STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF

VARIOUS DRUGS AND IONS

ON THE FROG’S HEART

Li Jingxin
Physiologcal Department
 THEORY
Ions
1.The fluids perfusing the heart must contain a proper
balance of the three essential ions i.e. sodium ions,
potassium ions and calcium ions.
2. If these three ions are present proper proportions, the
heart is able to maintain its normal contracti1ity for
hours in an oxygenated environment.
3. If the concentrations of ions are abnormal, then the
heart will what happen?
1). If concentration of these ions is
altered then heart rate and
contractility are changed.
e.g. excess of potassium ions in the
fluids perfusing the heart causes
the heart to become dilated and
slows the heart rate and may stop
heart during diastole .
2).An excess of sodium ions
depresses cardiac function like
potassium ions excess but for an
entirely different reason. Sodium
ions compete with the calcium ions
at the same point in the excitatory
or contractile process of the heart
muscle .
3).Excess calcium ions in the fluids
enhance myocardial contractility .
When large amount of calcium ions
are infused into the experimental
animals, the heart relaxes less
during diastole and eventually stops
in systole (calcium rigor). A
deficiency of calcium ions causes
cardiac flaccidity.
 Drugs
1.The intrinsic properties of the
heart are inf1uenced by
autonomic nervous system.
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
nerve
2.Various drugs acting on specific
receptors present in the heart also
influence the cardiac activity.
• Acetylcholine(Ach) acts on
the M- receptors present in
the heart and causes the
decrease in the heart rate and
cardiac contractility.
• Adrenalin (Adr) acts on alpha
and beta-adrenergic receptors.
It has positive chronotropic
(increased heart rate) and
positive inotropic (increased
force of contraction)effects .
 PROCEDURE
1.Expose the frog’s heart
• As compared to human heart, in the
frog’s heart, there are five chambers
ie one ventricle, two atrium, one sinus
venosus ,one truncus arteriosus
• There is no special conducting tissue.
• There is no coronary circulation in the
frog’s heart
Truncus arteriosus ventricle

atrium

ventricle sinus venosus

• a. The parietal layer of the membranous
pericardium if easily removable but the visceral
layer is firmly attached to the heart muscle.
• b. The wall of single ventricle is thicker than
that of atria.
• c. The truncus arteriosus lies anteriorly to the
ventricle near it base and divides into two aorta.
• d. Sinus venosus lies posteriorly and superior
and inferior vena cava empty into it.
• e. The color of the ventricle is seen to become
pale during contraction.
f. During contraction, size of the ventricle is decreased
and during relaxation size is increased due to distension
g. The two atria are separated from the ventricle by atrio-
ventricular groove.
h. A careful observation will show a white line at the
junction of the sinus and atria.
i. Sequence of heartbeat is the sinus, atria, ventricle and
finally the truncus arteries.
If we remove the heart from the animal’s body and
immerse it in Ringer solution placed, the various parts of
the heart are seen to continue to beat in the usual regular
sequence. This indicates that the heartbeat originates
from the heart itself.
 PROCEDURE
2. Connect the heart clip with the
apex of the ventricle. Lift the heart
gently by raising the lever and
adjust its position so that the
beating heart produces good
movements. Pour Ringer solution
on the heart from time to time .
3. Adjust the velocity and
sensitivity ,record normal curve.
 PROCEDURE
• 4. Pour 0.65% NaCl
solution(deficiency of calcium ) on
the frog’s heart and record its effect
on the cardiac activity.
• 5. 1%KCl solution
• 6. 1%CaCl2 solution
• 7.1/10000 acetylcholine solution
• 8. 1/10000adrenalin solution