| Abstract: | Myocardial taurine levels were correlated with pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). Heart failure was induced by creating an infrarenal aortocaval fistula. PWP ranged from 6.6 to 28 mm Hg, suggesting a wide range in severity of heart failure in those dogs. Compared to taurine levels of normal dogs, levels of the CHF group were significantly elevated in both left and right ventricles. Linear regression analysis of ventricular taurine content yielded a highly significant direct relation to PWP. The results suggest that myocardial taurine content increases as heart failure becomes more severe. |
