Abstract
Summary
We have attempted to establish the mechanism of a prolonged pressor response to nicotine in anesthetized, atropinized dogs treated with the a-adrenergic blocker, phenoxybenzamine. The increased blood pressure follows the classical epinephrine reversal and is due to an increased total peripheral resistance. The time course and shape of the pressure curve tend to eliminate known endogenous pressor hormones except angiotensin II. A radioimmunoassay for plasma renin activity established that this parameter was in fact significantly increased. We therefore conclude that angiotensin II is likely to be the hormone primarily responsible for the secondary pressor response.
The authors thank Smith, Kline, and French Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA for generous supplies of phenoxybenzamine HCl (Dibenzyline).
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