The effect of a new antiarrhythmic drug: Craviten (M-71) on the ATP level in heart muscle slices in vitro.

Under anaerobic conditions, in which glucose is the only energy source, the ATP level in heart muscle slices diminishes to about 50% of the control value during 60 min of incubation. The presence of a new antiarrhythmic drug, Craviten (Polfa) (2S, 2'S) N, N'-dimethyl-N, N'-bis-[1(3', 4', 5'-trimethoxybenzoyloxy)-butyl-2]-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride, (M-71), and to some extent also its 2R, 2'R isomer in 10 times greater concentration protects against this spontaneous ATP fall observed anaerobically in the control experiments. Under aerobic conditions, with glucose or palmitate as energy sources, Craviten even raises the ATP level in comparison to the initial control values. This effect is stereospecific, since the 2R, 2'R isomer does not change the aerobic ATP level, Quinidine and procaine amide used for comparison as standard antiarrhythmic drugs do not counteract the anaerobic ATP decrease, and under aerobic conditions they even enhance the ATP fall. Craviten, a new antiarrhythmic drug, exerts some stereospecific effect on energy metabolism and the ATP content in heart muscle slices in vitro.