A comparison of antihypertensive effects of atenolol and propranolol in the spontaneously hypertensive, DOCA/saline hypertensive and renal hypertensive rats.

Antihypertensive effects of a long-term oral regimen of atenolol were studied in SHR, DOCA/saline hypertensive and renal hypertensive rats (one kidney, one clip) in comparison with the effects of propranolol. Both the beta-blockers prevented the development of hypertension in SHR but did not affect that in DOCA/saline and renal hypertensive rats. Both of the beta-blockers produced no acute hypotensive effects on the established DOCA/saline and renal hypertension of the rat, although they produced a decrease in the heart rate.