POSITIVE INOTROPIC AND ANTIARRHYTHMIC ACTIONS OF ACTODIGIN IN DOGS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 228  (1) , 92-98
Abstract
Effects of actodigin were studied in dogs with decreased cardiac contractility or atrial flutter. When injected at 30 min intervals into dogs with barbiturate-induced heart failure, actodigin caused a marked positive inotropic action of short duration. Actodigin''s pronounced but fleeting effect appears to be related to the novel attachment of its steroid nucleus .alpha. to the carboxyl function in the lactone. Cardiac glycosides with a conventional .beta. linkage of the lactone ring to the steroid nucleus (e.g., AY-22,248 [digitoxigenin glycoside]) had positive inotropic actions which were slower in onset and cumulative when injected every 30 min. Apparently because of its short duration of action, actodigin was not as cardiotoxic as its isomer, AY-22,248. A sustained atrial flutter was induced by intercaval crush and faradic atrial stimulation. Actodigin and ouabain converted this arrhythmia to normal sinus rhythm.

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