Effect of antihypertensive drugs on the "intrinsic" heart rate.

"Intrinsic" heart rate in man was measured by giving simultaneous atropine and propranolol and used to study the direct effect of antihypertensive drugs on the heart. Though the intrinsic and control heart rates decreased significantly following the administration of reserpine, there was no significant difference between high and low doses. No similar effects were observed with debrisoquine sulphate and methyldopa, though in high doses the latter produced a decrease which was of some statistical significance.