Resibufogenin-induced delayed afterdepolarization in rabbit heart in situ

The pharmacological effects of resibufogenin (RGB), an effective cardiotonic obtained from a famous traditional Chinese medicine, on the electrical activity of the rabbit heart (n = 12) in situ were studied by using a new technique of recording monophasic action potential (MAP). RBG (0.3 mg/kg IV) induced DAD in 3/12 animals. DAD appeared within the first 0.5 to 1 min after RBG and lasted about 20-30 min. The position of DAD was in the end of phase 3 of MAP. The DADs of rabbit epicardium showed a transient, regular and phasic depolarization process. The triggered arrhythmias were not recorded in these experiments, as amplitudes of DAD were lower and did not reach the threshold. The results indicate that DADs are induced by RBG at first time in situ in rabbits. The characteristics of DAD were similar to those previously described in single cardiac fibers in vitro.