Cardiovascular and renal effects of buspirone in several animal models

Abstract 1. 1. Intravenous administration (0.3 or 3 mg/kg) of buspirone to anesthetized rats elicited a transient pressor response (14 ± 2 mmHg) and sustained bradycardia. 2. 2. However, oral administration (30 mg/kg) reduced the blood pressure and heart rate of conscious normotensive (−14 ± 4 mmHg) and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats (−22 ± 5 mmHg). 3. 3. Buspirone (3–100 mg/kg, p.o.) elicited increases in urinary volume and electrolyte excretion of conscious normotensive rats and decreased these parameters in conscious mice. 4. 4. Buspirone was observed to possess α 1 -adrenoceptor agonist activity in ganglion-blocked anesthetized rats. 5. 5. Buspirone (0.3–3 mg/kg, i.v.) elicited transient elevations in the blood pressure of open-chest anesthetized dogs. 6. 6. There was a sustained increase in total peripheral resistance and a decrease in aortic blood flow, heart rate, right ventricular contractile force and left ventricular d p d t max. 7. 7. Intravenous and oral administration to anesthetized and conscious dogs elevated urinary volume and electrolyte excretion. 8. 8. However, the doses used to elicit the observed alterations in hemodynamic/renal function are considerably greater than those which produce anxiolytic effects. 9. 9. Thus, it is doubtful that anxiolytic doses of buspirone will produce cardiovascular alterations in patients.