title: Haemodynamic and splanchnic organ blood-flow responses to hypotension induced by the calcitonin gene-related peptide and sodium nitroprusside in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the effects of various degrees of hypotension induced by the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the splanchnic circulation, we investigated the renal and hepatic blood flow during hypotension induced by either the calcitonin gene-related peptide or sodium nitroprusside in the isoflurane-anaesthetized dog.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anaesthesia was maintained with 1.3% isoflurane in oxygen. After the baseline period, mean arterial pressure was reduced to 60 mmHg in the CGRP60 and nitroprusside groups, and to 50 mmHg in the CGRP50 group. The splanchnic organ blood flow was measured by hydrogen clearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cardiac index in the CGRP60 group increased (P < 0.01), but in the CGRP50 group it decreased (P < 0.01), and in the nitroprusside group it remained unchanged during hypotension. Mean pulmonary artery and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures in the CGRP60 group remained unchanged, but in the CGRP50 and nitroprusside groups they decreased (P < 0.01) during hypotension. Cardiac contractility in the CGRP60 group remained unchanged, whereas in the CGRP50 and nitroprusside groups it was reduced (P < 0.01) during hypotension. Renal blood flow in the CGRP60 group was relatively well maintained but in the CGRP50 and nitroprusside groups it was reduced (P < 0.01) throughout the observation. Hepatic blood flow in all three groups was reduced (P < 0.01) during hypotension. The reductions in hepatic blood flow between the Calcitonin gene-related peptide groups were associated with a dose-dependent decrease in mean arterial pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that calcitonin gene-related peptide acts as an arteriolar vasodilator at low doses but as a vasodilator of the arteriolar and venous systems at higher doses, and that profound hypotension induced by the calcitonin gene-related peptide may impair splanchnic circulation.
authors.affiliation: Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Yokohama, Japan. showatakeda@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomaru
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D007530:Isoflurane; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide