title: Cardiovascular effects of urotensin II in anesthetized and pithed rats.
abstract: Gillichthys urotensin II (GUII; 1.5-150 nmol kg-1) reduced blood pressure in anesthetized rats, diastolic pressure being reduced to a greater extent than systolic. The effect was slow in onset (peak at 4-5 min) and longlasting (up to 60 min), and was accompanied by a reflex tachycardia. The hypotension was not blocked by propranolol or by mepyramine. In pithed rats, GUII (150 nmol kg-1) reduced the pressor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation, noradrenaline, and Arg-vasopressin. Somatostatin (150 nmol kg-1) had no effect on the sympathetic pressor response but reduced heart rate. It is concluded that GUII is a vasodilator in the rat, an action not shared with somatostatin.
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014579:Urotensins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D014579:Urotensins; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D013004:Somatostatin; C029677:urotensin II; D009638:Norepinephrine