comparative study on the anti-ischaemic activities of exogenous prostaglandins E1 and calcium channel blocker [Verapamil]

Ischaemic heart disease [coronary heart disease] is the most common cause of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infraction. Verapamil [calcium channel blocker] was tried in cases of myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infection. No favourable effects were obtained during or after myocardial infraction or on mortality after myocardial infraction. It was helpful only in patents with typical spasm of the coronary artery. Prostaglandin E[1] [PGE[1]] was tried experimental animals in the treatment of myocardial ichaemia and myocardial infraction. Few clinical studies were performed in man and the results were promising. In this experimental work, a study was carried out on rats comparing the effect of prostaglandin [E1] and verapamil HCI on myocardial ischemia by ligation on left coronary artery as determined by percentage infract area and electrocardiographic changes. The results have shown that prostaglandin E[1] could significantly reduce the infract area after ligation of left coronary artery in rats when injected 15 mins. after ligation. The percentage area of infraction was statistically reduced when compared with the non-treated group, also the S.T. segment elevation which occurred after ligation of left coronary artery returned nearly to the isoelectric line at the end of experiment [about six hours] While in the verapami HCI treated group, thee was no significant improvement in the infraction area or the eectrocardiograhic hangs. In conclusion, it has been found that prostaglandin E[1] caused a reduction of the infract area after ligation of the left coronary artery in rats. This may be due to decreased blood pressure which leads to decrease work of the heart as well as due to inhibition of cardiac response to endogenously released catecholamine occurring during myocardial infraction