The prevention of myocardial ultrastructural changes by perindopril, atenolol and amlodipine in chronic alcohol administered rats

The effects of perindopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, atenolol, a beta adrenergic receptor blocker and amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker were investigated in chronic alcohol administered rats. Adult male Wistar rats (240–320 g) were used in the present study. Alcohol was given to rats by a modified liquid diet for 21 days. Perindopril (2.5 and 5 mg kg−1), atenolol (5 and 10 mg kg−1) and amlodipine (5 and 10 mg kg−1) were injected to rats in different groups intraperitoneally for 21 days. Control rats were pair fed by an isocaloric liquid diet containing sucrose as a caloric substitute for alcohol. Saline was injected to control rats for 21 days. Rats were anesthetized with ether. Their hearts were removed and 1 mm3 samples from left ventricles were fixed. Five fields per heart were examined and photographed with transmission electron microscope. Blood alcohol levels were also measured spectrophotometrically. Daily alcohol consumption of the rats was in a range of 12.09–15.5 g kg−1. Blood alcohol concentrations were found as 145.63 mg dl−1 at 21st day of alcohol consumption. Chronic alcohol consumption caused some marked myocardial injuries. Perindopril and atenolol but not amlodipine produced some significant beneficial effects on alcohol-induced myocardial damages. Our results imply that perindopril and atenolol but not amlodipine have protective effects on heavy chronic alcohol consumption-induced myocardial injury in rats.