Abstract
Summary
The in vivo effects of ouabain on rabbit myocardial and plasma Ca metabolism were determined. It was found that ouabain toxicity was associated with a significant increase in myocardial Ca exchange but no significant change in myocardial Ca content. The whole plasma Ca and non-protein bound Ca concentrations were high as compared to other vertebrates. Ouabain had no significant effect on these parameters. It was concluded that the in vivo effects of ouabain were similar to that seen in vitro using artificial solutions and that a change in Ca metabolism may be the basic cause of in vivo cardiac glycoside toxicity. In addition, it would appear that the concentration of extracellular ionized Ca of the rabbit in vivo is considerably higher than that which occurs when using many artificial solutions.
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