Effects of reserpine, guanethidine and methyldopa on cardiac output and its distribution

In anaesthetized rats with a renal model of hypertension, effects of reserpine, guanethidine and methyldopa on cardiac output (the dye-dilution method) and its distribution among the heart, the lung, the kidney, the large and small intestine, the stomach, the liver, the spleen, skeletal muscle and skin (the rubidium method) were studied. Several hours administration of all three drugs under study, a definite decrease in cardiac output was observed. Cardiac output then escaped from the influence of the drugs despite a reduction in heart rate. Fall of arterial pressure 24 hr after administration of the drugs was only due to the decrease in total peripheral resistance. Effects of the drugs on distribution of cardiac output were studied at the time when cardiac output was not changed to any significant extent. Under this condition the features common to all the drugs were an increase of the cardiac output fractions to the gastro-intestinal tract and a decrease to the heart and the spleen. This fact indicates that decrease in resistance of gastro-intestinal vascular region plays a basic role in the hypotensive effect of reserpine, guanethidine and methyldopa.