Presynaptic actions of piribedil on the cardiovascular system of the pithed rat

The influence of piribedil on cardiovascular sympathetic responses has been studied in the pithed rat. Piribedil (0.3-1 mg kg-1) inhibited the increases of diastolic blood pressure induced by spinal cord electrical stimulation at the level Th5-L4. This effect was reversed by sulpiride (0.3 mg kg-1) but not by yohimbine (0.3 mg kg-1). The cardiovascular responses induced by noradrenaline were unaffected by piribedil (0.3-1 mg kg-1). However piribedil (0.3-1 mg kg-1) did not modify the heart rate increase induced by spinal cord electrical stimulation at the C7-Th1 level. These results suggest that piribedil inhibits the vascular sympathetic transmission in the pithed rat via stimulation of presynaptic dopamine receptors.