Increase in myocardial digoxin content associated with circulatory volume overload in the dog

1. Tritiated (12alpha-3H) digoxin (0-05 mg/kg body weight) was administered intravenously to conscious dogs with circulatory volume overload induced by previous creation of aorto-caval fistulae. Dogs were killed after 5 min, 1, or 4 h, and the myocardium sampled. Digoxin was extracted and counted and results compared to those in normal dogs. 2. At each time, myocardial digoxin concentration of all cardiac chambers in test dogs was greater than normal. Plasma digoxin concentration measured 5 min after administration was greater in dogs with fistulae but the subsequent levels were not different. 3. Anaesthetized and open-chest dogs with fistulae studied 5 min after digoxin administration had greater myocardial concentrations than similarly studied normal dogs. Although myocardial concentrations of digoxin were higher in anaesthetized than in conscious dogs the group with fistulae had higher values than did the normal group, as was the case for unanaesthetized dogs. 4. The basis for the effect of fistula is probably multifactorial. Diminised peripheral blood flow and peripheral digoxin delivery and uptake, resulting initially in higher digoxin levels in plasma perfusing the myocardium, may play a role. Increased myocardial mechanical and metabolic activity almost certainly are important. Cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac failure per se and plasma electrolyte changes are probably not. 5. The results are consistent with previously demonstrated reduced digitalis tolerance in the dog with circulatory volume overload.