Abstract
Seven drugs of abuse have been examined for effects on the action potential in sheep isolated cardiac Purkinje fibres. Phencyclidine (5 μM) induced a significant increase (30.7%) in action potential duration at 90% repolarisation (APD 90). Similarly, 10 μM 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) induced a significant increase in APD 90 of 12.1%. Although Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (0.1 μM) induced a small, but statistically significant, 4.8% increase in APD 90, no effects were observed at 0.01 or 1 μM. Cocaethylene (10 μM) induced a significant shortening of APD 90 (− 23.8%). Cocaine (up to 1 μM), (+)-methamphetamine (‘Speed’; up to 5 μM), and the heroin metabolite, morphine (up to 5 μM), had no statistically significant effects. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in the context of other recognised cardiac effects of the tested drugs.
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