Influence of adenosine-induced hypotension on the canine myocardium rendered acutely ischaemic by artificial stenosis

An open–chest preparation was carried out in 14 pentobarbitone anaesthetized dogs in order to evaluate the myocardial effects of controlled hypotension induced by adenosine in the presence of a severe coronary stenosis that caused ischaemia of the left anterior ventricular wall. Myocardial performance, blood flow and metabolism were studied before and during a 78 ± 3% reduction of flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and during adenosine–induced hypotension (approximately 40% reduction of the mean arterial pressure) in the presence of the LAD stenosis. The LAD stenosis decreased the myocardial lactate uptake (P