Effects of amitriptyline on ventricular fibrillation threshold, effective refractory period, diastolic threshold and sinus node function in dogs
Abstract
The effects of anitriptyline (Ami) on electrical ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT), ventricular effective refractory period (VERP), ventricular diastolic threshold (VDT) and corrected sinus recovery time (CSRT) were studied in dogs. Ami (3 mg/kg, iv) increased VFT (peak value: 8.2+/-5.8 V, P<0.05) and VERP (peak value: 17+/-9 ms, P<0.01) and these actions lasted about 4 h. It temporarily increased VDT (0.4+/-0.4 V, P<0.05) and CSRT (33+/-22 ms, P<0.01). Ami caused prolongations of P-R interval and QRS interval with temporary increase of heart rate. These data suggest that Ami may be a potential anti-arrhythmic drug.
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