Effects of tiprenolol, practolol and propranolol on experimental ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

1 Low doses of tiprenolol (0.01-0.02 mg/kg) and propranolol (0.05 mg/kg) abolished the ventricular arrhythmias produced by the intravenous injection of adrenaline in anaesthetized dogs respired with halothane.2 Larger doses of tiprenolol (2.0-4.0 mg/kg) restored sinus rhythm in four of five dogs with ventricular tachycardia produced by toxic doses of ouabain. Propranolol (2.0-4.0 mg/kg) had the same effect in each of four dogs.3 Both tiprenolol (4.0-8.0 mg/kg) and propranolol (4.0 mg/kg) increased the frequency of sinus beats and reduced the ventricular rate in dogs with ventricular tachycardia 20-44 h after ligation of a coronary artery.4 Practolol (0.5-16.0 mg/kg) did not reduce the ventricular rate or increase the frequency of sinus beats in dogs with ventricular tachycardia after ligation of a coronary artery.5 In dogs with ouabain-induced ventricular tachycardia mean arterial pressure was reduced after the administration of tiprenolol (0.5-8.0 mg/kg) or propranolol (4.0-8.0 mg/kg). Depression of sinus and atrioventricular nodal function, and of intraventricular conduction developed in some of the dogs given tiprenolol (4-8 mg/kg) or propranolol (8.0 mg/kg).6 The administration of tiprenolol (1.0-8.0 mg/kg) or propranolol (4.0-8.0 mg/kg) depressed the arterial pressure and caused the deaths of some dogs in which a coronary artery had been ligated. Such deaths did not occur in the group which had been given toxic doses of ouabain.