Protective effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (CEI): captopril and perindopril on vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rat.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two CEI: captopril and perindopril on reperfusion arrhythmias and noradrenaline 3H (NA3H) release in the isolated rat heart on arrhythmias in pentobarbitone anaesthetized rats subject to left coronary artery ligation. In vitro, in control preparations, reperfusion after 10 min of local ischemia produced by coronary ligation was accompanied by a sudden release of NA3H in coronary flow and long lasting ventricular arrhythmias. Reperfusion arrhythmias were prevented by perfusion medium containing a high dose of CEI and CEI did not change the patterns of NA3H release. In vivo, mortality due to ventricular fibrillation was significantly reduced in rats pretreated with captopril or perindopril 15 min prior to coronary ligation. CEI reduced the severity of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF).