Effects of seven drugs of abuse on action potential repolarisation in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres.
Seven drugs of abuse have been examined for effects on the action potential in sheep isolated cardiac Purkinje fibres. Phencyclidine (5 microM) induced a significant increase (30.7%) in action potential duration at 90% repolarisation (APD(90)). Similarly, 10 microM 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy') induced a significant increase in APD(90) of 12.1%. Although Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (0.1 microM) induced a small, but statistically significant, 4.8% increase in APD(90), no effects were observed at 0.01 or 1 microM. Cocaethylene (10 microM) induced a significant shortening of APD(90) (-23.8%). Cocaine (up to 1 microM), (+)-methamphetamine ('Speed'; up to 5 microM), and the heroin metabolite, morphine (up to 5 microM), had no statistically significant effects. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in the context of other recognised cardiac effects of the tested drugs.
Sheridan
Robert D
RD
Biomedical Sciences, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK. rdsheridan@dstl.gov.uk
Turner
Simon R
SR
Cooper
Graham J
GJ
Tattersall
John E H
JE
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008694:Methamphetamine; D009020:Morphine; D013759:Dronabinol; C066444:cocaethylene; D003042:Cocaine; D010622:Phencyclidine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine