Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1975 Sep;56(3):555–562. doi: 10.1172/JCI108124

The electrophysiological effects of ouabain on sinus node and atrium in man.

R C Dhingra, F Amat-Y-Leon, C Wyndham, D Wu, P Denes, K M Rosen
PMCID: PMC301902  PMID: 1159073

Abstract

Electrophysiological studies were performed in 16 patients before and 30 min after intravenous administration of ouabain (0.1 mg/kg). P-A interval (mean+/-SEM) was 40+/-2.1 ms before and 44+/- 1.5 ms after ouabain (P less than 0.001). Atrial effective and functional refractory periods (ERP and FRP) were measured in all patients during sinus rhythm and during driving at equivalent paced rates in 12 patients. The mean atrial ERP and FRP during sinus rhythm were, respectively, 244+/-10.5 and 307+/-11.0 ms before and 253+/-9.7 and 318+/-11.4 ms after infusion of ouabain (NS). Mean atrial ERP and FRP during driving were, respectively, 231+/-15.3 and 264+/-14.9 ms before and 266+/-18.6 and 296+/-19.7 ms after ouabain (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.01). Mean sinus cycle length and sinus recovery times were, respectively, 887+/-31.2 and 1,113+/-38.7 ms before and 905+/-38.2 and 1,008+/-30.7 ms after infusion of ouabain (NS and P less than 0.005). Calculated sinoatrial conduction times before and after ouabain were 90+/-6.8 and 110+/-8.5 ms, respectively (P less than 0.005). In summary, ouabain produced depression of intraatrial conduction as manifested by increase in P-A interval and atrial effective and functional refractory periods. Ouabain significantly increased calculated sinoatrial conduction time without significant effect on spontaneous sinus cycle length.

Full text

PDF
555

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bigger J. T., Jr A simple, rapid method for the diagnosis of first-degree sinoatrial block in man. Am Heart J. 1974 Jun;87(6):731–733. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(74)90418-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bonke F. I., Bouman L. N., Schopman F. J. Effect of an early atrial premature beat on activity of the sinoatrial node and atrial rhythm in the rabbit. Circ Res. 1971 Dec;29(6):704–715. doi: 10.1161/01.res.29.6.704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Denes P., Wu D., Dhingra R., Pietras R. J., Rosen K. M. The effects of cycle length on cardiac refractory periods in man. Circulation. 1974 Jan;49(1):32–41. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.49.1.32. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dhingra R. C., Rosen K. M., Rahimtoola S. H. Normal conduction intervals and responses in sixty-one patients using His bundle recording and atrial pacing. Chest. 1973 Jul;64(1):55–59. doi: 10.1378/chest.64.1.55. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Engel T. R., Schaal S. F. Digitalis in the sick sinus syndrome. The effects of digitalis on sinoatrial automaticity and atrioventricular conduction. Circulation. 1973 Dec;48(6):1201–1207. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.48.6.1201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FRIEDBERG C. K., DONOSO E. Arrhythmias and conduction disturbances due to digitalis. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 1960 Mar;2:408–431. doi: 10.1016/s0033-0620(60)80002-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Klein H. O., Singer D. H., Hoffman B. F. Effects of atrial premature systoles on sinus rhythm in the rabbit. Circ Res. 1973 Apr;32(4):480–491. doi: 10.1161/01.res.32.4.480. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kosowsky B. D., Haft J. I., Lau S. H., Stein E., Damato A. N. The effects of digitalis on atrioventricular conduction in man. Am Heart J. 1968 Jun;75(6):736–742. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(68)90033-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MENDEZ C., MENDEZ R. The action of cardiac glycosides on the excitability and conduction velocity of the mammalian atrium. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1957 Dec;121(4):402–413. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. MENDEZ R., MENDEZ C. The action of cardiac glycosides on the refractory period of heart tissues. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1953 Jan;107(1):24–36. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mandel W. J., Bigger J. T., Jr, Butler V. P., Jr The electrophysiologic effects of low and high digoxin concentrations on isolated mammalian cardiac tissue: reversal by digoxin-specific antibody. J Clin Invest. 1972 Jun;51(6):1378–1387. doi: 10.1172/JCI106933. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Przybyla A. C., Paulay K. L., Stein E., Damato A. N. Effects of digoxin on atrioventricular conduction patterns in man. Am J Cardiol. 1974 Mar;33(3):344–350. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(74)90314-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Rasmussen K. Chronic sinoatrial heart block. Am Heart J. 1971 Jan;81(1):39–47. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(71)90052-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Reiffel J. A., Bigger J. T., Jr, Konstam M. A. The relationship between sinoatrial conduction time and sinus cycle length during spontaneous sinus arrhythmia in adults. Circulation. 1974 Nov;50(5):924–934. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.50.5.924. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Rubenstein J. J., Schulman C. L., Yurchak P. M., DeSanctis R. W. Clinical spectrum of the sick sinus syndrome. Circulation. 1972 Jul;46(1):5–13. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.46.1.5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Scherlag B. J., Abelleira J. L., Narula O. S., Samet P. The differential effects of ouabain on sinus, A-V nodal, His bundle, and idioventricular rhythms. Am Heart J. 1971 Feb;81(2):227–235. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(71)90133-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Strauss H. C., Saroff A. L., Bigger J. T., Jr, Giardina E. G. Premature atrial stimulation as a key to the understanding of sinoatrial conduction in man. Presentation of data and critical review of the literature. Circulation. 1973 Jan;47(1):86–93. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.47.1.86. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Ten Eick R. E., Hoffman B. F. Chronotropic effect of cardiac glycosides in cats, dogs, and rabbits. Circ Res. 1969 Oct;25(4):365–378. doi: 10.1161/01.res.25.4.365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wittenberg S. M. Chronotropic effects of ouabain and heart rate on canine atrium in vivo. Circ Res. 1974 Feb;34(2):258–267. doi: 10.1161/01.res.34.2.258. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES