Prazosin blocks the pressor but not the regional circulatory effects of diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1994

Abstract

Diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHbTM) (400 mg/kg, i.v.) produces an increase in blood pressure and blood flow to the heart, spleen, stomach, small intestine, skin, mesentery and pancreas when administered to rats. The present study was conducted to determine (1) whether prazosin, an α1- adrenergic antagonist, can block the pressor effect of DCLHb and (2) the effect of prazosin pretreatment on regional circulatory changes induced by DCLHb in rats. DCLHb (400 mg/kg, i.v.) produced an increase in blood pressure (64%), cardiac output (20%) and total peripheral resistance (65%) when administered to control rats. Infusion of DCLHb in prazosin (1 mg/kg, i.v.) treated rats did not show any significant pressor effect, but reversed the hypotensive effect of prazosin. Cardiac output and stroke volume were significantly increased and total peripheral resistance decreased in prazosin treated rats as compared to control (untreated) rats. DCLHb significantly increased blood flow to the heart, gastrointestinal tract, portal system (spleen), and skin of control rats. Blood flow to the brain, kidneys, and musculo-skeletal system was not altered following the infusion of DCLHb in control rats. Infusion of DCLHb in prazosin treated rats produced a significant increase in blood flow to the brain, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, portal system, skin and musculoskeletal system. In summary, prazosin pretreatment blocked the pressor effet of DCLHb, however, blood flow to the heart, brain, gastrointestinal tract, portal system, kidneys, skin and musculoskeletal system was increased by DCLHb. It is concluded that blood flow to most of the organs is increased by DCLHb but the pressor effect of DCLHb is blocked by prazosin pretreatment. © 1994.

Publication Title

Life Sciences

Volume

55

Issue

2

First Page

121

Last Page

130

Comments

This article was published in Life Sciences, Volume 55, Issue 2, Pages 121-130.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(94)90103-1.

Copyright © 1994.

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