Heart hypertrophy induced by levothyroxine aggravates ischemic lesions and reperfusion arrhythmias in rats.

AIM: To develop a cardiac hypertrophic model in rats. METHODS: Rats were i.p. levothyroxine 0.5 mg.kg-1.d-1 x 10 d. The action potentials of right papillary muscles were recorded by standard glass-microelectrode technique. The left coronary artery was ligated followed by reperfusion and the apparent infarcted zone (AIZ) was determined by tetracycline fluoresence, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) product in myocardium were also measured. RESULTS: In the rats treated by levothyroxine, the heart was hypertrophic and the action potential duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP) were prolonged, the APD20, APD50, APD90, and ERP were prolonged by 80%, 79%, 74%, and 68%, respectively. No changes in resting potential (RP), action potential amplitude (APA), and Vmax were produced. The incidence of heart arrest (8/8) and the risk of death (67 +/- 0) induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats with hypertrophic heart was higher than those in normal rats (4/10 and 44 +/- 19, respectively). The AIZ was expanded markedly in hypertrophic heart, and attenuated by lidocaine and propranolol. CONCLUSION: Levothyroxine-induced heart hypertrophy is a suitable model for severe ischemia and arrhythmias in rats.

Orthogonal analysis of aggravating effects of alpha-, beta-agonists and leukocytes on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation in Langendorff's rat heart.

AIM: To study the effect of leukocyte (Leu), alpha-agonist (alpha-Ago), and beta-agonist (beta-Ago) on the arrhythmias induced by ischemia and reperfusion to determine which of the 3 factors was the most important one in exacerbating arrhythmias. METHODS: Arrhythmias were induced by the reduction and subsequent resumption of perfused flow in Langendorff's perfused rat hearts. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) were recorded on ECG, and the results were orthogonally analyzed. RESULTS: When Leu was present, the incidence of VF induced by ischemia-reperfusion was 80%. The incidence in Leu-depleted hearts was 20%, alpha-Ago and beta-Ago elevated it to 60% and 100%, respectively. The results by orthogonal analysis demonstrated Leu or alpha-Ago+ beta-Ago increased VF incidence. With regard to arrhythmias, arrhythmia score was remarkedly increased by all of 3 factors and various combinations except beta-Ago + Leu. CONCLUSION: Among these 3 factors, Leu was the most important one in facilitating reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.