DILTIAZEM INHIBITS HALOTHANE-INDUCED CONTRACTIONS IN MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA-SUSCEPTIBLE MUSCLES IN VITRO

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Abstract
The ability of diltiazem to suppress halothane and halothane-caffeine induced contractures in malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptible pig muscle, was tested in vitro. Muscle specimens were divided into two groups and tested with a modified halothane-caffeine contracture test. One group acted as the control; the other group was pretreated with diltiazem 20 μmol litre−1. The control muscles developed contractures attributable to halothane and halothane-caffeine, whereas the diltiazem-treated specimens did not. Increases in muscle twitch tension as a result of halothane orhalothane-caffeine exposure occurred intreated and untreated specimens, but were significantly delayed in the presence of diltiazem. Muscle exhaustion observed after halothane and halothane-caffeine exposure in the control specimens did not occur in the diltiazem treated muscles.

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