Cutaneous microcirculatory effects of various vasodilator agents on the conscious rabbit, with special regard to changes in the rhythmic property of vasomotion.

Microcirculatory effects of intravenous administrations in the appropriate doses of phenoxybenzamine (POBA), phentolamine (PTA), nicotinic acid (NAc), trimetazidine (TMZ), dilazep (DZ), cepharanthine (CT), alpha-tocopheryl acetate (TP-A), and alpha-tocopheryl nicotinate (TP-N) as vasodilator agents were investigated in the subcutaneous tissue within a transparent ear chamber of the normal conscious rabbit. The intra-vital microscopic findings obtained following administration of the drugs were as follows: POBA, a marked and long-lasting vasodilatation without vasomotion (more than 1 hour); PTA, a quite brief vasodilatation followed by a marked and long-lasting vasoconstriction without vasomotion (more than 1 hour); NAc, a short-lasting vasodilatation with slightly blunted vasomotion (less than 10 minutes); TMZ, DZ, CT, TP-A, and TP-N, a similar notable and transient vasodilatation with vasomotion (about 1 hour or more). Some physiological implications on the microcirculatory changes induced by administrations of the drugs were discussed especially in relation to the significance of sustaining the rhythmic fluctuations of blood flow due to vasomotion.