Effects of althesin and urethan-chloralose on neurohumoral cardiovascular regulation.

The cardiovascular effects of althesin (ALT) and urethan-chloralose (UC) anesthesia were compared in conscious, chronically instrumented rats. Althesin had no effect on arterial pressure or base-line resistance in the renal, superior mesenteric, and hindquarters vasculatures but increased heart rate. In contrast, UC decreased arterial pressure, heart rate, and mesenteric resistance. Although UC attenuated depressor responses to nitroglycerin, neither anesthetic significantly altered regional vascular reactivity to intravenous phenylephrine and nitroglycerin. The cardiac chronotropic baroreflex was examined by comparing the slope of the curves relating maximal changes (delta) in heart rate (pulse interval) that occurred at the point coinciding in time with the maximal changes in mean arterial pressure produced by phenylephrine and nitroglycerin. Neither anesthetic significantly altered the baroreflex slope (delta pulse interval/delta mean arterial pressure) for pressor and depressor stimuli. Both anesthetics attenuated the sympathoexcitatory response to cerebroventricular angiotensin II, although ALT had less of a depressive effect (pressor response during ALT and UC = 65 and 30%, respectively, of conscious). Plasma renin activity (PRA) and the hemodynamic response to peripheral angiotensin-receptor antagonism were significantly increased (PRA by almost 6-fold) during UC, whereas ALT was without effect. Similarly, UC but not ALT induced vasopressin-dependent vascular tone. Ganglionic blockade indicated that peripheral neurogenic tone was not altered by ALT anesthesia. These data suggest that althesin produces fewer hemodynamic disturbances than urethan-chloralose and largely maintains cardiovascular regulation intact.