[Histological, ECG and enzyme studies on dogs following direct current shock applied to the heart region]

Authors using D.C. (direct current)--have produced shock experimentally- at 28 dogs. In the control animals (8 dogs) no histological, EKG and enzymatic changes could be revealed. In the dogs after the application of D.C of 1 X 2.5 W. sec/kg histological and EKG changes were not revealed, although the level of GOT and CPK increased significantly. After the application of D.C. of 4 X 5 W. sec/kg significant increase of the level of the following enzymes occurred: GOT, isoenzyme- LDH5, total-LDH and CPK. In 7 dogs--out of 8 showing histological changes in the myocard--activity of the serum isoenzyme-LDH1 increased and alterations of the EKG occurred. Thoracic musculature of six experimental dogs was investigated histologically. All of them revealed pathological changes. Correlation between the level of the isoenzyme- LDH1, the histological and EKG alterations were found. Increase of the level of serum enzymes seems to be the consequence of the injury of the thoracic-musculature by D.C. shock, and has clinical significance only in cases when pathologic changes of the EKG and increase of the insoenzyme-LDH1 are also present.