Studies on the therapeutic use of Mercurascar. Part III. Influence of Mercurascan on some metabolic changes in experimental myocardial ischaemia in dogs. Section I: Energetic and ionic metabolism.

In experimental studies on dogs, the authors investigated the effect of small does of mercurascan (MSC) on metabolism of the heart muscle damaged by ischaemia. MSC is selectively accumulated and fixed in tissue damaged by ischaemia. MSC was demostrated to inhibit severe disturbances of metabolism in the ischaemic focus. It improves energy metabolism in the damaged tissue by maintaining the concentrations of nucleotides, creatinephosphate and total creatine at a higher level, thereby increasing the energy potential level of the adenylate system. Further, MSC decreases lactate concentration in tissue and reestablishes the disturbed ionic balance. By an hitherto unknown mechanism MSC regulates concentrations of potassium and sodium ions in the ischaemic focus and prevents increased hydration of tissue. Improved metabolic relations in the ischaemic tissue contribute towards normalisation of the heart action.