THE ACTION OF NETHALIDE UPON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS

¹ Department of Pharmacology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Nethalide, a beta adrenergic inhibitor devoid of intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, has been demonstrated to possess antiarrhythmic properties when tested against ouabain or acetylstro-phanthidin-induced arrhythmias. Studies employing the acetylstrophanthidin titration procedure have shown that previous administration of nethalide alters the ability of the myocardium to develop automatic foci. Cardiac arrest or slow ventricular rhythms are more prominent after cardiotoxic doses of acetylstrophanthidin in the animal pretreated with nethalide.

That the antiarrhythmic action of nethalide cannot be explained entirely by its ability to produce beta adrenergic blockade has been demonstrated. Although this action may aid in producing antiarrhythmic effects, particularly in adrenergically-induced arrhythmias, it is suggested that nethalide possesses an additional pharmacologic effect to account for its antiarrhythmic action.

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