Effect of digitoxin on hypoxia-produced cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

Abstract

SummaryAdministration of digitoxin prevented hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the rat during exposure to hypoxia. The right ventricle was not affected by the drug and showed a significant degree of hypertrophy. Presumably digitoxin greatly lessened left ventricular hypertrophy by increasing the capacity of cardiac muscle to do work.