Apparent desensitization of the effects of sigma receptor ligand haloperidol in isolated rat and guinea pig hearts after chronic treatment
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Physiology |
| Keywords | haloperidol; sigma receptor; desensitization; rat; guinea pig; isolated heart; QT interval; arrhythmia |
| Description | The supposed role of cardiac sigma receptors is fine tuning of contractility. They affect several ion channels, and hence their signaling is reflected by the electrophysiological properties of the heart. Numerous ligands of sigma receptors are known to prolong QT interval and therefore cause a variety of arrhythmias, including the severe ones. The effects of prototypical sigma ligand haloperidol have been repeatedly studied in humans as well as in various animal models. We examined the incidence of arrhythmias, changes in heart rate, QT interval in isolated Langendorff-perfused rat and guinea pig hearts after they were exposed to nanomolar concentration of haloperidol. Hearts from both untreated and chronically to haloperidol exposed animals were investigated. While due to haloperidol administration, the QT prolongation and arrhythmias were observed in untreated rat and guinea pig hearts, arrhythmias were completely prevented in both chronically treated species. |
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