Alpha-adrenergic blocking properties of droperidol on isolated blood vessels of the dog

Br J Anaesth. 1977 Mar;49(3):211-6. doi: 10.1093/bja/49.3.211.

Abstract

Concentrations of droperidol which caused a shift to the right of the dose-response curve to noradrenaline in the pulmonary artery and the saphenous vein of the dog did not affect myogenic activation by K+; they did not inhibit spontaneous activity of portal-mesenteric veins. Droperidol inhibited the contractile response to nerve stimulation, but did not affect the evoked release of 3H-noradrenaline. These experiments indicate that the vasodilator properties of smaller doses of droperidol are a result of its ability to block alpha-adrenergic receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists*
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects*
  • Dogs
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Droperidol / pharmacology*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mesenteric Veins / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects*
  • Norepinephrine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Potassium / pharmacology
  • Pulmonary Artery / drug effects
  • Saphenous Vein / drug effects

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
  • Droperidol
  • Potassium
  • Norepinephrine