Hypothalamic action of adrenoreceptor blocking agents.

In cats anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, the posterior hypothalamus was superfused and electrically stimulated with a push-pull cannula. The pressor response to stimulation of this hypothalamic area was inhibited when the hypothalamus was superfused with drugs blocking either alpha-adrenoreceptors (piperoxan, tolazoline), or beta-adrenoreceptors--(+/-)-propranolol, (-)-propranolol, practolol, sotalol, metoprolol. (+)-Propranolol and a concentration of procaine equianaesthetic to propranolol were ineffective. During superfusion with tolazoline in the presence of practolol the inhibition was twice as that when the hypothalamus was superfused with either tolazoline or practolol. In another series of experiments the push-pull cannula was inserted into the anterior hypothalamus. The depressor response to stimulation of this area was inhibited by the hypothalamic superfusion with the alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking drugs phentolamine, tolazoline, piperoxan or yohimbine. Hypothalamic superfusion with phenylephrine abolished the inhibitory effect of phentolamine on the depressor response. The results indicate that adrenoreceptors are present in the hypothalamus and that they are involved in blood pressure changes elicited by hypothalamic stimulation.