Hemodynamic effects of gabapentin in rats

Gabapentin has been known to elicit the antinociceptive effect. However, little has been known about the effect of gabapentin on the cardiovascular system. The author's aim of this experiment was to examine the hemodynamic effects of gabapentin. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Intrathecal or intracerebroventricular catheters were implanted and gabapentin was delivered through each catheter or directly into the peritoneal cavity. For hemodynamic measurements, catheters were inserted into the tail artery. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured over 60 min following administration of gabapentin. Intrathecal and intraperitoneal gabapentin did not induce significant changes of hemodynamics over the 60 min compared to the baseline value. Intracerebroventricular gabapentin increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but there is no statistically difference in blood pressure change according to the dose.