title: Halothane restores the altered force-frequency relationship in failing human myocardium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The terminally failing human myocardium exerts a negative force-frequency relationship (FFR), whereas a positive FFR occurs in nonfailing myocardium. To study the possibility of pharmacologically influencing this defect of the failing human heart, the effect of halothane on the basal FFR and the FFR in the presence of isoproterenol and ouabain was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiments were performed on isolated, electrically driven (0.5-2 Hz, 37 degrees C, Ca2+ 1.8 mmol/l) ventricular preparations. Myocardium from human failing and nonfailing hearts was obtained at cardiac surgery. To further characterize the studied myocardium, the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol and the density of beta-adrenoceptors were measured using the radioligand 125I-CYP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Halothane produced a negative inotropic effect. The anesthetic (0.38 mmol/l) reversed the negative FFR in failing myocardium, antagonized the effect of isoproterenol (0.1 mumol/l) on FFR, and restored the FFR in the presence of ouabain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Halothane restores the FFR in human failing myocardium possibly by influencing the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. These findings provide evidence that pharmacologic interventions, e.g., during anesthesia, may influence contractility also as a result of a depressed or enhanced FFR.
authors.affiliation: Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Universität zu Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium; D006221:Halothane