Positive inotropic action of glyceryl trinitrate as observed in the blood-perfused papillary muscle preparation of the dog heart.

1. The effects of glyceryl trinitrate on the coronary vasculature and on the contractility of the ventricular myocardium were investigated by the use of papillary muscle preparations of the dog, and that on the sino-atrial node activity by the use of sino-atrial node preparations of the dog. The papillary muscle preparation was cross-circulated through the anterior septal artery and the sino-atrial node preparation through the sinus node artery from a donor dog. The papillary muscles were driven at a rate of 120 beats/min. Drugs were injected close-arterially. 2. Glyceryl trinitrate, in doses of 0-03-100 microgram, produced dose-related increases in blood flow and developed tension. An increase in developed tension caused by 100 microgram of glyceryl trinitrate amounted to about 24% of the basal developed tension. Large doses of glyceryl trinitrate (100-300 microgram) produced a negative inotropic effect after a positive one in some preparations. 3. The positive inotropic effect of glyceryl trinitrate was not modified by propranolol, excluding a possible participation of an adrenergic mechanism. 4. Glyceryl trinitrate in large doses failed to modify the positive inotropic effect of calcium chloride. 5. Glyceryl trinitrate in a wide range of doses (0-03-100 microgram) had virtually no effect on sino-atrial node activity.