The influence of the QT, TQ, and ST intervals, and heart score on both cardiac cycle duration (RR) and diastole/systole (D/S) quotient were analyzed during the neonatal (1 day and 5 days) pigs belonging to 2 crossbreeds of different rusticity, Landrace X Belgian White (LBW) and Landrace X Duroc Jersey (LDJ). Our findings indicate that the shortening of the RR interval in 5-day-old pigs of both crossbreeds was determined by different variables in each breed. In LDJ pigs, this shortening was only associated with a shortening of ventricular activation, and in each age group, the systole and the diastole contributed equally to the RR value. The D/S quotient did not differ significantly in 1-day-old vs 5-day-old pigs, and at both ages, the quotient was only determined by the TQ value. In LBW pigs, the RR, QT, TQ, and ST were shortened, but only the shortening of QT was significant as a result of an acceleration of the ventricular recuperation process. Moreover, differences were found between 1-day-old vs 5-day-old pigs with regard to the contribution of the different intervals to the RR duration. In 1-day-old pigs, the RR depended closely on the TQ, whereas in 5-day-old pigs, all intervals contributed significantly to its duration. The D/S quotient was not significantly different in 1-day-old vs 5-day-old pigs, but a different contribution of the variables studied was observed at the 2 ages selected. In 1-day-old pigs, D/S quotient depended on the diastole duration, whereas in 5-day-old pigs, the diastole and systole contributed to its variation.

We investigated the influence of parasympathetic tone on the arrhythmogenic dose of dobutamine in horses premedicated with xylazine, anesthetized with guaifenesin and thiamylal, and maintained on halothane in oxygen. Six horses were used in 12 randomized trials. In each trial, after end-tidal halothane concentration was stabilized at 1.1% (1.25 times minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) in oxygen, either saline solution (0.02 ml/kg of body weight) or atropine (0.04 mg/kg) was administered IV. Five minutes later, dobutamine infusion was started at dosage of 2.5 micrograms/kg/min, IV. The dobutamine infusion was continued for 10 minutes, or until 4 or more premature ventricular complexes occurred within 15 seconds, or sustained narrow-complex tachyarrhythmia clearly not sinus in nature occurred. If the criteria for termination were not met, dobutamine infusion was increased by 2.5 micrograms/kg/min, after the hemodynamic variables had returned to baseline. The horses were allowed to recover, and were rested for at least 1 week before the second trial. The arrhythmogenic dose of dobutamine was calculated by multiplying the infusion rate by the elapsed time into infusion when arrhythmia occurred. There was significant difference between the arrhythmogenic dose of dobutamine (ADD) in saline-treated horses (mean +/- SEM, ADD 105.6 +/- 16.3 micrograms/kg) and atropinized horses (ADD 36.2 +/- 8.7 micrograms/kg). There were no differences in the prearrhythmia or immediate postarrhythmia ventricular heart rate (HR) or systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), or mean (MAP) arterial pressures between treated and control groups. The change in hemodynamic variables from prearrhythmia to immediate postarrhythmia formation was not different between the 2 groups. Ventricular beats were clearly evident in 8 of the 12 arrhythmias meeting the criteria for establishing the ADD. These results indicate that atropine may lower the arrhythmogenic threshold for dobutamine in halothane-anesthetized horses.

The effects of preanesthetic medication on ease of duodenal endoscopic intubation in dogs was evaluated. One of 12 combinations of preanesthetic medications (using atropine, glycopyrrolate, morphine, meperidine, acepromazine, and 0.9% NaCl solution) was administered IM to each of 12 dogs in a trial. Twelve endoscopic trials were performed so that each dog received each treatment combination once. Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal administered IV and maintained with halothane vaporized in oxygen. Electrocardiographic recordings, indirect blood pressure measurements, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressures, and halothane concentrations were monitored during the anesthetic period. The ease with which the fiberoptic endoscope was passed into the proximal portion of the duodenum was qualitatively scored on the basis of time and maneuvering effort. None of the preanesthetic combinations made intubation of the duodenum significantly easier than that with 0.9% Nacl solution (control). Only the combination of morphine and atropine induced gastropyloric conditions that resulted in significantly higher (more difficult) endoscopic scores than those after preanesthetic medication with 0.9% NaCl solution.

Spontaneous variations in ECG and continuous Holter monitor recordings of a colony of 31 male and 31 female cynomoigus monkeys were characterized. Electrocardiograms recorded for approximately 1 minute on 2 occasions in nonsedated monkeys were analyzed, and intervals (PR, QRS, and QT), amplitudes (P, Q, F, and T), and heart rate were determined from lead II of these tracings. In addition, Holter monitor recorders were placed on monkeys by use of carrying jackets for 16 to 24 hours of continuous recording twice during the study, and tapes were analyzed. Mean heart rate and intervals and amplitudes were similar for males and females on the first and the second recordings, Mean heart rate for males and females was 232 and 226 beats/min (bpm), respectively. The PR, QRS, and QT interval measurements, 77, 29, and 165 milliseconds, respectively, were recorded for males and 81, 30, and 162 milliseconds, respectively, were recorded for females. The P, Q, R, and T wave amplitudes were 0.16, 0.11, 0.64, and 0.28, mV respectively, for males and were 0.17, 0.10, 0.79 and 0.24 mV, respectively, for females. In addition, ventricular ectopic beats were observed in ECG from 5 females, but not in ECG from the males. Single ventricular ectopic beats were observed in 3 females for either the first or second tracing. One monkey had ectopic beats in both tracings, but in both instances, the number of ectopic beats was low (3 singles in the first and 1 in the second tracing). One monkey had runs of pairs and bigeminal beats in only the first tracing. One monkey had sporadic beats indicative of right bundle branch block morphology in both tracings. In Holter recordings, ventricular ectopic beats were identified in 47 monkeys. Ventricular ectopic beats were observed in only 1 of the 2 Holter monitor tapes for 53% of these monkeys. Most ventricular ectopic beats occurred as single beats, but pairs, ventricular tachycardia, and bigeminy also were observed. Ectopic beats were of a single morphology in 60% of the monkeys, but as many as 4 different morphologies were observed in a single tracing. Sinus arrhythmia or arrest was observed in 66% of the monkeys. Ventricular ectopic beats and sinus arrhythmia can occur without apparent cause in clinically normal monkeys. Higher prevalences of these abnormalities are identified by Holter monitoring relative to routine ECG procedures. These variables should be cautiously evaluated, because the lack of proper characterization of monkeys on test may mislead investigators as to the real importance of these findings.