Abstract
Elevation of arterial concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) from an average of 450 to 3000 (δmo1/1, induced by intravenous (i. v.) infusion of a fat emulsion after heparinization, raised local metabolic rate in the left ventricular wall by an average of 18% (p > 0.025), without changes in heart rate, left ventricular systolic and end-diastolic pressures, or maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt). I. v. infusion of isoproterenol (2–3 δg/min) increased local metabolic rate by an average of 82% (p > 0.02) with a concomitant increase in arterial FFA concentration from an average of 450 to 1800 δmol/1. <By abolishing lipolysis with nicotinic acid, the metabolic heat production induced by isoproterenol was lowered by an average of 39% (p > 0.02), despite the fact that myocardial performance was not influenced by nicotinic acid. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that myocardial FFA metabolism plays a significant role in stimulating the oxygen demand of the heart.