Tacrine inhibits ventricular fibrillation induced by ischaemia and reperfusion and widens QT interval in rat

1 March 1993

journal article
research article
Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Cardiovascular Research

Vol. 27 (3) , 453-458
https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/27.3.453

Abstract

Objective: Tacrine was used as a tool to examine whether block of inward rectifying potassium current (I_K1) represents a mechanism for suppression of arrhythmias induced by ischaemia and reperfusion. Methods: Isolated rat hearts (n=10-l2 per group) were subjected to 30 min left regional ischaemia followed by reperfusion with and without tacrine. Rat heart was used to permit delayed rectifier (I_K) block to be disregarded in interpretation of results (rat ventricle is deficient in functional I_K). Results: The incidence of ischaemia-induced ventricular fibrillation was reduced from 70% to 42%, 17% (p2=0.392; pv 100% in controls). Conclusions: The novel antiarrhythmic effects of tacrine, a drug with established blocking action on I_K, I_K1, and slow inward current, appear to result from QT widening in the rat (dependent partly on I_K1 blockade in the ventricles and partly on drug induced sinus bradycardia). Cardiovascular Research 1993;27:453-458

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