Article date: March 1991
By: Y. Sarne, A. Flitstein, E. Oppenheimer, in Volume 102, Issue 3, pages 696-698
A series of opioid agonists, antagonists and their (+)‐stereoisomers were tested for antiarrhythmic activity in the rat coronary artery occlusion model.
Naloxone (0.01–2 mg kg−1) significantly reduced the incidence and severity of cardiac arrhythmias, in accordance with previous published studies.
The non‐opioid stereoisomer, (+)‐naloxone, was equipotent with naloxone against occlusion‐induced arrhythmia.
Similar non‐stereospecific antiarrhythmic effects were induced by another opioid antagonist, Win 44,441–3 and its stereoisomer Win 44,441–2.
The opioid agonists, morphine and levorphanol, protected against occlusion‐induced arrhythmia as did the opioid antagonists, and the (+)‐stereoisomer, dextrorphan, was equipotent to levorphanol.
It is concluded that the antiarrhythmic effects of opioid drugs are not mediated by opioid receptors. A direct effect on ionic currents in cardiac muscle is suggested as the mechanism of opioid antiarrhythmic activity.
A series of opioid agonists, antagonists and their (+)‐stereoisomers were tested for antiarrhythmic activity in the rat coronary artery occlusion model.
Naloxone (0.01–2 mg kg−1) significantly reduced the incidence and severity of cardiac arrhythmias, in accordance with previous published studies.
The non‐opioid stereoisomer, (+)‐naloxone, was equipotent with naloxone against occlusion‐induced arrhythmia.
Similar non‐stereospecific antiarrhythmic effects were induced by another opioid antagonist, Win 44,441–3 and its stereoisomer Win 44,441–2.
The opioid agonists, morphine and levorphanol, protected against occlusion‐induced arrhythmia as did the opioid antagonists, and the (+)‐stereoisomer, dextrorphan, was equipotent to levorphanol.
It is concluded that the antiarrhythmic effects of opioid drugs are not mediated by opioid receptors. A direct effect on ionic currents in cardiac muscle is suggested as the mechanism of opioid antiarrhythmic activity.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1991.tb12235.x
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