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Nimodipine has no effect on the cerebral circulation in conscious pigs, despite an increase in cardiac output
Author(s) -
Giessen W.J.,
Duncker D.J.,
Saxena P.R.,
Verdouw P.D.
Publication year - 1990
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.1476-5381.1990.tb15795.x
Subject(s) - nimodipine , cerebral circulation , anesthesia , circulation (fluid dynamics) , cardiac output , medicine , cardiology , hemodynamics , calcium , engineering , aerospace engineering
1 We studied the effects of four doses of nimodipine (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 μg kg −1 min −1 ) on systemic haemodynamics and on regional vascular beds, in particular the cerebral circulation, in conscious pigs. 2 Nimodipine caused dose‐dependent, probably reflex‐mediated, increases in heart rate (42% with the highest dose) and cardiac output (54%), while arterial blood pressure was only minimally affected. Left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased dose‐dependently (35–40% at the highest dose) while stroke volume remained unchanged. 3 Total brain blood flow was not affected by the drug. Furthermore, we could not demonstrate any regional cerebral differences, as blood flows to both cerebral hemispheres as well as the diencephalon, cerebellum and brain stem remained unchanged. 4 Blood flow to the kidneys, liver, small intestine and skin also did not change. Nimodipine caused dose‐dependent increases in blood flow to the stomach (95%), myocardium (97%) and adrenal glands (102%), while blood flow to skeletal muscles (267%) increased most. 5 It is concluded that in the conscious pig, nimodipine is an arterial vasodilator which shows some selectivity for the skeletal muscle vasculature but does not increase total or regional cerebral blood flow.