‫بسم هللا الر حمن الر حيم‬

Action of autonomic drugs

on Isolated Heart
 Preparation
1. A rabbit is sacrificed & heart with at least 1 cm
of aorta is removed as quickly as possible.
2. Isolated heart is placed in a dish of Ringer-lock
solution at room temperature.
3. Heart is gently squeezed several times when
first placed in Ringer-lock solution, to remove
as much of blood as possible.
4. Aorta is located & all other vessels connected
to heart are trimmed away.
 ).Preparation Cont
5. Heart is transferred to perfusion chamber &
aorta is tied onto glass cannula.
6. A threads is attached to ventricle by a hook &
connected to a spring lever to record the rate
and amplitude of contractions.
7. Perfusion fluid is oxygenated & allowed to
circulate in perfusion chamber.
8. Test drugs are poured over the heart in the
chamber.
 Action of drugs on B1-receptors in heart
a) Adrenaline stimulates B1-receptors in heart &
increases rate & amplitude of contraction.
b) Noradrenaline has similar or a bit weaker
action on heart than adrenaline.
c) Isoprenaline has more prominent action on
heart than adrenaline.
d) Propranolol blocks B1-receptors in heart &
reduces heart rate & amplitude of contraction.
Normal (4/0.05 min) Adrenaline (6/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 120/min

Adrenaline (Epinephrine)
Normal (4/0.05 min) Noradrenaline (5/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 100/min

Noradrenaline (Norepinephrine)
Normal (4/0.05 min) Isoprenaline (8/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 160/min

Isoprenaline (Isoproterenol)
Normal (4/0.05) min Propranolol (3/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 60/min

Propranolol
 Normal (4/0.05 min) Propranolol + Isoprenaline
= 80/min (4/0.05 min) = 80/min

Propranolol, followed by Isoprenaline

 Action of drugs on Muscarinic receptors
in heart
a) Acetylcholine decreases rate & force of
contractions of heart by activation of
muscarinic receptors
b) Atropine block muscarinic receptors &
produces tachycardia.
c) Atropine given before Acetylcholine,
blocks action of acetylcholine.
Normal (4/0.05 min) Acetylcholine (3/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 60/min

Acetylcholine
Normal (4/0.05 min) Atropine (8/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 160/min

Atropine
 Normal 4/0.05 min Atropine + Acetylcholine
= 80/min (4/0.05 min) = 80/min

Atropine followed by Acetylcholine

Actions of other drugs acting on heart
• I. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors:
• Increase cAMP & increase force of
contraction of heart.
• A. Milrinone
• B. Methylxanthines:
(Theophylline, caffeine & theobromine)
Normal 4(/0.05 min) Milrinone (8/0.05 min)
= 80/min = 160/min

Milrinone