We investigated the possible interaction of glibenclamide and metoprolol on the occurrence of life threatening arrhythmias during the acute phase of experimental myocardial infarction. Coronary artery ligation was performed in conscious rats and ECG was recorded for 15 min following ligation. Neither metoprolol (2 mg/kg i.p., 20 min before coronary artery ligation), nor glibenclamide (5 mg/kg i.p., 30 min before ligation) pretreatment increased significantly the survival rate during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (10 % and 22 %, respectively vs. 9 % in controls). Combination of glibenclamide with metoprolol, however, significantly improved the survival rate (62 %, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the combination of a cardioselective b-blocking agent with an ATP- dependent potassium channel inhibitor may result in an enhanced antiarrhythmic effect during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

We investigated the possible interaction of glibenclamide and metoprolol on the occurrence of life threatening arrhythmias during the acute phase of experimental myocardial infarction. Coronary artery ligation was performed in conscious rats and ECG was recorded for 15 min following ligation. Neither metoprolol (2 mg/kg i.p., 20 min before coronary artery ligation), nor glibenclamide (5 mg/kg i.p., 30 min before ligation) pretreatment increased significantly the survival rate during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (10 % and 22 %, respectively vs. 9 % in controls). Combination of glibenclamide with metoprolol, however, significantly improved the survival rate (62 %, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the combination of a cardioselective b-blocking agent with an ATP- dependent potassium channel inhibitor may result in an enhanced antiarrhythmic effect during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.