Selectivity of a CaCl2 continuous infusion screening method in rats

In albino rats the combined use of two methods based on a continuous perfusion of aconitine nitrate (0.15 mg/ml) or calcium chloride (0.4 M) demonstrated the selectivity of the calcium chloride-induced dysrhythmias model. This rapid screening was carried out with antidysrhythmic agents according to the Vaughan-Williams's classification (1): quinidine (class I) 5 mg/kg; atenolol (class II) 2 mg/kg; amiodarone (class III) 10 mg/kg and verapamil (class IV) 2 mg/kg. A compound synthesized in our laboratory was used to verify model selectivity.