Abstract
A method is described for the study of depressant action of drugs on the rhythmic function of the A-V node and ventricle in the intact animal.
The method involves the phenomena of "escape" of subatrial ectopic beats when the sinus is sufficiently slowed by vagal stimulation and the alltagonism between stimulant and depressant drugs on rhythmic function.
The depressant action of a series of quinidine doses on subatrial rhythmicity was revealed by the increment in the epinephrine or isoproterenol test dose required to induce cetopic beats after quinidine administration.
It is expected that this method should prove useful for the study and comparison of drugs with stimulant and depressant actions on A-V nodal or ventricular rhythmicity, actions of a magnitude otherwise undetectable in the normally heating heart of the intact animal.
Footnotes
- Received October 27, 1959.
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