| Abstract: | 1. The effects of tricyclic antidepressants were studied on the isolated perfused guinea-pig heart simultaneously recording myocardial contractile force and cardiac electrogram. 2. Tricyclic antidepressants in a concentration 4 × 10?-5 mol/1 decreased cardiac contractile force and increased cardiac conduction time. 3. Doxepin had significantly greater negative inotropic effect than nortriptyline, protriptyline, desipramine, amitriptyline and imipramine (P < 0.01). 4. There was no significant difference in the increase in P-R interval (P>0.5) and QRS width (P > 0.95) between the tricyclic antidepressants. 5. The isolated perfused guinea-pig heart can be used as a toxicological model for testing and treating cardiac arrhythmias induced by tricyclic antidepressants. |
