Effect of practolol on the extent of myocardial ischaemic injury after experimental coronary occlusion and its effects on ventricular function in the normal and ischaemic heart

Abstract

Epicardial electrocardiographic maps were used to assess the effect of practolol (2·5 mg/kg) on the extent and severity of myocardial ischaemic injury after acute coronary artery occlusion in dogs. The average ST segment elevation and number of sites with abnormally elevated ST segments were significantly reduced 15 min following occlusion after practolol pretreatment when compared with a previous 20 min control occlusion (4·7 ± 0·5 to 2·9 ± 0·6 mV and 8·4 ±0·3 to 5·1 ±0·7, respectively). Analysis of ventricular function in normal conscious animals indicated a lack of myocardial depressant effect of practolol, and this finding was confirmed in the group subjected to coronary occlusions.