[Protective effects of chrominum on myocardial damage in rats]

To prove the protective effects of trivalent chromium (Cr3+) on myocardial damage, its ultrastructure and electro-physiological changes were observed in different groups of rats with intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, Cr3+ and selenium, and injection of adriamycin (ADR) by their tail vein. Results of ultrastructural observations showed nuclear margin of myocardial cells was obscure, cytoplasm became coarse and sparse, mitochondria vacuolar, myocardiofibril loose, broken and lytic in the group treated with ADR, myocardiopathic changes reduced and myocardial filaments arranged in good order in that with Cr3+ and selenium. QRS complex, Q-T interval, APD50 and APD90 in electrocardiograph (ECG) prolonged in the group with ADR and selenium, and no changes were observed in that with Cr3+. It suggests Cr3+ and selenium have apparently protective effects on rat's myocardium, and Cr3+ also can reverse the changes in ECG caused by ADR, which is of importance in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.