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Accentuated vagal antagonism of beta-adrenergic effects on ventricular repolarization. Evidence of weaker antagonism in hostile type A men.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fukudo, S; Lane, JD; Anderson, NB; Kuhn, CM; Schanberg, SM; McCown, N; Muranaka, M; Suzuki, J; Williams, RB
Published in: Circulation
June 1992

BACKGROUND: Prior research has suggested a weaker parasympathetic antagonism of sympathetic effects on the heart in type A (coronary-prone) men. To confirm this phenomenon and extend our understanding of it, we investigated the effects of prior muscarinic blockade on the electrocardiogram T wave and other cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses to isoproterenol in type A and type B (non-coronary-prone) men. METHODS AND RESULTS: Responses to two 5-minute intravenous isoproterenol infusions (0.01 micrograms/kg/min and 0.02 micrograms/kg/min) were evaluated in six type A and six type B men after pretreatment with either dextrose placebo or atropine (1.2 mg). Atropine significantly potentiated T wave attenuation in the recovery period after isoproterenol infusion (0.30 +/- 0.07 mV) compared with placebo (0.54 +/- 0.09 mV, p less than 0.001). Atropine also potentiated the heart rate increase to isoproterenol (39 +/- 3 beats per minute versus 20 +/- 2 beats per minute after placebo). Atropine enhanced decreases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures as well as pulse pressure to isoproterenol. Atropine enhancement of many of these responses was increased among subjects with high scores on various hostility/anger scales. Isoproterenol alone produced greater T wave attenuation in type A than in type B men. However, atropine enhancement of T wave attenuation and blood pressure falls by isoproterenol was present only in type B men. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that there is accentuated parasympathetic antagonism of T wave attenuation and blood pressure responses induced by beta-adrenergic stimulation. Relative weakness of this antagonism of sympathetic effects on the heart in hostile type A individuals may contribute to their higher coronary disease risk.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Circulation

DOI

ISSN

0009-7322

Publication Date

June 1992

Volume

85

Issue

6

Start / End Page

2045 / 2053

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vagus Nerve
  • Type A Personality
  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Premedication
  • Male
  • Isoproterenol
  • Humans
  • Hostility
  • Heart Rate
 

Citation

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Fukudo, S., Lane, J. D., Anderson, N. B., Kuhn, C. M., Schanberg, S. M., McCown, N., … Williams, R. B. (1992). Accentuated vagal antagonism of beta-adrenergic effects on ventricular repolarization. Evidence of weaker antagonism in hostile type A men. Circulation, 85(6), 2045–2053. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.85.6.2045
Fukudo, S., J. D. Lane, N. B. Anderson, C. M. Kuhn, S. M. Schanberg, N. McCown, M. Muranaka, J. Suzuki, and R. B. Williams. “Accentuated vagal antagonism of beta-adrenergic effects on ventricular repolarization. Evidence of weaker antagonism in hostile type A men.Circulation 85, no. 6 (June 1992): 2045–53. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.85.6.2045.
Fukudo S, Lane JD, Anderson NB, Kuhn CM, Schanberg SM, McCown N, et al. Accentuated vagal antagonism of beta-adrenergic effects on ventricular repolarization. Evidence of weaker antagonism in hostile type A men. Circulation. 1992 Jun;85(6):2045–53.
Fukudo, S., et al. “Accentuated vagal antagonism of beta-adrenergic effects on ventricular repolarization. Evidence of weaker antagonism in hostile type A men.Circulation, vol. 85, no. 6, June 1992, pp. 2045–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1161/01.cir.85.6.2045.
Fukudo S, Lane JD, Anderson NB, Kuhn CM, Schanberg SM, McCown N, Muranaka M, Suzuki J, Williams RB. Accentuated vagal antagonism of beta-adrenergic effects on ventricular repolarization. Evidence of weaker antagonism in hostile type A men. Circulation. 1992 Jun;85(6):2045–2053.

Published In

Circulation

DOI

ISSN

0009-7322

Publication Date

June 1992

Volume

85

Issue

6

Start / End Page

2045 / 2053

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vagus Nerve
  • Type A Personality
  • Sympathetic Nervous System
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Premedication
  • Male
  • Isoproterenol
  • Humans
  • Hostility
  • Heart Rate