RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 STUDIES ON VERATRUM ALKALOIDS I. THE ACTION OF VERATRINE UPON THE ISOLATED MAMMALIAN HEART
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 350
OP 364
VO 74
IS 4
A1 OTTO KRAYER
A1 RAFAEL MENDEZ
YR 1942
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/74/4/350.abstract
AB The cardiac action of non-toxic doses of veratrine was studied in the heart-lung preparation of the dog. The most important phase of this action is an effect upon the heart muscle which, particularly in the failing heart, increases the total output and improves the work of the heart, simultaneously with a decrease in the diastolic ventricular volume. The auricular pressure decreases. This action is similar to, although not identical with, the action of cardiac glycosides upon the mammalian heart. The action of veratrine upon heart rate is not consistent; as a rule there is a decrease in rate. The coronary flow in the normal heart remains unchanged, while in the failing heart veratrine causes a transient increase. In the normal heart-lung preparation the pulmonary arterial resistance either remains unchanged or is slightly reduced. If a marked increase in pulmonary pressure accompanies the development of heart failure, veratrine causes a marked reduction in the resistance of the pulmonary arteries. The effective, therapeutic, and toxic doses are reported, and the intensity and duration of action with administration of single and repeated doses of veratrine are discussed.