[Effect of L-dopa on the catecholamine content and myocardial ultrastructure and contractility in heart surgery]

The fluorometric and histochemical methods of the catecholamines contents determination and electronic microscopy of the ultrastructure were used in the examination of myocardium biopsy preparations. The heart operations were followed with the decrease of catecholamines contents in the myocardium and disorder of the mitochondria ultrastructure. The l-DOPA injection resulted in the increase of the myocardium contractile ability before the operation, but did not prevent from its decrease in the postoperative period. The postoperative l-DOPA administration combined with digitalis, according to the described scheme, contributed to the preservation of the myocardium contractile ability at the optimal level.