Progressive electrocardiographic changes in male and female arteriosclerotic and non-arteriosclerotic rats during the course of isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction

Abstract

Electrocardiograms were recorded from male and female, arteriosclerotic and non-arteriosclerotic rats given isoproterenol to induce myocardial infarction. Males exhibited severely damaged hearts and showed definite signs of myocardial infarction, ie, Q waves, J-point elevation, reduction in R-wave amplitude and ventricular arrhythmias. Females infrequently showed overt evidence of myocardial injury and considerably less ECG alterations.