Trilinolein, a
triacylglycerol with
linoleic acid, was found to inhibit Ca2+ influx in cardiomyocytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of
trilinolein on ventricular
arrhythmia induced by intravenous
strophanthidin in guinea pigs anesthetized with intraperitoneal
urethane. After
strophanthidin- induced
ventricular tachycardia, treatment with
trilinolein (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microg/kg) or control (0.04%
propylene glycol) did not terminate
ventricular tachycardia. However, 1, 10 and 100 microg/kg
trilinolein could narrow the width of the QRS complex during
ventricular tachycardia. Pretreatment with
trilinolein before
strophanthidin administration did not prevent the occurrence of
ventricular tachycardia; the doses of
strophanthidin required to induce arrhythmias (
ventricular extrasystole and
ventricular tachycardia) were similar in guinea pigs pretreated with
trilinolein or control. However, there were fewer
ventricular extrasystoles in guinea pigs pretreated with
trilinolein than in the control group (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Moreover, the
ventricular extrasystoles were fewer in guinea pigs pretreated with higher doses of
trilinolein (100 microg/kg, 103 +/- 60; 10 microg/kg, 188 +/- 86) than lower doses of
trilinolein (1 microg/kg, 366 +/- 102; 0.1 microg/kg, 436 +/- 145). This study demonstrated that
trilinolein was not effective in terminating or preventing
strophanthidin-induced
ventricular tachycardia. However,
trilinolein could improve ventricular depolarization and suppress
ventricular extrasystoles.