Cardiovascular effects of endothelin in dogs: positive inotropic action in vivo

Endothelin, administered i.v. to anesthetized dogs, dose dependently increased the cardiac output, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), and maximum upstroke velocity (max dp/dt) of the LVSP for about 10 min without changing the heart rate. Thereafter the cardiac output decreased to below the control level but max dp/dt decreased to the control level. The arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance showed an initial, transient decrease followed by a sustained increase. These results suggest that endothelin has positive inotropic and long-lasting vasoconstrictive effects preceded by transient vasodilatation in vivo.     

Correlation between plasma levels of apelin and myocardial hypertrophy in rats and humans: possible target for treatment?

Objective: To investigate the effects of left ventricular (LV) pressure overload and diabetes on the apelinergic system. Research design/methods: Pressure overload was established in rats by supra-renal aortic-banding. Six weeks later, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), resulting in four groups: sham, banded (BA), diabetic (DM) and diabetic-banded (DM-BA). Twelve weeks later, LV function and structure were evaluated by echocardiography and biopsies and plasma samples collected. Furthermore, plasma samples and LV-endomyocardial biopsies were procured from aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis patients during surgery to evaluate myocardial expression of apelin and APJ-receptor and plasma levels of apelin. Results: Direct correlations between apelin plasma levels and LV-mass index and between apelin and APJ myocardial expression were observed both in humans and rats. Expression of apelin and APJ was not significantly altered by pressure-overload in humans, being downregulated by pressure overload and even more by diabetes in rats. Finally, an inverse correlation between apelin rat plasma levels and its myocardial expression was observed. Conclusions: While apelin/APJ myocardial expression decreases, apelin plasma levels increase in LV hypertrophy. Considering apelin's positive inotropic and vasodilator properties, this elevation in apelin plasma levels may represent a compensatory mechanism to maintain inotropism and cardiac output during pressure-overload or diabetic cardiomyopathy.     

Chronic treatment with apelin,losartan and their combination reduces myocardial infarct size and improves cardiac mechanical function

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has a deleterious and apelin/APJ system has protective effect on the ischaemic heart. The collaboration between these systems in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction is not clear. We determined the effect of chronic pretreatment with apelin, losartan and their combination on ischaemia–reperfusion (IR) injury in the isolated perfused rat heart and on the expression of apelin-13 receptor (APJ) and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in the myocardium. During 5 days before the induction of IR, saline (vehicle), apelin-13 (Apl), F13A (apelin antagonist), losartan (Los, AT1R antagonist) and the combination of Apl and Los were administered intraperitoneally in rats. Ischaemia was induced by left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 55 minutes in the Langendorff isolated heart perfusion system. Pretreatment with Apl, Los and the combination of Apl + Los significantly reduced infarct size by about 30, 33 and 48 percent respectively; and significantly improved the left ventricular function indices such as left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and rate pressure product (RPP). IR increased AT1R protein level but it did not change APJ significantly. AT1R expression was reduced in groups treated with Apl, Los and Apl + Los. Findings showed that chronic pretreatment with apelin along with AT1R antagonist had more protective effects against IR injury. Combination therapy may diminish the risk of IR-induced heart damage, by reducing AT1R expression, in the heart of patients with coronary artery disease that are at the risk of MI and reperfusion injury.     

枳实及其升压有效成分与多巴胺、多巴酚丁胺对心脏功能和血液动力学的对比研究

麻醉犬实验表明枳实及其有效成分辛弗林和N-甲基酪胺与多巴胺、多巴酚丁胺相似,能显著增强多种心肌收缩性和泵血功能的指标:增大左室压变化速率峰值和在共同最高等容收缩压(CPIP)时的心肌收缩成分的缩短速率(V_CE),增加心脏指数(GI),缩短左室从开始收缩到开始射血的时间,降低左室舒张末压。由于在CPIP时的V_CE不受心室后负荷(动脉压)的影响,故可以排除上述指标的增强是由于药物对血压的影响。由于枳实及其有效成分的强心、增加心输出量和收缩血管提高总外周阻力,导致左室压力和动脉血压上升,这是它们抗休克的药理学基础。N-甲基酪胺升高外周阻力的作用比枳实和辛弗林稍弱,但加快心率的作用则较强。这两种成分在作用上是各有特点的。在增加心搏指数等效剂量下,枳实、辛弗林、N-甲基酪胺与大剂量多巴胺增加左室作功指数和射血的张力-时间指数的比值远超过增加心搏指数的百分率,这可能是升压增加左室后负荷造成的。多巴酚丁胺和小剂量多巴胺不同于枳实及其有效成分在于能降低外周血管阻力,降低动脉血压,而不明显增加左室作功指数和射血的张力-时间指数,提示不象枳实那样增加心肌的能量消耗。     

Demonstration of two different types of beta1-receptors in man (selective blockade of the positively inotropic and the positively chronotropic effect of isoproterenol).

The hemodynamic effect of a beta-receptor blockade with mepindolol--a noncardioselective beta-receptor blocker--was studied in 6 male test subjects age 25 to 30 years with an increasing dose of isoproterenol. The cardiac output per min, the heart rate and the stroke volume, the wet blood pressure and the contractility parameters dp/dt max in the right and left ventricles were measured as part of the study. It was found that a dissociated right shift of the dose-effect curves occurred for the stroke volume, contractility parameters and heart rate. The following major conclusions can be made from an exact analysis of this result: 1. Evidence was produced that a distinction must be made in man with respect to the so-called beta1-receptors between those which mediate a specific effect on the heart rate and those which mediate a primarily positively inotropic effect. 2. There are apparently some beta-receptor blockers which inhibit the frequency receptors primarily and the inotropic receptors to a lesser extent. 3. Through their beta 2-effect, noncardioselective beta-receptor blockers can partly compensate for their negatively inotropic effect on the heart by maintaining the Frank Starling mechanism.     

High‐fat diet and chronic stress reduce central pressor and tachycardic effects of apelin in Sprague–Dawley rats

Central application of apelin elevates blood pressure and influences neuroendocrine responses to stress and food consumption. However, it is not known whether the central cardiovascular effects of apelin depend also on caloric intake or chronic stress. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of apelin on blood pressure (mean arterial blood pressure) and heart rate in conscious Sprague–Dawley rats consuming either a normal‐fat diet (NFD) or high‐fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. During the last 4 weeks of the food regime, the rats were exposed (NFDS and HFDS groups) or not exposed (NFDNS and HFDNS groups) to chronic stress. Each group was divided into two subgroups receiving intracerebroventricular infusions of either vehicle or apelin. Apelin elicited significant increase of mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate in the NFDNS rats. This effect was abolished in the HFDNS, HFDS and NFDS groups. HFD resulted in a significant elevation of blood concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides glucose and insulin. Chronic stress reduced plasma concentration of total and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased plasma corticosterone concentration and APJ receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, whereas a combination of a HFD with chronic stress resulted in the elevation of plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and in increased plasma corticosterone concentration, apelin concentration and APJ receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. It is concluded that a HFD and chronic stress result in significant suppression of the central pressor action of apelin, and cause significant though not unidirectional changes of metabolic and endocrine parameters.     

Putative role for apelin in pressure/volume homeostasis and cardiovascular disease

Apelin is a peptide recently isolated from bovine stomach extracts which appears to act as an endogenous ligand for the previously orphaned G-protein-coupled APJ receptor. The apelin gene encodes for a pre-propeptide consisting of 77 amino acids with mature apelin likely to be derived from the C-terminal region as either a 36, 17 or 13 amino acid peptide. Apelin mRNA expression and peptide immunoreactivity has been described in a variety of tissues including gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, brain, kidney, liver, lung and at various sites within the cardiovascular system. Apelin is strongly expressed in the heart with expression also present in the large conduit vessels, coronary vessels and endothelial cells. Message expression for the APJ receptor is similarly distributed throughout the brain and periphery, again including cardiovascular tissue. Consistent with this pattern of distribution, apelin and APJ have been shown to exhibit some role in the regulation of fluid homeostasis. In addition, a growing number of studies have reported cardiovascular actions of apelin. Not only has apelin been observed to alter arterial pressure, but the peptide also exhibits endothelium-dependent vasodilator actions in vivo and positive inotropic actions in the isolated heart. Furthermore, differences in apelin and APJ expression have been described in patients with congestive heart failure and circulating levels of apelin are also reported to change in heart failure. Taken together, these studies suggest a role for apelin in pressure/volume homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. As such, manipulation of this peptide system may offer benefit to the syndrome of heart failure with potential clinical applications in humans.     

The effect of catecholamine infusions on myocardial blood flow, metabolic heat production and on general haemodynamics, before and after alprenolol (H56/28), in anaesthetized cats

1. In cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone sodium, infusions of adrenaline, noradrenaline (0.5 mug/kg per min) and isoprenaline (0.25 mug/kg per min) increased myocardial blood flow, myocardial heat production, left ventricular systolic and end-diastolic pressures, left ventricular +ve and -ve dp/dt max, and calculated cardiac output, effort and oxygen consumption. These effects (apart from the effect of noradrenaline on left ventricular systolic pressure) were markedly reduced by previous administration of alprenolol (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg).2. Infusions of adrenaline and noradrenaline increased arterial diastolic blood pressure and isoprenaline reduced it. After alprenolol the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline were potentiated and that of isoprenaline abolished; in some experiments isoprenaline increased arterial diastolic pressure after alprenolol. Alprenolol did not influence the increases in arterial systolic pressure which followed the administration of adrenaline and noradrenaline.3. Isoprenaline-induced tachycardia was markedly reduced and adrenaline tachycardia was converted to bradycardia after alprenolol. The bradycardia which occurred during noradrenaline infusions was unaffected.4. After blockade by alprenolol, recovery of the effects of isoprenaline on left ventricular dp/dt and on heart rate occurred more quickly than recovery of the effects on arterial diastolic pressure. This suggests that alprenolol has a greater affinity for beta(2)- than for beta(1)-adrenoceptors.5. Intravenous administration of acetylcholine decreased arterial blood pressure, left ventricular pressure and +ve and -ve dp/dt max. During recovery from these effects there was a marked increase in +ve dp/dt max. which was absent after the administration of alprenolol (0.5 mg/kg). Because this dose of alprenolol is thus able to block the effects of reflex sympathetic cardiac nerve stimulation but does not completely antagonize the effects of exogenous adrenaline on dp/dt, it is suggested that alprenolol may have some adrenergic neurone blocking activity.6. Increases in liver and myocardial blood flow and heat production produced by noradrenaline, adrenaline and isoprenaline were reduced after alprenolol.7. Isoprenaline reduced air-way resistance and this effect was abolished by alprenolol; increases in air-way resistance produced by adrenaline and nor-adrenaline were augmented. All three amines inhibited intestinal smooth muscle contractions in vivo. Only the effect of isoprenaline was reduced by alprenolol.     

玉郎伞提取物对心脏血流动力学和冠脉流量的影响

目的：研究玉郎伞提取物(YLS)对冠脉流量(CF)和心脏血流动力学的影响。方法：以比Langcndorff法制备大鼠离体心脏，观察心肌收缩幅度并测定CF。采用心室内插管技术，连接MS2000多媒体生物信号记录系统测定静注YLS前及药后的左心室收缩压(LVSP)、左心室终末舒张压(LVEDP)、心率(HR)、左室压最大上升速率(dp/dtmax)、左室压最大下降速率(-dp/dtmax)、左室开始收缩至dt／dtmax的间隔时间(t-dp/dmax)等血流动力学指标的影响。结果：YLS显著增加冠脉流量(P＜0.05)，明显降低LVSP和dp／dtmax，延长t-dp/dmax，减慢HR及降低心肌的收缩振幅(P＜0.01或P＜0.05)，对LVEDP和-dp/dtmax等舒张性指标无明显影响。结论：YLS具有抑制心肌收缩力、减慢心率和增加冠脉流量作用。     

Haemodynamic effects of molsidomine

The haemodynamic effects of N-carboxy-3-morpholino-sydronimine-ethylester (molsidomine, SIN 10, Corvaton) were studied in anaesthetized mongrel dogs. The effects of molsidomine were identical when given i.v. or i.d. Because of the lack of difference in activity with similar doses i.v. or i.d. complete absorption of the drug can be assumed. There was a sustained decrease in arterial blood pressure accompanied by a long lasting decrease in left ventricular enddiastolic and mean pulmonary artery blood pressure. Heart rate was only moderately affected. Left ventricular endsystolic and enddiastolic volumes, as estimated from measurements of left ventricular outer dimension with ultrasonic techniques, decreased. Even in nearly toxic doses molsidomine did not influence left ventricular contractility as judge from measurements of dp/dt max., (dp/dt)/(LVP-LVEDP + c) max., ejection time and duration of systole. All the observed effects of molsidomine can be explained by an extracardiac action: increase in systemic venous capacity. Consequently venous return, mean pulmonary artery pressure and left ventricular filling pressure are reduced leading to a decrease in left ventricular volumes. This should cause a reduction of cardiac output, of peripheral blood pressure and of external cardiac work. In connection with reduced left ventricular wall tension a fall in myocardial oxygen consumption can be expected.     

阻断内皮素受体和抑制血管紧张素转化酶在慢性心衰大鼠中的相加作用

目的:评价一种新的内皮素受体拮抗剂tezosentan对慢性心衰大鼠血流动力学的急性作用,并进一步研究该药与血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)抑制剂依那普利合用是否有相加作用。方法:在结扎左侧冠状动脉所致的慢性心衰大鼠中测量血流动力学的指标。结果:心肌梗死3-5周后,大鼠产生慢性心衰,与假手术大鼠相比,慢性心衰大鼠左心室舒张末期压(LVEDP)显著升高,其均值为23-26mmHg,心肌收缩力(左心室dp/dt_(max))降低30％-40％,平均动脉压(MAP)降低大于10％。在慢性心衰大鼠中,静脉注射tezosentan(10mg·kg~(-1))或依那普利(1mg·kg~(-1))显著降低其MAP和LVEDP,并对其心率或dp/dt_(max)无影响。与tezosentan或依那普利单用组相 比,两者合用对慢性心衰大鼠的MAP和LVEDP具有相加作用,对其心率或dp/dt_(max)无显著性作用。结论:急性静脉注射tezosentan改善慢性心衰大鼠心脏血流动力学,降低其LVEDP和后负荷(MAP),其心率和心肌收缩性(dp/dt_(max))并不受影响。Tezosentan的这些有利作用与依那普利相似。而且在抑制ACE作用的基础上,Tezosentan的这些有益作用也是很明显的。因此,tezosentan有望成为急性治疗心衰的有效新药。     

The effects of a new β-adrenoceptor blocking compound, tolamolol, on haemodynamics and myocardial function in man

1 The effects of tolamolol on haemodynamics and myocardial contractility were investigated in two groups of six patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization.2 The intravenous administration of tolamolol (0.15 mg/kg) produced a significant fall in heart rate from a control value (87 +/- 7 to 62 +/- 3 beats/min) 5 min after administration and a concomitant fall in cardiac output from 4.7 +/- 0.9 to 3.5 +/- 0.8 litres/minute. There was no significant change in systemic blood pressure, pulmonary artery blood pressure or stroke volume.3 There was no change in left ventricular end diastolic pressure after tolamolol. There was a fall in the maximum rate of rise of the left ventricular pressure (LV dp/dt(max)) and the derived index of the left ventricular contractile state (V(max)).4 These results suggest that tolamolol has a predominantly negative chronotropic but also a lesser negative inotropic action on the heart.     

Pharmacology of LY195115, a potent, orally active cardiotonic with a long duration of action

Compound LY195115 is a novel cardiotonic with both inotropic and vasodilator activities. In cat papillary muscles, LY195115 increased contractility in a concentration-dependent manner; its actions were not blocked by either prazosin or propranolol. An intravenous dose of 7.0 micrograms/kg LY195115 resulted in a 50% increase in contractility in anesthetized dogs; comparable inotropic responses were observed in anesthetized cats receiving 10 micrograms/kg i.v. These doses of LY195115 increased heart rates of both dogs and cats by less than 10%. Oral administration of 25 micrograms/kg to conscious dogs was associated with a selective inotropic response that was maximal at 3 h and maintained in excess of 23 h. This effect was not accompanied by gross behavioral changes or emesis. The hemodynamic profile of LY195115 was evaluated in anesthetized beagle dogs. A 60-min infusion of 1.0 microgram/kg/min LY195115 followed by a 5-min infusion of 10 micrograms/kg/min resulted in dose-dependent increases in contractility (LV dP/dt60) and heart rate; doses that increased LV dP/dt60 by 50% increased heart rate by less than 10%. Doses of greater than 5.0 micrograms/kg decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and systemic vascular resistance; mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac output were unchanged. Estimated myocardial oxygen consumption (heart rate times either systolic or mean arterial blood pressure) was not altered by doses as high as 110 micrograms/kg. This balance of inotropic/vasodilator activities may provide a means of improving cardiac function while maintaining myocardial oxygen supply/demand.     

Effects of dopamine D1 and dopamine D2 receptor agonists on coronary and peripheral hemodynamics

This study evaluated the coronary dopamine receptors by using the dopamine D1 receptor agonist fenoldopam, dopamine D2 receptor agonist propylbutyldopamine, and their selective antagonists SCH23390 and domperidone. Left circumflex coronary flow (CF), coronary perfusion pressure at constant flow, left ventricular hemodynamics, and total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) were measured in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs at constant arterial pressures. At doses of 200, 500 and 5000 nM, both fenoldopam and propylbutyldopamine induced dose-related inotropic effects, as evidenced by maximal dp/dt and cardiac output, an increase in CF, decrease in coronary vascular resistance and a decrease in TPR. Fenoldopam was more potent in its cardiac and coronary effects while propylbutyldopamine was more potent peripherally. On the basis of dosage used, the positive inotropic effects of fenoldopam and propylbutyldopamine were much weaker than dopamine. After beta-receptor blockade, the inotropic and coronary effects of fenoldopam and propylbutyldopamine were extremely attenuated. Domperidone could largely antagonize the propylbutyldopamine-induced inotropic and coronary effects while SCH23390 showed no significant effect. In addition, under our experimental conditions, the fenoldopam- and propylbutyldopamine-induced decreases in TPR were markedly reduced by SCH23390 and domperidone, respectively. The results indicate that the coronary effects of fenoldopam and propylbutyldopamine result not from a primary coronary vasodilating action, but from vasodilation secondary to positive inotropic effects. Both dopamine D1 and dopamine D2 receptors are involved in the peripheral vascular hemodynamics.     

The role of apelin in central cardiovascular regulation in rats with post‐infarct heart failure maintained on a normal fat or high fat diet

Based on the available literature, it can be assumed that in cases of post‐infarct heart failure (HF) and obesity, a significant change in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system takes place with, among others, the involvement of the apelinergic system. The main objective of the present study was to clarify the role of apelin‐13 in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system in Sprague Dawley rats with HF or sham operated (SO) and fed on a normal fat (NFD) or a high fat diet (HFD). The study was divided into two parts: Part I, hemodynamic studies; and Part II, biochemical and molecular studies. The animals were subjected to the following research procedures. Part I and II: feeding NFD or HFD; experimental induction of HF or SO; Part I: intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of the examined substances, monitoring of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR); Part II: venous blood and tissue samples collected. ICV infusion of apelin‐13 caused significantly higher changes in ΔMABP in the SO NFD group. No changes were noted in ΔHR in any of the studied groups. Apelin and apelin receptor (APJ) mRNA expression in the brain and adipose tissues was higher in the HF rats. HFD causes significant increase in expression of apelin and APJ mRNA in the left ventricle. In conclusion, HF and HFD appear to play an important role in modifying the activity of the central apelinergic system and significant changes in mRNA expression of apelin and APJ receptor.     

Effects of intravascular volume expansion on the cardiovascular response to naloxone in a canine model of severe endotoxin shock.

The specific opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, can produce haemodynamic improvement and increased survival in experimental shock. The efficacy of naloxone therapy in a canine model of endotoxin shock has been evaluated both with and without intravascular volume replacement. Animals were anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose and allowed to breathe spontaneously. A large bolus dose of endotoxin was followed by a continuous infusion and treatment was instituted one hour after the endotoxin bolus. In the absence of volume replacement, naloxone caused only limited and transient increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and left ventricular (LV) dp/dt max, with little effect on cardiac index (CI). Total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) tended to rise in both control and naloxone-treated dogs. In volume-replaced animals, naloxone produced substantial and sustained increases in the MAP and LV dp/dt max with an associated rise in the CI. TPRI rose initially in this series and then fell progressively. Further analysis of the improvements in the CI showed an increase in stroke index with a tendency for heart rate to fall. These findings suggest a myocardial action of naloxone in endotoxin shock, which is augmented by volume replacement. An initial, transient vasoconstrictor effect cannot, however, be excluded. Further work is required to determine the mechanism of the effects described.     

dP/dt(max) - A measure of 'baroinometry'

dP/dt(max) is the maximal rate of rise of (usually) left ventricular pressure (LVP), but it is determined by myocardial contractility and the loading conditions on the ventricle, thus it is an imperfect and sometimes incorrect predictor of the inotropic state (myocardial contractility). The value of dP/dt(max) to represent contractility may be improved by adjusting it to ventricular end-diastolic volume (pre-load) or by calculating dP/dt as a function of LVP during isovolumetric contraction and determining the maximal value. Every investigator who uses dP/dt(max) should record this parameter while venous return is changed in order to observe how dependent dP/dt(max) is on pre-load. Since dP/dt(max) does not represent only the inotropic state, we coined the term baroinometry to represent that dP/dt(max) is determined by aortic pressure (baro), the inotropic state (ino), and the length (meter). dP/dt(max) measures the inotropic state only when loading conditions are unchanged.     

Relative inotropic and chronotropic activity of beta-adrenoceptor stimulants in anaesthetised, areflexic dogs

The use of different methods of measuring contractility and the effects of cardiovascular reflexes are among the factors which complicate the assessment of selective inotropic activity of beta-adrenoceptor agonists. The effects of dobutamine, prenalterol, noradrenaline and isoprenaline on heart rate, iliac blood flow, left ventricular pressure, max dP/dt and (dP/dt) divided by IIT (integrated isometric tension) were evaluated in anaesthetised dogs in which the hearts were denervated and blood pressure held constant. All the drugs caused dose-dependent increases in heart rate and contractility. The relative chronotropic and inotropic activity of each agonist was evaluated. At most doses studied the agonists exerted similar chronotropic and inotropic activity when compared to the non-selective agonist isoprenaline. It is likely that the inotropic selectivity observed with prenalterol and dobutamine in previous studies depends on factors other than direct drug action.     

Dissociation between the chronotropic and inotrophic actions of glucagon

Summary The interaction between glucagon and veratramine was studied in anesthetized vagotomized dogs and in heart-lung preparations from dogs. In both preparations, veratramine administered when maximal effects of an infusion of glucagon became manifest, reduced heart-rate to either control or near control levels. In both preparations glucagon increased myocardial contractile force, as gauged by the maximal rate of rise of left ventricular pressure, dp/dt, markedly, but subsequent administration of veratramine lowered dp/dt significantly only in the intact preparations in which a concomitant substantial decrease in mean arterial pressure was noted after glucagon with further decrease after veratramine. Pentobarbital-induced myocardial failure in heart-lung preparations was successfully corrected with an infusion of glucagon. Subsequent administration of veratramine reduced the glucagon-induced tachycardia to near control level without affecting myocardial contractility. It may be concluded from this study that veratramine blocks the chronotropic but not the inotropic action of glucagon, an effect which is reminiscent of its inhibitory action on the chronotropic but not the inotropic effect of the catecholamines, first demonstrated by Krayer.     

HAEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF PRENALTEROL IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL ISCHAEMIA IN OPEN CHEST PIGS

The haemodynamic effects of prenalterol, a new sympathomimetic agent, have been studied in anaesthetized open-chest pigs with acute myocardial ischaemia provoked by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. A group of eight animals was infused with saline and served as control (C). In both groups the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery determined a significant (P less than 0.05) reduction of aortic flow, maximum left ventricular (LV) dp/dt with no changes in heart rate. The infusion of a first dose of 30 micrograms/kg of prenalterol restored the depressed haemodynamics but increased significantly the heart rate in the prenalterol group while the saline infused group did not show any significant changes. The haemodynamic effects of prenalterol were still evident 25 min after the infusion. The subsequent administration of a second dose of 60 micrograms/kg of prenalterol resulted in a further improvement of the aortic flow, LV dp/dt and heart rate which reached values higher than in the basal condition. The positive inotropic effect was not associated with changes in stroke volume, therefore the increase in aortic flow was essentially due to an increase of the heart rate. It is concluded that prenalterol is a powerful inotropic agent in acutely infarcted animals. Its action on aortic flow appears to be related to an increase in heart rate in contrast to some previous observations.