Improvement of Drug-Induced Cardiac Failure by NKH477, a Novel Forskolin Derivative, in the Dog Heart-Lung Preparation.

Abstract

The efficacy of NKH477, a novel water-soluble forskolin derivative, in improving cardiac failure was assessed in dog heart-lung preparations. Cardiac functions depressed by pentobarbital, propranolol or verapamil so that cardiac output had been reduced by about 40-50% of the respective control were all improved by NKH477 (10-100 micrograms) in a dose-dependent manner. With 100 micrograms NKH477, almost complete restoration of cardiac performance was attained in the respective cardiac failures. In the combination of NKH477 with ouabain (30 micrograms), 30 micrograms of NKH477 completely restored the cardiac function depressed by pentobarbital, associated with a slight but not significant increase in heart rate. No arrhythmias were induced by any of the NKH477 doses used in the experiments. These results suggest that NKH477 should be subjected to clinical trials in the treatment of cardiac failure.