Relation between myocardial -adrenoceptor density and hemodynamic and neurohumoral changes in a rat model of chronic myocardial infarction: effects of ibopamine and captopril

Abstract

In this coronary artery ligation model of myocardial infarction in rats, no beta-adrenoceptor down-regulation is observed, despite marked abnormalities in baseline left ventricular function and plasma norepinephrine levels. The combination of ibopamine and captopril significantly increases Bmax in infarcted rats, which is accompanied by a reduction in plasma norepinephrine levels, but not by an improvement in hemodynamic parameters.