Effect of low dose intra-arterial reserpine on vascular wall norepinephrine content

A number of reports in recent years have indicated that the administration of low dose intra-arterial reserpine has resulted in significant clinical improvement in patients with symptomatic vasospasm, with the benefits presumably resulting from regional vascular wall norepinephrine depletion with resultant vasodilatation. However, to date, there has been no evidence that such low dose reserpine actually alters vascular wall norepinephrine content. This study was performed to determine both regional and systemic effects of low dose intra-arterial reserpine on vascular-wall norepinephrine content, and the duration of any alterations. Twenty-four mongrel dogs had vascular segments excised and assayed for norepinephrine content, before and for up to 4 weeks following a single injection of reserpine, 0.01 mgm/kg, into one femoral artery. The results indicate a pronounced norepinephrine depletion in the injected femoral arterial system, with the reduction persisting for 2-4 weeks, at which time complete norepinephrine recovery occurred. The visceral vessels sampled also showed considerable norepinephrine depletion, indicating systemic spill-over of the drug from the injected peripheral arterial tree. The visceral vessels, however, showed maximal depletion at 24 hours, with recovery by 7 days.