Halothane, Isoflurane and Enflurane Potentiate the Effect of Noradrenaline on Ventricular Automaticity in the Rat Heart: Evidence of the Involvement of Both α- and β-Adrenoceptors

Abstract

Direct evidence has been sought as to what extent the sensitization of heart to the arrhythmogenic action of sympathomimetic drugs in the presence of the inhalatory anaesthetics, halothane, isoflurane and enflurane, is mediated by either alpha- or beta-adrenoceptors. For this purpose, the effects of isoprenaline, noradrenaline and phenylephrine on ventricular automaticity induced by local injury have been studied in the isolated right ventricle of the rat. Isoprenaline was more potent in increasing ventricular automaticity than either phenylephrine or noradrenaline. The anaesthetic potentiated the effects of noradrenaline, as well as that of higher concentrations of phenylephrine, but not those of isoprenaline. These results support the contention that increases in ventricular automaticity induced by sympathomimetic drugs are mainly mediated by adrenoceptors of the beta-type. However, the simultaneous activation of both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors seems to be necessary for the effect of the anaesthetics in sensitizing the heart to sympathomimetic drugs.