The influence of ethanol and the calcium channel antagonist, nifedipine on myocardial ultrastructure in the rat.

In this study we investigated the ultrastructural changes in rat myocardium induced by the concomitant treatment of animals with ethanol and the calcium channel antagonist, nifedipine. The animals were given perorally either placebo or 8 g/kg body weight ethanol in combination with 3 mg/kg nifedipine for 30 days. In contrast to known effects of ethanol on myocardial ultrastructure, the animals treated with ethanol and nifedipine did not have cardiomyocyte damage. The most common ultrastructural alteration was increased numbers of mitochondria. In a previous paper we reported that another calcium channel antagonist, verapamil, worsened the toxic effects of ethanol on rat myocardium. Therefore, our data could be potentially significant in the selection of a calcium antagonist for patients with increased alcohol consumption.