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  • Title: Involvement of imidazoline receptors in the baroreflex effects of rilmenidine in conscious rabbits.
    Author: Head GA, Burke SL, Sannajust FJ.
    Journal: J Hypertens; 2001 Sep; 19(9):1615-24. PubMed ID: 11564982.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that imidazoline receptors rather than alpha2-adrenoceptors are involved in the sympathoinhibitory action of centrally acting antihypertensive drugs such as rilmenidine. In the present study, we examined the relative importance of alpha2-adrenoceptors and imidazoline receptors in modulating the renal sympathetic and heart rate (HR) baroreflex in response to central administration of rilmenidine in conscious normotensive rabbits. METHODS: In seven conscious rabbits, chronically instrumented with a fourth ventricular (4V) catheter, aortic and vena caval cuff occluders and a renal nerve electrode, we continuously recorded renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and HR and assessed baroreflex MAP-RSNA and MAP-HR relationships with balloon-induced ramp rises and falls in MAP. Rabbits were treated with 4V rilmenidine (22 microg/kg) followed by 4V idazoxan (30 microg/kg; a mixed alpha2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor antagonist) or 4V 2-methoxy-idazoxan (1 microg/kg; an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist with little affinity for imidazoline receptors). RESULTS: Rilmenidine lowered blood pressure by 24% and reduced both upper and lower plateaus of the renal sympathetic baroreflex curve, such that the RSNA range (difference between plateaus) was reduced by 40% (-32 +/- 10 normalized units). Curves were shifted to the left with the fall in MAP. Idazoxan restored MAP, maximum RSNA and the RSNA baroreflex range. By contrast the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist 2-methoxy-idazoxan caused only a partial recovery of MAP and RSNA baroreflex upper plateau and range (-9 +/- 2 mmHg, 29 and 33% lower than control). Both antagonists partially restored the HR baroreflex. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that in conscious rabbits, both imidazoline receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors are involved in the central antihypertensive and baroreflex actions of rilmenidine, but that activation of imidazoline receptors is more important for its renal sympathoinhibitory action.
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