Effect of Forced Restraint on Heart Phospholipids

Abstract

The cardiac level of phospholipids and their fatty acid composition were measured in the rat after different periods of forced restraint and different periods of rest. After 4 minutes of forced immobilization the level of heart cardiolipin decreased by about 75%. When the animal was immobilized for 24 hours the concentration of cardiolipin in the heart returned to normal after less than 96 hours of rest. The concentration of sphingomyelin was also decreased by forced restraint whereas phosphatidyl ethanolamine decreased only in the resting period after immobilization. The significance of these findings in the pathogenesis of experimental cardiac necroses is discussed.