Anti-arrhythmic activities of opioid agonists and antagonists and their stereoisomers

Y. Sarne*, A. Flitstein, E. Oppenheimer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. A series of opioid agonists, antagonists and their (+)-stereoisomers were tested for antiarrhythmic activity in the rat coronary artery occlusion model. 2. Naloxone (0.01-2 mg kg-1) significantly reduced the incidence and severity of cardiac arrhythmias, in accordance with previous published studies. 3. The non-opioid stereoisomer, (+)-naloxone, was equipotent with naloxone against occlusion-induced arrhythmias. 4. Similar non-stereospecific antiarrhythmic effects were induced by another opioid antagonist, Win 44,441-3 and its stereoisomer Win 44,441-2. 5. The opioid agonists, morphine and levorphanol, protected against occlusion-induced arrhythmia as did the opioid antagonists, and the (+)-stereoisomer, dextrorphan, was equipotent to levorphanol. 6. It is concluded that the antiarrhythmic effects of opioid drugs are not mediated by opioid receptors. A direct effect on ionic currents in cardiac muscle is suggested as the mechanism of opioid antiarrhythmic activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)696-698
Number of pages3
JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology
Volume102
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

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