The Electrophysiologic Effects of Bupivacaine on Adult, Neonatal, and Fetal Guinea Pig Papillary Muscles

Abstract

The authors used standard microelectrode techniques to study developmental changes in the effects of bupivacaine on the transmembrane potentials of adult, neonatal, and fetal guinea pig papillary muscles. Bupivacaine hyperpolarized membrane potential in the adult and neonatal muscles but not the fetal muscles. In all three age groups, action potential overshoot and the maximum rate of increase of phase 0 (Vmax) were significantly reduced by bupivacaine greater than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml. Bupivacaine 1.5 micrograms/ml reduced action potential duration at both 50% and 100% repolarization in the fetal tissues, but not in adult or neonatal tissues. Tonic block was not induced by bupivacaine in any of the three groups. Use-dependent block was variable at bupivacaine 0.2 micrograms/ml in all three groups and was consistent and equivalent at higher concentrations. The onset and offset of use-dependent block were the same in all three groups, with onset occurring between 6.0 and 6.7 beats and the time constant for recovery being 1.9-2.3 s. The authors conclude there is an age-related bupivacaine effect on action potential duration but no age-related change in bupivacaine-induced use-dependent block.