Effects of temperature on myocardial calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function during ischemia and reperfusion

An isolated rabbit heart preparation was used to characterize the effects of hypothermia on the deterioration in mitochondrial respiratory function and on the calcium overload that occurs during ischemia and reperfusion. Hearts were perfused aerobically with an asanguineous solution for 120 minutes or made totally ischemic for 90 minutes at 37 o , 34 o , 28 o , and 22 o C, respectively, and reperfused for 30 minutes at 37 o C