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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
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

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.
Keywords:
HypotensionNO/ET systemRAAScardio-renal injurynorepinephrinereserpine

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