Dissociation of cyclic GMP from the negative inotropic action of carbachol in guinea pig atria.

The relationship between the negative inotropic action of carbachol and its ability to elevate cyclic GMP was determined in isolated paced guinea pig atria. A clear dissociation was observed between that concentration of carbachol which depressed contractility and that which elevated tissue cyclic GMP content. Doses as low as 0.03 micronM caused a negative inotropic effect while cyclic GMP was not elevated until concentrations nearly 100-fold higher were used. Thus a correlation between tissue cyclic GMP content and the negative inotropic action of carbachol was not found to exist in guinea pig atria.