Myocardial purine metabolism : aspects of myocardial ATP metabolism and pharmacological intervention

Abstract

The heart is obliged to contract continuously. This \nimplicates for a human with an average heart rate of 70 beats \nper minute in about 70 years more than 2.5 billions of \ncontractions. For this contraction ATP is needed as the main \nsubstrate. As a consequence continuous ATP production by the \nheart is obligatory. This ATP is mainly produced by the \noxygen-dependent oxidative phosphorylation. Disturbances of the \noxygen delivery, such as that induced by partial occlusion of \none or more coronary arteries can lead to a distortion of the \nbalance between ATP production and consumption. As a res11lt, \nATP is dephosphorylated, and subsequently the products \nadenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid pass \nthe cellular membrane and appear in the coronary effluent. \nBecause of the importance of adequate ~TP levels for the heart, \nthe following 4 main ::.\\\'Venues have been investigated in this \nstudy, which forms the substance of my thesis