Summary
Background: The aim was to assess the effect of trimetazidine (TMZ) on mitochondrial alterations induced in a canine model of brief, repeated episodes of ischemia.
Material/Methods: Twelve crossbred dogs were analyzed, after double-blind randomization, to a 7-day treatment with either TMZ or placebo. Twenty brief, complete occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery were performed. Mitochondrial analysis entailed a qualitative (percentage of mitochondrial damage, merging, pairing, vacuoles, and lipofucsin granules) and a quantitative size analysis (major and minor axes, perimeter, and area) of the mitochondria in the ischemic and control zones.
Results: Comparative study of the control zones revealed an increase in lipofucsin granules in the TMZ series and a greater percentage of damaged mitochondria and vacuoles. The control-zone mitochondria
treated with TMZ presented a signifi cant increase in the perimeter and major axis and a decrease in the minor axis (p

Keywords: Lipofuscin - metabolism, Mitochondria, Heart - pathology, Mitochondria, Heart - ultrastructure, Myocardial Ischemia - chemically induced, Trimetazidine - pharmacology, Dogs, Double-Blind Method, Heart - physiology, Lipofuscin - metabolism, Mitochondria, Heart - ultrastructure, Models, Animal, Myocardial Ischemia - pathology, Random Allocation, Trimetazidine - pharmacology, Vasodilator Agents - pharmacology