title: Chronic hydrochlorothiazide and verapamil effects on motor activity in hypertensive baboons.
abstract: Spontaneous motor activity was measured in six baboons during chronic oral dosing with a diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene), a calcium channel blocker (verapamil), and a combination of the two drugs. Piezoelectric monitors sensitive to movement were attached to leather collars and were worn continuously by the baboons throughout the protocol. Baboons were made hypertensive during a preexperimental period by either 1) chronic administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt or 2) surgical renal artery stenosis. Total inactive periods/day increased over baseline levels during diuretic alone and increased further during diuretic + verapamil combined. The total number of inactive periods/day returned toward baseline levels in the subsequent conditions of verapamil alone and baseline recovery. Activity levels decreased during combination dosing mainly during morning hours (0700-1100 h). Overall changes in activity occurred in the second week of dosing; this time period was found earlier to maximally decrease blood pressure and to impair behavioral performances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Turkkan
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hienz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010215:Papio; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D014700:Verapamil