The Korean Journal of Physiology
- Volume 10 Issue 1
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- Pages.41-48
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- 1976
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- 0300-4015(pISSN)
An Electrocardiographic Study on Tetrodotoxin Intoxicated Rabbits
Tetrodotoxin 중독가토(中毒家兎)의 심전도학적(心電圖學的) 연구(硏究)
- Park, Yong-Kuk (Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Han Yang University) ;
- Shin, Hong-Kee (Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Han Yang University) ;
- Kim, Kee-Soon (Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Han Yang University)
- Published : 1976.06.30
Abstract
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is the purified active principle responsible for tetrodon (Puffer-fish) poisoning which has long been known in the Orient. The pharmacological actions of TTX have been rather extensively investigated. Two of the most prominent effects of intravenousely administered TTX are severe hypotension and respiratory paralysis resulting from its depressant actions on tissues. This depressant actions of TTX in turn result from the selective inhibition of sodium-carrying mechanism which is essential to generation of the action potential. TTX differs from local anesthetics in that it does not affect potassium conductance. Although the mechanism of the hypotensive action of TTX remains a subject of controversy, most investigator agree that TTX-induced hypotension is caused by alteration in the blood vessels rather than the heart. Not only the study on the effects of TTX on cardiac function is meager but the results of reported works are often contradictory. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of TTX on the electrocardiogram of the rabbit and to compare them with well known electrocardiographical characteristics found in digitalis and quinidine intoxicated animals. The results obtained from the present study are summarized as follows. 1. No changes were found in P-R interval and QRS duration after i.v. administration of
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