title: Electrocardiographic changes induced by levamisole hydrochloride in the rat.
abstract: The acute electrocardiographic effects of levamisole hydrochloride (2, 6, 10 and 20 mg/kg) were examined in the anaesthetized rat. Levamisole caused a fall in heart rate which was greatest at 20 mg/kg. The P-R interval was increased and was longest during the first 2 min after administration of the drug. The Q-T interval, corrected for rate (QTc), was little affected but at 20 mg/kg, 2 of the 5 rats presented 58% and 94% increases over the value at equilibration. Widening of the QRS complex did not occur at 2 and 6 mg/kg, but at 10 and 20 mg/kg a marked widening occurred in 1 out of 4 and 3 out of 5 rats, respectively. Cardiac dysrhythmias occurred even at 2 mg/kg. Severe bradycardia from sino-atrial depression or from A-V block, including Mobitz Type II A-V block, as well as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Onuaguluchi
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Igbo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006327:Heart Block; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007978:Levamisole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D007978:Levamisole