[Effects of fusaric acid and its derivative on the cardiovascular system]

The cardiovascular effects of fusaric acid, a dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) inhibitor and a hypotensive agent, and 5-(4'-chlorobutyl) picolinic acid, one of the most potent DBH inhibitors in fusaric acid derivatives, were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Fusaric acid (10-30 mg/kg) given intravenously caused immediately and dose-dependently a fall in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, a stimulation of respiration, a marked increase in the rate of superior mesenteric arterial flow, and a decrease in the rate of femoral arterial flow. Fusaric acid (0.3-3 mg) given close-arterially caused a dose-dependent decrease in the sinus rate and in the developed tension in isolated blood-perfused sinoatrial node and papillary muscle preparations, respectively. For the superior mesenteric, renal, and femoral circulations which were perfused with blood, a close-arterial injection of fusaric acid (10-30 mg) increased in the rates of flow in a dose-dependent manner. 5-(4'-Chlorobutyl) picolinic acid showed similar responses as fusaric acid quantitatively or qualitatively. These results indicate that hypotension induced rapidly after intravenous administration of fusaric acid or 5-(4'-chlorobutyl) picolinic acid is not due to the enzyme inhibition, but rather to the direct depression of cardiac function and decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.