title: Effect of chronic digoxin on beta-adrenergic receptors in rabbits with heart failure.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of chronic digitalis glycoside use on beta-adrenergic sympathetic activities in heart failure. Twenty-two Japanese white rabbits were anesthetized by intravenous injection of chloral hydrate. Aortic regurgitation (AR) was produced by perforating aortic valves in 14 rabbits. Digoxin was given for 1 week to 7 rabbits with AR (AR + Dig) and saline to 7 rabbits with AR (AR + C). Sham operation was performed in the remaining 8 rabbits (S). The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher in AR + C than S (p < 0.05). It was lower in AR + Dig than AR + C (p < 0.05). Cardiac output was lower in AR + C than S (p < 0.05). There was no difference between AR + Dig and S. Both the left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters were larger in AR + C (p < 0.05) than S, but they were similar between AR + Dig and S. Plasma norepinephrine level was lower in AR + Dig than AR + C. Myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors number determined by radioligand binding assay using 30-800 pM 125I-iodocyanopindolol was lower in AR + C than S (28.8 +/- 7.9 vs. 69.9 +/- 12.3 fmol/mg protein, p < 0.05). It was higher in AR + Dig (39.9 +/- 9.8) than AR + C (p < 0.05). Myocardial norepinephrine content was lower in both AR + C (p < 0.05) and AR + Dig than S (p < 0.05). Thus, digitalis glycosides exert favorable effects on beta-adrenergic sympathetic activities in addition to the effects on hemodynamic variables in this animal model of heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Albajinai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wainai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004077:Digoxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011817:Rabbits; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017725:Ventricular Pressure
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D004077:Digoxin; D009638:Norepinephrine