Effect of Chronic Digoxin on .BETA.-Adrenergic Receptors in Rabbits with Heart Failure.

Abstract
This study investigated the effect of chronic digitalis glycoside use on β-adrenergic sympathetic activities in heart failure. Twenty-two Japanese white rabbits were anesthetized by intravenous injection of chloral hydrate. Aortic regurgitation (AR) was produced by perforating aortic valves in 14 rabbits. Digoxin was given for 1 week to 7 rabbits with AR (AR+Dig) and saline to 7 rabbits with AR (AR+C). Sham operation was performed in the remaining 8 rabbits (S). The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher in AR+C than S (pppp125I-iodocyanopindolol was lower in AR+C than S (28.8±7.9 vs. 69.9±12.3fmol/mg protein, pppp<0.05). Thus, digitalis glycosides exert favorable effects on β-adrenergic sympathetic activities in addition to the effects on hemodynamic variables in this animal model of heart failure.

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