Vagally mediated reflex and cardiac slowing induced by loperamide in rats

The intravenous injection of loperamide induced an immediate fall in blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized rats. Both effects were inhibited by the opiate antagonists naloxone and MRZ 2266 BS. Bilateral vagotomy also inhibited both effects whereas atropine only reduced the bradycardia, but the combination of atropine and tertatolol suppressed the bradycardia. A high dose of loperamide induced bradycardia in pithed rats. This effect was prevented by MRZ 2266 BS but not by naloxone. It is concluded that loperamide can elicit a vagally mediated reflex involving vagal and sympathetic mechanisms and could stimulate cardiac opiate receptors, probably kappa, both effects leading to bradycardia.