THE INFLUENCE OF THE CALCIUM-CHANNEL ANTAGONIST, VERAPAMIL AND ETHANOL ON THE MYOCARDIAL ULTRASTRUCTURE IN THE RAT

In this study we investigated the ultrastructural changes in rat myoca rdium induced by the concomitant treatment of animals with ethanol and the calcium channel antagonist, verapamil. The animals were given per orally either placebo or 8 g/kg body weight ethanol in combination wit h 3 mg/kg verapamil for 30 days. Rats treated with ethanol and verapam il had ultrastructural myocardiocyte damage. The ultrastructural chang es were present in myofibrils, mitochondria, intercalated discs and pl asmalemma. Due to widespread use of verapamil for treatment of a varie ty of cardiological disorders and, therefore, a high risk of its inter action with ethanol the data can be of potential signficance for human s.