Antiarrhythmic effects of (+)-cibenzoline and (-)-cibenzoline were examined using two canine ventricular arrhythmia models. Digitalis arrhythmia, which is suppressed by Na channel blockers, was induced by intermittent intravenous (i.v.) injection of ouabain in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Adrenaline arrhythmia, which is suppressed by Ca channel blockers, was induced by adrenaline infusion in halothane-anesthetized dogs. Ten and 5 mg/kg i.v. (+)-cibenzoline suppressed digitalis-and adrenaline-induced arrhythmias, respectively. The minimum effective plasma concentrations of (+)-cibenzoline for digitalis- and adrenaline-induced arrhythmias were 1.4 ± 0.4 and 2.0 ± 0.6 μg/ml, respectively (mean ± SD, n = 6). A lower dose of 1 mg/kg i.v. of (-)-cibenzoline suppressed the digitalis-induced arrhythmia, whereas 5 mg/kg i.v. was needed to suppress adrenaline-induced arrhythmias. The minimum effective plasma concentrations of (-)-cibenzoline for digitalis-and adrenaline-induced arrhythmia were 0.06 ± 0.04 and 0.7 ± 0.1 μg/ml, respectively (mean ± SD, n = 6). The stronger antiarrhythmic effect of (-)-cibenzoline indicates that (-)-isomer may have an effect nearly 5–20 times stronger in suppressing Na channels, but effects of both drugs on Ca channels may be almost equipotent.
Using two-stage coronary ligation-, digitalis-, and epinephrine (EPI)-induced canine ventricular arrhythmias, we examined antiarrhythmic effects of NIK-244 and determined the minimum effective plasma concentration for each arrhythmia model. NIK-244 suppressed coronary ligation- and digitalis-induced arrhythmias, and the minimum effective plasma concentrations for arrhythmias induced by 24-h and 48-h coronary ligation and digitalis were 0.41 +/- 0.10 (by 1 mg/kg i.v.), 0.70 +/- 0.13 (by 1 mg/kg i.v.), and 0.21 +/- 0.08 (by 0.5 mg/kg i.v.) microgram/ml, respectively (mean +/- SD of the mean, n = 6). The concentration for digitalis-induced arrhythmia was significantly lower than those for coronary ligation arrhythmias. NIK-244 was not effective on EPI arrhythmia, and 1 mg/kg worsened the arrhythmia to ventricular fibrillation in three of six dogs. This pharmacologic profile is similar to those of disopyramide, procainamide, and SUN 1165. Since NIK-244 had no deleterious effects on blood pressure and sinus node activity, its clinical usefulness is expected.
