Multiwavelength optical spectroscopy was used to determine the oxygen-binding characteristics for equine myoglobin. Oxygen-binding relationships as a function of oxygen tension were determined for temperatures of 10, 25, 35, 37, and 40 degrees C, at pH 7.0. In addition, dissociation curves were determined at 37 degrees C for pH 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5. Equilibration was achieved with a myoglobin solution, at the desired temperature and pH, and 16 oxygen-nitrogen gas mixtures of known oxygen fraction. Correction for the inevitable presence of metmyoglobin was made by using a three-component least squares analysis and by correcting the end point oxymyoglobin spectra for the presence of metmyoglobin. The PO2 at which myoglobin is half-saturated with O2 (P50) was determined to be 2.39 Torr at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C. The myoglobin dissociation curve was well fit by the Hill equation [saturation = PO2/(PO2 + P50)].

The goal of this study was to identify the most important variables affecting bioluminescent ATP, ADP and AMP measurements in plasma and to develop an assay that takes these variables into account. Blood samples were drawn from conscious dogs. A 'stop solution' containing EDTA was prepared, which greatly retarded plasma ATP degradation by chelating Mg(+2) and Ca(+2) that are co-factors for many ATPases. Stop solution and blood were mixed using a two-syringe withdrawal system. Samples were centrifuged twice in order to remove red blood cells, and ATP was measured in the supernatant using the firefly luciferase assay. Sample pH was adjusted to the optimal range (7.75-7.95) and Mg(2+) (necessary for the luciferase reaction) was added back to the sample within the luminometer 2 s prior to luciferase addition. Four assay tubes were prepared for each plasma sample, containing standard additions of 0-15 pmol added ATP, in order to quantify native plasma ATP content. In separate plasma/stop solution samples ADP + ATP was measured after converting ADP to ATP via the pyruvate kinase reaction, and AMP + ADP + ATP was measured after addition of both myokinase and pyruvate kinase. Addition of forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) to the stop solution to inhibit platelets resulted in lower ATP concentrations. Measurement of ATP and haemoglobin from lysed erythrocytes revealed that haemolysis exerts a strong influence on plasma ATP concentration that must be taken into account.

A fiber-optic-based spectrophotometer was developed to acquire optical reflectance spectra from a living dog heart. A bullseye concentric optical probe with a 3 mm source-to-detector fiber separation was designed to obtain a 1.5 mm average tissue depth of light penetration. Spectra were analyzed in the near-infrared region from 660 to 840 nm. Myoglobin oxygen saturation was determined by partial least-squares analysis using a calibration spectral data set developed in vitro. Comparison of in vivo and in vitro spectra by Mahalanobis distance and residual ratio tests demonstrated good similarity, justifying use of partial least-squares analysis. Coronary perfusion with an oxygenated blood substitute, Fluosol®, was used to demonstrate that hemoglobin had little effect on the analysis. An increase in myoglobin saturation of 5% was noted when the animals were changed from inspired room air to 100% oxygen. Occlusion of the coronary artery resulted in prompt decrease in myoglobin saturation, and release of the occlusion was followed by rapid increase in saturation to a value above baseline. These experiments demonstrate that it is feasible to use partial least-squares analysis of near-infrared reflectance spectra to determine myoglobin saturation in the blood-perfused, beating heart.

Myoglobin is an important intracellular protein found in cardiac and skeletal muscle. It is involved in the intracellular transport of oxygen from the cell membrane to the mitochondria where oxidative phosphorylation takes place. The optical absorbance characteristics of myoglobin are similar to those of hemoglobin in the near-infrared spectral region. Distinguishing spectral information of myoglobin from hemoglobin should allow for determination of intracellular oxygen availability in muscle. Partial least-squares analysis is used in this report to determine the oxygen saturation of myoglobin, in the presence of hemoglobin, in vitro. Studies were performed with the use of both transmission and reflectance spectroscopic techniques. Transmission spectra of myoglobin solutions were determined with varying degrees of oxygen saturation achieved by deoxygenating the solution using E. coli. Calibration spectral data sets were developed with the use of varying concentrations of hemoglobin interference, and with varying degrees of myoglobin oxygen saturation. Reflectance spectra were obtained from myoglobin and hemoglobin solutions containing a scattering agent to mimic muscle tissue conditions. Predicted myoglobin saturation values were within 2% of the known saturation values from the use of this analysis. Partial least-squares analysis allows for accurate prediction of myoglobin oxygen saturation in the presence of hemoglobin from either transmission of reflectance near-infrared spectra.