Efficiency of Oxidative Phosphorylation of Heart Muscle Mitochondria from Digitalized Guinea Pigs

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Abstract
Fifty-four normal adult male guinea pigs were divided into two groups: (a) a control group of 29 was injected with a carrier solution and (b) an experimental group of 25 was injected with the carrier solution which contained digitoxin nativelle. Serial electrocardiographs revealed no significant changes in the control group; in the experimental group, changes indicated only therapeutic digitalis effect and no toxic phenomena. The efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation of isolated cardiac mitochondria from the digitalized animals has been compared with that from control animals. No significant differences could be observed between the digitalized and non-digitalized animals. It would appear that the administration of therapeutic amounts of digitoxin nativelle does not affect the energy-generating mechanisms of normal guinea pig heart mitochondria.