[Mechanism of cellular toxicity induced by digitalis compounds. Study with ouabain].

Unlabelled: The toxic effect of digitalis compounds at cell level produces an intracellular Ca2+ overload and a decrease in intracellular concentrations of K+. Since Ca2+ and K+ are critical modulators of life and death, the purpose of this study was to explore the cell death pathway activated through the ionic imbalance provoked by digitalis intoxication. We present results of cell toxicity in a study performed with ouabain acting on a HeLa cells culture and on guinea pig heart myocites under ouabain intoxication.