Effect of ketanserin on pressor response to vasoactive substances in early phase of one-kidney, one clip renal artery stenosis in rats and rabbits.

The effect of ketanserin (KET), a specific 5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) receptor blockade, on pressor response to vasoactive substances was examined in rats with one-kidney, one clip renal artery stenosis of 2 days' duration (2-day clipped rat) and in rabbits with renal artery stenosis of 3 days' duration (3-day clipped rabbits). The 2-day clipped rats showed hyperresponsiveness to norepinephrine (NE), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and 5-HT. All hyperresponsiveness were attenuated by a subdepressor dose of KET. The infusion of KET, 10 micrograms/kg/min for 30 minutes, decreased mean arterial pressure of the 3-day clipped rabbits; the dose did not alter blood pressure of the normal controls. Exaggerated pressor response to NE was observed in the 3-day clipped rabbits and was abolished by a subdepressor dose of KET, 2.5 micrograms/kg/min. These results suggest that 5-HT may be involved in the enhanced pressor response to vasoconstrictor substances in the 2-day clipped rats and 3-day clipped rabbits, and that it may also play an important role in maintaining blood pressure in the 3-day clipped rabbits.