Captopril potentiates the vasodepressor action of Met-enkephalin in the anaesthetized rat

The transient vasodepressor action of Met-enkephalin (10-80 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) in anaesthetized rats was significantly potentiated by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (2 mg kg-1, i.v.); at this dose, it failed to modify the transient vasodepressor action of the non-specific vasodilator, nitroprusside (2.5, 5.0, 10 micrograms kg-1, i.v.). Captopril (2 mg kg-1, i.v.) caused a slow, progressive fall in the blood pressure of anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats when compared to vehicle-treated controls. Pretreatment with naloxone (1.5 mg kg-1, i.v.) 30 min earlier failed to alter significantly the hypotensive action of captopril in anaesthetized SH rats. It was concluded that although captopril potentiated the vasodepressor action of Met-enkephalin in anaesthetized normotensive rats, potentiation of endogenous opioids does not appear to be involved in the hypotensive action of captopril in anaesthetized SH rats.     

Further evidence for a central hypotensive action of α-methyldopa in both the rat and cat

1. alpha-Methyldopa (300 mg/kg i.p.) produced a fall in blood pressure in conscious genetic hypertensive rats. Pretreatment with intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine prevented this hypotensive effect of alpha-methyldopa, whilst intravenous 6-hydroxydopamine reduced but did not prevent the hypotension.2. The hypotensive effect of alpha-methyldopa was prevented or reversed by intraventricular injection of phentolamine (200 mug/rat).3. Pressor responses obtained by stimulation of the entire sympathetic outflow in the Gillespie & Muir preparation, were unaffected by pretreatment with alpha-methyldopa (300 mg/kg i.p.).4. Vasoconstrictor responses to periarterial nerve stimulation of the isolated renal artery preparation of the rat were markedly reduced by pretreatment with alpha-methyldopa. Furthermore, alpha-methylnoradrenaline was found to have one-eighth the vasoconstrictor potency of noradrenaline in this particular artery preparation.5. Pressor responses obtained by stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus or midbrain reticular formation in the rat anaesthetized with urethane were markedly reduced by pretreatment with alpha-methyldopa. FLA-63, a selective dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor, prevented the reduction of the pressor responses to hypothalamic stimulation produced by alpha-methyldopa.6. Stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus in the anaesthetized cat caused both an increase in sympathetic nerve activity and a rise in blood pressure. These responses were markedly reduced 3-4 h after the injection of alpha-methyldopa (100 mg/kg i.v.).7. These results strongly suggest that the central actions of alpha-methyldopa are important for its hypotensive effect, although a possible peripheral effect cannot be excluded.     

Involvement of central dopamine receptors in the hypotensive action of pergolide

The involvement of central dopamine receptors in the hypotensive action of the dopaminergic ergoline, pergolide was determined in anesthetized rats. Intravenous (i.v.) or intracerebroventricular (i.v.t.) administration of pergolide (12.5, 25 and 50 micrograms/kg) produced dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure. The magnitude of hypotension seen following either i.v. or i.v.t. administration of pergolide was similar. However, while both sulpiride (1 mg/kg, i.v.) as well as phentolamine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) antagonized the hypotensive action of i.v. pergolide, only sulpiride (1 mg/kg, i.v.t.) was able to antagonize the hypotension seen following i.v.t. administration of pergolide. Phentolamine (1 mg/kg, i.v.t.) did not alter the central hypotensive action of pergolide. In a separate group of rats, clonidine (25 micrograms/kg, i.v.t.) also produced a decrease in blood pressure. While phentolamine (i.v.t.) antagonized the central hypotensive action of clonidine, sulpiride (i.v.t.) did not have any effect on the action of clonidine. These results show that selective activation of central dopamine receptors was responsible for the hypotensive action of centrally-administered pergolide. In a separate group of rats greater splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity was measured. Intravenous pergolide produced similar hypotensive response as seen in previous groups, and this was accompanied by a concomitant decrease in the sympathetic nerve activity. The maximum fall in blood pressure (26 +/- 6 mm Hg) was correlated with a 40% reduction in sympathetic nerve activity. The return of blood pressure to control levels occurred after 60-70 min and was also associated with the return of sympathetic nerve activity to control levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The central sympatho-inhibitory effect of 5,6-dihydroxy-2-dimethylaminotetralin (M7) is mediated by α2-adrenoceptors

M7 (5,6-dihydroxy-2-dimethylaminotetralin) produces in anesthetized rats a hypotensive response previously attributed to peripheral dopaminergic mechanisms. We re-examined the effects of this drug on arterial blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nerve activity in anesthetized rats and dogs. M7 (1–100 μg/kg i.v.) produced in the rats transient dose-dependent pressor effects, with bradycardia and sympatho-inhibition, followed by long-lasting dose-dependent hypotension, bradycardia and sympatho-inhibition. The sympatho-inhibitory and hypotensive effects were comparable in baroreceptor-denervated rats and were reversed by idazoxan (0.1 mg/kg i.v.). The sympatho-inhibitory response induced by M7 (1–100 μg/kg) was prevented by treatment with the specific α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist, 2-methoxy-idazoxan (0.03 mg/kg i.v.). This central effect of M7 was not altered by treatment with the α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) and was reduced by treatment with the α₂-adrenoceptor antagonists, yohimbine (1 mg/kg i.v.) or idazoxan (0.3 mg/kg i.v.), and the dopaminergic antagonists, haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) or sulpiride (3 mg/kg i.v.). Bilateral microinjections of M7 (0.3–3 nmol) into the rostroventral medulla in the rat produced dose-dependent hypotension, bradycardia and sympathetic nerve inhibition which were reversed and prevented by bilateral microinjection of 2-methoxy-idazoxan (1 nmol) into the same sites. Microinjections of 2-methoxy-idazoxan into the rostroventral medulla also inhibited the central effects of M7 at 0.03 mg/kg i.v. In anesthetized dogs, M7 administered into the cisterna magna (1–10 μg/kg) reduced arterial blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nerve activity; these effects were reversed by administration of 2-methoxy-idazoxan (0.03 mg/kg i.v.). In conclusion, M7, a rigid catecholamine, produces a potent central sympatho-inhibitory and hypotensive effect by activation of α₂-adrenoceptors.     

Hypotensive actions of ephedradines, macrocyclic spermine alkaloids of ephedra roots*.

Ephedradines A, B, C and D (3 mg/kg, i.v.) elicited hypotensive effects in Wistar rats. Administration of ephedradine B (EB) (0.1-3 mg/kg, i.v.) to Wistar rats and to spontaneously hypertensive rats reduced blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. EB (1 mg/kg, i.v.) slightly potentiated the pressor action of norepinephrine (1 microg/kg, i.v.) and significantly reduced that of 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (50 microg/kg, i.v.). The hypotensive activity of EB (1 mg/kg, i.v.) was inhibited by pretreatment with atropine (5 mg/kg, i.v.) or diphenhydramine (5 mg/kg, i.v.). In the hypogastric nerve-vas deferens of guinea pig, application of EB (3 x 10 (-7)-10 (-5) g/ml)to the ganglion inhibited the contraction of the vas deferens induced by electrical preganglionic nerve stimulation and by acetylcholine (10 (-4)-10 (-3) g/ml) applied to the ganglion. It is thus concluded that the hypotensive activity of ephedradine B is exerted mainly by ganglion block.     

Cardiovascular effects of a novel calcium entry blocking and selective beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking agent, YM-16151-4, in anesthetized and conscious dogs.

Cardiovascular effects of YM-16151-4, a combined calcium entry blocking and beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking agent, were evaluated in dogs. In anesthetized dogs, YM-16151-4 (0.01-1 mg/kg intravenously, i.v.) dose-dependently increased coronary blood flow (CBF) and decreased mean blood pressure (MBP), total peripheral resistance (TPR), dP/dtmax, double product, and left ventricular (LV) work without increasing heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (CO). YM-16151-4 increased vertebral blood flow as well as CBF, but had no effect on carotid, mesenteric, renal, and femoral blood flow. Coronary vasodilating activity of YM-16151-4 was also observed after intracoronary artery injection (i.a.). In anesthetized and vagotomized dogs, YM-16151-4 dose-dependently inhibited isoproterenol (0.2 micrograms/kg i.v.)-induced tachycardia and decrease in diastolic BP (DBP), with ED50 values of 0.039 and 0.52 mg/kg i.v., respectively. In conscious dogs, YM-16151-4 (0.1-1 mg/kg i.v.) produced a dose-dependent hypotensive effect with no effect on HR or PQ-interval. The hypotensive effect of YM-16151-4 (0.3 and 1 mg/kg i.v.) reached its maximum approximately 1-2 h after each dosing and lasted 6-8 h. These results suggest that YM-16151-4 actually behaves as a hybrid compound, combining calcium entry blocking and beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking activities, and that this compound could be a novel long-acting antianginal and antihypertensive agent.     

Contribution of spinal dopamine receptors to the hypotensive action of bromocriptine in rats.

Bromocriptine, a dopamine (DA) receptor agonist, has been reported to have hypotensive effects in anesthetized and conscious normotensive rats but its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. Therefore, we studied the changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) elicited by an intravenous (i.v.) administration of bromocriptine (150 micrograms/kg), in either pentobarbital-anesthetized or conscious normotensive rats, pretreated with either i.v. (0.3 mg/kg) or intrathecal (i.t.) (93 nmol) domperidone, a DA receptor antagonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier. In these preparations, i.v. administration of bromocriptine elicited dose-dependent decreases in MAP and rises in HR. The hypotensive effect was antagonized partially by i.t. and fully by i.v. domperidone. However, the latter compound did not modify the tachycardia, which could be blocked by propranolol (0.5 mg/kg i.v.). In rats pretreated with the latter beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, bromocriptine produced only a decrease in blood pressure that was inhibited by i.v. and i.t. domperidone. These results suggest that, in anesthetized and conscious normotensive rats, the hypotension induced by systemic administration of bromocriptine is fully mediated by DA2 dopamine receptors, which are located partly within the spinal cord and partly in the peripheral circulation.     

Cardiovascular action of detomidine, a sedative and analgesic imidazole derivative with alpha-agonistic properties

The cardiovascular effects of detomidine, a new veterinary sedative and analgesic imidazole derivative were studied in rats and cats using as reference compound xylazine, a widely employed veterinary antinociceptive and sedative drug with alpha-agonistic potency. Detomidine (1-30 micrograms/kg i.v.) and xylazine (10-1000 micrograms/kg i.v.) had both dose-dependent hypotensive and bradycardiac effects in anaesthetized rats. After i.v. administration of 3-100 micrograms/kg detomidine and 0.1-3 mg/kg xylazine to conscious rats, detomidine was more active in reducing the heart rate than in lowering the blood pressure. In anaesthetized cats, detomidine (1-30 micrograms/kg i.v.) was hypotensive and bradycardiac in a dose-dependent manner. A low dose of detomidine into the vertebral artery was more effective than i.v. application in reducing blood pressure. Idazoxan (0.3 mg/kg i.v. and 0.03 mg/kg into the vertebral artery) antagonized the hypotensive and bradycardiac effects of detomidine injected into the femoral vein or vertebral artery, respectively. In pithed rats, detomidine and xylazine stimulated presynaptic and postsynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors, and to a lesser extent postsynaptic alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The results indicate that detomidine is an agonist of central and peripheral alpha 2-adrenoceptors which exerts its hypotensive and bradycardiac effects via activation of the central alpha 2-adrenoceptors.     

A centrally acting antihypertensive agent (R28935) not mediated via central alpha-adrenoreceptors.

Intraventricular administration (i.c.v.) of R28935 (25 mug) produced a marked fall in blood pressure without any bradycardia in conscious renal hypertensive cats. This hypotensive effect was not antagonised by central administration of tolazoline (200 mug i.c.v.) or phentolamine (200 mug). However, these doses of alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking agents did antagonise the centrally mediated hypotensive actions of clonidine (20 mug i.c.v.) or alpha-methyl-dopa (1 mg i.c.v.). Infusions of R28935 in the perfused artery preparation did not modify the basal perfusion pressures or modify the vasoconstrictor actions of noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine. The results suggest that R28935, an analogue of pimozide, exerts a central hypotensive effect not mediated via central alpha-adrenoreceptors, and does not have any peripheral sympathomimetic action.     

Effects of eserine and ouabain on the febrile reaction induced by lipopolysaccharide]

We investigated the effects of eserine and ouabain on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (B.B.B.) as related to the febrile response induced with LPS in rabbit. Results are as follows; The febrile response induced by LPS (0.02 and 1.0 mug/kg) i.v. was suppressed by administration of ouabain (0.06 mg/kg, i.v.). Contrary to the febrile response of LPS given i.c. (10(-4) and 10(-3) mug/kg), the febrile response was not suppressed with the same dose of ouabain. The pyrogenicity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) withdrawn at two hours after rabbits had been injected with LPS (25 mug/kg) was suppressed by ouabain (0.06 mg/kg, i.v.). Pyrogenic response was enhanced by pretreatment with eserine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) given one hr before LPS (1 mug/kg, i.v.). The pyrogenicity of CSF was also potentiated to a greater extent by pretreatment of eserine than with LPS alone. In the eserinized rabbit (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), the pyrogenicity of CSF was potentiated to a greater extent by ACh (10 mug/kg, i.v.) than by LPS (1 mug/kg, i.v.) alone. From these data, it is concluded that the inhibition of Na, K-ATPase by ouabain decreases the pyrogenicity of LPS, while the inhibition of cholinesterase by eserine enhances the pyrogenicity.     

Modification of certain vascular responses to dopamine by morphine

Alteration by morphine of two specific vascular responses to dopamine, systemic hypotension in cats and renal vasodilation in dogs, were characterized in α-adrenergically blocked (phenoxybenzamine) anesthetized animals. Morphine sulfate (15–30 mg/kg, i.v.) converted the vasodepressor response to dopamine (50–100 μg/kg, i.v.) to a pressor response in intact cats, whereas in spinal cats dopamine-induced vasodepression was not significantly altered by morphine (15–60 mg/kg, i.v.). Haloperidol, a putative peripheral dopaminergic receptor antagonist, briefly but significantly attenuated the hypotensive response to dopamine in spinal cats. Canine renal vasodilator responses to intrarenal arterial dopamine (0.09–96 μg) were significantly reduced after morphine (2–6 mg/kg, i.a.). Morphine produced a non-parallel shift in the dopamine dose-response curve, whereas a parallel shift was obtained when haloperidol was used as the antagonist in the canine renal test system. These results do not support the concept that morphine may be a competitive antagonist of dopamine at peripheral dopaminergic receptors in these species.     

Effect of ketanserin on blood pressure in rats

Ketanserin, a selective serotonergic (5-HT2) antagonist, also has affinity for alpha 1-adrenoceptors. It is not clear whether the hypotensive mechanism of ketanserin is due to its antagonistic action to 5-HT2 receptor or to its affinity for alpha 1 adrenoceptors. The hypotensive mechanism of ketanserin was studied in both stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Anesthetized rats were used (alpha-chloralose + urethane, i.p.). Up to 3 ml of blood was drawn from each rat for analysis. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) was determined by radioenzymatic assay. Plasma serotonin (5-HT) was determined by HPLC-ECD. Adrenal nerve discharges were counted by a digital pulse counter. Ketanserin (0.5 mg/kg, 5.0 mg/kg, i.v.) produced a dose-dependent reduction of mean arterial pressure (MAP) in both SHRSP and WKY. MAP of SHRSP decreased significantly as compared with WKY. Both plasma NE and 5-HT showed a tendency to increase during ketanserin administration (5.0 mg/kg, i.v.). Ketanserin significantly antagonized the BP response induced by exogenously injected 5-HT (30 micrograms/kg) and NE (10 micrograms/kg). Adrenal nerve activity was reduced in parallel with the decrease in BP and HR. These findings suggest that ketanserin produced a decrease in BP via both peripheral and central action in rats.     

Prazosin produces a sustained and reflex-mediated increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity in anesthetized dogs

Prazosin (1 mg/kg i.v.) produced a decrease in blood pressure associated with an increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity in anesthetized dogs. The sympathetic baroreflex curve was shifted to the left. Prazosin (10 micrograms/kg into the vertebral artery) did not change the blood pressure but increased renal sympathetic discharges. The baroreflex curve was not altered. Prazosin (100 micrograms/kg into the vertebral artery) induced a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in sympathetic discharges. Prazosin (1 mg/kg i.v. or 100 micrograms/kg i.c.) induced a fall in blood pressure without any change in sympathetic nerve activity in barodenervated dogs. Restoration of the resting blood pressure by angiotensin II infusion (10-20 ng/kg per min) restored the baroreflex curve in anesthetized dogs given prazosin (1 mg/kg i.v.) to close to the initial position. Prazosin, (1 mg/kg i.v.) did not change the sympathoinhibitory effect of clonidine (injected into the vertebral artery) and the reversal effect of piperoxan in barodenervated dogs. In conclusion, prazosin reduces blood pressure by blockade of peripheral alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The shift to the left of the sympathetic baroreflex curve is due to the hypotensive effect of prazosin. No evidence was found for a central sympathoinhibitory effect of prazosin.     

Effects of oxybutynin on the cardiovascular system in dogs

The effects of oxybutynin, an anticholinergic and antispasmodic agent, on the cardiovascular system were studied in comparison with those of atropine in anesthetized dogs. Oxybutynin (0.1-10 mg/kg, i.v.) caused a transient hypotension, tachycardia, increases in femoral, stomach, mesenteric and common carotid arterial blood flows and a decrease in renal arterial blood flow. Atropine (0.1-10 mg/kg, i.v.) caused a stronger and more prolonged hypotension with bradycardia, accompanied by weaker blood flow changes than those by oxybutynin. In open-chest dogs, oxybutynin caused increases in cardiac output and coronary sinus outflow and decreases in heart rate and left ventricular pressure. The agent augmented dLVP/dt/P at doses up to 3 mg/kg, i.v., but reduced it at 10 mg/kg, i.v. Atropine caused stronger cardiosuppressive responses than those of oxybutynin. Coronary sinus outflow was decreased by atropine, unlike in the case of oxybutynin. The pressor responses of norepinephrine, epinephrine and tyramine were potentiated by pretreatment with oxybutynin (15 mg/kg, i.v.). However, pressor or depressor responses induced by histamine, isoproterenol, serotonin and DMPP were unaffected by oxybutynin. Intraarterial injections of oxybutynin, atropine and papaverine caused femoral and renal arterial vasodilations dose-dependently, in the following order of potency: papaverine greater than oxybutynin greater than atropine. In the isolated blood-perfused canine papillary muscle preparation, oxybutynin and atropine caused a negative inotropic action, whereas papaverine caused a positive inotropic action. From the above results, it is suggested that oxybutynin has milder cardiosuppressive and hypotensive effects than atropine in terms of potency and duration of action, and in addition, oxybutynin has a vasodilating action probably ascribable to its anticholinergic and antispasmodic actions.     

Characterization of vascular dopamine receptors in the gastric circulation of the rabbit

An in vivo model is presented for studying the vasodilator effect of dopamine on the gastric vascular bed of the anesthetized rabbit. Dopamine was injected into the common hepatic artery simultaneously measuring the blood flow through the left gastric artery at constant perfusion pressure. The vasoconstrictor response to dopamine was blocked by pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine (0.5 mg/kg i.a.). Dopamine dilated the gastric vascular bed dose-dependently with an average ED50 of 15 nmol. Apomorphine caused vasodilation with an ED50 of 38.8 nmol; the maximum response was significantly lower than dopamine. (-)Isoproterenol was ineffective. cis-Flupentixol (3.5 and 7.0 mumol/kg i.v.) and (+)butaclamol (3.0 mumol/kg i.v.), but not trans-flupentixol (7.0 mumol/kg i.v.) and (-)butaclamol (6.0 mumol/kg i.v.) shifted the dopamine dose-response curve to the right in a parallel fashion, indicating competitive antagonism. Haloperidol, bulbocapnine, and sulpiride also acted as competitive inhibitors of dopamine-induced vasodilation. The antagonists inhibited the dopamine-induced vasodilation in the following order of potency: (+)butaclamol greater than cis-flupentixol greater than haloperidol greater than bulbocapnine greater than sulpiride. The results suggest that the vascular dopamine receptors in the stomach of the rabbit resemble the DA1-receptors in the mesenteric vascular bed of dogs.     

Centrally induced impairment of the hypotensive effects of R 28935 and R 29814 by prazosin in anaesthetized cats

Prazosin (3 μg/kg) infused prior to erythro-1{1-[2-(1,4-benzodioxan-2-yl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-4-piperidyl}-2-benzimidazolinone (R 28935) into the left vertebral artery (v.a.) of chloralose-anaesthetized cats diminished the hypotensive response to R 288935 (3 μg/kg, v.a.). A similar i.v. treatment did not alter the central hypotensive effects of R 28935 (3 μg/kg, v.a.). After prazosin (3 μg/kg, v.a.) there was a paralle shift to the right of the doseresponse curve of R 28935 (v.a.). The central hypotensive effect of the threo isomer (R 29814; 30 μg/kg) was also diminished by the previous adminstration of prazosin (3 μg/kg, v.a.). These results indicate the involvement of central α₁-adrenoceptros in the mechanism of action of R 28935 and R 29814.     

Endothelin-1 attenuates bradykinin-induced hypotension in rats

Endothelin-1 has vasoconstrictor and mitogenic properties and may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension by enhancing vasoconstrictor mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the ability of endothelin-1 decrease the hypotensive effects of the vasodilator bradykinin in anesthetized rats. We also studied the effects a two-week oral pre-treatment with losartan (10 mg/kg/day) or enalapril (25 mg/kg/day) on endothelin-1-induced changes in the hypotensive responses to bradykinin. Bradykinin (0.4, 1.6, 6.4, and 25 mcg/kg, i.v.) induced dose-dependent hypotensive responses which were attenuated (P<0.05) by endothelin-1 (2 mcg/kg, i.v.). This effect of endothelin-1 was abolished by the mixed endothelin receptor antagonist N-Acetyl-alpha-[10,11-Dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a, d]cycloheptadien-5-yl]-D-Gly-Leu-Asp-Ile-Ile-Trp (PD145065, 1 mg/kg, i.v.). Endothelin-1 also decreased (P<0.05) the responses to bradykinin in rats pre-treated with losartan, but had no effect in rats pre-treated with enalapril. These results suggest that endothelin-1 may contribute to the development of hypertension by decreasing the responses to bradykinin through a mechanism not involving angiotensin AT(1) receptors, although the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme blunted the effect of endothelin-1.     

Central autonomic effects of prostaglandin F2α on the cardiovascular system of the dog

1. Prostaglandin F(2alpha) infused into the vertebral artery of the anaesthetized greyhound in doses which had no effect when given intravenously ((8-64 ng/kg)/min) caused an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.2. This response was not significantly altered by beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol (10 mg i.v.) or by cervical cord section at C(4-6).3. The tachycardia was abolished and the pressor response greatly reduced by vagotomy or atropine (250 mug/kg i.v.).4. The pressor response which remained after vagotomy was abolished by subsequent sympathetic blockade with bethanidine (2-3 mg/kg i.v.) or bretylium (10 mg/kg i.v.).5. In contrast to the effects of propranolol or cervical cord section bethanidine (4-5 mg/kg i.v.) or bretylium (10 mg/kg i.v.) significantly reduced blood pressure and heart rate responses to intravertebral prostaglandin F(2alpha). This result suggests that bethanidine and bretylium have some central actions.6. It is concluded that the cardiovascular effects of intravertebral infusions of prostaglandin F(2alpha) are mediated by the autonomic nervous system and that the preferential pathway is withdrawal of vagal tone to the heart.     

Role of plasma S-nitrosothiols in regulation of blood pressure in anesthetized rabbits with special references to hypotensive effects of acetylcholine and nitrovasodilators

The regulatory role of plasma nitrosothiols (R-SNOs) under steady-state conditions and their possible contribution to pharmacological vasodilation were systematically examined in anesthetized rabbits. Nitrosocystein (Cys-NO), S-nitrosoglutathione (G-SNO), and S-nitrosoalbumin (Alb-SNO) were determined by HPLC-Saville's method with respective sensitivities of 1, 1, and 5 nM. These R-SNOs were not detected under steady-state conditions even in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide, a thiol protective agent used to prevent transnitrosation of R-SNOs. Development of plasma Alb-SNO below 300 nM was observed after intravenous injection (i.v.) of nitric oxide (NO) solution (0.1 to 3 ml/g), NOC7 (an NO releasing agent, above 1 μg/kg), and a low dose of Alb-SNO (10 nmol/kg). However, blood pressure was not significantly reduced by NO solution or Alb-SNO. Intravenous injection of a high dose of Alb-SNO (300 nmol/kg) significantly reduced blood pressure with the appearance not only Alb-SNO in micromolar level in plasma, but also G-SNO in lesser degree. Conversely, the hypotensive effect of Cys-NO (300 nmol/kg, i.v.) and G-SNO (300 nmol/kg, i.v.) accompanied development of Alb-SNO (micromolar level), but not Cys-NO or G-SNO in plasma. R-SNOs were not found in plasma during profound hypotension induced by acetylcholine (10 and 30 μg/kg/min, continuous i.v.), glyceryl trinitrate (100 μg/kg, i.v.), sodium nitroprusside (100 μg/kg, i.v.), and isosorbide dinitrate (300 μg/kg, i.v.). These results indicate that R-SNOs do not play an important role under unstimulated condition. In addition, plasma R-SNOs may not be involved in pharmacological vasodilation where contributions of NO or R-SNOs are suggested.     

Role of the ventral surface of the brain stem in the hypotensive action of clonidine.

The areas S of the ventral surface of the brain stem and the immediately surrounding zone were superficially destroyed by the means of electro-coagulation, in 14 cats. This destruction produced a drop in blood pressure, which was transient in 9 and definitive in 4 animals; in one cat only the arterial pressure did not change after the destruction. In 6 animals which have been sham-operated, clonidine (15 mug/kg, i.v.) always induced a marked fall in blood pressure whereas in 10 animals which had maintained or recovered a normal blood pressure after the destruction of the area S, clonidine (15 mug/kg) injected intravenously no longer produced any decrease of the arterial pressure. These results suggest that the integrity of the areas S is necessary for the development of the hypotensive action of clonidine. This hypotensive drug may act, at least at the level of the ventral surface of the brain stem, through inhibition of a vasopressive structure.