title: Cardiovascular effects of ketamine in the pithed rat, rabbit and cat.
abstract: The effect of i.v. ketamine on arterial pressure and heart rate were examined in pithed rats, rabbits and cats. In all three species ketamine caused a brief decrease in arterial pressure and heart rate. In the rat, but not in the other two species, this initial decrease in arterial pressure was followed by a pressor response which was resistant to alpha-adrenoceptor blockade, depletion of tissue noradrenaline stores and adrenalectomy. It is concluded that the peripherally mediated pressor response found in the pithed rat is specific to this species, is not a result of liberation of peripheral catecholamines and does not explain the pressor effect of ketamine found in man and several animal species.
mesh_terms: D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007649:Ketamine; D012110:Reserpine; D010646:Phentolamine