Effect of zinc sulphate on infarct size in experimental myocardial infarction in dogs

The effect of zinc sulphate on myocardial infarct size following left coronary artery branch occlusion in dogs was studied. Zinc sulphate (10 mg/kg) was administered po, 24 h and 2 h before coronary occlusion in one group of animals. The area at risk was visualised by methylene blue injected intraventricularly. The infarcted area was visualised by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. The infarct size expressed as a percentage of risk zone was 76.54 +/- 3.01 per cent (mean +/- SE) in the control group and 37.96 +/- 2.20 per cent in the zinc sulphate group (P less than 0.001). Zinc sulphate appears to be a potent prophylactic agent for limiting the size of myocardial infarct in the dogs.