[Cardioprotection by oral application of the calcium antagonist fendiline. Prevention of isoproterenol-induced myocardial necroses in rats (author's transl)].

1. N-(2-Benzhydryl-ethyl)-N-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-amine hydrochloride (fendiline, Sensit) -- in accordance with its characteristics as a Ca++-antagonist -- shows a strong cardioprotective effect in rats against isoproterenol-induced myocardial necroses. 2. Fendiline is effective via oral administration. 3. The protective effect of fendiline on the myocardium is demonstrated by means of histopathological and histoenzymatic techniques. 4. A particularly reliable method of quantifying the cardio-protective effect of a drug has proven to be the measurement of mitochondrial enzyme activity (cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase) using histoenzymatic microphotometry.