[The effect of atenolol on the cardiovascular system (author's transl)]

Effects of atenolol on the cardiovascular system were studied in rats and dogs. Atenolol (10 microgram/kg - 3 mg/kg) did not increase heart rate significantly in rats pretreated with reserpine (5 mg/kg), while a significant increase occurred with practolol (30 microgram/kg - 3 mg/kg). Atenolol (100 microgram/kg) inhibited the response of canine heart (heart rate and myocardial contractile force) to isoproterenol to a similar degree as seen with propranolol (100 microgram/kg) did. The ability of atenolol to inhibit vasodilating action of isoproterenol, however, was about 1/12 of that of propranolol. Atenolol (0.5 mg/kg) did not inhibit hemodynamic responses to ouabain and CaCl2 in dogs, while this drug inhibited these responses to isoproterenol. Atenolol decreased heart rate, myocardial contractile force, left ventricular pressure, and rate of rise of the left ventricular pressure (dp/dt LV max) dose-dependently. Atenolol (1 mg/kg) decreased coronary venous outflow and myocardial oxygen consumption in dogs, but did not alter the myocardium to a more reduced state, as determined by coronary arterial and venous lactate and pyruvate levels. These results confirmed that atenolol is a potent cardioselective beta-blocker devoid of intrinsic sympathomimetic action. The results also suggest that atenolol inhibits cardiac function without disturbing the intracellular redox state of the myocardium.