Antihypertensive effect of non-diuretic doses of cicletanine on a stress-induced model in the rat

Cicletanine was tested at different doses (7.5, 10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) on young rats showing high blood pressure readings after social deprivation for 7 consecutive days. At all dose levels, the compound produced a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure of isolated but not group-housed rats. In contrast, the drug did not affect the heart rate in any of the cases. Interestingly, cicletanine was only found to enhance urinary excretion at the highest dose assayed. The putative mechanism of the antihypertensive action of the drug at non-diuretic doses is discussed.