Effects of a beta 1-selective adrenergic agonist in normal human volunteers

In healthy volunteers, the effects of prenalterol, a new beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, on renal hemodynamics, excretory function, plasma-renin-activity, plasma cAMP concentration, and plasma and urinary norepinephrine were studied. Besides an increase in blood pressure, which was adjusted to about 20 mmHg above the resting values, and an increase of heart rate, prenalterol induced only transient decreases of urinary volume and free water clearance and in increase of sodium excretion. The other parameters measured did not change. Thus prenalterol mainly exerts positive inotropic and chronotropic effects and does not affect renal circulation.