title: Positive inotropic effects of an ACTH analogue (ACTH 1-17) on myocardial performance.
abstract: The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of a single 100-micrograms i.v. administration of the synthetic heptadecapeptide [beta-Ala1-Lys17]ACTH1-17-4-amino-N-butylamide (ACTH 1-17) on the left ventricular performance. The systolic time intervals (STI) were recorded in 20 healthy adult young subjects (10 treated with ACTH 1-17 and 10 receiving placebo) before as well as 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after the i.v. ACTH 1-17 or placebo infusion. The STI were recorded immediately after blood withdrawal for measuring cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline and noradrenaline plasma levels. A highly significant statistical difference was demonstrated for preejection period (PEP) and preejection period/left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) ratio between subjects treated with ACTH 1-17 and subjects receiving placebo. As expected, a significant increase of cortisol and aldosterone plasma levels was observed in subjects treated with ACTH 1-17. The difference of adrenaline and noradrenaline plasma levels was statistically highly significant between subjects treated with ACTH 1-17 and those receiving placebo. The lack of increase in PEP and PEP/LVET ratio recorded in subjects treated with ACTH 1-17 is consistent with an increased left ventricular contractile performance. An increased plasma catecholamine release is postulated as the mechanism of this improvement.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006889:Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006889:Hydroxycorticosteroids; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000450:Aldosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; C028238:ACTH (1-17); D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine