Effect of clonidine on blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature in conscious rats.

Effects of clonidine on blood pressure, heart rate and rectal temperature in conscious rats were examined. Clonidine (0.1-1 mg/kg s.c.) caused a prevailing pressor response and dose-dependently a fall in heart rate and body temperature. The pressor response to clonidine (0.3 mg/kg s.c.) was completely reduced by phentolamine (10 mg/kg s.c.), chlorpromazine (10 mg/kg s.c.) but not by hexamethonium (30 mg/kg i.p.), guanethidine (30 mg/kg s.c.) or reserpine (5 mg/kg s.c. 18 hr + mg/kg i.p. 4 hr prior to clonidine). Conversely, a remarkable potentiation of the pressor response to clonidine was observed after treatment with reserpine. The bradycardia with clonidine (0.3 mg/kg s.c.) was significanlty reduced by phentolamine, chlorpromazine or atropine (5 mg/kg s.c.) but was potentiated by reserpine. The hypothermia with clonidine (0.3 mg/kg s.c.) was not influenced by phentolamine or atropine but was significanlty potentiated by chlorpromazine. From the above results it is suggested that the prevailing pressor response to clonidine in conscious rats is due to a stimulation of peripheral alpha-adrenoceptors, the bradycardia with clonidine is exerted through the sympathetic pathway and the baroceptor-vagal reflex, and that the hypothermia with clonidine is mainly due to the central mechanism.