Ketanserin: systemic and regional hemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Role of alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockade

The systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of ketanserin were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) using either the pulsed Doppler or the microsphere technique. In addition, the contribution of ketanserin alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking properties to these hemodynamic effects was assessed. Ketanserin, directly after infusion or secondarily after bolus injection, induced dose-dependent decreases in blood pressure and regional vascular resistances. Peripheral vasodilatation was not homogeneous, affecting in a decreasing rank order: muscle = spleen greater than brain = kidney = total peripheral resistance = liver greater than mesentery = skin. Cardiac output and hindlimb blood flow increased, renal blood flow was maintained whereas mesenteric blood flow was decreased. Prazosin pretreatment, followed by PGF 2 alpha infusion in order to restore initial vascular tone, reduced the ketanserin-induced decrease in blood pressure (by about 70%) and abolished the drug-induced reductions in regional vascular resistances, indicating that these effects in SHRs were mostly due to the alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking properties of the drug.