Role of opioidergic component in the antihypertensive effect of clonidine

The role of opioidergic system in the antihypertensive effect of clonidine was investigated in albino normotensive and renal-DOCA-salt hypertensive models of rats. Clonidine (2.5, 5 and 10.0 micrograms/kg, iv) produced a dose-related depressor response. Yohimbine (2 mg/kg, ip) blocked the clonidine-induced responses in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Naloxone (2 mg/kg, iv) blocked the clonidine-induced depressor responses in hypertensive rats, but not in normotensive animals. Morphine (0.11 mg/kg, iv) produced a depressor response in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Yohimbine (1 mg/kg, iv) did not affect the hypotensive effect of morphine in normotensive or hypertensive rats, whereas pretreatment with naloxone significantly blocked the hypotensive effect of morphine in both groups of animals. It is concluded that the hypotensive effect of clonidine in hypotensive rats could be due to an opioidergic mechanism since it is blocked by both naloxone and yohimbine.