Remodeling of myocardium in rat with chronic dyslipidemia and under conditions of verapamil treatment.

The type and intensity of remodeling (structural reorganization) of the myocardium in Wistar rats were studied under conditions of experimental chronic dyslipidemia and verapamil treatment. Long (64 days) atherogenic diet caused dyslipidemia and led to reduction of the heart percent weight. The cytopathic effect of dyslipidemia manifested in more intense lytic injuries of cardiomyocytes, development of diffuse and small focal cardiosclerosis under conditions of manifest circulatory disorders. Remodeling of the myocardium during various periods of the experiment manifested in a higher connective tissue/cardiomyocyte volume ratio (by 74% after 30 days and by 58-62% after 64 days of experiment). Verapamil injection promoted attenuation of lytic changes in cardiomyocytes and in fibroplastic reactions of the stroma, but failed to prevent them completely.