Mechanisms of verapamil prevention of disorders of cardiac contractile function during ischemia and reperfusion

: A dog heart isolated according to Langendorf was used to study the effect of verapamil, used as a preventive measure, on the contractile function of the heart, its work and oxygen consumption, and the coronary blood flow in modelled coronary insufficiency and after restoration of blood supply to the myocardium. The results provide evidence that verapamil prevents significant decrease of the efficacy of myocardial functioning in ischemia, owing to which the heart maintains a higher level of performance under conditions of inadequate blood supply, the development of acidosis is prevented, and reperfusion disorders of cardiac function are removed completely. This effect is mediated to a great measure by maintenance of high economy of heart performance due to verapamil.