ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of modified starfish sterol [C03, succinic acid (5-epiandroene-17-one-3beta-ol) diester] on experimental arrhythmias.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Arrhythmias were induced by drugs (Aco, Oua, BaCl2 and adrenalin) i.v., ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery and electricity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>C03 71.4 mg x kg(-1) (ig) was shown to increase the dose of Oua inducing VP, VT, VF and CA in guinea pigs (P < 0.01); C03 (26.8, 80.4 mg x kg(-1)) was found to increase the dose of Aco inducing VF and CA in rats (P < 0.01); C03 (8.9, 26.8, 80.4 mg x kg(-1)) increase the dose of barium chloride and delay the onset time of ventricular arrhythmias (P < 0.01); C03 (14.1, 42.3 mg x kg(-10) shorten time of recovering induced by adrenalin in rabbits (P < 0.01); C03 (80.4 mg x kg(-1)) was shown to reduce the number of ventricular arrhythmias induced by coronary artery ligation in rats (P < 0.05), C03 increase VFT induced by electricity in rabbits, VFT of C03 14.1 mg x kg(-1) increased from (5.1 +/- 2.5) V to (11.0 +/- 2.7) V (P < 0.01), 42.3 mg x kg(-1) increased from (6.1 +/- 1.7) V to (15 +/- 5) V (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Starfish sterol has anti-arrhythmic effect.</p>