[Effect of cordarone on the ultrastructure of cardiac muscle cells in experimental myocardial infarct].

The effect of cordarone on the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes of the periinfarction zone was studied in experiments on 30 cats. Cordarone was injected intramuscularly daily for 3.7 and 15 days in a dose of 10 mg/kg. Experimental myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery at the border of its medium and inferior thirds. As compared with control, cordarone produced a more demonstrable reduction in the intracellular edema, more rapid recovery of the structure of myofibrils and greater accumulation of glycogen granules by the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes. At the same time the structure of the mitochondria returned to normal more slowly as compared with control, with persistent widening of the cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum being observed in addition. The changes described indicate that cordarone exerts different actions on the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes, which is probably based on the drug influence on adrenergic processes and calcium turnover in the myocardium.