Circumstantial evidence for increased potassium conductance of membrane of cardiac muscle by 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (SG-75).

The mechanism of action of 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (SG-75), was investigated by the use of arterially blood-perfused papillary muscle preparations of the dog. All drugs were administered intra-arterially. SG-75 shortened the effective refractory period (ERP) and decreased the rate of automaticity and developed tension of the papillary muscle, whereas verapamil failed to change the ERP despite a decrease in the developed tension. SG-75 in extremely high doses induced ventricular fibrillation. Methacholine produced decreases in the rate of automaticity and developed tension, and the actions were abolished by atropine. The SG-75-induced decreases in two parameters were not modified by atropine. These results indicate that the cardiac action of SG-75 differs from that of calcium-antagonistic vasodilators and it is suggested that the basic mechanism of action of SG-75 involves an increase in potassium conductance in the membrane of cardiac muscle, without mediation through muscarinic receptors.