Myocardial effects of eltanolone in hamsters with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Eltanolone is a new short-acting i.v. induction agent that induces less cardiovascular depression than propofol or thiopentone and has no significant effect on intrinsic contractility in normal myocardium. However, its effects on diseased myocardium are unknown. We have studied in vitro the effects of eltanolone 0.1, 1, and 10 micrograms ml-1 on the intrinsic contractility of left ventricular papillary muscles from normal hamsters and those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (strain BIO 14.6, 6-month-old) (Krebs-Henseleit solution, 29 degrees C, pH 7.40, Ca2+ 2.5 mmol litre-1, stimulation frequency 3 min-1). Cardiac hypertrophy (mean 134 (SD 9)%, P < 0.001) was observed in cardiomyopathic hamsters. Contractility of papillary muscles from hamsters with cardiomyopathy was less than that of controls, as shown by the lower active isometric force (8 (3) vs 35 (14) mN mm-2, P < 0.001). Eltanolone did not induce any significant inotropic or lusitropic effects in normal hamsters, and the effects of eltanolone were not significantly different between normal hamsters and those with cardiomyopathy.