Influence of long-term treatment with dipyridamole on the aorta-stenosed rabbit heart: morphometric and functional investigations.

The well-known effects of dipyridamole on the increase of the coronary vessel system and on cardiac metabolism suggest that dipyridamole may have a favourable influence on the chronic pressure loaded heart. In the model of the aorta-stenosed growing rabbit the cardiomegaly was diminished after a 3-month treatment using high doses of dipyridamole. Histometrically a marked decrease of the enlargement of the cross-sectional area of muscle fibres was found. It is assumed that dipyridamole retards myocardial hypertrophy and stimulates hyperplasia. Simultaneously the impairment of distinct parameters of cardiac contractility in the aorta-stenosed heart was prevented in growing rabbits by long-term dipyridamole treatment.