Response of plasma norepinephrine concentration to the vasodepression caused by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in the conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat.

The subcutaneous administration of a single dose of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists atenolol, betaxolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, propranolol, or sotalol to conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) lowered mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 15-20%, but this vaso-depression was not accompanied by a rise in plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentration. When MAP was decreased at the same rate and to the same extent with the vasodilator minoxidil, plasma NE concentration increased 50-75%. Atenolol, betaxolol, propranolol, and sotalol lowered heart rate, whereas oxprenolol, pindolol, and minoxidil elicited a tachycardia. Atenolol (-48%), betaxolol (-63%), and propranolol (-29%) significantly suppressed plasma renin activity (PRA), and minoxidil elevated PRA by 150-315%. Pindolol (+37%) caused a nonsignificant increase in PRA, and oxprenolol (-23%) and sotalol (-17%) produced nonsignificant decreases in PRA. Because the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists did not increase plasma NE concentration, whereas an equivasodepressor dose of minoxidil did, we conclude that plasma NE concentration is inappropriately low relative to the decrease in MAP caused by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in the conscious SHR. In addition, the diverse effects of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on PRA in SHRs indicate that a suppression of renin release cannot account for either the decrease in MAP caused by these drugs or the failure of plasma NE concentration to increase when MAP is decreased by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists.