Effect of Adrenaline, Noradrenaline and Chlorpromazine on Blood Pressure of Normal and Gold-Adapted Animals

Abstract

The blood pressure response of normal and cold-adapted rats to adrenaline, noradrenaline and chlorpromazine was studied. Adaptation to cold increased the responsiveness to noradrenaline but not to adrenaline. The hypotensive response to chlorpromazine was the same in normal and cold-adapted rats and adrenaline did not oppose this effect in both groups. However noradrenaline, which normally slightly antagonized the hypotension of chlorpromazine, was much more effective in that respect when tested on cold-adapted animals. Cold adapted animals were known to be more sensitive to the metabolic effect of noradrenaline; the present study indicates that this increased responsiveness to noradrenaline also exists for its cardiovascular effect.