Myocardial effects of lithium in vitro.

The myocardial effects of increasing concentrations of ionic lithium were investigated in isolated, spontaneously beating rabbit hearts, which were retrogradely perfused with a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution containing lithium in concentration of 1, 5 or 10 mM. The following functional parameters were continuously recorded: heart rate, amplitude and rate of contraction, coronary flow, myocardial oxygen consumption and ECG. The lowest concentration of 1 mM lithium did not cause any measurable changes in these parameters. A concentration of 5 mM lithium produced a rather slowly developed increase in amplitude and rate of contraction of about 22% without any concomitant increase of oxygen consumption. A delayed increase in the oxygen consumption of about 21%, but accompanied by a significant decrease in contractility however, occurred much later in the experiments, probably as an expression of a decrease in myocardial efficiency. The highest lithium concentration produced similar effects. None of the other parameters measured were markedly influenced by lithium. The positive inotropic effect of lithium on myocardial contractility was very convincingly verified in isolated electrically stimulated rabbit papillary muscles by isometric measurements of the maximum tension produced and the rate of its development. An inhibitory influence of lithium on the positive inotropic effect of increasing frequency of stimulation was observed. Adrenergic beta-receptor blockade did not abolish the positive inotropic effect of lithium. A possible causative influence of lithium on the cellular calcium metabolism is discussed.