The effects of temperature and buffer concentration on the metabolism of human atrial appendages measured by 31P and 1H NMR.

In this study we measured changes in intracellular ATP and pH together with lactate production in isolated ischemic human atrial tissue. The measurements were made using 31P and 1H NMR. ATP preservation is improved as temperature is reduced from 20 degrees C to 1 degree C because of a progressive decrease in energy demand. At a constant temperature (12 degrees C), ATP preservation is improved by increasing the extracellular buffer capacity with PIPES buffer at concentrations up to 100 mM. Under these conditions, energy demand appears to increase but the ATP level is kept relatively constant for periods of 10 hours or longer. This appears to be due to a tighter regulation between supply and demand in which glycolysis is driven faster at relatively lower ADP and Pi levels. This tight regulation may be attributed to the better maintenance of intracellular pH.