[Effect of vitamin E deficiency on the development of cardiac arrhythmias as affected by acute ischemia].

Malonic dialdehyde content was increased by 53% in the myocardium of male Wistar rats (250-300 g) devoid of vitamin E for 2 months, as compared to the control rats (animals receiving an optimal amount of vitamin E). Transitory ischemia (10 min) with subsequent reoxygenation (5 min) was induced during open heart surgery under urethan anesthesia. Ischemia was induced by the occlusion of the descending branch of the left coronary artery. In ischemic rats with vitamin E deficiency the incidence of ventricular fibrillation, tachycardia, extrasystoles and the additive duration of arrhythmias were significantly increased as compared to the control.