ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECT OF CHRONIC IV ADMINISTRATION OF 5-CARBOXAMIDOTRYPTAMINE IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The effects of chronic i.v. administration of the serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonist, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT), on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and baroreflex sensitivity were studied in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Acute i.v. injection of increasing doses of 5-CT resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in SHR and WKY with concomitant tachycardia. In chronic experiments, 5-CT (15.0 mug/kg per day) or vehicle (24.0 mul/day) was infused i.v. for 7 days, using osmotic minipumps. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR were monitored daily before and during infusions. In SHR (n = 8) and WKY rats (n = 9) receiving 5-CT, a significant reduction in SBP was observed during the infusion period. HR was slightly increased in WKY rats on days 1 and 2. There were no HR changes in the SHR group. The fall in SBP was significantly larger in the SHR than in the WKY rats. Baroreflex sensitivity on day 7 was significantly greater in 5-CT-treated SHR than in control rats. There was no change in baroreflex sensitivity in WKY rats. Administration of a single dose of 5-CT (0.5 mug/kg i.v.) on day 7 of infusion resulted in attenuated responses in WKY rats while SHR responded as their respective controls. Our data suggest that chronic administration of 5-CT results in a sustained antihypertensive effect. This is associated with an improved BRS in the SHR either as a consequence of a resetting of the baroreflex due to sustained lowering of BP or a direct action of 5-CT on baroreflex sensitivity. Our data also show that the vasodepressor mechanism of 5-HT may be enhanced in SHR.