Cardiotonic and coronary vasodilatatory effects of amrinone in the canine heart-lung preparation with a support dog as compared with those of dobutamine.

Analysis of the relative magnitude of the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects and the coronary vasodilating effects of amrinone conducted in the canine heart-lung preparation with a support dog in comparison with those of dobutamine demonstrated that amrinone was a preferential coronary vasodilator rather than a selective positive inotropic agent. An in vitro experiment in the canine papillary muscle suggested the initiation of the slow response action potential as a mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of amrinone.