[Effect of atenolol and propranolol on systemic and regional hemodynamics]

Experiments on anesthetized rats were made to study the effects of atenolol and propranolol on cardiac output and distribution of the drugs in the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, large and small intestines, stomach, liver and skeletal muscles with the use of radioactive carbonized microspheres techniques. Atenolol and propranolol provoked a decrease in cardiac output and raised the total peripheral resistance without a detectable effect on blood pressure. Administration of atenolol brought about a decrease in the renal blood flow whereas that of propranolol in the myocardial blood flow.