Failure of isoprenaline and beta-receptor blocking drugs to modify depressor response and bradycardia induced by electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus of cats.

The role of the hypothalamic beta-adrenoceptors in the depressor response and bradycardia induced by stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus was studied in cats. In chloralose and urethane anaesthetized cats the anterior hypothalamus was superfused with artifical cerebrospinal fluid through a push-pull cannula. Electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus with the tip of the cannula elicited a fall of systemic blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate. Superfusion of the anterior hypothalamus with isoprenaline did not change the depressor response and bradycardia induced by electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus. Superfusion with atenolol or butoxamine also failed to modify the responses. Superfusion with (+/-)-propranolol significantly suppressed the responses. However, superfusion with (+)-propranolol suppressed the responses to the same extent. The resting systemic blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly changed by superfusion of the hypothalamus with these drugs. These results suggest that beta-adrenoceptors of the anterior hypothalamus are not involved in the depressor response and bradycardia elicited by hypothalamic stimulation.