Summary
The influence of two β-adrenoceptor antagonists, propranolol and pindolol, on the haemodynamic effects of papaverine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline was investigated in 9 male patients with first degree essential hypertension. Propranolol and pindolol were given according to a doubleblind, crossover scheme. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured before and after each treatment. Propranolol 670 µg/kg i. v. reduced the supine and standing systolic blood pressures by 2.3% and 1.6%, respectively. Similarly, the intravenous administration of pindolol 35 µg/kg reduced supine and standing systolic blood pressure by 5.5% and 8.3% respectively (clinically insignificant). Neither drug affected diastolic blood pressure. Following propranolol, there were moderate reductions in supine and standing heart rates, respectively by 24% and 20% (p<0.001). Similarly, but to a lesser extent, pindolol reduced supine and standing heart rate by 12% and 17% (p<0.001). The effects of papaverine, which, at 1.5 mg/kg i. v. reduced systolic blood pressure by 5–10% and increased heart rate by 8–15%, were not significantly influenced by the β-blockers. The blood pressure and heart rate responses to isoprenaline, on the other hand, were attenuated or inhibited by both β-blockers. While the β-blockers inhibited the β-adrenoceptor component of noradrenaline, the pressor component of noradrenaline, which is mediated through the α-adrenoceptors, was not influenced by propranolol, but was inhibited after pindolol. It is concluded that pindolol differs qualitatively from propranolol in that it inhibited both the α-and β-adrenoceptor effects of noradrenaline.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- BP:
-
blood pressure
- ECG:
-
electrocardiogram
- HR:
-
heart rate
- ISA:
-
intrinsic sympathomimetic activity
References
Cocco G, Burkart F, Chu D, Follath F (1978) Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity of β-adrenoceptor blocking agents. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 13:1–4
Cocco G, Strozzi C, Chu D (1977) I farmaci β-bloccanti sono stati introdotti in clinica 15 anni or sono: miti e realtà. Clin Ter 80:67–89
Dubach UC (1975) Was ist von Kardioselektivität und sympathikomimetischer Eigenwirkung von β-Rezeptorenblockern zu halten? Schweiz Med Rundschau 64:1239–1241
Ekul KJM, Shanks RG, Walsh MJ (1974) Observations on the effect of β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs on glyceryltrinitrate tachycardia. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1:19–26
Hansson L (1973) β-adrenergic blockade in essential hypertension. Effects of propranolol on hemodynamic parameters and plasma renin activity. Acta Med Scand (Suppl) 55:1–40
Law M, Rand MJ, Story DF (1974) Effects of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on testing and stimulation-induced efflux of noradrenaline from rabbit ear arteries. Proc Aust Physiol Pharmacol Soc 5:220–221
Leon DF, Shaver TA, Leonard JJ (1970) Reflex heart rate control in man. Am Heart J 80:729–739
Mazurkiewicz-Kwilecki IM (1970) Interactions of β-adrenergic blocking agents with noradrenaline in vascular smooth muscle. Eur J Pharmacol 11:155–162
Niarchos AP, Tahmooressi P, Tarazi RC: Comparison of heart rate and blood pressure response to amylnitrite, isoproterenol, and standing before and during acute β-adrenergic blockade with intravenous propranolol. Am Heart J 96:47–53
Nussberger J, Vetter W, Krayenbuehl HP, Siegenthaler W (1975) Einfluß der β-Rezeptorenbehandlung mit Pindolol auf Plasmareninaktivität und linksventrikuläre Dynamik bei essentieller Hypertonie. Kardiol. Jahresversammlung, Schweiz. Gesellsch. Inn. Med., Luano June 5–7, 1975, communication No. 16, p 16
O'Grady J, Oh V, Turner P (1978) Effects of propranolol and oxprenolol on the vasoconstrictor response to noradrenaline in the superficial hand vein in man. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 14:83–85
Saameli K (1967) Vergleichende Untersuchungen mit β-Rezeptorenblockern und Chinidin. Helv Physiol Pharmacol Acta 25: CR 432
Somlyo AP, Somlyo AV (1969) Pharmacology of excitation-contraction coupling in vascular smooth muscle and in avian slow muscle. Fed Proc 28:1634–1642
Somlyo AV, Haeusler G, Somlyo AP (1970) β-adrenergic electrogenesis in vascular smooth muscle: effect of theophylline, external potassium and oligomycin. Fed Proc 29:613 (abstract no. 2062)
Somlyo AV, Haeusler G, Somlyo AP (1970) Cyclic adenosine monophosphate: potassium-dependent action on vascular smooth muscle membrane potential. Science 169:490–491
Thames MD, Kontos HA (1970) Mechanism of baroreceptor-induced changes in heart rate. Am J Physiol 218:251–256
Vatner SF, Higgins CB, Franklin D, Braunwald E (1972) Autonomic components of reflex tachycardia induced by hypotension. Physiologist 15:294
WHO classification, Technical Report Series No. 628, WHO, Geneva 1978, p 9
Zweifler AJ, Hansson L (1976) Heart rate responses during treatment of hypertension with propranolol. The clinical usefulness of nitroglycerin test. Clin Pharmacol Ther 19:403–409
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chu, D., Cocco, G., Schweda, E. et al. Influence of propranolol and pindolol on the haemodynamic effects of papaverine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline in hypertensive patients. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 18, 141–146 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561581
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561581