Myocardial stimulation by pancuronium bromide.

The effect of pancuronium bromide on the canine myocardium was studied by observing several indices of myocardial contractility during i.v. and intracoronary infusion of the drug in an anaesthetized, open-chested dog preparation. Pancuronium produced tachycardia when given for 2 min by i.v. and intracoronary infusion with the heart intact. Following denervation and pacing of the heart the intracoronary infusion of the drug produced increases in maximum acceleration of blood at the aortic root, peak aortic blood flow, maximum dP/dt and (maximum dP/dt)/TP. These changes occurred about 30 s after starting the infusion and returned to control values 5 min after stopping the infusion.