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Research Article
Originally Published 1 November 1967
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Contraction Dependency of the Positive Inotropic Action of Cardiac Glycosides

Abstract

The concept that the positive inotropic effect of cardiac glycosides is dependent on the contractile state of the myocardium was tested. Isolated left atria of rabbits, when driven electrically at 15, 30, 60 and 120/min (at 30, 33, or 37°C), responded to ouabain (I µ/ml) in proportion to the number of contractions and not to the time of exposure or frequency of drive. Contraction-related effects were proportional to concentration of ouabain, acetylstrophanthidin, and digoxin. A contraction-related effect of ouabain was observed in anesthetized dogs with surgical A-V block, ventricular electrical drive and right ventricular contractile force recording. Quiescent rabbit atria exposed to ouabain for 30 min at 30°C and then washed in ouabain-free medium, showed minimal positive inotropic effect when stimulation was resumed. Toxic concentration of ouabain (5 µg/ml) in contact with quiescent atria for 30 min and then washed out, on resumption of stimulation had an immediate positive intropic (but no toxic) effect which diminished progressively, in contrast to the rapid development of toxic effects (ectopic contractions and contracture) in atria exposed to this dose of auabain during repetitive contractions. It is concluded that a major part of the positive intropic effect of cardiac glycosides is contraction dependent.

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Published In

Go to Circulation Research
Circulation Research
Pages: 727 - 740
PubMed: 6073565

History

Accepted: 23 September 1967
Published online: 1 November 1967
Published in print: November 1967

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Keywords

  1. ouabain
  2. acetylstrophanthidin
  3. digoxin
  4. frequency-force relationships
  5. rabbit atria
  6. dog heart

Authors

Affiliations

NEIL C. MORAN, M.D.
Department of Pharmacology, Division of Basic Health Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322

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  1. INTERDEPENDENCE OF ION TRANSPORT AND THE ACTION OF OUABAIN IN HEART MUSCLE, British Journal of Pharmacology, 61, 1, (19-27), (2012).https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1977.tb09735.x
    Crossref
  2. Comparison of the inotropic response to glucagon, ouabain and noradrenaline, British Journal of Pharmacology, 40, 3, (382-395), (2012).https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb10620.x
    Crossref
  3. Myocardial Ouabain Content and Susceptibility to Ouabain Cardiotoxicity Associated with Circulatory Volume Overload in the Dog*, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 7, 3, (275-280), (2008).https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1445-5994.1977.tb03686.x
    Crossref
  4. THE EFFECT OF HEART RATE ON MYOCARDIAL OUABAIN UPTAKE AND ON THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO OUABAIN CARDIOTOXICITY IN THE DOG, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 5, 2, (171-179), (2007).https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1681.1978.tb00667.x
    Crossref
  5. Digitalis sensitivity of Na+,K+-ATPase, myocytes and the heart, Life Sciences, 48, 2, (97-106), (1991).https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(91)90402-W
    Crossref
  6. Cellular electrophysiology of digitalis toxicity, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 5, 5, (22A-34A), (1985).https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(85)80460-5
    Crossref
  7. Temperature-dependent development of ouabain action in isolated guinea pig heart: Differences in sodium influx?, European Journal of Pharmacology, 104, 3-4, (223-233), (1984).https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(84)90397-2
    Crossref
  8. How increased sodium influx enhances digoxin-induced arrhythmias in guinea-pig atrial muscle, European Journal of Pharmacology, 89, 3-4, (199-209), (1983).https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(83)90495-8
    Crossref
  9. A comparison of inotropic actions of p-chloromercuribenzoate, ouabain, digitoxin and digitoxigenin, European Journal of Pharmacology, 77, 4, (289-298), (1982).https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(82)90131-5
    Crossref
  10. Digitalis, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 18, 1, (1-89), (1982).https://doi.org/10.1016/0163-7258(82)90026-2
    Crossref
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Contraction Dependency of the Positive Inotropic Action of Cardiac Glycosides
Circulation Research
  • Vol. 21
  • No. 5

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Circulation Research
  • Vol. 21
  • No. 5
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