Short-term diabetes decreases ischemia reperfusion-induced arrhythmia: the effect of alpha-2 blocker yohimbine and glibenclamide

This study examined the effect of yohimbine alone and in combination with glibenclamide on ischemia and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in diabetes. Six minutes of ischemia were produced in 1-week diabetic rats by ligation of the left coronary artery, and 6 min of reperfusion were produced by releasing the artery. A dose of 5 mg/kg of yohimbine and glibenclamide was administered for 7 days prior to the coronary ligation. The blood pressure, heart rate, and arrhythmia were determined from the recorded ECG during the 6 min of ischemia and reperfusion and then compared using a one-way ANOVA statistical program and the chi-square test. The score of arrhythmia calculated from the type and duration of arrhythmia decreased in the diabetic rats (3.5 +/- 1.69 in control, 1.7 +/- 0.81 in diabetes group). The arrhythmia score returned to the control value in the rats that were given a combination of yohimbine and glibenclamide (3 +/- 1.73). Yohimbine is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction; glibenclamide is used as an antidiabetic drug in diabetic patients and may be a risk factor in the increase of ischemia reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.