The Action of Several Cardiac Glycosides on Conduction Velocity and Ventricular Excitability in the Dog Heart

Abstract

The effects of digitoxin, ouabain, lanatoside C and K-strophanthoside on ventricular excitability and conducion velocity were studied. All agents caused an initial slight increase followed by a decrease of ventricular excitability, and depression of A-V and intraventricular conduction. Conduction, while depressed in the specialized tissue, was well maintained in the muscle itself until death of the heart. No significant qualitative differences between the glycosides were observed.