Protection from arrhythmias of cultured heart cells by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

The nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, sulfinpyrazone and indomethacin were tested at 10(-10) - 10(-5) M for their effect on arrhythmias of monolayer cultures of neonatal rat heart myocytes. Arrhythmias produced by reoxygenation were prevented or significantly reduced (p less than or equal to 0.05) by either indomethacin or salicylic acid at 10(-9) M. Acetylsalicylic acid and sulfinpyrazone, while not significantly anti-arrhythmic, produced consistent numerical inhibition of arrhythmias at 10(-9) M.