Limitation of myocardial infarct size by atenolol, nadolol and propranolol in dogs.

The importance of cardioselectivity and membrane depressant activity in the ability of beta-adrenergic antagonists to limit myocardial infarct size was assessed in the dog. Infarction was produced by a 60 min occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery followed by reperfusion into a critical stenosis. Infarct size was significantly reduced by atenolol, nadolol and propranolol. Thus, limitations of infarct size by beta-adrenergic antagonists occur with agents which possess or lack cardiac selectivity or membrane depressant activity.