title: Mechanisms involved in central cardiovascular effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha.
abstract: Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) injected into the cerebroventricular system (icv) of halothane-anesthetized rats increased the arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and rectal temperature. These effects were accompanied by a preferential increase in plasma norepinephrine concentration. Plasma levels of epinephrine, renin, and vasopressin were not changed in the PGF2 alpha-icv-treated rats. Bilateral vagotomy did not affect the PGF2 alpha-induced hypertension and tachycardia nor was there any change in the selective increase in plasma norepinephrine concentration. Hexamethonium pretreatment suppressed, in a dose-response manner, the increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and rectal temperature in response to PGF2 alpha-icv. Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were not altered by PGF2 alpha-icv in hexamethonium-treated rats, but plasma vasopressin concentration was markedly elevated in all hexamethonium-infused rats. These results suggest that selective central activation of the sympathetic nervous system underlies the profound cardiovascular and temperature responses elicited by central administration of PGF2 alpha.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D015237:Dinoprost; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D018738:Hexamethonium; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D014628:Vagotomy; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D014667:Vasopressins; D018738:Hexamethonium; D015237:Dinoprost; D012083:Renin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine