[Electrophysiological effects of neferine against ischemic ventricular tachyarrhythmias]

The electrophysiological effects of neferine (Nef, 8mg/kg,i.v.) on ischemic ventricular tachyarrhythmias in both normal and ischemic myocardium were studied in open-chest dogs by programmed electrical stimulation (PES) with intimal surface anodal direct current at the circumflex coronary artery during 5-8 days after acute myocardial infarction. Its effects were compared with procainamide (PA). Both drugs lengthened the QTc interval and the effective refractory period (ERP) of normal and infarcted myocardium in both ventricles and decreased the dispersion of ERP in infarcted myocardium (IDR) as well as in left ventricle (VDR), increased the diastolic excitability threshold (DET) of normal and infarcted myocardium in both ventricles remarkably. The PES-induced VT or VF was prevented in all of Nef treated dogs and in 5 out of 6 PA treated dogs, Nef prevented spontaneous VF in 5 dogs (n = 6), PA prevented spontaneous VF in 4 dogs (n = 6). The results indicated that Nef may be effective in preventing the onset of reentrant ventricular tachycardias and sudden cardiac death after myocardial ischemic damage.