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A randomized trial of propranolol in patients with acute myocardial infarction. I. Mortality results.

The beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial (BHAT) was a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial designed to test whether the regular administration of propranolol hydrochloride to men and women who had experienced at least one myocardial infarction would result in a significant reduction in total mortality during a two- to four-year period. During a 27-month interval, 3,837 persons between the ages of 30 and 69 years were randomized to either propranolol (1,916 persons) or placebo (1,912 persons), five to 21 days after the infarction. Depending on serum drug levels, the prescribed maintenance dose of propranolol hydrochloride was either 180 or 240 mg/day. The trial was stopped nine months ahead of schedule. Total mortality during the average 24-month follow-up period was 7.2% in the propranolol group and 9.8% in the placebo group. Arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) mortality was 6.2% in the propranolol group and 8.5% in the placebo group. Sudden cardiac death, a subset of ASHD mortality, was 3.3% among the propranolol patients and 4.6% among the placebo patients. Serious side effects were uncommon. Hypotension, gastrointestinal problems, tiredness, bronchospasm, and cold hands and feet occurred more frequently in the propranolol group. Based on the BHAT results, the use of propranolol in patients with no contraindications to beta-blockade who have had a recent myocardial infarction is recommended for at least three years.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of a single oral dose of propranolol on essential tremor: a double-blind controlled study.

The effect of a single oral dose of propranolol (120 mg) on essential tremor was investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 26 patients. Hand tremor was recorded by means of accelerometers, and its frequency and amplitude calculated by using spectrum analysis. Recordings were made before and 1 1/2 hours after drug or placebo administration. Pretreatment tremor ranged from 4.2 to 9.6 Hz (median, 6.9 Hz) in frequency and from 0.002 to 1.33 cm (median, 0.014 cm) in amplitude. Neither propranolol nor placebo affected the frequency of the underlying tremor. The amplitude of tremor was reduced by 43 +/- 11% (SEM) after propranolol (p less than 0.01) and by 12 +/- 8% after placebo (NS). The reduction observed after propranolol was significantly greater than that observed after placebo. The tremor response after propranolol correlated negatively with baseline frequency and positively with pretreatment amplitude, duration of tremor, and age of the patient. No significant relationships could be found between tremor response, serum propranolol levels, and degree of cardiac beta blockade as assessed by the inhibition of standing tachycardia. There was a clear tendency for patients with small tremor amplitude (less than 0.006 cm hand displacement) to show the least satisfactory response to propranolol. These results indicate that a single oral dose of propranolol is effective in producing a rapid and marked reduction of essential tremor. Measurement of pretreatment amplitude and frequency might be useful in predicting the therapeutic outcome in these patients.

Adult↗

Differential effects of propranolol on lymphocyte rosette formation and response to plant mitogens.

The effects of propranolol on various lymphocyte functions were studied to gain a better understanding of the recently demonstrated suppressive effect of propranolol on rheumatoid factor production. D- and L-propranolol at a concentration of 1 X 10(-4)M inhibited the formation of human EA rosettes. The inhibition occurred within one minute of adding the compounds, was reversible, and did not affect cell viability. Addtion of propranolol to preformed EA rosettes failed to disaggregate them. Patching and capping of SIg by an Fab'2 anti-IgG were inhibited at 2.5 X 10(-5)M and above. Propranolol at 2.5 X 10(-5)M also inhibited lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen without evidence of cell toxicity by trypan blue staining or absolute numbers of surviving cells. Congeners of propranolol with mainly beta adrenergic blocking properties did not show inhibitory effects. The inhibitory activities of propranolol are interpreted in terms of propranolol's membrane stablizing effects and ability to interfere with membrane receptor movement.

Animals↗

Effects of propranolol on coronary hemodynamic and metabolic responses to tachycardia stress in patients with and without coronary disease.

To clarify the influence of propranolol-and particularly its heart-rate effects-on myocardial ischemia, coronary hemodynamics and metabolism were studied in 15 patients utilizing a protocol to control heart rate. Ten patients had significant coronary narrowing (CAD) and 5 were normal. Systemic pressure, coronary sinus blood flow (CSBF), left ventricular oxygen utilization (LVVO2), ST Segment depression, and myocardial lactate extraction were measured before and after propranolol (10 mg IV), at rest, during pacing-induced tachycardia stress. Propranolol-related reduction in CSBF and LVVO2 at rest was reversed when heart rate was controlled in both patient groups. Propranolol failed to alter heart-rate threshold, tension-time index (TTI), CSBF, or LVVO2 at angina in the CAD patients. Likewise, ischemic-type ST depression, decreases in lactate extraction, and coronary resistance were unchanged compared to values observed during tachycardia stress before propranolol. In normal coronary patients, propranolol also produced no significant change in LVVO2 or coronary resistance when its heart rate effects were controlled. These data imply that a major coronary and metabolic influence of propranolol relates to changes occurring secondary to its influence on heart rate. Furthermore, this agent's anti-ischemic effect is not prominent during tachycardia stress suggesting that this stress test may be clinically useful in patients taking propranolol.

Adult↗

Effect of propranolol on indices of intermittent myocardial ischemia, assessed by exercise testing and ambulatory ST-segment monitoring.

Seventy three patients (63 males and 10 females) aged 41-75 years with established stable exertional angina pectoris were studied in a double-blind fashion to confirm the efficacy of 80 mg propranolol administered three times daily and also to examine its effect on ST-segment changes in the electrocardiogram by ambulatory ST-segment monitoring and exercise testing using on-line computer analysis. During ambulatory monitoring, episodes of ST-segment depression in lead CM5 were significantly reduced from 6.5 +/- 0.7 during placebo to 3.4 +/- 0.6 during propranolol therapy (p less than 0.001). The total duration of ST-segment depression was also significantly reduced and the maximal depth of ST-segment depression improved from 2.6 +/- 0.2 mm during placebo to 1.7 +/- 0.2 mm during propranolol therapy (p less than 0.001). The mean +/- SEM exercise time of 5.5 +/- 0.2 minutes on placebo increased to 8.6 +/- 0.4 minutes on propranolol 240 mg daily (p less than 0.001). The 1 mm ST-segment depression time of 3.5 +/- 0.2 minutes on placebo in lead CM5 was prolonged to 6.2 +/- 0.3 minutes during propranolol therapy (p less than 0.001). Propranolol treatment significantly reduced the resting and maximal heart rates (p less than 0.001). The maximal ST-segment depression during exercise in lead CM5 was reduced from 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm on placebo to 1.9 +/- 0.1 mm with propranolol (p less than 0.01). Similarly, the rate-pressure product at peak exercise of 188 +/- 5 units on placebo was reduced to 144 +/- 3 units with propranolol (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Exercise metabolism during 1 hour of treadmill walking while taking high and low doses of propranolol, metoprolol, or placebo.

Aerobic exercise and beta-blocking drugs are regularly prescribed as treatment for hypertension and as a prophylactic for patients at risk from coronary heart disease and for those recovering from an infarct. Some beta blockers, particularly non-beta 1-selective drugs, may make exercise more difficult, possibly by interfering with substrate metabolism during exercise. This study examined the effects of low and high doses of a beta 1-selective blocker, metoprolol, and a non-selective beta blocker, propranolol, on exercise metabolism. The study involved 20 healthy subjects (10 men, 10 women) who walked on a treadmill at 50% of their maximal oxygen uptake for 1 h on five occasions, separated by 7 days. On each of the five occasions they received one of the following treatments, given in random order: placebo, metoprolol 50 mg, metoprolol 100 mg, propranolol 40 mg, or propranolol 80 mg, all taken twice daily. Fat oxidation, expressed as a percentage of total energy expenditure, was significantly lower than with placebo for all of the active treatments except metoprolol 50 mg (placebo: 42.7 +/- 11.6%; metoprolol 50 mg: 38.7 +/- 14.1%, p = NS; metoprolol 100 mg: 36.3 +/- 13.7%, p = 0.05; propranolol 40 mg: 31.2 +/- 9.3%, p = 0.01; propranolol 80 mg: 29.5 +/- 10.9%, p = 0.01); and significantly lower with propranolol than with metoprolol (propranolol 40 mg: p = 0.0036; propranolol 80 mg: p = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Propranolol-induced increments in total and free serum thyroxine in patients with essential hypertension.

The effect of propranolol on serum levels of total and free thyroxine, total and free triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was investigated in 15 clinical euthyroid patients with essential hypertension. Oral propranolol in dosages from 80 to 480 mg/day for a 30-day period induced an average increase in total serum thyroxine of 15.5 +/- 2.2% (mean +/- SEM, 2 p = 0.00002) and in free thyroxine of 17.7 +/- 3.5% (2 p = 0.00009). The oral dose of propranolol correlated positively with serum propranolol (r = 0.70, 2 p = 0.007). No significant correlation between serum propranolol and changes in serum thyroxine could be demonstrated. Total and free triiodothyronine, as well as TSH, remained unchanged during propranolol treatment. The most likely explanation is a propranolol-induced decreased degradation of thyroxine. A practical consequence is that in patients with an uncertain clinical picture and slightly elevated serum thyroxine, propranolol intake should be considered.

Adolescent↗

Hemodynamic effects of oxprenolol and propranolol in hypertension.

Oxprenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. Such drugs are not currently available in the United States, although they have the advantage of less negative inotropic effect than the available propranolol. In 18 patients with mild essential hypertension, oxprenolol (9 patients) or propranolol (9 patients) was added to thiazide in random double-blind fashion and continued for 7 wk during which supine heart rate, blood pressure, and noninvasively measured cardiac output (by CO2 rebreathing) were determined weekly. With thiazide dosage constant throughout, maximal dose titration to 386. +/- 52.1 (SEM) mg/day of oxprenolol and 360.0 +/- 45.4 mg/day of propranolol was achieved over the first 5 wk. Blood pressure fell with both (141.8 +/- 4.8/96.0 +/- 2.3 to 128.0 +/- 5.1/87.2 +/- 1 mm Hg on oxprenolol, p less than 0.01; 150.8 +/- 5.5/98.0 +/- 1.7 to 129.9 +/- 5.5/86.8 +/- 3.4 mm Hg on propranolol, p less than 0.01). Cardiac output fell from 6.85 +/- 0.63 to 5.77 +/- 0.45 1/min (p less than 0.01) on oxprenolol, and from 6.79 +/- 0.61 to 5.37 +/- 0.37 1/min (p less than 0.02) on propranolol. Oxpranolol. Oxprenolol reduced heart rate from 76.4 +/- 2.0 to 65.6 +/- 2.1 beats/min (p less than 0.001) and it fell from 82.0 +/- 3.8 to 65.3 +/- 3.7 beats/min (p less than 0.001) with propranolol; the fall in heart rate was less but not significantly so for oxprenolol (-14.2 +/- 1.8% and -19.8 +/- 2.8%, p less than 0.1). Thus oxprenolol is equivalent to propranolol in antihypertensive action; minor hemodynamic differences between the two drugs might reflect intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of oxprenolol. Oxprenolol should be considered as an alternative to propranolol.

Adult↗

Differential effects of hypoxia on the disposition of propranolol and sodium taurocholate by the isolated perfused rat liver.

Although the adverse effect of hypoxia on drug metabolism is well documented in subcellular systems, its effect on drug clearance by the intact liver has not been defined. This study was undertaken in the isolated perfused rat liver to examine the effects of acute hypoxia on the hepatic elimination of two highly cleared substances--propranolol and sodium taurocholate. Hypoxia was established by equilibrating the perfusate with 100% nitrogen rather than 100% oxygen. This led to a fall in portal vein pO2 from 300 to 30 mm Hg, and a 10-fold rise in hepatic venous lactate:pyruvate ratio, indicating a profound alteration in hepatic cellular redox state. In bolus dose studies, propranolol uptake was unimpaired by hypoxia, with a monoexponential decline in perfusate concentrations from 2,000 to 30 ng per ml, (t1/2 uptake = 2.5 min). After 20 min of hypoxia, perfusate propranolol concentrations rose from 30 to 80 ng per ml, indicating release of propranolol from liver back into the perfusate. Reoxygenation of perfusate restored hepatic extraction of propranolol to normal (t1/2 uptake = 2.37 +/- 0.19 min vs. 2.55 +/- 0.60 min p greater than 0.1) such that perfusate concentrations were undetectable by 30 min. In steady-state studies, perfusate propranolol concentrations rose from 1.55 +/- 0.50 to 4.08 +/- 1.47 micrograms per ml (p less than 0.005), after 1 hr of hypoxia indicating a change in propranolol clearance from 15 ml per min to less than 6 ml per min. Reoxygenation resulted in a fall in perfusate propranolol concentrations towards control values (2.78 +/- 1.13 vs. 1.80 +/- 0.41 micrograms per ml, p greater than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Propranolol for the prevention of recurrent variceal hemorrhage: a controlled trial.

We conducted a prospective, randomized single-blind trial of propranolol for the prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding. Seventy-nine patients shown to have variceal hemorrhage at endoscopy were included in the study within 72 hr following diagnosis. Fifty-seven patients had alcoholic cirrhosis, 10 cryptogenic cirrhosis, 6 posthepatitic cirrhosis, 4 biliary cirrhosis, 1 portal vein thrombosis without cirrhosis and 1 idiopathic portal hypertension. The severity of liver disease at inclusion was assessed according to the Pugh modification of the Child-Turcotte classification: 9 (11%) had Class A; 41 (52%) Class B, and 29 (37%) Class C disease. Patients were randomly assigned by sealed envelope to the propranolol group (42 patients) or the placebo group (37 patients). Propranolol dosage was titrated in order to produce plasma concentrations of propranolol of 50 to 150 ng per ml. beta-blockade was also confirmed by isoproterenol testing. The cumulative percentages of patients free of rebleeding 1 and 2 years after inclusion were 31 and 21% in the propranolol group, and 25 and 17% in the placebo group; both differences were not significant. Cumulative 1 and 2 years survival were also comparable: 64 and 54% in the propranolol group vs. 70 and 63% in the placebo group. There was no evidence for a therapeutic effect of propranolol after adjusting for potential confounding variables by multiple logistic regression. We conclude that propranolol is not effective for the prevention of variceal rebleeding, when administered early following the initial bleed, in cirrhotics unselected with respect to the severity of the liver disease.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Propranolol does not alter cerebral blood flow and functions in cirrhotic patients without previous hepatic encephalopathy.

Since it has been suggested that propranolol could lead to hepatic encephalopathy, we undertook a study to assess the effects of propranolol on cerebral blood flow and cerebral functions. Sixteen patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and large esophageal varices and without major hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh score less than 14) or previous hepatic encephalopathy were randomized to receive either propranolol or placebo. The following measurements were performed before and 15 min after single intravenous administration of 15 mg propranolol or placebo and again 1 week after chronic oral administration of propranolol 160 mg per day or placebo: cerebral blood flow by the xenon-133 inhalation technique, quantitative electroencephalogram, psychometric test (number connection test), arterial ammonia, pH and pCO2, resting and exercise heart rates (after single administration, electroencephalogram, number connection test and biochemical measurements were not performed). Cerebral blood flow was not significantly modified by treatment (propranolol group: 80 +/- 23 vs. 76 +/- 11 and 83 +/- 9; placebo group: 73 +/- 10 vs. 75 +/- 11 and 81 +/- 18 ml per 100 gm per min, respectively, before and after single and repeated administration). Likewise, neither of the two treatments significantly altered number connection test, quantitative electroencephalogram index, arterial ammonia, pH and pCO2. We conclude that, in this population of cirrhotic patients, propranolol did not alter cerebral blood flow or neuropsychological functions. As a consequence, hemodynamic alterations cannot be considered as causes of possible cerebral side effects of propranolol in cirrhotic patients without severe hepatic dysfunction and previous hepatic encephalopathy.

Ammonia↗

Does elective sclerotherapy improve the efficacy of long-term propranolol for prevention of recurrent bleeding in patients with severe cirrhosis? A prospective multicenter, randomized trial.

We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial to compare the efficacy of sclerotherapy plus propranolol with that of propranolol alone in the prevention of recurrent gastroesophageal bleeding in severely cirrhotic patients. For 2 yr (1987 to 1988) 131 patients (96% of whom were alcoholic) with Child-Pugh class B or C cirrhosis (56% were class B and 44% were class C) were randomly assigned to one of our two treatment groups after cessation of variceal bleeding, without hemostatic sclerosis, and were observed for at least 2 yr. Treatment observance was good in 89% of cases; alcohol withdrawal was observed in 62% of cases. Sclerotherapy was performed weekly with 1% polidocanol, and variceal obliteration was obtained in 83% of cases, in a mean number of four sessions. The cumulative percentages (expressed as mean +/- S.D.) of recurrent bleeding at 2 yr were 42% +/- 6% for propranolol plus sclerotherapy and 59% +/- 6% for propranolol alone (a nonsignificant difference). Twenty-eight patients from the propranolol group but only 12 patients from the propranolol-plus-sclerotherapy group had recurrent bleeding from esophageal variceal rupture (p less than 0.01). The total number of blood units per patient with recurrent bleeding was slightly but not significantly more important in the propranolol group (8 +/- 7) than in the propranolol-plus-sclerotherapy group (5 +/- 5; p = 0.09).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Esophageal Diseases↗

The effects of propranolol on thyroxine metabolism and triiodothyronines production in man.

The effects of propranolol on the turnover of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) were determined by a noncompartmental analysis in seven normal men. Fourteen normal subjects were treated with 0.2 mg T4 daily, and half of this group (seven) received in addition 80 mg propranolol daily. Fifteen days of propranolol treatment did not alter serum T4 concentration or T4 turnover. However, it lowered serum T3 concentration from 173 to 102 ng/dl (P = 0.001); T3 clearance was unchanged. Propranolol treatment elevated serum rT3 concentration from 54 to 69 ng/dl (P = 0.05); rT3 metabolic clearance rate fell from 105 to 90 liters/day but the difference did not reach statistical significance. The rT3 disposal rate was unchanged by propranolol. The fractional T4 disposal which was degraded via the deiodinative pathways was reduced from 82.0 per cent in the control subjects to 65.5 per cent in the propranolol treated subjects. Therefore, propranolol appears to be a potent inhibitor of 5'-deiodination. The interpretation of serum T3 measurements in patients treated with propranolol requires caution.

Adult↗

The influence of H2-receptor antagonists on steady-state concentrations of propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol.

Twelve healthy male volunteers were treated with 1200 mg/day cimetidine, 300 mg/day ranitidine, or no H2-receptor antagonist (control) for seven days in a sequence determined by Latin-square design. Each treatment period was separated by a seven-day washout. On the third day of each treatment period, 80 mg propranolol every 12 hours for nine doses was initiated. Whole blood concentrations of propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol were measured at 12 time points during the 12-hour period following administration of the last propranolol dose. Heart rate was measured before each blood sample was withdrawn. Cimetidine treatment was associated with a 47 per cent increase in the area under the propranolol concentration-time curve and a 17 per cent increase in elimination half-life of propranolol. Ranitidine had no significant effect on the concentration-time profile of propranolol. There were no significant differences in the 4-hydroxypropranolol pharmacokinetic parameters during any of the treatments. There was, however, a significant decrease in the average 4-hydroxypropranolol-to-propranolol steady-state concentration ratio during the cimetidine treatment. There was no significant difference in heart rate between any of the treatments. The elevation of propranolol concentrations during cimetidine treatment is likely due to metabolic inhibition by cimetidine.

Adult↗

The effect of cimetidine dose timing on oral propranolol kinetics in adults.

Ten healthy male volunteers completed a study to determine the effect of cimetidine dose timing on the oral clearance of propranolol. Propranolol HCl 160 mg as tablets, was administered daily at 8 AM for 4 consecutive days on three occasions. In addition, cimetidine HCl 800 mg as tablets, was administered either simultaneously in the morning with propranolol (8 AM), at bedtime (10 PM), or not at all (control). Each treatment was separated by at least a 3-day washout. Propranolol and cimetidine serum samples were measured over the 24-hour dosing interval after the last propranolol dose. Cimetidine administration at 8 AM and 10 PM was associated with significant mean increases in the propranolol area under the serum concentration-time curve of 26% and 41%, respectively (P less than .002). The mean elimination half-life of propranolol was 6.3 hours during all three treatments. There was no significant difference in area under cimetidine serum concentration time curve between 8 AM and 10 PM dosing. Dosing cimetidine at bedtime 10 hours before propranolol does not diminish the magnitude of interaction.

Administration, Oral↗

Interaction between propranolol and propafenone in healthy volunteers.

The effects of propafenone on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol were evaluated in 12 healthy male subjects. Both propafenone and propranolol were each administered alone for one week followed by concomitant administration for an additional week. Blood samples, obtained at steady-state, were analyzed for propafenone and its two metabolites as well as for propranolol and 4-hydroxypropranolol. Left ventricular function, exercise performance and electrocardiographic intervals were assessed. Coadministration of propranolol did not produce any significant change in propafenone kinetics including peak plasma concentration (Cmax), time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax), elimination rate constant (t1/2), mean steady-state plasma concentration (Css), or area under the concentration vs time curves. However, concomitant propafenone administration significantly increased Cmax (83%), Tmax (55%), t1/2 (30%), and Css (213%) which were accompanied by significant decreases in plasma levels of 4-hydroxy-propranolol. Propafenone and propranolol significantly reduced supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 2.5 to 15.4%. The combination did not reduce diastolic blood pressure further (64.0 +/- 2.8 to 59.7 +/- 1.7 mmHg) nor did it produce a supplemental reduction in heart rate (12% reduction with propranolol, 10% reduction with concomitant administration). Propranolol, but not propafenone, significantly decreased end-diastolic volume index (13%), stroke volume index (15%), and velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (19%). The combination did not cause any further changes in echocardiographic measurements. Electrocardiographic intervals were not altered by either drug use alone or in combination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Product inhibition and dose-dependent bioavailability of propranolol in the isolated perfused rat liver preparation.

We investigated in the isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) whether product inhibition of metabolism contributes to the dose-dependent bioavailability of propranolol, a drug with a high, but saturable, hepatic first-pass effect. (+/-)-Propranolol was infused in the IPRL, using a recirculating design, for three 36-min periods (n = 9). Mean steady-state reservoir, i.e. hepatic inflow concentrations (Cin), were 4.97, 10.4, and 20.4 microM, respectively. Mean reservoir concentrations of the metabolites 4'-hydroxypropranolol, 5'-hydroxypropranolol, N-desisopropylpropranolol, and naphthoxylactic acid (NLA), a major side-chain-oxidation metabolite, increased disproportionately with propranolol dose, but their production rate did not reach steady state. In separate experiments (n = 4), perfusate containing 7.1, 12.8, and 21.6 microM (+/-)-propranolol, corresponding to administration rates of 114, 205, and 346 nmol/min, respectively, was passed through the liver for 30 min each using a single-pass design. The bioavailability (hepatic outflow concentration/Cin) of propranolol increased with Cin from 0.012 to 0.150 to 0.288 in the recirculating IPRL. In the single-pass IPRL the increase (0.0077 in 0.0669 to 0.136) was significantly less (P < 0.001). The greater bioavailability of propranolol in recirculating experiments was attributed to product inhibition since metabolites do not accumulate with the single-pass design. NLA did not appear to be the inhibiting metabolite because in further single-pass experiments with propranolol Cin of 21.6 microM the presence of NLA (21.6 microM) in perfusate had no effect on propranolol bioavailability (n = 7) compared with control experiments (n = 5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Propranolol and atenolol inhibit norepinephrine spillover rate into plasma in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Radiotracer techniques capable of measuring norepinephrine clearance and spillover rate into plasma were used to test the hypothesis that the antihypertensive effects of propranolol and atenolol in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats are associated with an inhibition of norepinephrine release from postganglionic sympathetic neurons. The 10%-15% fall in mean arterial pressure produced over 4 h by propranolol (1, 3.3 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.) and atenolol (1, 3.3 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.) was not dose-related, and only the largest dose of propranolol caused a significant bradycardia. Each dose of atenolol significantly lowered heart rate. The decrease in blood pressure caused by propranolol and atenolol was not related to the decrease in heart rate. Both propranolol and atenolol inhibited norepinephrine clearance by 12% to 16%. The 1 mg/kg doses of propranolol and atenolol significantly suppressed norepinephrine spillover rate by 21% and 32%, respectively, at 4 h postinjection. As the dose of propranolol was increased, the inhibition of norepinephrine spillover was reversed as plasma epinephrine concentration rose by 125%. The suppression of norepinephrine spillover rate caused by atenolol was more persistent but did diminish after the 10 mg/kg dose, when plasma epinephrine concentration was elevated by 55%. Both drugs suppressed plasma renin concentration, but the inhibition of norepinephrine spillover rate by propranolol and atenolol was not related to the fall in plasma renin concentration. By comparison, treatment with the adrenergic neuron blocking agent bretylium (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) elicited a dose-related vasodepression with no change in heart rate or plasma renin concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗