Effects of specific bradycardic agents on exercise-induced regional myocardial dysfunction in dogs.

Alinidine and ULFS 49, two specific bradycardic agents were comparatively investigated with propranolol in a model of exercise-induced regional myocardial contractile dysfunction in dogs. Standardized treadmill exercise resulted in a marked decrease in regional function in the myocardium supplied by the critically stenosed circumflex branch of the left coronary artery. All three drugs prevented exercise-induced myocardial dysfunction. The effect on the exercise-induced increase in heart rate and left ventricular dp/dt, however, suggests different modes of action. Propranolol prevents dysfunction by a marked negative inotropy and negative chronotropy, alinidine by a marked negative chronotropy and moderate negative inotropy, but ULFS 49 prevents dysfunction solely by a marked negative chronotropic effect.