Techniques to measure pharmacodynamics in the intact vasculature.
Techniques are described for the intravenous, close intraarterial, or perivascular delivery of drugs in conscious or anaesthetized animals. Examples of the determination of pharmacodynamic parameters such as regional blood flow, large artery diameter, resistance, conductance, and blood pressure are given for conscious rabbits and anaesthetized dog preparations. An important issue is how to determine the direct vascular action of an injected drug in the light of rapid and powerful autonomic reflex buffering effects especially in healthy conscious animals. The methods of measurement of drug action on the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex and postural adaptation (90 degrees tilt) reflex in the conscious rabbit are explained. Finally, the changes to large and small artery morphology are explored in the rabbit hindlimb following conduit femoral artery ligation to induce arteriogenesis and angiogenesis. This work aims to highlight approaches to exploring drug action in vivo, a much neglected skill in the repertoire of the modern cardiovascular pharmacologist.
Wright
C E
CE
Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. cewright@unimelb.edu.au
Angus
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011187:Posture; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects