Haemodynamic response to ketanserin in rabbits with Page hypertension: comparison with prazosin.

Abstract

The role of alpha 1-adrenoceptors in the hypotensive response to ketanserin was studied in conscious normotensive (sham-operated) and Page hypertensive (two-kidney, two wrapped) rabbits. Ketanserin (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg i.v.) was administered at 30 min intervals on four experimental days: no pretreatment; after prazosin 1 mg/kg and infusion; after pharmacological 'total' autonomic effector block (TAB) and with repeated three point methoxamine dose-response lines. Only the highest dose (1 mg/kg) of ketanserin lowered blood pressure and dilated the iliac vascular bed (Doppler flowmeter) in both wrap and sham-operated rabbits. Prazosin pretreatment and TAB prevented these effects. Ketanserin (..