Experimental urethane anaesthesia prevents digoxin intoxication: electrocardiographic and histological study in rabbit

An electrocardiographic and histological study was performed in rabbit to detect the effects of urethane (ethyl carbamate) intraperitoneal (i.p.) anaesthesia in digoxin intoxication, since it has been previously shown that this anaesthetic and digitalis glycosides exert specific peripheral effects o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pharmacological research 2000-10, Vol.42 (4), p.355-359
Main Authors: Princi, Tanja, Delbello, Giorgio, Grill, Vittorio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anesthesia
Anesthetics, Intravenous - pharmacology
Animals
Cardiotonic Agents - antagonists & inhibitors
Cardiotonic Agents - toxicity
Digoxin - antagonists & inhibitors
Digoxin - toxicity
digoxin, urethane, ECG, myocardium, rabbit
Drug Interactions
Electrocardiography - drug effects
Heart - drug effects
Heart - physiology
Myocardium - pathology
Rabbits
Sympathetic Nervous System - drug effects
Urethane - pharmacology
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Summary:An electrocardiographic and histological study was performed in rabbit to detect the effects of urethane (ethyl carbamate) intraperitoneal (i.p.) anaesthesia in digoxin intoxication, since it has been previously shown that this anaesthetic and digitalis glycosides exert specific peripheral effects on the cardiovascular system involving central structures of the autonomic nervous system. We observed that i.p. urethane anaesthesia prevented the onset of the electrocardiographic signs of digitalis intoxication, as well as inhibiting the appearance of histological myocardial alterations after treatment with toxic digoxin doses. On the other hand, lethal arrhythmias and severe myocardial damage were observed in animals that had not undergone preliminary urethane anaesthesia. These results indicate that the effect exerted by urethane in preventing the toxic action of digoxin is probably due to a decrease of sympathetic activity in anaesthetized animals by centrally mediated sympathetic inhibition.
ISSN:1043-6618
1096-1186
DOI:10.1006/phrs.2000.0698