deformability decreased considerably. Furthermore, an increase in chemotactic activity in coronary sinus blood samples was observed.