Cardiovascular Effects of Amphetamine in the Horse

Each of nine horses was treated with amphetamine alone, with atropine alone, and with amphetamine and atropine in combination. Cardiac effects of these drugs were studied by electrocardiography during resting and exercising states and immediately after exercise.

Although each treatment increased heart rate significantly during the resting state, only the amphetamine plus atropine treatment increased heart rate significantly during exercise. Decrease in heart rate immediately after exercise differed significantly for each treatment; the most rapid decrease in heart rate was found after the amphetamine treatment.

Amphetamine caused second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in each horse during the postexercise period. Amphetamine also caused ectopic beats either during or immediately after exercise in six horses. Second-degree AV block was not found when atropine was used alone or when used in combination with amphetamine. Fewer ectopic beats were found when atropine was used with amphetamine.

Heart rate responses indicated that the direct effect of amphetamine was greater than the reflex effect at rest and during exercise; the opposite was true during postexercise. Second-degree AV block during the postexercise period was attributed to vagotonia due to baroreceptor stimulation. Release of norepinephrine by amphetamine probably caused many of the ectopic beats by increasing automaticity of subordinate pacemakers.