Effects of procaine amide, quinidine and ethmozin on delayed afterdepolarizations.

We studied the effects of three chemically different antiarrhythmic drugs on ouabain-induced delayed afterdepolarizations (DAD) in canine Purkinje fibers. The three drugs, ethmozin, 4.6 X 10(-6) M; procaine amide, 1.1 X 10(-4) M; and quinidine, 1.13 X 10(-6) M reduced DAD amplitude equivalently at drive cycle lengths less than 500 ms. Quinidine and procaine amide in these concentrations had no effect on the action potential characteristics except for a prolongation of action potential duration (APD) induced by procaine amide. Ethmozin reduced action potential amplitude, maximum upstroke velocity of phase 0 (Vmax), and APD measured to 50% and full repolarization (APD50 and APD100). Rate dependent changes in Vmax and maximum diastolic potential (MDP) were not exaggerated by quinidine in the ouabain intoxicated Purkinje fibers. The DAD coupling interval was increased as DAD amplitude decreased with all three drugs. Although ethmozin, procaine amide and quinidine similarly reduced DAD amplitude; procaine amide and quinidine exerted these effects in the absence of other transmembrane potential effects, whereas ethmozin did so only in concentrations that depressed the action potential as well.