Renal effects of propranolol, practolol and butoxamine in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats

The renal effects of the beta-adrenergic blockers, propranolol, practolol and butoxamine, were examined in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. All the beta-blockers, infused i.v., increased urine volume (V), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) and p-aminohippuric acid clearance without change in inulin clearance. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, did not affect the renal effects of these beta-blockers. Phentolamine abolished the renal effects of practolol, but not those of propranolol and butoxamine. Haloperidol abolished the renal effects of propranolol and butoxamine, but not those of practolol. A high correlation was found between the increased UNaV and the increased urinary phosphate excretion by butoxamine but not by propranolol and practolol. Therefore, it is suggested that alpha-adrenergic stimulation is involved in the mechanism of diuresis by practolol, a beta1-blocker, and that dopaminergic stimulation is involved in the diuresis caused by butoxamine, a beta2-blocker. Propranolol is similar to butoxamine, and partially similar to practolol.