HAEMODYNAMIC RESPONSES TO RAT ADRENOMEDULLIN IN ANAESTHETIZED SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

SUMMARY 1. The haemodynamic effects of rat adrenomedullin (AM), a novel hypotensive peptide, were examined in anaesthetized 16–18 week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). 2. An intravenous injection of rat AM dose-dependently reduced the mean blood pressure (MBP) with a concomitant fall in total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) and an increase in cardiac index (CI) in both strains of rats. Per cent changes in MBP, TPRI and CI were not different between SHR and WKY. 3. The plasma half-life of rat AM in SHR was similar to that in WKY when it was administered at the dose of 1.0 nmol/kg. 4. These findings indicate that AM has a potent vasorelaxant activity in both SHR and WKY. The haemodynamic responsiveness to exogenous AM and its pharmaeokinetics in SHR were comparable with those in WKY.