Temporal relation between long-lasting aftercontractions and action potentials in cat papillary muscles.

Sotalol, an adrenergic-blocking and antiarrhythmic agent, increases markedly and simultaneously the duration of both action potentials and contractions in papillary muscles. The active tension is manifested as a main twitch contraction followed by a maintained low level of residual tension (aftercontraction) which persists until the terminal phase of rapid repolarization. The Strength of the aftercontraction is augmented when the extracellular concentration of calcium is increased.