Changes of adrenoceptor-mediated responses in the pithed rat during propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism.

Adrenoceptor-mediated responses of the cardiovascular system during propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism were investigated. Interfering nervous reflexes could be circumvented by using pithed rats. Cardiac beta-adrenoceptor-mediated acceleration of heart rate following electrical stimulation or injection of noradrenaline and isoprenaline was markedly diminished even after 2 weeks of treatment. This loss of beta-sensitivity prevented the study of possible changes of presynaptic regulatory adrenoceptors in this test model. Taking the increase in diastolic blood pressure after application of alpha-agonists as index of the sensitivity of vascular alpha-adrenoceptors we found these to have been desensitized in the hypothyroid state. According to these results the lack of thyroid hormones exerted a similar effect on cardiac beta- and on vascular alpha-adrenoceptors.