Specific function and morphology of the right ventricle of the heart during ischemic injury of the left ventricle

Focal ischemia of the left ventricular myocardium was modeled by surgical ligation of the descending branch of the left coronary artery at the junction of the lower and middle thirds of this artery in anesthetized rabbits. Contractility and morphological characteristics of the right ventricular myocardium were evaluated 24, 72, and 120 h after treatment. Significant morphofunctional changes in the right ventricle manifested in the development of severe extracellular edema and increase in the area of damaged and destroyed myofibrils. However, the actual and maximum intraventricular pressure remained unchanged under these conditions. The degree of cardiomyocyte apoptosis increased on day 1, but returned to normal in the follow-up period. Our study demonstrated high sensitivity of the right ventricle to left ventricular dysfunction and early activation of compensatory mechanisms. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2008.