STIMULATION AND INHIBITION OF THE SODIUM-PUMP BY CARDIOACTIVE STEROIDS IN RELATION TO THEIR BINDING-SITES AND THEIR INOTROPIC EFFECT ON GUINEA-PIG ISOLATED ATRIA

The actions of ouabain, ouabagenin and dihydroouabain on the contractility and on the ionic content have been investigated in left guinea‐pig atria stimulated at 3.3 Hz. The specific binding of ouabain and its displacement by the other cardenolides have been determined. The action of either ouabain or ouabagenin on Na and K content was qualitatively different according to the concentration employed. Low doses evoked a reduction of Nai whereas high doses produced an increase. Dihydroouabain evoked only a Nai gain. The increase of KCl concentration from 2.7 to 12 mm decreased Nai in untreated atria and displaced ouabain dose‐effect curves to the right. ED50 values for the positive inotropic effect were lower than ED50 values for the inhibition of the pump and were not similarly affected by an increase in KCl concentration. The specific binding of ouabain occurred at high and low affinity sites, related to Na pump stimulation and inhibition respectively. The increase in KCl reduced the affinity of the two groups of sites for ouabain and increased the capacity of the high‐affinity sites whereas the capacity of the other sites remained unchanged. The results confirm the existence of two specific binding sites for ouabain in guinea‐pig heart and suggest that the inhibition of the Na pump is not the only mechanism responsible for the positive inotropic effect of cardiac glycosides. 1979 British Pharmacological Society