Chronotropic and inotropic effects on atria of chronic ethanol ingestion in the aging rat.

Both aging and chronic ethanol consumption have been correlated with reduced cardiac chronotropic and inotropic function. This study tested the hypothesis that aging potentiates the negative cardiac effects of chronic ethanol consumption. Using isolated tissue techniques we assessed baseline and maximum automaticity and tension development in atria from 4 groups of Fischer-344 rats (young normal, young ethanol, old normal, old ethanol). Baseline and maximum rate was depressed by aging and further depressed by chronic ethanol ingestion. Baseline and maximum tension was depressed only by aging plus chronic ethanol ingestion.