Chlorpromazine and the Pressor Response to Nitrogen and Adrenaline in the Rabbit

¹ From the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Rabbits anesthetized with Nembutal were subjected to anoxic breathing and blood pressure was measured. A depressor phase of blood pressure was followed by a marked pressor phase when the anoxic gas was applied for short intervals. Intravenous chlorpromazine prompted a severe drop in blood pressure. However, the animal still exhibited depressor-pressor responsiveness to the anoxic mixture after administration of the drug. Intravenous adrenaline effected a marked but temporary pressor response after chlorpromazine. Evidently chlorpromazine does not completely block an appreciable hemodynamic response to anoxia and adrenaline.