The Effect of Anti-lipolytic Agents on Isoprenaline-induced Myocardial Necrosis in the Rat

The effect of inhibiting isoprenaline-induced lipolysis on the degree of damage produced in the rat myocardium by this amine has been investigated by pre-dosing rats with the anti-lipolytic agent 5-fluoro-nicotinic acid. The degree of myocardial necrosis produced in animals given isoprenaline alone and those pre-dosed with the anti-lipolytic agent was measured by the use of an automated flying spot microscope to show absence of formazan from dead muscle fibres in sections treated to demonstrate succinic dehydrogenase. The use of the anti-lipolitic considerably reduced the degree of myocardial damage produced by a standard dose of isoprenaline bitartrate. This was associated with an inhibition of the post-isoprenaline rise in plasma free fatty acid levels. The results are discussed in relation to the possible protective roles of the lowering of plasma free fatty acid levels and inhibition of the adenyl cyclase system at the plasma membrane of the myocardial cell produced directly by the anti-lipolytic.