Effects of Digitalis on Electrolytes of Heart Muscle.

Abstract

Tincture of digitalis administered intraven. to dogs (anesthetized with pentobarbital Na) at 5 min. intervals until death caused a significant decrease in the K and Ca content of auricular muscle and an increase in Na. The gain in Na did not appear to be related to the loss of K. Ventricular muscle showed an absolute increase in Na in the absence of any other significant changes. The water content remained constant for both auricular and ventricular muscle.