Effects of aprindine HCL on cardiac tissues.

The effects of aprindine HCL on cardiac tissues were studied in anesthetized, open-chest dogs pretreated with atropine (0.8 mg/kg) and propranolol (1.0 mg/kg). Aprindine (10(-5)-10(-3) g/ml), injected into the sinus node artery, decreased the spontaneous sinus rate; when injected into the atrioventricular nodal artery, aprindine (10(-4) g/ml) prolonged the conduction time and functional refractory period of the atrioventricular node. Intravenous administration of aprindine (1.4, 2.8 and 4.2 mg/kg cumulative dose) prolonged atrial and ventricular conduction time and prolonged the effective refractory period of both tissues. The results from this study indicate that aprindine has a negative dromotropic effect on all cardiac tissue.