Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
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J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Mar 1986
Effects of intravenous diltiazem on cardiocirculatory dynamics and cardiac output distribution in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats.
The effects of the calcium channel blocker, diltiazem hydrochloride (DZ), on conscious, resting spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were evaluated and compared with results from parallel studies on Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. DZ was administered as a continuous, cumulative infusion at rates equal to 0.40, 2.00, and 10.00 mg/kg/h (each dose was administered for 15 min). Parallel volume infusion (saline) controls were simultaneously conducted using volume infusion rates identical to those used in DZ studies (0.015, 0.100, and 0.500 ml/min). ⋯ DZ increased flow and reduced resistance in the coronary and skeletal muscle circulations of SHR to a greater extent than in WKY. DZ also normalized vascular resistance in previously elevated regions. These results suggest that acute intravenous infusion of DZ at doses ranging between 2 and 5 mg/kg is capable of normalizing cardiovascular hemodynamics and regional blood flow distribution in SHR.