Effects of protoveratrine on coronary blood flow of the renal hypertensive dog

¹ Departments of Pharmacology and of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and the Edward B. Robinette Foundation, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In renal hypertension, protoveratrine decreased coronary blood flow, cardiac oxygen consumption, arterial and venous oxygen saturation, coronary arteriovenous oxygen difference, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, cardiac work, cardiac efficiency, cardiac rate, total peripheral resistance, coronary resistance, respiratory rate, and minute volume. The decrease was significant in all functions except coronary blood flow, coronary venous oxygen saturation, and cardiac output. The results of these experiments indicate that in the renal hypertensive animal, a therapeutically beneficial effect was derived from protoveratrine on the circulation by its ability to decrease the work of the heart (lowering the elevated mean arterial pressure) and the coronary vascular resistance while maintaining coronary blood flow and cardiac output within normal levels. The less advantageous effect of protoveratrine on circulation resulted from its respiratory inhibiting effect which reduced the arterial blood oxygen saturation. Although a small decline in coronary venous oxygen saturation was noted, the coronary flow and oxygen delivery in face of the reduced arterial oxygen saturation was apparently adequate to maintain a normal cardiac activity.