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Fig. 4. Myoglobin enhances the performance of icefish hearts. Cardiac output was
measured in hearts from Mb-containing Chionodraco rastrospinosus and
Mb-lacking Chaenocephalus aceratus at their inherent rhythms. The
afterload against which the heart pumped perfusate was incrementally increased
to describe the decay in heart performance as a function of pressure
challenge. (A) When pumping oxygenated Ringers solution, Mb-containing hearts
(Mb+, filled circles) were able to maintain cardiac output to greater
afterload challenges than could Mb-lacking hearts (Mb–, open circles).
(B) When 5 mmol l–1 NaNO2, which selectively
poisons Mb function, was incorporated into the perfusate, mechanical
performance of Mb-containing hearts was decremented so dramatically that they
were outperformed by Mb-lacking hearts, which were refractory to the
treatment. (Adapted from Acierno et al.,
1997.)
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