Effects of reserpine on the development of neuropsychogenic hypertension in dogs.

ABSTRACT

The effects of reserpine on the blood pressure, heart rate, higher nervous activity and plasma catecholamine level during the development of neuropsychogenic hypertension induced by overstrain of the central nervous system have been studied in dogs. Overstrain (intensified tension) of the higher nervous activities was induced by a schedule or irregularly arranged strengthening of the conditional stimuli with electric stimuli on the skin. After completion of three stimulative periods, 4 of the 5 untreated control and 2 of the 5 reserpine-treated dogs were found to have developed hypertension. The blood pressure measured in Chamber A (the room for blood pressure measurement) was much lower than that measured in Chamber B, i.e. in the experimental environment. The results showed that reserpine may have some inhibitory influence on the development of this model of neuropsychogenic hypertension, yet it could not prevent its development completely.