EFFECT OF HEXAMETHONIUM CHLORIDE ON CARDIOVASCULAR AND RENAL HEMODYNAMICS AND ON ELECTROLYTE EXCRETION

¹ Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

1. Data on the renal and circulatory hemodynamic effects of hexamethonium chloride were obtained on 28 dogs.

2. Blood pressure decreased in all except one animal. Glomerular filtration rate and TmG were unchanged or slightly decreased. Renal vascular resistance was reduced but this did not always completely compensate for the decrease, in MBP, so that there was frequently a slight decrease in RBF.

3. Cardiac output studies revealed an initial increase in cardiac output in all animals. During the succeeding 30 minutes there was a fall to less than control values so that the hypotensive effect of the drug was maintained despite a return of peripheral vascular resistance to the control level in some animals. In others, the hypotensive effect was maintained despite a normal or somewhat elevated cardiac output. This was due to a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.

4. There was no discernible relationship between cardiac output and renal hemodynamics. However, if hypotension became excessive, one might expect a reduction in renal function, particularly glomerular filtration rate.

5. Ganglionic blockade with its associated reduction in blood pressure and renal vascular resistance apparently alters tubular reabsorption of sodium in some animals. Percentagewise there was an increase in sodium excretion for the group. However, this was not a consistent finding.

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