Antiarrhythmic effects of arachidonic, linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acid, and the influence of indomethacin and polyphloretinephosphate.

Intravenous application of arachidonic and linoleic acid induced strong antiarrhythmic effects demonstrated on three models of experimental arrhythmias. In contrast, linolenic and oleic acid were poorly effective. The antiarrhythmic action of the unsaturated fatty acids required 10- to 1000-fold higher doses in comparison with the most effective prostaglandins. Indomethacin decreased the antidysrhythmic action of arachidonic and linoleic acid; PG efficiency remained unaffected. Polyphloretinphosphate markedly reduced the improvement of aconitine arrhythmia by PGs, the decrease of the antidysrhythmic effects of arachidonic and linoleic acid was without statistical significance. The results suggest an important role of PG synthesis for the antiarrhythmic effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids.