Effect of modification of anandamide plasma levels on ischaemia and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias

Cannabinoid receptor activation has been demonstrated to improve myocardial recovery and reduce arrhythmogenesis during ischaemia and reperfusion.[1] To date it has not been examined if augmentation of the endocannabinoid, anandamide, may also influence ischaemia–reperfusion-induced arrhythmogenesis. We investigated the effect of the anandamide breakdown inhibitor, URB597, anandamide and both in combination on the severity of ischaemia–reperfusion induced arrhythmias in anaesthetised rats subjected to regional coronary occlusion (10 min) and reperfusion (10 min). URB597 (10 mg/kg IP) did not modify mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), at 5 min before occlusion, when given alone but did potentiate the hypotensive effect of exogenously administered anandamide (10 mg/kg IV) (p