Cardiotoxicity testing of organic solvents by coronary artery ligation in closed-chest rats

The effect in coronary artery occlusion was investigated in closed-chest anesthetized (urethane, pentobarbital, ether) and conscious rats. The parameters measured were: arrhythmia development, heart rate changes and mortality. Lowest mortality rate and less severe arrhythmias were observed in the urethane group. In urethane-anesthetized rats single oral administration of carbon disulphide (8.3 mmol/kg), chloroform (5.7 mmol/kg), trichloroethylene (16.7 mmol/kg) and ethanol (174 mmol/kg), respectively, 1 h prior to coronary occlusion reduced survival rate accompanied by marked influences on arrhythmia development. The coronary occlusion method in closed-chest rats under urethane-anesthesia appears to be a valuable tool for investigating cardiotoxic effects of chemicals.