Mechanism of cardiovascular effects of clonidine in conscious and anesthetized rabbits

The actions of intravenous clonidine [2-(2,6 dichlorophenylamino)-2-imidazoline hydrochloride] on blood pressure and heart rate were examined in conscious rabbits. Complete transection of thecervical spinal cord increased the intensity and duration of the hypertensive effect of 30 microgram/kg of clonidine and completely abolished the fall in blood pressure. Heart rate slowing by clonidine was reduced. Result were similar 1 hour, 24 hours and 7 days after cord transection. Bilateral aortic sinus nerve section (baroreceptor deafferentation) increased both the hypertensive and hypotensive action of clonidine but reduced the bradycardia. When cervical cord transection was combined with batensive action, were abolished. We conclude that whereas the hypertensive action results from a direct effect on peripheral adrenoceptors, the fall in blood pressure is related to a reduction in sympathetic tone mediated at the level of the brain stem or more rostrally. The heart rate slowing results from both a reduction in sympathetic tone and also an enhanced vagal outflow. The increase in vagal tone seems to be dependent on the intergrity of baroreceptor afferent pathways.