RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND CALCIUM CONCENTRATION ON THE ACTION OF OUABAIN IN QUIESCENT RABBIT ATRIA JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 354 OP 363 VO 166 IS 2 A1 BYRNE, JEFFREY E. A1 DRESEL, PETER E. YR 1969 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/166/2/354.abstract AB Quiescent atria and driven atria (2/sec) were exposed to ouabain (1 µg/mI) for 30-min periods under conditions of varying temperature (25°-35°C) and calcium concentration (0.625-5.0 mM). Contractile force at stimulus frequencies of 2/sec and 1/sec, the maximal contractile force obtained by paired pulse stimulation and the response to an abrupt reduction in stimulus frequency were measured before and after exposure to ouabain. The effects of temperature were studied at 2.5 mM calcium concentration, and the effects of calcium were studied at 30°C. Exposure of the quiescent atria to ouabain demonstrated that myocardial activity is not essential for ouabain action. However, ouabain effects were not clearly demonstrable in all responses studied at temperatures below 30°C or at calcium concentrations below 125 mM. Contracting atria showed a larger increase in the contractile responses upon exposure to ouabain than did quiescent atria exposed for the same time period, which confirms that activity does enhance the effect of ouabain. © 1969 by The Williams & Wilkins Co.