Impact of improving eating habits and rosmarinic acid supplementation on rat vascular and neuronal system in the metabolic syndrome model.

Decreasing high fat and high carbohydrate intake, together with the administration of natural bioactive drugs, is assumed to have a protective effect in the prevention and amelioration of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of diet improvement and/or a phenolic compound (rosmarinic acid; RA) administration (100 mg/kg per d) on metabolic as well as functional changes of vessels and hippocampus caused by the MetS-like conditions. The MetS-like conditions were induced by a high-fat-fructose diet (HFFD) in Prague hereditary hypertriacylglycerolaemic (HTG) rats. The effect of diet improvement and RA administration was studied using biochemical and functional measurements. Consumption of HFFD by HTG rats resulted in the development of conditions like the MetS. The fat and fructose restriction from the diet led to amelioration of basic indicators of metabolic state in rats fed HFFD and to amendment parameters of glucose tolerance test and reduction of the IL-1ß serum levels. Moreover, aortic endothelial function was improved with an impact on blood pressure. The functional measurement of electrophysiology of the hippocampus showed that long-term potentiation of neuronal transmission course deteriorated after HFFD was improved by energy restriction. Oral administration of RA had a supporting effect not only on lipid and glucose metabolism but also on the vascular endothelium. Combination of both types of therapy induced beneficial effect on glucose tolerance and lipid peroxidation. Thus, combined improvement of diet habits and treatment with natural bioactive drugs is assumed to have protective effect in prevention and amelioration of the MetS.

Electrocardiography in two models of isoproterenol-induced left ventricular remodeling.

We studied the ability of the ECG to detect pathological changes in isoproterenol-induced remodeling of rat heart. Myocardial hypertrophy in rats was induced by repeated injections of isoproterenol (5 mg/kg s.c. 7 days, Iso5, n=7). Single overdose of isoproterenol (150 mg/kg s.c., Iso150, n=7) evoked myocardial infarction followed with ventricular remodeling. The electrocardiograms were recorded in anesthetized animals (thiopenthal 45 mg/kg i.p.) and myocardial contractile performance was analyzed in isolated hearts perfused according to Langendorff. The hypertrophic hearts were characterized by increased heart and left ventricular (LV) weight as well as by thicker LV free wall and interventricular septum. Mean values of LV contraction did not significantly differ from controls. Longer QT interval, QRS complex, negative Q and S waves, higher R amplitude were typical characteristics for Iso5 rats. Iso150 animals showed tendency to decreased systolic blood pressure and heart frequency. Decrease in the thickness of LV compared to Iso5 as well as impaired LV function were related to the dilated left ventricle. Iso150 ECG showed longer QRS and QT, deepened negativity of S wave and mild decrease of R(II) compared to Iso5. Voltage criteria showed that Sokolow-Lyon index is a good predictor of left ventricular hypertrophy in isoproterenol-induced cardiac remodeling without systemic hypertension.

M cells and transmural heterogeneity of action potential configuration in myocytes from the left ventricular wall of the pig heart.

OBJECTIVE: Heterogeneity of action potential configuration in the left ventricle (LV), and the contribution of M cells to it, has been observed in the human heart and is important for arrhythmogenesis. Whether the pig heart has similar properties remains a controversial but important issue as the pig heart is currently under study for use in xenotransplantation. METHODS: Single myocytes were enzymatically isolated from the epicardium (EPI, ncells = 29), midmyocardium (MID, ncells = 38), and endocardium (ENDO, ncells = 13) of the free LV wall (npigs = 26, 14-22 weeks old, 55-80 kg), and studied at different stimulation rates during whole-cell recording (normal Tyrode's solution, K(+)-aspartate-based pipette solution, 50 microM K5fluo-3 as [Ca2+]i indicator, 37 degrees C). Standard six-lead ECGs were recorded from anesthetized pigs. RESULTS: The action potential duration (APD) was not significantly different at 0.25 Hz vs. 2 Hz for the majority of cells in all three layers. However, a subpopulation of cells behaved like M cells and had a very steep frequency response (APD90 at 0.25 Hz 538 +/- 30 ms, vs. 337 +/- 9 ms at 2 Hz, P < 0.05, n = 22). These cells were found predominantly in the MID layer (34% of cells), but also (24%) in EPI. M cells had a more pronounced spike-and-dome configuration, with a significantly larger phase 1 magnitude and plateau voltage. The frequency response of these parameters was different from the other cell types. [Ca2+]i transients tended to be larger in M cells. For the in vivo ECG of anesthetized pigs, the QT time was close to the APD90 of M cells, and J waves were seen in 7/12 recordings. CONCLUSIONS: In young adult pigs, M cells can be identified by a steep frequency response of the APD and by a spike-and-dome configuration. These cells are mostly, but not exclusively, found in the midmyocardium, and could contribute to the ECG characteristics. Their properties may however be different from those of other species, including humans.

Frequency dependence of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in human ventricular myocytes from end-stage heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Human cardiac muscle from failing heart shows a decrease in active tension development and a rise in diastolic tension at stimulation frequencies above 50-60 beats/min due to both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. We have investigated underlying changes in cellular [Ca2+]i regulation. METHODS: Single ventricular myocytes were isolated enzymatically from the explanted hearts of transplant recipients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (nhearts = 5 ncells = 15) or dilated cardiomyopathy (nhearts = 6, ncells = 19). Cells were studied during whole-cell patch clamp with fluo-3 and fura-red as [Ca2+]i indicators (36 +/- 1 degrees C). RESULTS: In current clamp mode (action potential recording), the amplitude of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) decreased at stimulation frequencies above 0.5 Hz; this decrease was more pronounced for cells from dilated cardiomyopathy. Diastolic [Ca2+]i increased at 1 and 2 Hz for both groups. Action potential duration (APD90) decreased with frequency in all cells; in addition there was a drop in plateau potential of 10 +/- 1 mV for cells from ischemic cardiomyopathy and of 13 +/- 2 mV for cells from dilated cardiomyopathy. In voltage clamp mode the L-type Ca2+ current showed reversible decrease during stimulation at 1 and 2 Hz. Recovery from inactivation during a double pulse protocol was slow (75 +/- 3% at 500 ms, 89 +/- 3% at 1000 ms) and followed the decay of the [Ca2+]i transient. CONCLUSIONS: The negative force-frequency relation of the failing human heart is due to a decrease in Ca2+ release of the cardiac myocytes at frequencies > or = 0.5 Hz, more pronounced in dilated than in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Inhibition of ICaL at higher frequencies, at least partially related to an increase in diastolic [Ca2+]i, will contribute to this negative staircase because of a decrease in the trigger for Ca2+ release, and of decreased loading of the SR.

7-Oxo-prostacyclin affects the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump in mouse diaphragm fibers.

The effect of a stable prostacyclin derivative, 7-oxo-prostacyclin, on the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump in mouse diaphragm muscle was investigated. Resting membrane potentials of muscle cells were measured with glass microelectrodes. In fresh diaphragm preparations from 7-oxo-prostacyclin-pretreated mice (50 micrograms.kg-1 7-oxo-prostacyclin i.p. 30-34 h prior to the experiment) resting membrane potentials were significantly higher (-83.86 +/- 1.40 mV, mean +/- S.E.M.) than in control preparations (-70.78 +/- 1.07 mV). Ouabain at a concentration of 10(-4) mol.l-1 abolished this hyperpolarization (P < 0.05). The electrogenic effect induced by addition of 5 mmol.l-1 K+ to Na(+)-loaded muscles from 7-oxo-prostacyclin-pretreated animals was also enhanced (delta resting membrane potential = 21.73 +/- 3.13 mV) compared with that of the controls (delta resting membrane potential = 18.36 +/- 1.29 mV). Ouabain antagonized the increase in electrogenicity of Na(+)-loaded diaphragms induced by 7-oxo-prostacyclin pretreatment (P < 0.05). In contrast to control preparations, no inhibition of the electrogenic effect induced by 10 mmol.l-1 Ca2+ ions in Na(+)-loaded muscles was observed in diaphragms from 7-oxo-prostacyclin-pretreated animals. In acute experiments with Na(+)-loaded muscles, where 10(-7) mol.l-1 7-oxo-prostacyclin was added to the bath, resting membrane potential reached up to -100 mV. The electrogenic pump-induced increase in resting membrane potential amounted to approximately 30 mV. This effect could be also abolished by 10(-4) mol.l-1 ouabain (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Application of adsorption kinetics for estimation of dissociation constants.

Substances such as drugs, as well as special ligands with expressive biospecific properties, all with different affinities, interact with proteins which can be characterized by dissociation constants. The method for estimation of the dissociation constant on the basis of adsorption kinetics was verified for two typical cases: adsorption of lactate dehydrogenase onto bead cellulose derivatized by reactive dyes C.I.2. or C.I.19, and adsorption of different drugs (neuroleptics and local anesthetics) onto calmodulin immobilized on agarose gel. The real equilibrium values obtained by using the complete time-concentration model of adsorption were fitted according to the respective adsorption isotherms by non-linear regression.

Effect of local anaesthetics and pH: new aspects.

The pH dependence of the effect of local anaesthetics with ester, amide, or carbanilate structure on action potential conduction was studied in rat desheathed sciatic nerve and in single axon preparation in vitro. Not only different slopes but also different directions of this dependence were observed in the pH range 6.0-8.4. The effect of common local anaesthetics such as procaine, lidocaine, trimecaine, and bupivacaine kept decreasing with lower pH. New drugs with carbanilate structure, however (pentacaine, carbisocaine and heptacaine) displayed an opposite dependence. Further analysis showed that this phenomenon cannot be linked to the type of the intermediary chain of the drugs, to differences in pKa values, or to differences in potency of the drugs. Yet a relationship was found to exist between pH dependence and the lipophilicity of the drug. It is suggested that the current hypothesis concerning the pH dependence of the effect of local anaesthetics be complemented by the lipophilic properties of such drugs. This implies a pH dependent formation of micelles in highly lipophilic local anaesthetics which changes their bioavailability, as well as a diffusion of these drugs into and through the lipoid phase besides the base also in the form of an ion pair.

pH dependence of the blocking activity of carbisocaine and its derivatives.

The blocking activity and pH dependence of carbanilate local anaesthetics, carbisocaine and its homologues, were tested on isolated rat sciatic nerves at pH 6.0, 7.2 and 8.4. Carbisocaine blocked the compound action potential more strongly than the derivatives with shorter alkoxysubstituents. The blocking potency of shorter derivatives increased with the rise of external medium pH, whereas the activity of carbisocaine increased with decreasing external pH. Quaternary compounds applied in the external medium were able to block the action potential, but in higher concentrations and with a longer half-time than their tertiary analogues. The blocking potency of quaternary derivatives correlated well with the length of the alkoxysubstituent and thus also with their lipophilicity. Extracellular pH did not consistently change the inhibitory effect of quaternized derivatives. These observations support the view that the lipophilicity of local anaesthetics is one of the possible factors determining their anaesthetic activity and the pH dependence of their effect.

Reversal effects of several Ca(2+)-entry blockers, neuroleptics and local anaesthetics on P-glycoprotein-mediated vincristine resistance of L1210/VCR mouse leukaemic cell line.

The ability of several Ca(2+)-entry blockers, neuroleptics and local anaesthetics to depress the P-glycoprotein-mediated resistance to vincristine was studied in vitro using the L1210/VCR cell line. This cell line was obtained by long-term adaptation of the L1210 mouse leukaemic cell line on vincristine and showed an overexpression of P-glycoprotein and accompanying multidrug resistance (MDR) which was defined as a cell resistance to several cytostatics such as vincristine, vinblastine and actinomycin D. Efficiency of the drugs applied to reverse this resistance was as follows: for Ca(2+)-entry blockers: verapamil (VER) > or = galopamil (GAL) > flunarizine (FLU) >> diltiazem (DIL) > nimodipine (NIM) > or = nifedipine (NIM); for neuroleptics: trifluoperazine (TFP) > chlorpromazine (CHP) > thioridazine (TRD) > perphenazine (PER); for local anaesthetics: carbanilate-Ca7 > cinchocaine (CIN) >> carbanilate-Ca3 > articaine (ART) > carbanilate CAO > lidocaine (LID). Quaternary cabanilate derivatives (Ca7Q and Ca3Q) with permanent positive charge were found to be unable to reverse the vincristine resistance of L1210/VCR cells. No reasonable correlation between the ability of calcium-entry blockers (DIL, VER, GAL, NIF, NIM and FLU) to reduce the viability of L1210/VCR cells growing in the medium supplemented with vincristine and their reported affinity to the L-type of calcium channel was observed. On the other hand, significant positive correlations were observed between both the inhibitory action of local anaesthetics on propagation of action potential in rat sciatic nerve and the ability of drugs to interact with calmodulin and the ability of the respective drug to reverse the resistance of L1210 cells to vincristine.

Ca(2+)-induced inhibition of sodium pump: effects on energetic metabolism of mouse diaphragm tissue.

Tissues of mouse diaphragms were incubated in Liley solution containing 2, 4, 6 and 10 mmol/l calcium. When diaphragm tissue was incubated in 10 mmol/l calcium, an increase of intracellular calcium concentration from 314 +/- 28 to 637 +/- 26 nmol/l was estimated by fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura-2/AM. Moreover, incubation of the tissue in 10 mmol/l Ca2+ led to complete inhibition of electrogenic activity of the sodium pump, as measured by intracellular microelectrodes in a single muscle cell. This inhibition was fully reversible after 5 min washing with Liley solution containing 2 mmol/l CaCl2. The Ca(2+)-induced blocking effect on electrogenic activity of the sodium pump was accompanied by inhibition of glucose incorporation into the muscle tissue. Calcium at concentrations of 6 and 10 mmol/l in bath medium significantly inhibited both CO2 production and O2 consumption. A continual decrease of respiration (CO2/O2) quotient was observed under increasing concentrations of calcium. Moreover, an exponential decrease of ATP tissue levels was observed at increasing concentrations of calcium in the bath medium. On the other hand, massive acceleration of anaerobic glycolysis induced by incubation of the tissue in a medium containing high calcium concentration is improbable. This may be deduced from the fact that only about an 50% increase of lactate content in muscle tissue was observed when diaphragms were incubated for 30 min in medium containing calcium ions at 6 and 10 mmol/l as compared with the control tissue incubated for the same time in the medium containing 2 mmol/l CaCl2. In conclusion it could be stressed that increase of Ca2+ concentration in bath medium induced in diaphragm muscle tissue an elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration accompanied by a depression of sodium pump electrogenic activity and a depression of energy metabolism. These changes may be involved in pathology of muscle tissue during the Ca2+ overload.

Isolation and morphology of single Purkinje cells from the porcine heart.

Purkinje cells were isolated from both ventricles of young adult domestic pigs and examined by transmitted light or laser scanning confocal microscopy. Purkinje cells in free running Purkinje fibres were organised in multicellular strands where individual cells were tightly connected end-to-end and closely side-to-side. After isolation, single cells gradually lost the elongated appearance and became more rounded, but the cell membrane remained smooth and undamaged. The contractile material was not very dense and was seen most clearly in the submembraneous area. Staining of the cell membrane with the lipophilic fluorescent (lye di-8-ANNEPS, and visualization with confocal microscopy, confirmed that the cell surface membrane was smooth without blebs. This staining also showed that Purkinje cells had no transversal tubules. We reconstructed the three-dimensional geometry of the Purkinje cells and determined the cell size. The average values were 62 +/- 9 microm for length, 32 +/- 3 microm for width, and 41 +/- 4 microm for depth (n = 7). Calculated cross-section area and volume were 1047 +/- 167 microm2 and 47 +/- 14 pl. Compared to ventricular cells, the morphology of the Purkinje cells reflects their specific role in impulse conduction.

Inhibition of (Na/K)-ATPase by NFE induces an increase in mechanical activity of perfused guinea-pig heart.

The effect of 1-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)-2-(furylcarbonyl)- ethylene (NFE) on stimulation of (Na/K)-ATPase by sodium and potassium ions was tested in isolated, partially purified sarcolemmal preparation from guinea-pig hearts. NFE inhibited competitively the stimulation of the enzyme by increasing concentrations of potassium. This inhibition was characterized by a significant (p < 0.001) increase of the K0.5 value, a considerable decrease of the Hill's cooperativity constant n as well as by an insignificant diminution of the Vmax value. Contrary to the effect on stimulation by potassium, NFE inhibited non-competitively the stimulation of the ATPase by sodium ions with a significant (p < 0.001) depression of Vmax but without any considerable effect on the K0.5 and n values. These results indicated that NFE may interact with the molecule of (Na/K)-ATPase in a locus close to or identical with the potassium binding site of the enzyme, i.e., in a similar mode as it was well documented for ouabain. This possibility was strongly supported by the finding that NFE administered at the concentration of 0.1 mumol/l in the perfusion medium increased significantly (p < 0.01) the mechanical activity of isolated perfused guinea-pig heart (Langendorff preparation). Nevertheless, it also caused some adverse effects such as a slight increase in coronary flow resistance and in heart rate as well as in the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Proteins released from liver after ischaemia induced an elevation of heart resistance against ischaemia-reperfusion injury: 2. Beneficial effect of liver ischaemia in situ.

We have shown earlier that proteins released from the heart during preconditioning may protect non-preconditioned heart during sustained ischaemia, similarly as preconditioning itself. In other our experiments we have documented that also proteins released from isolated rat liver during reperfusion after global ischaemia performed a protective effect on isolated rat heart against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. In the current study we examined the effect of liver ischaemia in situ on resistance of rat heart to ischaemia and reperfusion injury. Wistar rats (male) were subjected to liver ischaemia maintained by occlusion of portal vein and hepatic artery for 20 min, followed with 30-min reperfusion after reopening of both vessels. Then the hearts were isolated and perfused according to Langendorf. Hearts, after initial stabilisation (15 min), were subjected to 20-min ischaemia and 30-min reperfusion. During reperfusion, the haemodynamic parameters of hearts were measured. The protein pattern of high soluble fraction (HS fraction) isolated from rat blood by precipitation with ammonium sulphate was detected by SDS-PAGE. Our results showed improved parameters of pressure and contractility in the group after liver ischaemia (ischaemic group), presented by decreased diastolic pressure and increased LVDP((S-D)) in comparison with levels of these parameters in the control group. We also observed improved heart contraction-relaxation cycles parameters (dP/dt)(max) and (dP/dt)(min) in ischaemic group as compared with the control group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in heart rate and coronary flow between both experimental groups. SDS-PAGE showed changed protein pattern in HS fraction, particularly the levels of several low molecular weight proteins increased. We conclude that liver ischaemia induced a higher resistance of heart against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We propose that release of some cardioprotective proteins present in HS fraction can also contribute to this cardioprotection.

Lipid peroxidation during acute stress.

Lipid peroxidation (LPO) is one of the main events induced by oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of 30 min cold-immobilization (model of acute stress used in this experiment) on LPO in the brain, heart, liver and stomach homogenates of the rats. LPO was determined by measuring of the contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) and sulfhydryl groups (SH). Experimental stress induced enhancement of TBARS formation in the liver and increased level of the CD in the heart, stomach and liver, while in the brain both parameters were found to be decreased. The levels of TBARS were not changed in the heart and in the stomach, too. The concentrations of SH-groups were decreased in the heart, brain and stomach, while in the liver the parameter was found to be not changed. The results of this study showed the increase of LPO in the heart, stomach and liver under stress conditions. It could be supposed that LPO may be involved in mechanisms of stress injury in different tissues.

Local anesthetic effect of carbisocaine and its enantiomers.

The optically active isomers of carbisocaine [1-methyl-2-diethylaminoethyl ester of 2-(n)-heptyloxycarbonilic acid] were prepared. The blocking activity of equimolar concentrations of the carbisocaine and its corresponding enantiomers was tested on isolated rat sciatic nerves. There were no significant differences between the anesthetic action of racemic form and enantiomers, however, lower activity for the (--)-enantiomer was observed. The results may indicate negligible stereoselectivity of action of highly lipophilic local anesthetic carbisocaine in the excitable membrane.

[The effect of articaine on isolated peripheral nerves]. / Ucinok artikaínu na izolovaný periférny nerv.

The effects of a new local anesthetic articaine (Spofa) (licence of the firm Hoechst) on isolated sciatic nerve were tested. Its actions were compared with the effects of rapidly and shortly acting lidocaine and with a newly synthetized long acting local anesthetic carbizocaine--derivative of carbanillic acid. Articaine acted 3 times more slowly than lidocaine, although it was twice as effective. EC50 showed carbizocaine to be 40 times more effective than articaine at pH 7.2 and its action was slower and prolonged. On lowering external pH, the blocking effects of articaine and lidocaine were diminishing, but the effect of carbizocaine was profound. The nerve sheath decreased and slowed down the local anesthetic activity of articaine. The results indicate that in the light of its pharmacodynamic properties articaine can be arranged with local anesthetics similar to lidocaine. (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 19.).

[The role of Na(+) pump inhibition induced by Ca2(+) ions in the development of pathologic changes during calcium overload in myocardial cells]. / Uloha inhibície Na(+)-pumpy indukovanej Ca2(+)-iónmi pri rozvoji patologických zmien pocas pret'azenia myokardiálnych buniek vápnikom.

Ca2+ ions cause marked inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Strontium and barium ions exert a less pronounced inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. These findings suggest the existence of a regulatory binding site for calcium ions on the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase molecule. Under physiological conditions, this binding site is presumably involved in stopping the activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase during depolarization of the sarcolemma. In pathological conditions which are characterized by calcium overload of cardiomyocytes inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by calcium ions can significantly contribute to massive damage of myocardial cells. (Fig. 3, Ref. 26.).

Influence of calcium antagonists on heart sarcolemmal (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase.

The effect of calcium entry blocking agents nitrendipine and flunarizine on Mg(2+)-ATPase, (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase, (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase and (Mg2+ + Ca(2+)-ATPase activities was studied. Nitrendipine (1 mumol/l-1) exerted a stimulatory effect on (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase activity. Kinetic analysis of this effect revealed a two-fold rise in Vmax value and lowered Km value for activation of the enzyme by Na+ ions. In concentrations 10(-7) and 10(-5) mol.l-1 flunarizine behaved as a non-specific inhibitor of all sarcolemmal ATPases investigated. Nevertheless, in concentration of 10(-6) mol.l-1 flunarizine inhibited selectively the (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase and (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase activities of myocardial sarcolemma. These observations provided evidence that both flunarizine and nitrendipine, in the concentration 10(-6) mol.l-1, modulate the (Mg2+ + Na(+)-ATPase and (Na+ + K(+)-ATPase activities in cardiac sarcolemma. These side effects of the above drugs particularly that of nitrendipine might have potential physiological relevance.

[The effect of quaternization on local anesthetic effects of trimecaine]. / Vplyv kvarternizácie na lokálnoanestetický úcinok trimekaínu.

Effects of the local anaesthetic trimecaine and its quaternary derivative on the isolated rat sciatic nerves were examined. Trimecaine inhibited action potential propagation in the isolated nerve in vitro at four-times lower concentrations than its quaternary derivative. Despite extracellular application, the quaternary derivative inhibited action potential propagation in the sciatic nerve but with a longer half-life in comparison with trimecaine. With increasing external pH, the blocking effect of trimecaine was profound. The blocking potency of the quaternary compound was not consistently changed with the changes in external medium pH.

[Pharmacologic control of reperfusion dysrhythmias]. / Farmakologické ovplyvnenie reperfúznych dysrytmií.

The present study aims to investigate the effects of the lipophilic antioxidant Trolox C (a vitamin E analogue) and stobadine, a scavenger of free oxygen radicals, on reperfusion dysrhythmias. Experiments were performed on isolated perfused rat hearts subjected to global stop-flow ischaemia followed by reperfusion. Trolox C (10(-4 mol.l-1) and stobadine (10(-5) mol.l-1) were infused immediately prior to ischaemia. Trolox C (10(-4) mol.l-1) and stobadine (10(-5) mol.l-1) decreased the incidence and duration of reperfusion-induced dysrhythmias (quantified by the dysrhythmia score) in comparison to the ischaemic-reperfusion damaged hearts. There was an improvement in the recovery of contraction force and left ventricular diastolic pressure in Trolox or stobadine pretreated hearts. No significant changes in coronary flow resistance were observed. The results suggest that both substances protect the myocardium during ischaemic-reperfusion injury probably by affecting the generation and activity of reactive oxygen species.