Klugman K, Mitchell G, Rosendorff C
Br J Pharmacol. 1979 Jun;66(2):217-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1979.tb13668.x.
1 The effects of methacholine, atropine and adrenoceptor blockade on hypothalamic blood flow (HBF) were measured in conscious rabbits. 2 A dose of 1 microgram methacholine increased HBF while smaller and larger doses had no significant effect. 3 The vasodilatation induced by methacholine was blocked by atropine and by chemical sympathectomy of the hypothalamus with 6-hydroxydopamine. 4 The vasodilatation was reversed by propranolol but was not affected by phenoxybenzamine. 5 These results suggest that the vasodilator action of muscarinic receptor agonists on hypothalamic resistance vessels depends upon the integrity of a noradrenergic system, and is mediated via beta-adrenoceptors.