Summary
Tetrandrine (T), an alkaloid isolated from the root of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore, possessed an antihypertensive, antianginal and antiarrhythmogenic effect.
This paper studied the direct influence of tetrandrine upon the contractility, automaticity, excitability and refractory period of isolated atrium of guinea pigs.
-
1.
Tetrandrine 32 uM decreased the contractility, ±dT/dt max and automaticity and prolonged the functional refractory period (FRP), but exerted no influence upon its excitability.
-
2.
The decrease in automaticity and prolongation of refractory period were thought to be ascribed to its antiarrhythmic action.
-
3.
The negative inotropic and automaticitic effects suggested that tetrandrine might be antagonistic to Ca++.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Department of Pharmacology: A clinical study of the antihypertensive effect of tetrandrine. Chin Med J (Engl) 92: 193, 1979
(3): 110, 1976
2(1): 26, 1981
10(1): 47, 1981
47, 1979 9
Dresel PE, Duncan DC: Induction of automaticity in cat papillary muscles by sympathomimetic amines. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 133:70, 1961
Govier WC: The mechanism of the atrial refractory period change produced by ouabain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 148: 100, 1965
Mosal NC, Govier WC, Whittington P, Broom AH: Myocardial alpha and beta adrenergic receptors as demonstrated by atrial functional refractory period changes. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 154: 255, 1966
29: 43, 1966
Fleckenstein A: On the basic pharmacological mechanism of nifedipine and its relation to therapeutic efficiency, 3rd International Adalat Symposium, p1, Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, Oxford, 1976
Hugo A, Carrasco MD: Effect of verapamil on normal sinoatrial node function and on sick sinus syndrome. Am Heart J. 96: 760, 1978
Herman EH and Chadwick DP: Cardiovascular effects of d-tetrandrine. Pharmacology 12: 97, 1974
(3): 112, 1976
Reuter N, Heeg E: Beeinflussung der funktionellen Refraktärzeit und der Kontraktionskraft elektrisch gereizter Meerschweinchenvorhöfe durch Antiarrhythmica und ß-Receptorenblocker. Naunyn Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol 268:323, 1971
2(3): 163, 1981
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dachao, F., Weixing, Y., Guojin, X. et al. Studies on the calcium antagonistic action of tetrandrine: I. Effects of tetrandrine on the isolated guinea pig atrium. Acta Academiae Medicinae Wuhan 1, 46–50 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857075
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02857075