Effect of Diazoxide on Vascular Responses to Norepinephrine in the Calf of Normal Subjects. ∗

Abstract

Summary

In these experiments the administration of diazoxide, 300 mg per day for 7 days, had no significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate responses to norepinephrine. Blood flow at each dose level of norepinephrine was significantly higher after diazoxide and vascular resistance was significantly lower. The lower vascular resistance at the same level of transmural pressure indicates that the tone present in the vessel walls at each dose of norepinephrine was less after diazoxide. Body weight increased progressively during the week of treatment and there was a slight decrease in hematocrit. There appeared to be no major changes in the serum electrolytes. In these experiments diazoxide, a non-diuretic compound, reduced the vascular responses to norepinephrine. In this respect it resembles chlorothiazide, its diuretic congener.