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Baroreceptor function in man following peripheral alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor stimulation

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Summary

Methoxamine and α-methyl-noradrenaline were administered to six healthy male subjects on separate days as rapid bolus injections until blood pressure increased by approximately 30 mmHg; Valsalva's Manoeuvre was carried out on each occasion. Propranolol (80 mg) or placebo was administered (random order, double-blind, weekly intervals) and the observations were repeated after 2 h.

Baroreceptor sensitivity (ΔR-R interval ms/mmHg systolic BP) was less (p<0.05) with α-methyl-noradrenaline than methoxamine.

Propranolol abolished the differences in baroreceptor-mediated bradycardia following α-methyl-noradrenaline and methoxamine, and shifted the baroreceptor sensitivity regression lines (p<0.05) to the left.

During the release phase of Valsalva's Manoeuvre baroreceptor sensitivity was increased following propranolol.

The smaller baroreceptor-mediated bradycardia response observed with α-methyl-noradrenaline does not support the hypothesis that pre-synaptic α-adrenoceptors have a physiological role in the modulation of baroreceptor function in man, and may be due to α-methyl-noradrenaline having β1-agonist activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Therapeutics and Pharmacology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland

    A. H. Deering, J. G. Riddell, R. G. Shanks & D. W. G. Harron

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  1. A. H. Deering
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  2. J. G. Riddell
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  3. R. G. Shanks
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  4. D. W. G. Harron
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Deering, A.H., Riddell, J.G., Shanks, R.G. et al. Baroreceptor function in man following peripheral alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor stimulation. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 33, 41–47 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610378

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610378

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