Comparison of the Arrhythmogenic Actions of (-)-Isoprenaline, Dobutamine and the selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, (+/-)-(1-[3',4'-dihydroxyphenoxy] -2-hydroxy-[3",4"-dimethoxy phenethylamino]-propane)-oxalate (Ro 363)

In guinea-pig left atrial preparations, concentrations of (-)-isoprenaline and (+/-)-(1-[3',4'-dihydroxyphenoxy] -2-hydroxy-[3",4"-dimethoxyphenethylamino]-propane)-oxalate (Ro 363) causing maximal inotropic responses produced small reductions in effective refractory period. Dobutamine had little effect on the refractory period except at supramaximal inotropic concentrations, when increases in effective refractory period were produced. Isolated perfused heart preparations from guinea-pigs developed arrhythmic contractions following the administration of (-)-isoprenaline, Ro 363 and dobutamine in doses producing 70-100% of their maximal chronotropic responses. The arrhythmogenic activity of the three agonists paralleled their respective beta 1-receptor stimulant properties. In chloralose-anaesthetized cats, the 3 agonists, (-)-isoprenaline, Ro 363 and dobutamine, when compared to epinephrine (adrenaline), were essentially devoid of arrhythmogenic activity in Animals in which cardiac sensitization was induced by 3-dimethylamino-2-methyl-2-phenoxypropiophenone hydrochloride (U-0882) or halothane. However, all 3 agonists elicited ventricular arrhythmias following the administration of subarrhythmic doses of ouabain and increased the number of subauricular escape beats which occurred during vagal nerve stimulation in non-ouabain treated Animals. In all cases the arrhythmogenic activity of the drugs paralleled their relative activity for eliciting rises in heart rate.