Influence of digitalis on cardiac function before and after autonomic blockade

The influence of Deslanoside C (D), 1.2 mg intravenously on the systolic time intervals (STI) was assessed in 15 individuals with right ventricular pacemakers, who were studied on two occasions, ten days apart. In the first case D was given under basal conditions, and in the second after autonomic blockade (with practolol 20 mg intravenously and atropine 1.5 and 1.0 mg intravenously) at 1 hour's interval. There were similar changes of the STI with digitalis administration both before and after automic blockade. Autonomic blockade is not necessary for full expression of digitalis action on the human heart, as advocated by some authors to be the case in experimental animals.