Evaluation of antiarrhythmic activity of captopril and enalaprilat in experimental cardiac arrhythmias in rabbits. Part I.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of captopril and enalaprilat--two different angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors--on experimental cardiac arrhythmias induced by barium chloride, ouabain or adrenaline. The research was carried out on rabbits. Captopril and enalaprilat were administered only once. Arrhythmias were evoked by three different doses of arrhythmogens: ED50 and two higher ones causing rhythm disturbances in 80-100% rabbits. The patterns of arrhythmias as well as their frequency and duration were evaluated on the basis of ECG examination. The results were subjected to statistic analysis. As a result of our research, we were able to establish that ACE inhibitors, when administered at a single dose, did not influence the patterns but changed the frequency and duration of barium chloride-, adrenaline- or ouabain-induced arrhythmias. Captopril and enalaprilat administered at a single dose decreased the frequency of barium chloride- or ouabain- but not adrenaline-induced arrhythmia. A single administration of captopril and enalaprilat limit the duration of arrhythmias caused by barium chloride, ouabain or adrenaline.