[Myocardial contractile function in acute heart failure during exposure to strophanthin and its combination with...

In experiments on rabbits it was established that strophanthin (0.05 mg/kg) administered to animals with cardiac insufficiency due to a severe overloading of the heart function by occlusion of the diaphragmatic portion of the aorta by 4/5 of its diameter improved the contractile activity and relaxing properties of the left ventricle. This effect is however transient (up to 15-30 minutes) with the subsequent reduction of its characteristic indices, the development of symptoms of intoxication and not infrequently death of animals. alpha-tocopherol administered before the pathology reproduction (10 mg/kg, 3 days) increases the period of myocardial compensation and when given in combination with strophanthin significantly potentiates the cardiac effect of glycoside manifesting by an increase of the strength and rate of contraction and intensity of diastolic relaxation of the myocardium, prolongs the animal's life.