Morphological findings after intracoronary application of endothelin-1 in dog.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin-1 is a strong vasoconstrictor, high doses of which can cause prolonged vasoconstriction.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to investigate as to whether the endothelin-induced vasoconstriction causes irreversible morphological changes in the myocardium in experimental animals and to verify the applicability of this experimental model in the study of the impact of endothelin.


METHODS
Fourteen anaesthetized dogs were administered with 400 pmol of endothelin. The substance was applied into the left anterior descending coronary artery. The serum activities of AST, CK and LD enzymes, and changes in electric activity of the myocardium were monitored. The heart of one of the dogs was analyzed morphologically.


RESULTS
Following the application of endothelin, vasoconstriction supervened, lasting from 25 to 27 minutes. Five dogs developed fibrillation of ventricles and died. The dogs which survived yielded changes in the activities of the investigated enzymes and changes in electric activity which were typical of focal impairment of the myocardium in sense of necrosis. Morphologically the changes represented disseminated fibrosis or minor scars in the myocardium.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of endothelin into the coronary artery can cause irreversible structural changes in the myocardium. (Fig. 1, Ref. 18.).
Sidlo
J
J
Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. bernadic@fmed.uniba.sk
Bernadic
M
M
Zlatos
L
L
Holzerová
J
J
Maasová
D
D
Hulín
I
I
D000818:Animals; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004285:Dogs; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
D019332:Endothelin-1