[The cardiovascular effect of Cordemcura on various animal models in vivo]

The cardiotonic activity of Cordemcura was investigated in anesthetized pigs, cats, and rats. Hemodynamic measurements were made under normal conditions and under drug-induced heart failure (hexobarbital, isoproterenol). Cordemcura caused significant positive inotropic effects with rapid onset and relatively short duration of action (0.2-3.2 mg/kg i. v.). In the pig dp/dtmax was increased by 31.4% (p less than 0.02) at 1.6 mg/kg, in the cat by 34.2% (p less than 0.05) at 0.5 mg/kg, and in the rat by 14.4% (ns) at 0.5 mg/kg. The inotropic response was associated with a significant reduction of total peripheral resistance (TPR) (pig: -21.4%, p less than 0.02; cat: -13.7), and relatively small changes in heart rate, cardiac output, and blood pressure. Under drug-induced heart failure there was no further increase in the cardiotonic activity of Cordemcura. The hemodynamic effects of Cordemcura were compared with the effects of dopamine (5-100 micrograms/kg i. v.) and ouabain (10-40 micrograms/kg i. v.).