Developmental changes in response of dog isolated ventricular myocardium to norepinephrine

There are maturational changes of myocardial function and response to inotropic agents. Because of incomplete myocardial sympathetic innervation, neonatal myocardium may be more sensitive to norepinephrine than is adult myocardium. We tested this hypothesis by using isolated trabecular muscle from two groups of puppies and from adult dogs. The muscles were exposed to norepinephrine at concentrations of 1 x 10(-10) to 1 x 10(-4) M, and indices of isometric and isotonic contraction were measured. Active tension and maximum rate of contraction increased in all age groups with norepinephrine. Adult dogs were more sensitive than puppies to the arrhythmogenic effect of norepinephrine. Although there was no strictly significant difference statistically, there appeared to be an age-related increase in the dose at which 50% of the maximum effect of the drug was achieved (ED50). Total contraction time, time to peak tension, and relaxation time decreased with increasing concentrations of norepinephrine in older puppies and in adults but not in newborn puppies. Thus, there are significant age-related differences in response to norepinephrine.