Reversibility of inotropic effects of ouabain on canine atrial and ventricular tissues

The experiments reported here were designed to quantitate reversibility of ouabain-induced inotropy in atrial and ventricular trabeculae of the dog heart. At 30 degrees C, 1 Hz, 2 mM Ca2+ and 5.9 mM K+, the positive inotropic effects, measured after a 1 h exposure to a single priming concentration of 0.5 microM ouabain, decreased after the removal of the drug with a half time (t1/2) of washout of 9.52 +/- 2.72 h in atrial and 7.64 +/- 1.58 h in ventricular trabeculae. When toxicity occurred it was of three types: transient toxicity, toxicity resembling a 'fast washout,' and severe toxicity characterized by profound and persistent negative inotropy and contracture. Use of the classical glycoside bioassay (Hatcher's digitalis titration) during and after washout, provided a semiquantitative estimation of ouabain remaining in the trabeculae; after a 4 h washout of the drug, the trabeculae were challenged by the addition of one-half of the initial concentration of ouabain (0.25 microM). Trabeculae, which had responded to ouabain with only positive inotropic effects and no toxicity, still contained substantial concentrations of ouabain. Trabeculae which reacted clearly with toxicity to the priming dose of ouabain, showed a significant loss of contractile force and development of contracture. The fastest ouabain washout we observed was 3.1 h.