Summary
The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of a single 100-µg i.v. administration of the synthetic heptadecapeptide [β-Ala1-Lys17]ACTH1–17-4-amino-N-butylamide (ACTH 1–17) on the left ventricular performance. The systolic time intervals (STI) were recorded in 20 healthy adult young subjects (10 treated with ACTH 1–17 and 10 receiving placebo) before as well as 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after the i.v. ACTH 1–17 or placebo infusion. The STI were recorded immediately after blood withdrawal for measuring cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline and noradrenaline plasma levels. A highly significant statistical difference was demonstrated for preejection period (PEP) and preejection period/left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) ratio between subjects treated with ACTH 1–17 and subjects receiving placebo. As expected, a significant increase of cortisol and aldosterone plasma levels was observed in subjects treated with ACTH 1–17. The difference of adrenaline and noradrenaline plasma levels was statistically highly significant between subjects treated with ACTH 1–17 and those receiving placebo. The lack of increase in PEP and PEP/LVET ratio recorded in subjects treated with ACTH 1–17 is consistent with an increased left ventricular contractile performance. An increased plasma catecholamine release is postulated as the mechanism of this improvement.
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Levi, G., Signorini, C., Tosoni, S. et al. Positive inotropic effects of an acth analogue (ACTH 1–17) on myocardial performance. La Ricerca in Clin. Lab. 15, 349–356 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029150
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029150