Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Myocardial α-Adrenoceptors and Arrhythmias Induced by Myocardial Ischaemia

  • Chapter
Early Arrhythmias Resulting from Myocardial Ischaemia

Abstract

Although myocardial ischaemia is by far the most frequent cause of ventricular fibrillation, the precise mechanisms which immediately induce this arrhythmia are unclear. Complete coronary occlusion is frequently absent in victims of sudden death (Basche et al., 1975) and experimental studies indicate that both coronary occlusion and reperfusion are associated with ventricular fibrillation (Penkoske et al., 1978). The picture is further complicated by the fact that clinical and experimental arrhythmias are both most intense soon after the onset of myocardial ischaemia, at a time when several pathophysiological processes are occurring simultaneously. Many studies have been carried out in an attempt to distinguish which of these are arrhythmogenic. The present chapter is concerned with the possibility that α-adrenoceptor activity may contribute to the development of ventricular fibrillation during myocardial ischaemia. Interest in this possibility arose out of studies with the α-blocking drug phentolamine, which was found to prevent ventricular arrhythmias induced by a variety of techniques. Thus Leimdorfer (1953) reported that intravenous administration of phentolamine prevented arrhythmias due to nicotine or adrenaline and converted methacholine-induced atrial fibrillation in dogs. Others (Vargaftig and Coignet, 1969) reported that phentolamine prevented arrhythmias induced by aconitine or by inhalation of chloroform.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Basche, W. J., Baba, N., Keller, M. D., Geer, J. C. and Anthony, J. R. (1975). Pathology of atherosclerotic heart disease in sudden death. II. The significance of myocardial infarction. Circulation, 52, Suppl. III, 63–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfey, B. G. and Greeff, K. (1961). Interactions of sympathomimetic drugs and their antagonists on the isolated atrium. Br. J. Pharmac., 17, 232–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodde, O.-E., Motomura, S., Endoh, M. and Schumann, H. J. (1978). Lack of correlation between the positive inotropic effect evoked by α-adrenoreceptor stimulation and the levels of cyclic AMP and/or cyclic GMP in the isolated ventricle striae of the rabbit. J. molec. cell. Cardiol., 10, 207–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Micco, J. A., Prestel, T., Pearle, D. L. and Gillis, R. A. (1977). Mechanisms of cardiovascular changes produced in cats by activation of the central nervous system with picrotoxin. Circulation Res., 41, 446–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebert, P. A., Vanderbeck, R. B., Allgood, R. J. and Sabiston, D. C. (1970). Effect of chronic cardiac denervation on arrhythmias after coronary artery ligation. Cardiovasc. Res., 4, 141–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ettinger, S., Gould, L., Carmichael, J. A. and Tashjian, R. J. (1969). Phentolamine: use in digitalis-induced arrhythmias. Am. Heart J., 77, 636–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gauduel, Y., Karagueuzian, H. S. and De Leiris, J. (1979). Deleterious effects of endogenous catecholamines on hypoxic myocardial cells following reoyxgenation. J. molec. cell. Cardiol., 11, 717–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gazes, P. C., Richardson, J. A. and Woods, E. F. (1959). Plasma catecholamine concentrations in myocardial infarction and angina pectoris. Circulation, 19, 657–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giotti, A., Ledda, F. and Mannaioni, P. F. (1973). Effects of noradrenaline and isoprenaline, in combination with α and β receptor blocking substances, on the action potential of cardiac Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol., Lond., 229, 99–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, L., Zahir, M., Sharriff, M. and Giuliani, M. G. (1969). Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with phentolamine. Am. Heart J., 78, 189–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, L., Gomprecht, R. F. and Zahir, M. (1971). Oral phentolamine for treatment of ventricular premature contractions. Br. Heart J., 33, 101–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, L., Reddy, C. V. R., Weinstein, T. and Gomprecht, R. F. (1975). Antiarrhythmic prophylaxis with phentolamine in acute myocardial infarction. J. clin. Pharmac., 15, 191–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Govier, W. C. (1968). Myocardial alpha adrenergic receptors and their role in the production of a positive inotropic effect by sympathomimetic agents. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther., 159, 82–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Govier, W. C., Mosel, N. C., Whittington, P. and Broom, A. H. (1966). Myocardial alpha and beta adrenergic receptors as demonstrated by atrial functional refractory period changes. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther., 154, 255–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirche, Hj., Franz, C., Bos, L., Bissig, R., Lang, R. and Schramm, M. (1980). Myocardial extracellular K+ and H+ increase and noradrenaline release as a possible cause of early arrhythmias following acute coronary occlusion in pigs. J. molec. cell. Cardiol., 12, 579–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leimdorfer, A. (1953). Abolition of cardiac arrhythmias by regitine (parasympatholytic effects of regitine). Archs int. Pharmacodyn. Thér., 94, 119 and 249

    Google Scholar 

  • Maling, H. M., Cohn, V. H. and Highman, B. (1959). The effects of coronary occlusion in dogs treated with reserpine and in dogs treated with phenoxybenzamine. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther., 127, 229–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Mary-Rabine, L., Hordef, A. J., Bowman, F. O., Malm, J. R. and Rosen, M. R. (1978). Alpha and beta adrenergic effects on human atrial specialized conducting fibers. Circulation, 57, 84–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathes, P. and Gudbjarnason, S. (1971). Changes in norepinephrine stores in the canine heart following experimental myocardial infarction. Am. Heart J., 81, 211–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melville, K. I. and Varma, D. R. (1962). The combined effects of reserpine and various coronary dilator drugs: an experimental study. Can. med. Assoc. J., 86, 1014–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Miura, Y., Inui, J. and Imamura, H. (1978). Alpha-adrenoreceptor mediated restoration of calcium-dependent potential in the partially depolarised rabbit papillary muscle. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmac., 301, 201–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, G. and Parratt, J. R. (1973). Effects of noradrenaline and isoprenaline on blood flow in the ischaemic myocardium. Cardiovasc. Res., 7, 446–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naito, M., Michelson, E. L., Kmetzo, J. J., Kaplinsky, E. and Dreifus, L. S. (1981). Failure of antiarrhythmic drugs to prevent experimental reperfusion ventricular fibrillation. Circulation, 63, 70–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima, M., Tsuru, H. and Shigei, T. (1973). Stimulant action of methoxamine in the isolated atria of normal and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil fed rats. Jap. J. Pharmac., 23, 307–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazum, F. R. and Bischoff, F. (1953). The urinary output of catechol derivates including adrenaline in normal individuals in essential hypertension and in myocardial infarction. Circulation, 7, 96–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pappano, A. J. (1971). Propranolol-insensitive effects of epinephrine on action potential repolarisation in electrically driven atria of the guinea pig. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther., 177, 85–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Penkoske, P. A., Sobel, B. E. and Corr, P. B. (1978). Disparate electrophysiological alterations accompanying dysrhythmia due to coronary occlusion and reperfusion in the cat. Circulation, 58, 1023–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabinowitz, B., Chuck, L., Kligerman, M. and Parmley, W. W. (1975). Positive inotropic effects of methoxamine: evidence for alpha-adrenergic receptors in ventricular myocardium. Am. J. Physiol., 229, 582–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, M. R., Gelband, H. and Hoffman, B. F. (1971). Effects of phentolamine on electrophysiologic properties of isolated canine Purkinje fibers. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther., 179, 586–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, M. R., Hordof, A. J., Ilvento, J. P. and Danilo, P. (1977). Effects of adrenergic amines on electrophysiologic properties and automaticity of neonatal and adult canine Purkinje fibres. Circulation Res., 40, 390–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumann, H. J., Endoh, M. and Brodde, O.-E. (1975). Positive inotropic effects of phenylephrine in isolated rabbit papillary muscle mediated both by α and β adrenoreceptors. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmac., 284, 133–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi, V., Haider, B., Ahmed, S., Oldewurtel, H. A. and Regan, T. J. (1973). Influence of β blockade and chemical sympathectomy on myocardial function and arrhythmias in acute ischaemia. Cardiovasc. Res., 7, 740–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, V. K. and Banerjee, S. P. (1978). Alpha adrenergic receptor in rat heart. Effects of thyroidectomy. J. biol. Chem., 235, 5277–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Shayman, J. A., Kramer, J. B. and Corr, P. B. (1980). Increased α-adrenergic receptors in ischaemic myocardium. Circulation, 62, Suppl. III, 149 (abstract)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, D. J., Penkoske, P. A., Sobel, B. E. and Corr, P. B. (1980). Alpha adrenergic contributions to dysrhythmia during myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion in cats. J. clin. Invest., 65, 161–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommers, H. M. and Jennings, R. B. (1972). Ventricular fibrillation and myocardial necrosis after transient ischaemia: effect of treatment with oxygen, procainamide, reserpine and propranolol. Archs int. Med., 129, 780–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staszewska-Barczak, J. and Ceremuzynski, L. (1971). The reflex stimulation of catecholamine secretion during the acute stage of myocardial infarction in the dog. Clin. Sci., 41, 419–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J. R., Burmeister, W. E., Burmeister, J. and Lucchesi, B. R. (1980). Electrophysiologic and antiarrhythmic effects of phentolamine in experimental coronary occlusion and reperfusion in the dog. J. cardiovasc. Pharmac., 2, 77–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vargaftig, B. and Coignet, J. L. (1969). A critical evaluation of three methods for the study of adrenergic beta-blocking and antiarrhythmic agents. Eur. J. Pharmac., 6, 49–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, J. and Brodde, O.-E. (1978). On the presence and distribution of α adrenoceptors in the heart of various mammalian species. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmac., 302, 239–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, J. and Reinhardt, D. (1974). Characterisation of the adrenoceptors mediating the positive ino- and chronotropic effect of phenylephrine on isolated atria from guinea pigs and rabbits by means of adrenolytic drugs. Naunyn Schmiedebergs. Arch. Pharmac., 282, 295–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, J., Endoh, M. and Reinhardt, D. (1974). Stimulation by phenylephrine of adrenergic alpha and beta-receptors in the isolated perfused rabbit heart. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. Pharmac., 282, 307–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, A. M., Besch, H. R., Hathaway, D. R., Harris, R. A. and Farmer, B. B. (1978). Alpha-adrenergic reduction of cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in rat ventricular myocardial cells. In Recent Advances in Studies on Cardiac Structure and Metabolism, Vol. 11 (ed. T. Kobayashi, T. Sano, and N. S. Dhalla), University Park Press, Baltimore, pp. 431–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel, D. G. and Su, J. L. (1971). Interaction between sympathomimetic amines and blocking agents on the rat ventricle strip. Archs int. Pharmacodyn. Thér., 160, 379–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, L. T., Lefkowitz, R. J., Watanabe, A. M., Hathaway, D. R. and Besch, H. R. (1977). Thyroid hormone regulation of α-adrenergic receptor numbers. J. biol. Chem., 252, 2787–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Wollenberger, A. and Shahab, L. (1965). Anoxia-induced release of noradrenaline from the isolated perfused heart. Nature, Lond., 207, 88–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Desmond J. Sheridan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Royal College, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

    James R. Parratt MSc, PhD, DSc, FPS

Copyright information

© 1982 The contributors

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sheridan, D.J. (1982). Myocardial α-Adrenoceptors and Arrhythmias Induced by Myocardial Ischaemia. In: Parratt, J.R. (eds) Early Arrhythmias Resulting from Myocardial Ischaemia. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06260-7_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06260-7_17

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-06262-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-06260-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation