Cyclosporin A and pressor responsiveness in sheep

Pressor response to graded infusion of angiotensin II, noradrenaline, arginine-vasopressin, and serotonin and blood pressure change following indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, were examined in conscious sheep, before and during the development of cyclosporin A-induced hypertension. Cyclosporin caused an increase in mean blood pressure from 68 +/- 2 to 82 +/- 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and in heart rate from 67 +/- 4 to 91 +/- 4 beats/min (p less than 0.001). Pressor and heart rate responses to all substances tested were not changed by cyclosporin treatment suggesting that changes in pressor responsiveness are unlikely to be involved in the development of cyclosporin hypertension in sheep.