The action of reserpine, 6-hydroxydopamine, and bretylium on digitalis-induced cardiotoxicity

This study determined whether the protective effect of reserpine against ouabain-induced ventricular arrhythmias in the cat is due to an action of the drug on the adrenergic nerve terminal. Reserpine (5 mg/kg i.p.) administered 24 h prior to ouabain (2 micrograms/kg per min i.v., until death) increased the dose of ouabain to produce premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and death from 77.3 +/- 5.2 to 105.0 +/- 6.0; 84.9 +/- 5.2 to 132.7 +/- 9.1; and 108.8 +/- 4.0 to 165.7 +/- 10.4 micrograms/kg, respectively (P less than 0.05). When 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA; 20 mg/kg i.v.) was given 3 days prior to the experiment, the protective effect of reserpine was not evident. When bretylium (20 mg/kg i.v., 2 h prior to ouabain) was administered to animals previously treated with reserpine, the dose of ouabain which produced premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and death was increased to 109.0 +/- 7.2; 146.1 +/- 12.6; and 165.8 +/- 7.6 micrograms/kg, respectively (P less than 0.05). However, the magnitude of this protective action was similar to that produced by reserpine alone. Lathers et al. (Fed. Proc. 40, 672, 1981) reported that bretylium alone provides protection of a similar order of magnitude as reserpine. Thus, the effects of reserpine and bretylium were not additive; this indicates that the two agents may be acting on the same locus or they may be acting at different sites with the action of one drug masking or blocking the action of the other. Since 6OHDA prevented the action of reserpine on ouabain-induced ventricular arrhythmia and since 6OHDA only produces degeneration of adrenergic nerve terminals, it is probable that the protective effect of both reserpine and bretylium is due to an action at the adrenergic nerve terminal. The heart rate and blood pressure were not involved in the antiarrhythmic effects of reserpine.