Effects of afobasol in the reperfusion arrhythmia model

: Afobasol caused insignificant dose-related decrease of main parameters of cardiac activity in narcotized animals and was similar to pulse-decelerating calcium antagonists in terms of hemodynamic effects. Reperfusion after acute regional myocardial ischemia induced malignant cardiac rhythm disorders and progressive impairment of cardiac pump function. These changes combined with increased peripheral resistance created conditions for the development of cardiac insufficiency. Afobasol administered 5 min before the onset of reperfusion significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of cardiac rhythm disturbances and thereby prevented cardiac insufficiency. It is conjectured that cardioprotectice action of afobasol in these conditions was due to its ability to activate sigma-1 receptors in cardiomyocytes and thereby protected heart cells from excessive accumulation of Ca2+ ions.