Glucagon-induced changes in the action potential, contraction, and Na+-K+-ATPase of cardiac muscle.

The effects of glucagon in concentrations of 0.294 times 10(-6) mol/l, 1.47 times 10(-6) mol/l; 2.94 times 10(-6) mol/l, 5.8 times 10(-6) mol/l, and 1.47 times 10(-5) mol/l on the simultaneously recorded action potentials and contractions; and microsomal and sarcolemmal Na+-tk+-atpase in the myocardium of the guinea pig, rabbit, dog, and pig were investigated. Glucagon in all the concentrations produced an inhibition of the Na+-K+-ATPase associated with an increase in the contractility and shortening of the duration of action potential in dog myocardium. The increase in contraction was concentration-dependent up to a certain concentration. Inhibition of sarcolemmal ATPase was more than that of microsomal ATPase. In none of the concentrations did glucagon produce any significant changes in the Na+-K+-ATPase. In none of the concentrations did glucagon produce any significant changes in the Na+-K+-ATPase, contractility, and action potential duration in the myocardium of guinea pig, rabbit, or pig. These results suggest that glucagon-induced positive inotropic effect might be due to an increase in the Ca++ influx as a result of inhibition of membrane Na+-K+-ATPase. Shortening of the action potential duration might also be due to an increased efflux of potassium as a result of an inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase.