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Reserpine-induced hypotension through catecholamine and RAAS/nitric oxide/endothelin dysregulation
Ya Mo1, Ming Jiang1, Hong-Lei Zhou1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237, P. R. China.
American Journal of Translational Research
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Reserpine causes hypotension and organ damage by depleting norepinephrine (NE) and disrupting regulatory systems. Levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment reverses these effects, restoring NE levels and improving cardiovascular and kidney health.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Reserpine is known to induce hypotension.
- The precise mechanisms of reserpine-induced cardiorenal injury are not fully understood.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms behind reserpine-induced hypotension.
- To evaluate the protective effects of levodopa (L-DOPA) against reserpine-induced cardiorenal damage.
- To elucidate the roles of the catecholamine system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and nitric oxide/endothelin (NO/ET) system.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a rat model of hypotension using reserpine.
- Intervention with levodopa (L-DOPA).
- Systematic evaluation of arterial blood pressure, cardiac and renal histopathology, norepinephrine (NE) levels, RAAS components, and endothelial function markers.
Main Results:
- Reserpine administration led to significant hypotension, cardiac and renal injury, and myofibrillar disarray.
- Pathological changes were linked to norepinephrine depletion and dysregulation of vasoactive systems.
- L-DOPA treatment effectively restored NE levels, ameliorated hypotension, and reduced cardiorenal injury.
Conclusions:
- Reserpine induces hypotension and cardiorenal injury via catecholamine depletion and RAAS/NO/ET system dysregulation.
- L-DOPA attenuates these detrimental effects.
- This study highlights L-DOPA as a potential therapeutic agent for reserpine-induced complications.
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