title: The effect of tricyclic antidepressant drugs on the isolated perfused guinea-pig heart.
abstract: 1. The effects of tricyclic antidepressants were studied on the isolated perfused guinea-pig heart simultaneously recording myocardial contractile force and cardiac electrogram. 2. Tricyclic antidepressants in a concentration 4 X 10(-5) mol/1 decreased cardiac contractile force and increased cardiac conduction time. 3. Doxepin had significantly greater negative inotropic effect than nortriptyline, protriptyline, desipramine, amitriptyline and imipramine (P less than 0.01). 4. There was no significant difference in the increase in P-R interval (P less than 0.5) and QRS width (P greater than 0.95) between the tricyclic antidepressants. 5. The isolated perfused guinea-pig heart can be used as a toxicological model for testing and treating cardiac arrhythmias induced by tricyclic antidepressants.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic