Functional changes in isolated guinea-pig papillary muscle induced by monensin and digoxin

The effects of digoxin and monensin on contraction force (CF), initial contraction velocity (ICV), average contraction velocity (ACV), initial relaxation velocity (IRV) and stimulus to response time (ST) in 'fatigued' (tired) and 'non-fatigued' (fresh) guinea-pig papillary muscles were investigated. 'Fatigued' muscles had lost 30% of their original CF with the elapse of time before they were treated. The 5 h of measurement were divided into five periods (T0 was equilibration, T1, T2, T3 and T4 were, respectively, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after drug administration). It was found that both monensin and digoxin increased the CF, ICV and ACV at T1 and increased the IRV at T2. Digoxin lost its effect with the elapse of time while monensin did not. Digoxin also decreased the ST at T2, T3 and T4. However, monensin did not change the ST. It was also found that 'fatigued' and 'non-fatigued' guinea-pig papillary muscles did not respond to the drug treatment differently. It was concluded that the initial effects of these two drugs on guinea-pig papillary muscles are similar regarding contractility but in time digoxin loses its effect while monensin does not.