An antihypertensive action of propranolol in DOCA/salt-treated rats.

Abstract

The cardiovascular effects of acute and long term (4-7 wk) treatment with propranolol and guanethidine were observed in conscious deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)/salt treated hypertensive rats. During long term treatment with a low dose of propranolol (0.2 mg/kg, subcutaneously, twice daily), the blood pressure was reduced to normotensive levels. The subcutaneous injection of 0.2 mg/kg of propranolol lowered blood pressure and heart rate for 2-4 hr at the start of long term treatment, but these acute effects became less as treatment continued. Long term treatment with a high dose of propranolol (5 mg/kg, subcutaneously, twice daily) reduced heart rate but not blood pressure. The acute eff..