[Recording of the his bundle potential at the surface of the thorax in healthy volunteers. Application to the study of propranolol].

New analogic-digital technology contributions to standard electrocardiography may allow to record the his bundle potential from the body surface. The aim of this work has been to study the validity of this method by its application to estimate the dromotropic effect of propranolol in healthy volunteers. His bundle potential from body surface was recorded in 19 out of 26 enrolled subjects. The negative dromotropic effect of propranolol (40 mg orally) was observed in only 10 volunteers. The direction of the PR and PH interval changes was used to estimate sensibility (0.9) and specificity (0.89) of this method. There was also a significant correlation (0.89 less than p 0.05) between PR and PH interval changes. This new non-invasive method could be used in clinical pharmacology but the subjects must be preselected.