Differential bronchodilatory effects of terbutaline, diltiazem, and aminophylline in canine intraparenchymal airways.

OBJECTIVES: Intraparenchymal airways are involved in air flow regulation. Relaxation of intraparenchymal airways to volatile anesthetics varied by topographic location. This study was conducted to determine whether other bronchodilators (terbutaline, diltiazem, and aminophylline) relax bronchiolus to a greater degree than bronchus, as seen with volatile anesthetics. DESIGN: In vitro, controlled, randomized study. SETTING: Animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Adult dogs (n = 9). INTERVENTIONS: Proximal (outer diameter, 4-6 mm) and distal (outer diameter, 0.8-1.5 mm) airway rings of dogs were contracted in tissue baths with the effective concentration of acetylcholine that produces half the maximum response. Airway relaxant dose-response curves were constructed to measure isometric tension after administration of terbutaline (concentration range, 10(-8) to 10(-4) M), diltiazem (concentration range, 3 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-4) M), and aminophylline (concentration range, 10(-7) to 10(-4) M). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All three bronchodilators caused relaxation of the proximal and distal airways. At the maximum dose, diltiazem (maximum relaxation, 95%+/-2% [proximal], 94%+/-6% [distal]; p > .05) was the most efficacious, followed by terbutaline (maximum relaxation, 72%+/-13% [proximal], 55%+/-9% [distal]; p < .05) and aminophylline (maximum relaxation, 32%+/-10% [proximal], 35%+/-18% [distal]; p > .05. At the concentrations tested, they were equally efficacious. No significant differences in relaxation between proximal and distal airways were noted with diltiazem or aminophylline in the entire dose range. However, terbutaline relaxed the distal airway more than the proximal airway in the entire dose range. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that only terbutaline showed a differential airway relaxant effect between proximal and distal airways, as seen with volatile anesthetics.

Effects of hypothermia, potassium , and verapamil on the action potential characteristics of canine cardiac Purkinje fibers.

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia may induce hypokalemia and increase intracellular Ca2+ by affecting serum K+ and Ca2+ fluxes across the cell membrane. These ionic alterations may significantly change the electrophysiologic characteristics of the cardiac action potential and may induce cardiac arrhythmias. The current study was undertaken to determine whether electrophysiologic changes in Purkinje fibers induced by hypothermia could be reversed by manipulating the extracellular K+ and transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes by Ca2+ channel blockade with verapamil. METHODS: A conventional microelectrode method was used to determine the effects of hypothermia (32 +/- 0.5 degrees C and 28 +/- 0.5 degrees C) and various external K+ concentrations ([K+]o) (2.3, 3.8, and 6.8 mM) on maximum diastolic potential, maximum rate of phase 0 depolarization (Vmax), and action potential duration (APD) at 50% (APD50) and at 95% (APD95) repolarization in isolated canine cardiac Purkinje fibers. To evaluate the contribution of the slow inward Ca2+ current to action potential changes in hypothermia, the experiments were repeated in the presence of the Ca(2+)-channel antagonist verapamil (1 microM). RESULTS: Variations of [K+]o induced the expected shifts in maximum diastolic potential, and hypothermia (28 degrees C) induced moderate depolarization, but only when [K+]o was > or = 3.9 mM (P < 0.05). Hypothermia decreased Vmax at all [K+]o studied (P < 0.05). Regardless of the temperature, Vmax was not affected by verapamil when [K+]o was < or = 3.9 mM, but at 6.8 mM [K+]o in hypothermia Vmax was significantly lower in the presence of verapamil. Hypothermia increased both the APD50 and the APD95. The effects of verapamil on APD were temperature and [K+]o dependent; between 37 degrees C and 28 degrees C with 2.3 mM [K+]o in the superfusate, verapamil did not affect APD. At 28 degrees C in the presence of verapamil, the APD50 and APD95 decreased only if the [K+]o was > or = 3.9 mM. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil and K+ supplementation in hypothermia may exert an antiarrhythmic effect, primarily by reducing the dispersion fo prolonged APD.

Reversal of volatile anesthetic-induced depression of myocardial contractility by extracellular calcium also enhances left ventricular diastolic function.

BACKGROUND: Volatile anesthetics depress global left ventricular function by altering intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis at several sites within the myocyte. Although extracellular Ca2+ partially reverses the negative inotropic effects of volatile anesthetics, the actions of extracellular Ca2+ on anesthetic-induced diastolic dysfunction are unexplored. This investigation examined and compared the direct effects of extracellular Ca2+ on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in conscious and anesthetized dogs. METHODS: Experiments were conducted in the presence of pharmacologic blockade of the autonomic nervous system because autonomic nervous activity may significantly influence the hemodynamic actions of anesthetics and Ca2+ in vivo. Three groups comprised a total of 27 experiments conducted using nine dogs chronically instrumented for measurement of aortic and left ventricular pressure, left ventricular dP/dt, subendocardial segment length, and cardiac output. Myocardial contractility was evaluated using the preload recruitable stroke work relationship slope (Mw). Diastolic function was assessed using a time constant of isovolumic relaxation (tau), a regional chamber stiffness constant (Kp), and maximum segment lengthening velocity during rapid ventricular filling (dL/dtE) and atrial systole (dL/dtA). On 3 separate days, a CaCl2 infusion at 1.25, 2.5, or 5 mg.kg-1 x min-1 was administered. Hemodynamics and ventricular pressure-length loops were recorded after a 20-min equilibration at each dose in the conscious state or during halothane or isoflurane anesthesia. RESULTS: In conscious dogs, CaCl2 produced a significant (P < .05) and dose-dependent increase in contractility as evaluated by Mw. In the presence of halothane anesthesia, CaCl2 increased contractility (Mw of 26 +/- 5 mmHg to 78 +/- 10 mmHg during the high dose of CaCl2), enhanced isovolumic relaxation (tau of 57.9 +/- 4.2 ms to 41.1 +/- 1.9 ms during the high dose of CaCl2), improved rapid ventricular filling (dL/dtE of 11.8 +/- 1.4 mm/s to 20.2 +/- 1.6 mm/s during the high dose of CaCl2), and reduced regional chamber stiffness (Kp of 0.70 +/- 0.18 mm-1 to 0.38 +/- 0.04 mm-1 during the high dose of CaCl2). Similar findings were observed when CaCl2 was administered to dogs anesthetized with isoflurane. CONCLUSIONS: Although CaCl2 produced positive inotropic effects in both the conscious and anesthetized states, CaCl2 did not alter diastolic function in conscious dogs. In contrast, CaCl2 reversed halothane- and isoflurane-induced negative lusitropic actions. The results of the present investigation suggest that improvement of left ventricular performance by CaCl2 during volatile anesthesia may be related to actions in diastole as well as systole.

Effects of acute hypothermia and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade on serum potassium concentration in rats.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We hypothesized that beta-adrenergic receptor blockade would result in an increase in serum potassium concentration in hypothermic rats given a potassium load compared to non-beta-blocked, hypothermic, potassium-loaded rats. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the interaction between body temperature and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade on serum potassium concentrations in ureter-ligated rats with and without potassium loading. To achieve this goal, we performed three experiments. In the first experiment, serum potassium concentrations were determined in 16 rats as they were continuously cooled from 37 degrees C to 22 degrees C. In the second experiment, 12 ureter-ligated rats were cooled to 31 degrees C, after which they were rewarmed to 37 degrees C. Serum potassium concentrations were determined before and after cooling and on rewarming. Twelve other ureter-ligated rats were cooled to 31 degrees C, then given a potassium load until their serum potassium concentrations returned to their baseline values, after which they were rewarmed to 37 degrees C. Serum potassium concentrations were determined before and after cooling, during the potassium infusion, and on rewarming. In the third experiment, 14 rats were pretreated with propranolol and 14 rats served as controls. Half of the rats in each of these two groups were kept at 37 degrees C and half were cooled to 25 degrees C. All rats were then given a 690-mumol potassium chloride infusion. Serum potassium concentrations were determined before and after the potassium infusion. RESULTS: The rats developed hypokalemia with cooling, which spontaneously resolved in the rats without supplementation on rewarming to 37 degrees C. The hypothermic hypokalemic rats that had their serum potassium concentrations corrected to normothermic status (2.93 +/- 0.17 mmol/L) had marked increases in serum potassium concentrations (4.22 +/- 0.15 mmol/L) on rewarming. In the normothermic rats, potassium loading after beta-adrenergic receptor blockade resulted in even higher serum potassium concentrations (5.65 +/- 0.36 mmol/L) compared with non-beta-blocked rats given equal potassium loads (4.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/L). However, in hypothermic (25 degrees C) rats given the same potassium load, there was no difference in serum potassium concentrations in beta-blocked (6.5 +/- 0.35 mmol/L) and non-beta-blocked rats (6.63 +/- 0.3 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that acute hypothermia causes a decrease in serum potassium, probably secondary to redistribution, which is reversible on rewarming. Supplementation of potassium during hypothermia can cause a significant increase in serum potassium concentration on rewarming. Blocking beta-adrenergic receptors with propranolol did not effect hypothermia-induced hypokalemia, suggesting that the beta-adrenergic mechanism may not be functional in hypothermia.

Negative chronotropic actions of sufentanil and vecuronium in chronically instrumented dogs pretreated with propranolol and/or diltiazem.

Patients with ischemic heart disease who present for surgery are frequently managed with a "high dose" narcotic technique utilizing fentanyl or sufentanil in combination with neuromuscular blockade. Narcotic anesthetic induction has been associated with perioperative cardiac conduction disturbances, particularly in patients previously treated with calcium channel and/or beta-adrenergic antagonists. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine in chronically instrumented dogs the effects on systemic and coronary hemodynamics and regional contractile function of sufentanil alone or in combination with the nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent vecuronium, with and without pretreatment with the calcium channel blocking agent diltiazem, and/or the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. Thirty-six experiments were conducted in four groups of 19 chronically instrumented dogs. Administration of sufentanil (25 and 50 micrograms/kg of normal body weight IV) resulted in a significant sinus or junctional bradyarrhythmia without alteration in systemic and coronary hemodynamics. Pretreatment with propranolol (1 mg/kg IV) decreased left ventricular +dP/dt without other hemodynamic alterations. After propranolol pretreatment, sufentanil (25 and 50 micrograms/kg IV) produced statistically significant dose-dependent decreases in heart rate and +dP/dt, while increasing mean and diastolic coronary vascular resistances. After pretreatment with diltiazem (0.3 mg/kg IV) and propranolol (1.0 mg/kg IV), sufentanil (25 micrograms/kg IV) produced significantly greater bradycardia (38 +/- 4 beats/min) than it did in non-pretreated or propranolol-pretreatment dogs. Similarly, administration of sufentanil (25 micrograms/kg IV) in combination with vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg IV) after propranolol and diltiazem pretreatment resulted in the appearance of bradyarrhythmias (32 +/- 2 beats/min) and two episodes of asystole, responsive to atropine sulfate (0.4 mg). In spite of severe bradycardia, arterial pressure was well maintained in all groups. In all groups, administration of naloxone (0.2 mg/kg IV and 0.2 mg/kg IM) after sufentanil produced significant increases in arterial pressure, left ventricular +dP/dt, and diastolic coronary blood flow velocity. Therefore, the combination of sufentanil and vecuronium in chronically instrumented dogs may result in the appearance of cardiac conduction disturbances. This action is more likely to occur after pretreatment with diltiazem and propranolol. Although systemic hemodynamics were well maintained in dogs in the present study during the episodes of bradyarrhythmias, potentially significant cardiovascular deficits may occur in pa