Abstract
Summary
Intracellular concentration and total amount of potassium in isolated guinea pig ventricle strips in the presence of both therapeutic and toxic concentrations of ouabain have been investigated. A concentration of the drug which produced an increase in the force of contraction without evidence of toxicity did not alter either intracellular concentration or total amount of this ion in the heart. A toxic concentration of ouabain which produced automaticity and a marked increase in the resting tension, followed by decline in force of contraction to zero, caused a mean decrease of 21% in intracellular potassium concentration.
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