ABSTRACT
The present study was performed to test the hypothesis of a decreased risk of acute myocardial infarction [AMI] associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]. The rats were divided into six groups: Group 1 was the normal control group; in group 2, the rats received 1 ml distilled water orally, daily for two weeks; animals in groups 3 [fluoxetine] and 4 [paroxetine] received the drugs daily, orally in a dose of 1.8 mg/kg/day for two weeks as well as in groups 5 [fluoxetine] and 6 [paroxetine], the rats received the drugs daily, orally in a dose of 1.8 mg/kg/day for two weeks, then MI by isoprenaline [5A and 6A] was induced in the last two days and MI by coronary ligation [5B and 6B] was induced at the end of two weeks. In each group, ECG tracing was done and blood was collected for the measurements of platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate [ADP] and collagen and biomarkers for MI [total serum creatine kinase, CK-MB and cardiac troponin I]. The hearts of each group were collected for measuring the percentage of the total infarct surface area and for the histopathological examination