Consequences of opiate agonist and antagonist in myocardial ischaemia suggest a role of endogenous opioid peptides in ischaemic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the effects of an opiate agonist (U50,488H) and an opiate antagonist (naloxone) in myocardial ischaemia.

METHODS

A left thoracotomy was performed and the left coronary artery was ligated in adult Sprague-Dawley rats of either sex (350-400 g). Blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiogram were measured before and after injections of U50,488H or naloxone and throughout the 30 min postligation period.

RESULTS

Following coronary artery occlusion, all rats in the control group developed arrhythmias, bradycardia, and hypotension. U50,488H potentiated and naloxone attenuated the ischaemia induced arrhythmias, bradycardia, and hypotension.

CONCLUSIONS

The potentiating and blocking effects of U50,488H and naloxone, respectively, suggest that endogenous opioid peptides are involved in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischaemia and play an important role in ischaemic heart disease.