study of the effects of the ecto-endoantiparasitic agent ivermectin on the blood pressure and electrocardiogram of albino rats

ABSTRACT

In this study, the effects of the broad spectrum antiparasitic drug Ivermectin on the electrocardiogram [ECG] and the blood pressure [BP] recorded simultaneously were studied at 3-hour session experiments. Both the therapeutic and double therapeutic doses of Ivermectin induced a significant prolongation of P-R interval, which represents the conduction time. It also induced alterations in the ECG in the form of sinus arrhythmias and AV nodal rhythm, especially with the high dose. Ivermectin also induced a significant decrease in the BP at both doses tested. It can be suggested that Ivermectin induced bradycardia and hypotension by a special mechanism rather than the cholinergic agonist activity or beta- and alpha-adrenergic blocking activity and could be attributed to its direct effect on the cardiovascular system