Alteration in the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) following xylazine administration to halothane‐anesthetized dogs

The arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) was determined in six dogs during halothane (1.35%) anesthesia before and after xylazine administration (1.1 mg/kg, i.v. bolus; 1.1 mg/kg/hr, i.v. infusion). The arrhythmogenic dose was determined by constant infusion of freshly mixed epinephrine (100 microgram/ml). The ADE was defined as the total dose of epinephrine which produced four or more intermittent or continuous premature ventricular contractions within a 15-sec period. Total dose was calculated as a function of infusion rate and time to arrhythmia. Following xylazine administration, ADE significantly decreased from 6.28 +/- 0.522 to 4.17 +/- 0.679 micrograms/kg. At the end of i.v. xylazine bolus administration, heart rate significantly decreased (115 +/- 4 to 99 +/- 4.9 b.p.m.), and mean arterial pressure significantly increased (83 +/- 4.0 to 122 +/- 3.4 mm Hg). Heart rate measured immediately prior to epinephrine-induced arrhythmia formation was significantly increased following xylazine administration (177 +/- 8 vs 78 +/- 3 b.p.m.). Mean arterial blood pressure was unchanged. Apparently, xylazine, a mixed alpha agonist, potentiated halothane-induced myocardial sensitization to ventricular arrhythmogenesis and was associated with a significant increase in heart rate, but not blood pressure, during subsequent epinephrine infusions.