Effect of dopamine and amine-oxidase inhibitors in experimental myocardial infarction in rats

Cardiac necrosis was induced in rats by isoproterenol (ISO) (85 mg/kg, sc) administered daily for 2 days. The average degree of cardiac necrosis was significantly less in animals pretreated for 4 days before and 2 days during ISO administration with either nialamide (30 mg/kg) or phenelzine (25 mg/kg). Dopamine (100 μg/kg) also produced salutory effects in cardiac necrosis in ISO injected group. The extent of damage was further reduced if nialamide and dopamine were given together for 4 days before and 3 days during ISO administration. 86Rb uptake by the myocardium was significantly lower (at. 52.8 +- 7%) in ISO injected rats. When the rats were pretreated with nialamide or phenelzine, the 86Rb uptake was significantly increased to 68.7 +- 3.2 and 71.5 +- 5.5 in comparison to ISO injected group. In dopamine pretreated group, the 86Rb uptake was increased to 62.5 +- 3.5 but maximum increase (82.5 +- 4.2) occurred in rats pretreated with dopamine + nialamide. Thus a combination of dopamine with nialamide may offer a promising therapeutic approach. (author)