Effects of the antihypertensive drugs alpha-methyldopa and hydralazine on the performance of spontaneously hypertensive rats in the elevated plus-maze. 1994

W C Rosa, and G M Oliveira, and E M Nakamura-Palacios
Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitória, Brasil.

The effects of antihypertensive drugs on the performance of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in the elevated plus-maze were determined. Male SHR (3 months old) were submitted to long-term treatment (15 days) with alpha-methyldopa (alpha MD, 5 g/l, N = 10) and hydralazine (HYD, 100 mg/l, N = 10) given orally, diluted in water. After the drug treatment, the performance of the rats in the plus-maze was observed for 5 min in a single test and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were then measured. The antihypertensive drugs reduced MAP significantly (mean +/- SEM: CON = 176.2 +/- 5.2, alpha MD = 157.8 +/- 4.6 and HYD = 150 +/- 4.4 mmHg) and only alpha MD increased HR significantly (mean +/- SEM: CON = 391.7 +/- 13.8, alpha MD = 453.3 +/- 14 and HYD = 368.8 +/- 18.9 bpm). The alpha MD group presented a lower total number of entries (mean +/- SEM: CON = 12.7 +/- 0.7, alpha MD = 8.7 +/- 0.9 and HYD = 12 +/- 0.9) and spent less time in the open arms than the CON (N = 10) and HYD groups (mean +/- SEM: CON = 0.69 +/- 0.04, alpha MD = 0.48 +/- 0.07 and HYD = 0.65 +/- 0.06 s). alpha-Methyldopa acts centrally and hydralazine acts peripherally. The behavioral change of SHR treated with alpha-methyldopa suggests that hypertension seems to be related to central nervous dysfunctions that are affected by an antihypertensive drug with central noradrenergic action.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008750 Methyldopa An alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that has both central and peripheral nervous system effects. Its primary clinical use is as an antihypertensive agent. Methyldopate,alpha-Methyldopa,Aldomet,Alphamethyldopa,Apo-Methyldopa,Dopamet,Dopegit,Dopegyt,Dopergit,Hydopa,Meldopa,Nu-Medopa,Sembrina,alpha-Methyl-L-Dopa,Apo Methyldopa,Nu Medopa,alpha Methyl L Dopa,alpha Methyldopa
D011918 Rats, Inbred SHR A strain of Rattus norvegicus with elevated blood pressure used as a model for studying hypertension and stroke. Rats, Spontaneously Hypertensive,Rats, SHR,Inbred SHR Rat,Inbred SHR Rats,Rat, Inbred SHR,Rat, SHR,Rat, Spontaneously Hypertensive,SHR Rat,SHR Rat, Inbred,SHR Rats,SHR Rats, Inbred,Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat,Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D006339 Heart Rate The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute. Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006830 Hydralazine A direct-acting vasodilator that is used as an antihypertensive agent. Hydrallazin,Apresoline,Apressin,Apressoline,Hydralazine Hydrochloride,Hydralazine mono-Hydrochloride,Hydrazinophthalazine,Nepresol,Hydralazine mono Hydrochloride,Hydrochloride, Hydralazine,mono-Hydrochloride, Hydralazine
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000959 Antihypertensive Agents Drugs used in the treatment of acute or chronic vascular HYPERTENSION regardless of pharmacological mechanism. Among the antihypertensive agents are DIURETICS; (especially DIURETICS, THIAZIDE); ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONISTS; ADRENERGIC ALPHA-ANTAGONISTS; ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS; CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS; GANGLIONIC BLOCKERS; and VASODILATOR AGENTS. Anti-Hypertensive,Anti-Hypertensive Agent,Anti-Hypertensive Drug,Antihypertensive,Antihypertensive Agent,Antihypertensive Drug,Anti-Hypertensive Agents,Anti-Hypertensive Drugs,Anti-Hypertensives,Antihypertensive Drugs,Antihypertensives,Agent, Anti-Hypertensive,Agent, Antihypertensive,Agents, Anti-Hypertensive,Agents, Antihypertensive,Anti Hypertensive,Anti Hypertensive Agent,Anti Hypertensive Agents,Anti Hypertensive Drug,Anti Hypertensive Drugs,Anti Hypertensives,Drug, Anti-Hypertensive,Drug, Antihypertensive,Drugs, Anti-Hypertensive,Drugs, Antihypertensive
D001007 Anxiety Feelings or emotions of dread, apprehension, and impending disaster but not disabling as with ANXIETY DISORDERS. Angst,Anxiousness,Hypervigilance,Nervousness,Social Anxiety,Anxieties, Social,Anxiety, Social,Social Anxieties
D013647 Task Performance and Analysis The detailed examination of observable activity or behavior associated with the execution or completion of a required function or unit of work. Critical Incident Technique,Critical Incident Technic,Task Performance,Task Performance, Analysis,Critical Incident Technics,Critical Incident Techniques,Incident Technic, Critical,Incident Technics, Critical,Incident Technique, Critical,Incident Techniques, Critical,Performance, Analysis Task,Performance, Task,Performances, Analysis Task,Performances, Task,Task Performances,Task Performances, Analysis,Technic, Critical Incident,Technics, Critical Incident,Technique, Critical Incident,Techniques, Critical Incident

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