The Effect of Amiodarone on the Ultrastructure of Ganglionic Neurons of Rabbit Heart

Purpose: This research has been carried out to study the morphological and ultrastructural changes of rabbit heart ganglionic neurons and nerve fibers after treatment with Amiodarone. Materials and Methods: 21 rabbits were divided into control and two experimental groups. The first experimental group for one week and the second experimental group for two weeks were injected intraperitoneally 80 mg/kg Amiodarone. The control group received normal saline the same dose as Amiodarone .Then the animals were anesthetized and perfused with Karnovsky, s fixative and the tissues were fixed and prepared for electron microscope study. Results: Ultrastructural changes in neurons and nerve fibers of experimental groups in comparison with control group included shrinkage of nuclear envelope and formation of electron dense masses in myelin of nerve fibers. Conclusion: These results indicate that Amiodarone causes ultrastructural changes in neurons and nerve fibers of intrinsic cardiac ganglia.