Different respiratory activities of mitochondria isolated from the subendocardium and subepicardium of the canine heart

Mitochondria were prepared from the subendocardial and subepicardial layers of the canine left ventricle. The oxidation rates of palmitate, palmitoyl carnitine and pyruvate of the mitochondria obtained from the two cardiac layers were measured. The cytochrome content and the specific activities of different beta oxidation and Krebs cycle enzymes were also measured in the two mitochondrial populations. Mitochondria isolated from the ENDO layer showed significantly higher oxidation rates than mitochondria from the EPI layer for all the three substrates. No statistically significant differences in cytochrome c+c₁ and a+a₃ content were found in mitochondria isolated from the two regions. No significant transmural differences were found in fatty acyl CoA, L-3-hydroxy fatty acyl CoA, succinic and malic dehydrogenase specific activities, whilst isocitric dehydrogenase (NADP) specific activity was significantly higher in mitochondria isolated from the inner layer. In conclusion, the mitochondria isolated from the inner left ventricular layer of the canine heart show a higher oxidative capacity than subepicardial mitochondria. This difference could partly be explained by the higher specific activity of isocitric dehydrogenase in this layer. These properties of subendocardial mitochondria could represent a metabolic support for the greater contractile performance of this layer.