Summary
The effects of Ca2+ ions were studied on the canine heart in situ, submitted to vagal influence or not. In addition to heart rate, conduction time was determined separately in atrial muscle, atrioventricular node and His-Purkinje system by means of His bundle potential recording and the effective refractory period (ERP) measured in atrioventricular node, atrial and ventricular muscle according to the extrastimulus method.
In the presence of acetylcholine (ACh) released by vagal endings, an increase in plasma calcium concentration from 2.40 to 4.12 mmol/l, acutely induced by the infusion of calcium chloride, elicits the following alterations: slowing down of sinus rate, lengthening of conduction time in atrioventricular node without change of this time in atrial muscle and His-Purkinje system, prolongation of atrioventricular node ERP, but notable decrease of atrial muscle ERP and slight decrease of ventricular muscle ERP. These effects are similar to those of ACh: Ca2+ ions probably enhance the responsiveness to ACh.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey JC, Greenspan K, Elizari MV, Anderson GJ, Fisch C (1972) Effects of acetylcholine on automaticity and conduction in the proximal portion of the His-Purkinje specialized conduction system of the dog. Circ Res 30:210–216
Bennett MR, Fischer C, Florin T, Quine M, Robinson J (1977) The effects of calcium ions and temperature on the binominal parameters that control acetylcholine release by a nerve impulse at amphibian neuromuscular synapses. J Physiol 271:641–672
Bradlow BA, Segel N (1956) Acute hyperparathyroidism with ECG changes. Br Med J 2:197–200
Breithardt G, Seipel L, Wiebringhaus E, Loogen F (1978) The role of the autonomic nervous system in the action of verapamil on the sinus node in man. Basic Res Cardiol 78:637–647
Bronski D, Dubin A, Waldstein SS, Hushner DS (1961) Calcium and the ECG. II. The ECG manifestation of hyperparathyroidism and of marked hypercalcemia from other etiologies. Am J Cardiol 7:833–839
Burn JH, Williams EM, Walker JM (1955) The effect of acetylcholine in the heart-lung preparation including the production of auricular fibrillation. J Physiol 128:277–293
Corabœuf E (1978) Ionic basis of electrical activity in cardiac tissues. Am J Physiol 234:H101-H116
Cranefield PF, Hoffman BF, Paes de Carvalho A (1959) Effects of acetylcholine on single fibers of the atrioventricular node. Circ Res 7:19–23
Di Francesco D, McNaughton PA (1977) The effects of calcium on outward membrane currents in Purkinje fibers from sheep hearts. J Physiol 170:47–48
Eliakim M, Bellet S, Tawill E, Muller O (1961) Effect of vagal stimulation and acetylcholine on the ventricle. Studies in dogs with complete atrioventricular block. Circ Res 9:1372–1379
Ettinger PO, Regant TJ, Oldewurtel HA (1974) Hyperkalemia, cardiac conduction and the electrocardiogram: a review. Am Heart J 88:360–371
Farges JP, Ollagnier M, Faucon G (1977) Influence of acetylcholine, quinidine and ouabain on the effective refractory periods of atrial and ventricular myocardium in the dog. Arch Int Pharmacodyn 227:206–219
Faucon G, Bazaugour R, Ollagnier M, De Clavière M, Kofman J, Evreux JC (1975) Hétérogénéité du tissu automatique cardiaque vis-à-vis des parasympathomimétiques. Thérapie 30:175–184
Giles W, Tsien RW (1975) Effects of acetylcholine on membrane currents in frog atrial muscle. J Physiol 246:64P-66P
Giles W, Noble S (1976) Changes in membrane currents in bullfrog atrium produced by acetylcholine. J Physiol 261:103–123
Gindler EM, King JD (1972) Rapid colorimetric determination of calcium in biologic fluids with methyl thymol blue. Am J Clin Path 58:376–383
Ginsberg H, Schwartz KV (1973) Hypercalcemia and complete heart block. Ann Int Med 79:903P
Greenspan K, Wunsch C, Fisch C (1965) The relationship between potassium and vagal action on atrioventricular transmission. Circ Res 17:39–45
Harris EJ, Hutter O (1956) The action of acetylcholine on the movements of potassium ions in the sinus venosus of the heart. J Physiol 133:58P-59P
Hoffman BF (1961) Physiology of atrioventricular transmission. Circulation 24:506–517
Hoffman BF, Paes de Carvalho A, Carlos de Mello W, Cranefield PF (1959) Electrical activity of single fibers of the atrioventricular node. Circ Res 7:11–18
Ikemoto Y, Goto M (1975) Nature of the negative inotropic effect of acetylcholine on the myocardium. Proc Jpn Acad 31:501–505
Isenberg G (1975) Is potassium conductance of cardiac Purkinje fibres controlled by (Ca2+? Nature 253:273–274
Lièvre M, Ollagnier M, Timour Chah Q, Descotes J, Faucon G (1980) Effects of mild hyperkalemia on conduction velocity and effective refractory period in various parts of the dog heart in situ. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 313:237–242
Lipsius SL, Vassalle M (1977) Effects of acetylcholine on potassium movements in the guinea-pig sinus node. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 201:669–677
Loomis TA, Krop S (1955) Auricular fibrillation induced and maintained in animals by acetylcholine or vagal stimulation. Circ Res 3:390–396
Ollagnier M, Timour Chah Q, Lièvre M, Faucon G (1980) Différence d'effects des antiarythmiques à l'étage auriculaire en fonction du tonus vagal. J Pharmacol (Paris) 11:354–355
Roquebert J, Canellas J, Dumartin A, Sabathie M (1967) Etude expérimentale comparative des effects secondaires du dextromoramide, du fentanyl et de la phénopéridine. Arch Int Pharmacodyn 167:297–307
Sano T, Ida Y, Hiraoka M (1970) Action of acetylcholine on the Purkinje fiber studied by voltage clamp technique. Jpn J Physiol 20:155–166
Scherlag BJ, Helfant RH, Damato AN (1968) A catheterization technique for His bundle stimulation and recording in the intact dog. J Appl Physiol 25:425–428
Schmitt H, Schmitt H, Fénard S (1971) Evidence for an alphasympathomimetic component in the effects of Catapressan on vasotomor centers, antagonism by piperoxan. Eur J Pharamcol 14:98–100
Seifen E, Flacke W, Marshall JM, Alper MH (1964a) Effects of Ca2+ on isolated mammalian heart. Am J Physiol 207:716–720
Seifen E, Schaer H, Marshall JM (1964b) Effects of calcium on the membrane potentials of single pacemaker fibres and atrial fibres in isolated rabbit atria. Nature 202:1223–1224
Surawicz B, Lexington KY (1967) Relationship between ECG and electrolytes. Am Heart J 73:814–834
Temte JV, Davis LD (1967) Effect of calcium concentration on the transmembrane potentials of Purkinje fibers. Circ Res 20:42–45
Timour Chah Q, Braly G, Bouzouita K, Faucon G (1982) Effects of hypokalemia on the various parts of the conduction system of the dog heart in situ. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 319:178–183
Toda N, West TC (1967) Interaction between Na, Ca, Mg and vagal stimulation in the sinoatrial node of the rabbit. Am J Physiol 212:424–430
Varghese PJ, Damato AN, Lau SH, Akhtar M, Bobb GA (1973) The effect of heart rate, acetylcholine and vagal stimulation on antegrade and retrograde His-Purkinje conduction in the intact heart. Am Heart J 86:203–210
Vincenzi FF, West TC (1965) Modification by calcium of the release of autonomic mediators in the isolated sinoatrial node. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 150:349–360
Ware F, Graham GD (1967) Effects of acetylcholine on transmembrane potentials in frog ventricle. Am J Physiol 212:451–455
Watanabe Y (1981) Effects of calcium and sodium concentrations on atrioventricular conduction: experimental study in rabbit hearts with clinical implications on heart block and slow calcium channel blocking agent usage. Am Heart J 102:883–891
Webb JL (1950) The action of acetylcholine on the rabbit auricle. Br J Pharmacol 5:335–375
Wit AL, Weiss MB, Berkowitz WD, Rosen KM, Steiner C, Damato AN (1970) Pattern of atrioventricular conduction in the human heart. Circ Res 27:345–359
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chah, Q.T., Bertrix, L., Lang, J. et al. Enhancement by Ca2+ ions of cholinergic effects on the canine heart in situ. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 322, 59–64 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00649353
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00649353