title: Effects of enkephalins and the analogue FK-33824 on mean arterial pressure and heart rate in conscious sheep.
abstract: Experiments were designed to evaluate the central and systemic effects by enkephalins and the enkephalin analogue FK-33824 on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in conscious sheep. Intracerebroventricular infusion of FK-33824 increased both MAP and HR in a dose-dependent manner in normal sheep. The increases in MAP and HR were attenuated by naloxone administered centrally, but not systemically. Intracerebroventricular infusion of met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin and naloxone failed to change both MAP and HR significantly. However, intravenous infusion of met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin and FK-33824 resulted in bradycardia. Haemorrhage alone decreased both MAP and HR. Intracerebroventricular infusion of FK-33824 blunted the reduction in MAP in response to haemorrhage. The increases in MAP and HR following FK-33824 were also accompanied by elevated levels of plasma renin concentration. It is suggested that the tachycardia and pressor effect produced by the intracerebroventricular administration of FK-33824 in normal conscious sheep may result from a combined action of both neural and chemical pathways which are involved in cardiovascular control, and are mediated via the mu-opioid receptors. Opioids may have opposite effects on cardiovascular control depending on the route of administration.
authors.affiliation: Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tresham
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Scoggins
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Coghlan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003243:Consciousness; D005405:D-Ala(2),MePhe(4),Met(0)-ol-enkephalin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D005405:D-Ala(2),MePhe(4),Met(0)-ol-enkephalin