Open AccessHeart Rate-Dependent Atrioventricular Nodal Conduction and the Effects of Calcium Channel Blocking Drugs
Author(s) -
Cdj Delangen,
Ej Meijboom,
J. H. Kingma
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1533-4023
pISSN - 0160-2446
DOI - 10.1097/00005344-198403000-00010
Subject(s) - nifedipine , verapamil , atrioventricular node , medicine , metoprolol , calcium channel , nodal , heart rate , bradycardia , endocrinology , anesthesia , cardiology , calcium , blood pressure , tachycardia
We compared the effects of the calcium channel blocking drugs verapamil and nifedipine on atrioventricular (AV) nodal function by His bundle electrocardiography in 24 pigs. AV nodal conduction time was decreased 16% by nifedipine (0.1 mg/kg + 3 micrograms/kg/min; p less than 0.05) and increased 20% by verapamil (0.2 mg/kg + 10 micrograms/kg/min; p less than 0.05). Pretreatment with a beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent (metoprolol, 0.4 mg/kg) prevented the decrease in AV nodal conduction time by nifedipine. Vasodilatation alone (nitroprusside, 20 micrograms/kg/min) produced a 16% decrease in AV nodal conduction time and a 19% decrease in cycle length. Before any of the drugs was given, AV nodal conduction time correlated negatively with the heart rate (rho = -0.65; p less than 0.001; n = 24). beta-Adrenoceptor blockade (metoprolol, 0.4 mg/kg) resulted in a 13% increase in cycle length and an 8% increase in AV nodal conduction time. These results indicate that, even with high concentrations, the effect of nifedipine on the AV node in vivo is primarily a facilitation caused by a baroreceptor reflex. In contrast, verapamil causes a depression of the AV node without such an increase in sympathetic tone.