Abstract
Data on myocardial metabolism in the newborn are scanty. While “in vitro” studies demonstrated that foetal myocardium of near term monkeys is able to metabolize substrates different from glucose, qualitative data obtained “in vivo” in puppies showed that glucose is the only fuel for the newborn heart. Using a particular preparation-i.e. controlled perfusion of one coronary artery of an isolated newborn lamb heart with oxygenated blood from a donor animal, and total collection of venous drainage-quantitative studies were done on myocardial 02-consumption, uptake of glucose and NEFA, and production of lactate and pyruvate under basal and metabolic (glucose load) or hormonal (insulin, hydrocortisone) stimulated conditions. Results showed that newborn heart is able to metabolize NEFA(l), that this fact was enhanced by insulin addiction(2)and depressed by glucose load(3), that insulin was a powerful agent to revert ventricular fibrillation sometimes spontaneously occuring in the isolated heart (4).
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marini, A., Vercellio, G., Gabrielli, L. et al. MYOCARDIAL METABOLISM IN THE NEWBORN LAMB. Pediatr Res 8, 140 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197402000-00082
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197402000-00082
