The Effects of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (Petn)* On Atrioventricular Conduction Following Acute Ligation of the Anterior Septal Artery in Dogs

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Abstract
Anterior septal artery ligation was performed on 100 healthy dogs in which normal sinus rhythm was present preoperatively. The effects of sustained-action pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) administered orally, beginning before and beginning after ligation, were determined in animals developing ecg evidence of atrioventricular conduction disturbances (partial and complete A-V block, A-V dissociation, A-V nodal rhythm, and idioventricular rhythm) by one day post-ligation and who survived the full 8-day experimental period. These effects were compared with those obtained in a control group of animals which did not receive PETN. Administration of PETN beginning on the 1st day post-ligation (post-operative-PETN group), and after the development of the arrhythmias resulted in no significant change in the course of recovery from the arrhythmias. Administration of PETN beginning 2 days prior to anterior septal artery ligation (preoperative-PETN group) demonstrated: No effect on the incidence of development of arrhythmias by the 1st-day post-ligation. No effect on total % recovery from arrhythmias from the 4th to 8th days post-ligation. A statistically significantly increase in the cumulative % recovery from arrhythmias by the 2nd day post-ligation when compared to those animals not receiving PETN preoperatively.