Nonselective IKr-blockers do not induce torsades de Pointes in the anesthetized rabbit during α1-adrenoceptor stimulation

Selective I-Kr- (the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current) blockers are known to induce torsades de pointes (TdPs) in anesthetized rabbits during alpha (1)- adrenoreceptor stimulation. However, effects of nonselective I-Kr-blockers, which produce TdPs in other animal models and in humans, are not known in this model. We examined two nonselective I-Kr-blockers (quinidine, 1.25 mg/kg/min i.v [n = 7]; and terfenadine, 0.31 mg/kg/min i.v. [n = 7]) for their effects on electrocardiographic parameters and on incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in anesthetized rabbits during alpha (1)-adrenoceptor stimulation with methoxamine. We compared the drugs with two highly selective I-Kr-blockers (dofetilide, 0.04 mg/kg/min i.v. [n = 7]; and clofilium, 0.08 mg/kg/min i.v. [n = 6]). Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or TdPs were induced by dofetilide and clofilium at mean doses greater than or equal to0.33 mg/kg and 0.4 mglkg i.v., in all animals tested (vs. none in solvent; p < 0.05). TdPs usually developed into ventricular fibrillation and developed after prolongation of QT/JT interval and of QT dispersion. Terfenadine and quinidine significantly increased PQ, QT, and QTc interval and largely increased QRS duration and QT dispersion. These compounds elicited intraventricular conduction defects and cardiac arrest, due to asystole, in all animals tested (vs. 0% in solvent; p < 0.05). Interestingly, these two nonselective I-Kr-blockers did not produce TdPs or ventricular fibrillation in any animals tested. Our results thus indicate that selective I-Kr-blockers elicit TdPs, whereas nonselective I-Kr-blockers do not induce this type of arrhythmia in this rabbit model. Consequently, it should be noted that this rabbit model is not always useful to evaluate nonselective I-Kr-blocker-induced TdPs and QT interval and QT dispersion, rather than TdPs, are also important indicators for drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias.