Anti-hypertensive effect of metoprolol in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Effects of riboflavin analogues and diuretics on the spontaneously hypertensive rat heart

The chronic treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with 7,8-dimethyl-10-(3-chlorobenzyl) isoalloxazine [CBI], 7,8-diethyl-10-aminol isoalloxazine [DEAI], enduron (methyclothiazide) and amiloride were studied for their effects on blood pressure and cardiac contractile protein ATPase activities. After 35 weeks of treatment all the above antihypertensive agents showed a decrease in blood pressure in the SHR (p less than 0.01). Chronic treatment with CBI, DEAI, enduron, and amiloride significantly improved the myofibrillar ATPase activity at all pCa2+ concentrations (p less than 0.01). Furthermore, CBI, DEAI, enduron, and amiloride drug treatments enhanced actin-activated myosin ATPase activity (p less than 0.01). The Ca2(+)-activated myosin ATPase activity was significantly elevated after treating with CBI and DEAI (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that the antihypertensive agents used in this study helped in reducing the blood pressure with a subsequent increase in myocardial contractile protein ATPase activity.

Time course of blood pressure, pulse rate, plasma renin and metoprolol during treatment of hypertensive patients

Eleven patients were treated for essential hypertension with metoprolol (Selokén) for more than three months. The time course of changes in blood pressure, pulse rate and plasma renin activity was studied during treatment with an oral maintenance dose of 100 mg twice daily. Significant decreases in pulse rate, diastolic blood pressure and plasma renin activity were observed even after the first dose. The plasma concentration of metoprolol reached equilibrium after the second dose. After the third dose there was no further significant change in blood pressure. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.001) between the initial (after three doses) and final (after > 90 days) effect of metoprolol on blood pressure (r = 0.86 and 0.91 for systolic and diastolic blood pressure change, respectively).