The cardiovascular effects of dantrolene sodium in dogs

The effects of the intravenous infusion of dantrolene sodium and of equal volumes of normal saline on arterial pressure, central venous pressure, heart rate and cardiac output have been investigated in healthy, anaesthetised dogs. The infusion of dantrolene in the manner and dose found to be effective by other workers in pigs-8 for the treatment of anaesthetic induced malignant hyperpyrexia, produced changes which differ little from those observed after the infusion of a similar quantity of saline. These results are discussed.