The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on arrhythmia caused by adenosine diphosphate and desacetyldigilanide-C in rats.

We investigated the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the arrhythmia induced by two drugs in rats. The results of our experiments have proved that calcitonin gene-related peptide could reduce the degree of atrioventricular block, protect against the attacks of sinus standstill and ventricular fibrillation produced by adenosine diphosphate, and improve restoration of sinus rhythm. Calcitonin gene-related peptide was able to eliminate sinus standstill and ventricular fibrillation resulting from administration of desacetyldigilanide-C. These results demonstrate that calcitonin gene-related peptide has strong antiarrhythmic effects in experimental animals.