title: Alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation in the presence of halothane: effects on impulse propagation in cardiac Purkinje fibers;.
abstract: Halothane effects on action potential characteristics and conduction were determined in canine Purkinje fibers, before and during alpha-adrenergic stimulation. Halothane significantly decreased effective refractory period and action potential duration in Purkinje fibers. alpha-Adrenergic stimulation restored effective refractory period and action potential duration in Purkinje fibers exposed to halothane via an alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated effect antagonized by prazosin. Halothane significantly slowed propagation of impulses initiated at a basic cycle length of 500 ms, and conduction of premature impulses, in Purkinje fibers. In the presence of halothane, alpha-adrenergic stimulation had no additional effects on normal impulse propagation; however, alpha-adrenergic stimulation significantly slowed the conduction of premature impulses in Purkinje fibers exposed to halothane. These data refute a previous report that alpha-adrenergic stimulation enhances halothane's negative dromotropic effect in Purkinje fibers paced at a basic drive cycle length. alpha-Adrenergic prolongation of the conduction times of premature stimuli in Purkinje fibers exposed to halothane is a new finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Muir
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008729:Methoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D008729:Methoxamine; D006221:Halothane; D004837:Epinephrine