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 myoca rdium induced by the concomitant treatment of animals with ethanol and the calcium channel antagonist, nifedipine. The animals were given pe rorally either placebo or 8 g/kg body weight ethanol in combination wi th 3 mg/kg nifedipine for 30 days. In contrast to known effects of eth anol on myocardial ultrastructure, the animals treated with ethanol an d nifedipine did not have cardiomyocyte damage. The most common ultras tructural alteration was increased numbers of mitochondria. In a previ ous paper we reported that another calcium channel antagonist, verapam il, worsened the toxic effects of ethanol on rat myocardium. Therefore , our data could be potentially significant in the selection of a calc ium antagonist for patients with increased alcohol consumption.