PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sakurai, T
AU  - Bing, O H
AU  - Huber, G
AU  - Abelmann, W H
TI  - Effects of acetaldehyde upon mechanical properties of isolated rat papillary muscle.
DP  - 1980 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 219--222
VI  - 214
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/214/1/219.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/214/1/219.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1980 Jul 01; 214
AB  - The acute effects of acetaldehyde upon the performance of isolated rat papillary muscle were studied. At high concentrations (50 and 100 mg/100 ml), acetaldehyde demonstrated a negative inotropic effect and abbreviated relaxation time. Pretreatment with either propranolol or reserpine unmasked a direct negative inotropic effect of acetaldehyde at concentrations as low as 5 mg/100 ml. The shortening of relaxation was also blocked by propranolol and reserpine. These findings are compatible with both a direct myocardial depressant effect and an indirect beta-stimulatory effect of acetaldehyde. In the range of concentrations encountered clinically, however, acetaldehyde is not likely to have a significant acute effect upon cardiac muscle performance.