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Biomedical subjects

L Finch

Publications and source records attributed to L Finch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Twin calves, total artificial heart, cardiac transplantation.

Numerous laboratories throughout the world are successful in sustaining life in calves, sheep, and goats implanted with total artificial hearts for 4-8 months. Very good reliability has been demonstrated with some of these devices, and all of the more successful devices are pneumatically driven. These pneumatic controllers are, for the most part, large and nonportable, and thus are criticized when considered for permanent tethering to a human recipient. The artificial hearts, however, have been developed to a stage where they could sustain the circulation for indeterminate periods of time, for 2-3 years. The pneumatic total artificial heart was used for a few weeks in calves, and then followed with cardiac transplantation. This format has been suggested for human application.

Animals↗

The alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor involvement in the central cardiovascular action of clonidine in the conscious renal hypertensive cat.

An attempt has been made to characterise the alpha-adrenoceptor subtype (alpha 1 or alpha 2) mediating the hypotensive and bradycardic action of clonidine in conscious renal hypertensive cats. The relatively selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine, UK-14,304, guanfacine and lofexidine caused significant hypotension and bradycardia when given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). This suggests that alpha 2-adrenoceptors can mediate hypotension and bradycardia. However, both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists, prazosin, UK-33,274, corynanthine, yohimbine, rauwolscine and RS21361 blocked the hypotensive effect of clonidine. These results suggest an alpha 1-adrenoceptor may also mediate the central hypotensive action of clonidine, or possibly that the central alpha-adrenoceptors in which clonidine acts, may show pharmacological differences to peripheral alpha 1- and alpha 2-subtypes.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Clonidine-induced potentiation of reflex vagal bradycardia in anaesthetized cats.

The interactions between clonidine and the selective alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists, prazosin and yohimbine, on the angiotensin-induced reflex vagal bradycardia have been investigated in propranolol-treated chloralose-anaesthetized cats. Clonidine (1-10 microgram intracisternally) had little effect on the pressor responses to angiotensin, only slightly increased the peak but markedly increased the duration of the reflex bradycardia. Neither prazosin nor yohimbine (200 microgram intracisternally of either antagonist) had any effect on the reflex bradycardia to angiotensin. Yohimbine greatly diminished the clonidine-induced potentiation of the response, but prazosin was without effect. Clonidine appears to potentiate the vagal reflex bradycardia by stimulating central alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

Animals↗

Postsynaptic spinal alpha-adrenoceptors mediate effects of intrathecal clonidine.

The cardiovascular effects of intrathecal administration of clonidine were examined after depletion of spinal cord noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine or 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. Despite marked reduction in spinal noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine levels, resting blood pressure and heart rate were unchanged and the clonidine-induced hypotension and bradycardia were unimpaired. The results suggest that intrathecal clonidine acts via inhibitory spinal alpha-adrenoceptors located postsynaptically on the preganglionic nerve cell bodies.

Animals↗

Pharmacological characteristics of spinal alpha-adrenoreceptors in rats.

1 Spinal alpha-adrenoreceptors involved in cardiovascular control have been investigated using selective alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists and antagonists in urethane-anaesthetized rats. 2 Intrathecal injections of clonidine, alpha-methylnoradrenaline, guanfacine and M7 at the C7-T1 level reduced blood pressure and heart rate. In contrast, phenylephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and procaine had little or no effect. These results suggest the involvement of spinal alpha 2-adrenoreceptors. 3 The fall in blood pressure produced by clonidine appeared to be attributable to a reduction in heart rate and stroke volume. Lower body vascular resistance was unchanged. 4 The clonidine-induced bradycardia was antagonised by prazosin, WB4101, piperoxan or yohimbine. Their relative potencies suggest that alpha 1-rather then alpha 2-adrenoreceptors mediate this response. 5 piperoxan and yohimbine clearly prevented the clonidine-induced fall in blood pressure; prazosin and WB4101 also appeared to antagonise clonidine but these results were complicated by the fact that these antagonists themselves reduced blood pressure. 6 It was difficult to interpret these results simply in terms of alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoreceptors. Thus spinal alpha-adrenoreceptors may be different from peripheral alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoreceptors.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Cardiovascular withdrawal effects of clonidine and tiamenidine on abrupt cessation of oral treatment in conscious cats.

In conscious renal hypertensive cats prepared with permanent indwelling arterial catheters oral administration of clonidine (0.05 mg x 3 daily) clonidine (0.0125 mg x 3 daily), or tiamenidine (0.25 mg x 3 daily) induced hypotension and bradycardia during 6 days of treatment, although these responses were not well sustained. A pronounced tachycardia was demonstrated in all cats, 16-20 h after cessation of treatment with the higher dose of clonidine, however, only two cats in this group showed increased blood pressures above pre-dose levels at this time; these 'withdrawal' effects were absent 44 h after the final dose. No evidence of tachycardia, or blood pressure overshoot was seen up to 44 h after cessation of the low clonidine treatment regime, providing evidence for a dose-withdrawal effect relationship. Significant tachycardia was demonstrated in all cats 15-19 h after cessation of treatment with tiamenidine with no evidence of blood pressure elevation; the tachycardia was absent 48 h after the final dose. In four of these same cats clonidine (0.1 mg x 2 daily), in a long-acting, sustained release formulation (LA clonidine), elicited prolonged falls in blood pressure and heart rate over a 10 day period. No evidence of withdrawal effects were obtained 14-48 h after cessation of this treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

A comparison of the cardiovascular effects of centrally administered clonidine and adrenaline in the anaesthetized rat.

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of clonidine and adrenaline-induced hypotension and bradycardia in urethane anaesthetized spontaneous hypertensive rats. The hypotension induced by clonidine (3 microgram i.c.v.) was antagonized by pretreatment with the alpha-antagonists piperoxan, which also antagonized clonidine-induced bradycardia, and yohimbine. The hypotension and bradycardia induced by adrenaline (10 microgram i.c.v.) were unaffected by alpha-antagonist pretreatment, while beta-antagonist pretreatment with (--)-propranolol or metoprolol was effective against adrenaline but not clonidine-induced hypotension and bradycardia. Pretreatments with the histamine H2-receptor antagonists metiamide and cimetidine antagonized clonidine but not adrenaline-induced hypotension. These data indicate that different central mechanisms are involved in mediating the hypotension and bradycardia induced by centrally administered clonidine and adrenaline and do not, therefore, support the hypothesis that the hypotensive effects of clonidine (i.c.v.) are mediated by central adrenaline receptor activation in urethane-anaesthetized spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Anesthesia↗

Cardiovascular responses to intraventricular adrenaline in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

The effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of adrenaline on the blood pressure and heart rate of spontaneous hypertensive (SH) rats have been investigated. Adrenaline induced dose-related falls in blood pressure and heart rate in both conscious and urethane anaesthetised rats. In conscious rats, the hypotension and metoprolol, but were unaffected by pretreatment with phentolamine, piperoxan, fluphenazine or methysergide. However, in urethane-anaesthetised rats, the hypotension and bradycardia induced by i.c.v. adrenaline was not significantly affected by i.c.v. pretreatment with propranolol or oxprenolol, while metoprolol significantly antagonised only the bradycardia. Piperoxan, fluphenazine and methysergide were also without effect. Pretreatment with mecamylamine (i.p.) abolished the cardiovascular depressor effects of i.c.v. adrenaline in both conscious and urethane anaesthetised SH rats. It is concluded that the cardiovascular depressor effects of i.c.v. adrenaline are mediated by central adrenoceptors in SH rats and that, in conscious rats, these depressor effects may be mediated by central beta-adrenoceptors rather than alpha-adrenoceptors.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Cardiovascular changes in anaesthetised rats after the intra-hypothalamic administration of adrenaline.

Bilateral injections of adrenaline (0.01-10.0 microgram) into the anterior hypothalamic (AH) region, in urethane-anaesthetised spontaneous hypertensive (SH) rats, elicited dose-dependent falls in blood pressure and heart rate. The bradycardia was immediately in onset while the hypotension was preceded by a short-lasting rise in blood pressure. Bilateral injections of adrenaline into the anterior preoptic area (POA) and areas surrounding the AH had little or no effect on blood pressure and heart rate, while injections into the posterior hypothalamus (PH) induced tachycardia and hypertension followed by a smaller fall in blood pressure. Pretreatment with dl-propranolol (25-100 microgram bilat. AH) appeared to potentiate the hypotension induced by adrenaline (1 microgram bilat. AH) in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect the falls in heart rate. On the other hand, pretreatment with metoprolol (25-100 microgram bilat. AH) effected a dose-dependent antagonism of the adrenaline-induced hypotension and bradycardia. Pretreatment with 1-propranolol (25 microgram bilat. AH) also antagonised the adrenaline-induced cardiovascular depressor effects, while pretreatment with d-propranolol (25 microgram bilat. AH) abolished the initial hypertensive effect. Pretreatment with piperoxan (25-100 microgram bilat. AH) antagonised adrenaline (1 microgram bilat. AH) induced hypotension and bradycardia only at the highest dose used. The results give further support to the concept that hypothalamic adrenaline receptors may be involved in the central regulation of blood pressure and heart rate. Furthermore, while an involvement of hypothalamic alpha-adrenoceptors cannot be ruled out, it is suggested that hypothalamic beta-adrenoceptors may be involved in mediating the cardiovascular depressor effects of adrenaline injected into the AH.

Animals↗

The cardiovascular effects of intraventricularly administered histamine in the anaesthetised rat.

In urethane-anaestetised rats intraventricular (i.c.v.) injections of histamine (0.1-10.0mug) elicited dose-related rises in both the resting blood pressure and heart rate. These cardiovascular effects of histamine were antagonised in a dose-dependent manner by i.c.v. pretreatments with the histamine H1-receptor antagonists mepyramine (10, 50 and 100 mug) and diphenylpyraline (100 and 200mug). Pretreatment with the histamine H2-receptor antagonist metiamide (100 and 200 mug i.c.v.) failed to modify either of the responses. A dose-related antagonism of the hypertensive response to histamine i.c.v. was elicited by phentolamine (100 and 200 mug i.c.v.) but the positive chronotropic effect was not modified by this pretreatment. The cardiovascular responses to histamine i.c.v. were abolished by mecamylamine (5.0 mg/kg i.v.) and greatly reduced by 6-hydroxydopamine (3 X 250 mug i.c.v.), but only the tachycardia was significantly modified by atropine (100 mug i.c.v.) and propranolol (1 mg/kg i.v.). Propranolol (100 mug i.c.v.), bilateral vagotomy, or acute bilateral adrenal demedullation failed to modify the cardiovascular responses to histamine i.c.v. The results suggest that histamine is able to modify the resting blood pressure and heart rate by independent central modes of action, which involve central adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms.

Adrenal Medulla↗

No evidence for central histamine-receptor involvement with the hypotensive effect of clonidine in cats.

In conscious hypertensive cats, intraventricular (i.c.v.) administration of clonidine (25 mug), induced hypotension and bradycardia. Pretreatment with metiamide (2 mg i.c.v.) did not significantly antagonise either the hypotension or bradycardia induced by clonidine (25 mug), but induced marked behavioural changes. Central pretreatment with mepyramine (200 mug, i.c.v.) or procaine (600 mug i.c.v.), reduced the hypotension evoked by clonidine (25 mug), but no antagonism of the clonidine-induced bradycardia was apparent. Central phentolamine (200 mug, i.c.v.) or tolazoline (200 mug, i.c.v.) antagonised the hypotension and bradycardia evoked by i.c.v. clonidine.

Animals↗

Central hypertensive action of histamine in conscious normotensive cats.

In conscious normotensive cats intraventricular (i.c.v.) administration of histamine (2.0-50.0 mug) induced dose-related rises in blood pressure, with no increase in heart rate. The hypertensive response elicited by a sub-maximal dose of histamine (10.0 mu i.c.v.) was significantly antagonised by central pretreatment with the H1-receptor antagonist mepyramine maleate (200 mug i.c.v.) but not by the H2-receptor antagonist metiamide hydrochloride (1.0 mg i.c.v.). Behavioural responses were obtained in response to to histamine (10.0 and 50.0 mug i.c.v.), which were not antagonised by these antihistamine pretreatments.

Animals↗