title: Autonomic blockade amplifies cortisol-induced hypertension in man.
abstract: 1. We investigated the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in cortisol induced hypertension using the technique of total autonomic blockade (AB). 2. Four healthy young males were given 50 mg cortisol 6 hourly for 6 days. On the day prior to, and the last day of, cortisol treatment, AB was produced using oral prazosin 1 mg, intravenous clonidine 300 micrograms, propranolol 0.2 mg/kg and atropine 2 mg. The adequacy of blockade was assessed using the haemodynamic response to Valsalva manoeuvre. 3. Cortisol produced a significant rise in systolic blood pressure (130 +/- 2 vs 110 +/- 1 mmHg, pre vs post cortisol; P < 0.01). On the final treatment day, AB augmented the increase in diastolic blood pressure (delta DBP), mean arterial pressure (delta MAP) and heart rate (delta HR) compared to the pretreatment day, delta DBP: 43 +/- 6 vs 17 +/- 4 mmHg, post vs pre cortisol, P < 0.005, delta MAP: 39 +/- 4 vs 14 +/- 4 mmHg, P < 0.001, delta HR: 45 +/- 5 vs 26 +/- 4 b.p.m., P < 0.05. The change in systolic blood pressure (delta SBP) was not statistically significant (32 +/- 4 vs 7 +/- 3 mmHg, P = 0.065). 4. These results suggest that the ANS exerts a modulating influence on the hypertensive effect of cortisol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of New South Wales, St George Hospital, Kogarah, Australia.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitworth
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000328:Adult; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011224:Prazosin
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D011224:Prazosin