Electrophysiologic, Cardiohemodynamic and β-Blocking Actions of a New Ultra-Short-Acting β-Blocker, ONO-1101, Assessed by the In Vivo Canine Model in Comparison with Esmolol

The purpose of this study was to assess the cardiovascular effects of an ultra-short-acting beta-blocker, ONO-1101, by using halothane-anesthetized beagle dogs in comparison with esmolol. ONO-1101 (n = 6) or esmolol (n = 6) was administered at four infusion rates of 0.3, 3, 30, and 300 microg/ kg/min. Each infusion was performed over a 30-min period, and the parameters were measured at 20-30 min after the start of each infusion. ONO-1101 significantly decreased the heart rate, rate-pressure product, left ventricular contraction, cardiac output, and relative refractory period of the right ventricle, suppressed the AV nodal conduction, and increased the effective refractory period of the right ventricle, whereas no significant change was observed in the preload and afterload of the left ventricle, intrinsic sinus nodal automaticity, His-Purkinje-ventricular conduction, and the monophasic action-potential duration of the right ventricle. The cardiovascular effects of esmolol were comparable to those of ONO-1101, except that the preload of the left ventricle was significantly increased, and the ventricular repolarization phase was shortened by 300 microg/kg/min of esmolol infusion. Meanwhile, ONO-1101 as well as esmolol significantly reduced the isoproterenol-induced increase in heart rate and ventricular contraction, but the inhibitory action of ONO-1101 was 6-8 times greater than that of esmolol. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of ONO-1101 on cardiovascular performance are significantly less potent than those of esmolol at equipotent beta-blocking doses.