title: Is adrenal medulla involved in the antihypertensive effect of nicardipine?
abstract: The effects of nicardipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, on adrenal medulla were investigated in chloralose-anesthetized dogs. For analysis of the adrenal medullary function, adrenal venous catecholamine rates were determined. Intravenous administration of nicardipine (50 micrograms/kg) induced a marked increase in both adrenal catecholamine rates and heart rate and a simultaneous decrease in blood pressure. This effect on epinephrine and norepinephrine release is probably explained by the involvement of baroreflex mechanisms. After acute splanchnicectomy, nicardipine (50 and 100 micrograms/kg i.v.) failed to modify catecholamine secretion rates from the denervated adrenal medulla during electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerve at low (2 Hz) and high (5 Hz) frequencies. In conclusion, these results suggest that in vivo a functional dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel is not required for calcium entry mechanisms into dog chromaffin cells. Moreover, adrenal medulla is not involved in the antihypertensive action of nicardipine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U 317, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Saint-Blanquat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valet
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anglade
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rascol
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brisac
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Montastruc
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montastruc
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013153:Splanchnic Nerves / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D009529:Nicardipine; D002118:Calcium