The influence of the low-energy defibrillating impulse on the endothelin-1 concentration in the left heart ventricle and blood serum of the healthy rabbits.

The influence of low-energy defibrillation on changes in the ET-1 levels in the myocardium and on disruptions in coronary blood flow and microcirculation being their consequence still remains unclear. Myocardial microcirculatory dysfunction is considered as a significant cause underlying myocardial dysfunction in post-cardiac arrest syndrome. This study is aimed at evaluating time-dependent changes in ET-1 levels in serum and the heart of a healthy rabbit following the application of a low-energy two-phase shock impulse. The research was conducted in 35 healthy rabbits at the age of 36 - 42 weeks and with body mass from 3200 to 4150 grams. The animals were divided in a randomized way into four groups depending on the dose of the electrical energy planned for the application during the experiment. The life parameters of the animals were monitored with the application of BeneView T5 patient monitor. The concentration of endothelin-1 in the groups was measured before, 15 and 360 minutes after the application of the low-energy double-phase straight-lined electrical impulse. A transthoracic low-energy defibrillation shock impulse causes a long-term increase in the endothelin-1 levels in the heart muscle and blood serum in a healthy rabbit. The increase in ET-1 levels results from the effect of electrical energy, independently of consequences of the ischemia/reperfusion injury. The increase in the endothelin-1 levels may lead to capillary blood flow abnormalities in the heart, contributing to the development of its dysfunction in the course of postresuscitation disease.