[Effect of strophanthin and cytochrome C on myocardial contraction and the incidence of shock and ventricular fibrillation in experimental myocardial infarct].

High ligation of the interventricular artery caused ventricular fibrillation in the first 2--4 minutes in 20% of cats. In the remaining animals myocardial contractility diminished to half its initial value. After that, contractility increased gradually. In cardiosclerosis myocardial contractility reduced by 20--30%. Ligation of the interventricular artery on the background of cardiosclerosis induced cardiogenic shock in half of the animals. Cytochrome C does not reduce the diminution of myocardial contractility after ligation and has a marked antifibrillatory effect. Strophantin does not affect the diminution of contractility of a healthy myocardium but reduces the decrease in contractility of a sclerosed myocardium and also promotes the development of ventricular fibrillation following ligation of the interventricular artery.