Contractile function of the heart after acute cooling and its correction by adaptogens

In experiments on white Wistar rats the effect of acute 4-hour freezing at -10 °C on contractile function of the hearts isolated by the Langendorff technique, and the protective efficacy of Rhodiolae Rosea extractum were investigated. The obtained results testify to the fact that acute cooling leads to a decrease in myocardial contractile activity that recovers during 18 hours. But this recovery cannot be complete as it does not result in stable contractility of isolated heart in perfusion. Preliminary adaptation of animals during treatment with Rhodiolae Rosea extract prevents the decrease in contractility force immediately after acute cooling and contributes to the stable contractility during 60 minutes of perfusion. Moreover, Rhodiolae Rosea extract does not remove the disturbance in diastolic function and in all cases leads to a decrease in coronary blood flow. The effect of Rhodiolae Rosea extract on the myocardium is likely to be similar to that of myocardial recovery after acute cooling.