EFFECTS OF RESERPINE TREATMENT ON ARRHYTHMOGENESIS DURING ISCHAEMIA AND REPERFUSION IN THE ISOLATED RAT HEART

1. The effects of reserpine treatment on the myocardial contents of catecholamines and enkephalins and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias during ischaemia and reperfusion in the isolated rat heart were studied. 2. Reserpine treatment almost completely depleted the heart of noradrenaline (NA). It also significantly depleted the heart of adrenaline and dopamines. It did not, however, alter the myocardial contents of enkephalins. 3. Reserpine-treatment attenuated significantly, but did not abolish, cardiac arrhythmias induced by ischaemia and reperfusion in the isolated heart preparation. 4. The results of the present study indicate that myocardial catecholamines especially NA are a contributing factor to arrhythmogenesis during ischaemia and reperfusion.