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The role of the sympathetic nervous system in oestrogen‐induced hypertension in rats
Author(s) -
Bhatt J.D.,
Gulati O.D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1986.tb11172.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , sympathectomy , blood pressure , isoprenaline , sympathetic nervous system , norepinephrine , adrenalectomy , angiotensin ii , dopamine , stimulation
1 Albino rats of either sex received chronic ethinyl oestradiol (EO) treatment (1.5 mg kg −1 daily, i.m.) for 3 weeks. Untreated control rats received arachis oil vehicle alone. 2 Chronic EO treatment resulted in elevation of blood pressure in both sexes. Female rats exhibited significantly greater elevation in blood pressure than males. 3 In chronic EO‐treated rats pressor responses to low doses (0.5 μg kg −1 ) of noradrenaline were significantly increased, while those to angiotensin II, acetylcholine and isoprenaline were unaltered. Chronic EO treatment also sensitized the vascular bed of the rats' hindquarters to noradrenaline. 4 EO‐induced hypertension was associated with significant increase in dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase activity of adrenal glands. 5 Complete bilateral adrenalectomy or chemical sympathectomy prevented the development of EO‐induced hypertension. 6 It is suggested that chronic treatment of rats with EO induces and maintains hypertension. The peripheral sympathetic system plays an important role in this phenomenon.