Effects of betaxolol, a cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, on ischemic myocardial energy and carbohydrate metabolism in dogs

The effect of betaxolol, a beta s-adrenoceptor antagonist, on ischemic myocardial metabolism was studied in dog hearts subjected to an occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 10 or 30 min. Betaxolol (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg) was injected i.v. 5 min before ischemia. Betaxolol decreased heart rate, (+)dp/dt, coronary flow and blood pressure. Coronary occlusion decreased the levels of creatine phosphate, adenosine triphosphate, total adenine nucleotides and energy charge potential in the ischemic myocardium. Ten minutes after ischemia, betaxolol significantly diminished these impairments of energy metabolism. Even 30 min after ischemia, a higher dose of betaxolol significantly inhibited the depletion of total adenine nucleotides. Myocardial ischemia produced a breakdown of glycogen, an accumulation of lactate and an inhibition of glycolytic flux through the phosphofructokinase reaction. Betaxolol also reduced these alterations of carbohydrate metabolism 10 min after ischemia. These results indicate that betaxolol delays the onset of myocardial metabolic change from aerobic to anaerobic during ischemia and hence reduces the severity of myocardial ischemic injury.