A comparison of the endocrine effects of hypotension induced by nicardipine with those by sodium nitroprusside in dogs

Plasma catecholamines, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and plasma cortisol during hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside and nicardipine were studied in 27 mongrel dogs under 0.87% halothane in oxygen. They were randomly divided into three groups: sodium nitroprusside (group S: n = 8), nicardipine (group N: n = 8) and controls (group C: n = 9). Group C received no vasodilator therapy and served as a control. Mean arterial pressure was reduced and maintained at 60 mmHg for 60 minutes in hypotensive groups. No changes were noted in plasma catecholamines and plasma cortisol in group C throughout the experiment, but plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone decreased progressively. During hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside and nicardipine, plasma epinephrine was significantly higher than the control value. However, after the hypotensive drugs were discontinued, plasma epinephrine decreased slightly. During and after induced hypotension, plasma renin activity of group N and group S were significantly higher than the control values. The highest levels of plasma renin activity 36.7 ng.ml-1.hr-1 in group N and 23.2 ng.ml-1.hr-1 in group S were observed. Plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly higher than the control value in group N. The maximum increase occurred 30 minutes after discontinuation of the nicardipine and the highest concentration of plasma aldosterone was three times control value. In contrast, in group S, plasma aldosterone was unchanged from the control value. Plasma cortisol concentration of group N was significantly increased than the control value. However, in group S, plasma cortisol concentration showed a slight but not significant increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)