Effect of norepinephrine on plasma free fatty acids in dogs treated with reserpine

¹ Hemodynamic Laboratory, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa

Some adrenergic blocking drugs reduce the mobilization of free fatty acids (FFA) in response to administration of catecholamines. The present experiments were done to see if potentiation of the pressor effect of norepinephrine by reserpine is accompanied by a greater increase in plasma FFA. Norepinephrine was infused intravenously into 16 anesthetized dogs. Eight of them had been treated with reserpine, 0.25 mg/kg daily, intraperitoneally for 2 days; the others were not treated. Arterial blood samples were drawn before, during, and after norepinephrine for determination of plasma FFA concentrations. Systemic arterial blood pressure was measured continuously. In the treated animals the maximal increase in arterial blood pressure as well as the progressive increments in FFA concentration were greater than in the untreated dogs. The experiments indicate that potentiation of the pressor response to norepinephrine after reserpine is accompanied by a greater FFA response.