Analysis of adrenergic effects of the anesthetics Inactin and alpha-chloralose

Renal and systemic adrenergic system responses were examined and compared under conditions of Inactin, a barbiturate, and alpha-chloralose anesthesia in hydropenic Munich-Wistar rats. Base-line plasma norepinephrine and other catecholamine levels were higher in Inactin-anesthetized rats. Norepinephrine was infused to raise blood pressure 15-20 mmHg above base line and plasma norepinephrine was again significantly higher with Inactin. In another group, angiotensin II was infused into the cerebral lateral ventricle in both Inactin- and alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats, a method of stimulating centrally activated adrenergic output. After central stimulation, mean arterial pressure increased only in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats. Micropuncture studies examining systemic and glomerular hemodynamics were performed in alpha-chloralose- and Inactin-anesthetized rats before and after the infusion of phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist. Infusion of phentolamine decreased mean arterial pressure to a significantly greater extent in the Inactin-anesthetized rats, suggesting a greater base-line systemic alpha-adrenergic activity with Inactin anesthesia. However, renal afferent and efferent arteriolar resistances were not significantly different after phentolamine, and any trend for resistances to decrease could be explained by autoregulation. Inactin increases systemic adrenergic activity, but renal vascular resistances are not significantly affected by this increased activity.