CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF AFOBAZOL IN ANIMALS WITH CHRONIC MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA

Morphometric studies of the median transverse sections of rat hearts, performed on 28th day after coronary artery ligation, showed that as a result of myocardial infarction the pronounced postinfarction remodelling of the left ventricle of the heart was observed. For example, the diameter of the left ventricle cavity compared with sham-operated animals increased from 2,77±0,37 mm to 5,28±0,56 mm (p≈0,0034), in parallel with significant increasing of the left ventricle area (p≈0,0001). In the rats treated with σ1-receptor agonist afobazol (10 mg/kg/ day, i.p., from 15th to 28th day from the time of coronary artery ligation), the intensity of postinfarction remodelling is much smaller. For example, area of the left ventricle cavity in the treated rats was significantly less (p≈0,0009) than in the control animals: 17,42±2,20 mm2 and 29,63±2,45 mm2 respectively. The assessment of the adaptive capacity of the heart of control and treated animals demonstrated that the reaction of the myocardium contractile function on the volume load in the rats receiving afobazol proves to be significantly (p≈0,002) higher, that indicated its better functional status, whereas in the control animals there was revealed a hidden heart failure, because the hemodynamic response to volume load was practically absent (p=0,3737). The possible mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of afobazol were discussed.