Isoproterenol specifically modulates reverse rate-dependent effects of d,l-sotalol, d-sotalol, and dofetilide

Beta-adrenoceptor activation plays a role in the reverse rate-dependency of effective refractory period lengthening by dofetilide in the guinea-pig atrium, in vitro

1. Blockers of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Kr)) prolong cardiac action potential duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP) in a reverse rate-dependent manner. Since activation of beta-adrenoceptors attenuates prolongation of APD evoked by I(Kr) blockers, rate-dependent neuronal noradrenaline liberation in the myocardium may contribute to the reverse rate-dependent nature of the effects of I(Kr) blockers. In order to test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of dofetilide, a pure I(Kr) blocker, on ERP after activation or blockade of beta-adrenoceptors and after catecholamine depletion in guinea-pig left atrial myocardium paced at 3, 2 and 1 Hz, in vitro. 2. Dofetilide (100 nM) lengthened ERP in a reverse rate-dependent manner in the left atrial myocardium of guinea-pigs. Strong activation of beta-adrenoceptors using 10 nM isoproterenol abolished the dofetilide-induced lengthening of ERP at all pacing rates. 3. Blockade of the beta-adrenoceptors with metoprolol (1 micro M), atenolol (3 micro M) or propranolol (300 nM) increased the dofetilide-evoked prolongation of ERP at 3 and 2 Hz, but not at 1 Hz. As a consequence, metoprolol attenuated while propranolol and atenolol fully eliminated the reverse rate-dependent nature of the dofetilide-induced ERP lengthening. In catecholamine-depleted atrial preparations of the guinea-pig (24 h pretreatment with 5 mg kg(-1) reserpine i.p.), the effect of dofetilide on ERP was not frequency dependent, and propranolol did not alter the effects of dofetilide. 4. In contrast to results obtained in guinea-pig atrial preparations, propranolol failed to change the reverse rate-dependent effect of dofetilide on ERP in the right ventricular papillary muscles of rabbits and guinea-pigs. 5. As an indication of the functional consequences of rate-dependent noradrenaline liberation, propranolol decreased twitch tension at 3 and 2 Hz but not at 1 Hz in the atrial myocardium of control guinea-pigs, whereas no such effect was detected in catecholamine-depleted atrial preparations. Propranolol failed to change contractility of ventricular myocardium in guinea-pigs and rabbits. 6. It is concluded that rate-dependent noradrenaline release and the ensuing beta-adrenoceptor activation contributed to the reverse rate-dependent nature of ERP prolongation caused by I(Kr) blockers in isolated guinea-pig atrial myocardium.

The effect of isoproterenol on the class III effect of azimilide in humans

BACKGROUND

Many class III antiarrhythmic agents lose efficacy under beta-adrenergic stimulation and at high heart rates (reverse rate dependence). This effect is thought to be due to selective blockade of the rapidly (I(Kr)), but not the slowly (I(Ks)), activating component of the delayed inward rectifier potassium current. Azimilide is an investigational class III antiarrhythmic agent that blocks both IKr and IKs.

METHODS

We investigated the electrophysiologic effect of azimilide with and without beta-adrenergic stimulation in humans. Right ventricular effective refractory period at cycle lengths of 600 and 400 milliseconds and monophasic right ventricular action potential duration at 90% repolarization at cycle lengths of 250, 300, 400, 500 and 600 milliseconds were measured in 13 patients at baseline. Isoproterenol was then infused to increase the heart rate to 125% of baseline, and the pacing protocol was repeated. Patients then received, in a single-blind randomized manner, azimilide dihydrochloride (4.5 mg/kg intravenous loading dose followed by 0.625 mg/kg/h) plus either isoproterenol at the previous dose, or saline. After measurements were taken, treatment groups were crossed over, the azimilide infusion was continued and the procedure repeated.

RESULTS

Azimilide significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged monophasic action potential duration compared to baseline at all cycle lengths except for the 250 millisecond cycle length. In the presence of isoproterenol, azimilide maintained its class III effect, prolonging the action potential duration at 90% repolarization by a mean of 8.7 +/- 3.9 milliseconds, (3.7 +/- 1.7%), whereas isoproterenol alone shortened the action potential duration at 90% repolarization by -2.6 +/- 3.2 milliseconds (-1.2 +/- 1.4%) (P = 0.0051). Isoproterenol alone shortened the right ventricular effective refractory period by -13.6 +/- 3.4 milliseconds, whereas with isoproterenol in the presence of azimilide, the right ventricular effective refractory period was essentially unaffected (-1.4 +/- 3.4 milliseconds, P = 0.0085).

CONCLUSIONS

Azimilide maintained its class III effect in the presence of isoproterenol and at increased heart rates, suggesting that IKs block may be of particular benefit in these circumstances.