Effects of Selected Drugs on the

Autonomic Regulation of
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate of an
Anaesthetized Rat

Shivankan Kakkar, MD
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the effects of adrenaline and acetylcholine on blood pressure
and heart rate.
2. Identify the potential effects of pre-treatment with prazosin (alpha blocker)
and propranolol (non-selective beta-blocker) on adrenaline-induced changes
in blood pressure and heart rate.
3. Identify the potential effects of pre-treatment with atropine (muscarinic
blocker) on acetylcholine-induced changes in blood pressure and heart rate.
4. Use the CAL (Computer Assisted Learning) interface to perform experiments
on adrenaline and acetylcholine alone and after pre-treatment with other
drugs.
5. Create a chart/graph of the tracings and interpret the findings from the
different experiments.

DrShivMD
Exercise 1

Effect of I.V. Injections of Adrenaline alone & after Pre-

treatment with Adrenergic Antagonists on Blood pressure
& Heart rate of an Anaesthetized Rat

DrShivMD
 Exercise 1

How to Start
• Launch the application file.
• Click on "Start."
• Select the drug “Adrenaline” in "Agonists.”
• Choose the dose “20 mcg/kg”
• Click "Inject Drug." 
• Create a chart/graph of the tracings in your practical records and repeat this step
each time you use a new drug or procedure.
• Select the drug: "10 mg/kg Prazosin (alpha blocker)” in “Antagonists.”
• Select the drug: "20 mcg/kg Adrenaline."
• Select the drug: "100 mg/kg Propranolol (non-selective beta-blocker)" in
“Antagonists.”
• Select the drug: "20mcg/kg Adrenaline."
DrShivMD
 Effect of I.V. Injections of Adrenaline alone & after Pre-treatment with Adrenergic Antagonists
on Blood Pressure & Heart Rate of an Anaesthetized Rat
Blood Pressure

ABP

20 mmHg
Heart Rate

HR

Adr
Adr
Prazosin 20 mcg/kg
20 mcg/kg
10 mg/kg
-1 BPM
Atr 10 mg/kg Propranolol Adr
DrShivMD 100 mg/kg 20 mcg/kg
100 s
 Exercise 1

Worksheet
Q.1. How does adrenaline affect blood pressure and heart rate?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Q.2. What is the effect of adrenaline on blood pressure and heart rate after adding
prazosin?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Q.3. What is the effect of adrenaline on blood pressure and heart rate after adding
propranolol?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Q.4. Explain the receptors responsible for the effect of adrenaline on blood pressure and
heart rate.
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
DrShivMD
 Exercise 1

Worksheet
Q.5. Begin a new experiment by carrying out the following steps:
• Select the drug: 20 mcg/kg adrenaline.
• Select the drug: 100 mg/kg propranolol (non-selective beta-blocker).
• Select the drug: 20 mcg/kg adrenaline.
• Create a chart/graph of the tracings.

Q.6. A 56-year-old female was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with
pheochromocytoma (a tumor that results in excess secretion of catecholamines). The
physicians need to control her blood pressure before surgery.

Which regimen is better and why?

a) Alpha-blocker followed by beta-blocker

b) Beta-blocker followed by alpha-blocker
DrShivMD
Exercise 2

Effect of I.V. Injections of Acetylcholine alone and after

Pre-treatment with Atropine on Blood Pressure and Heart
Rate of an Anaesthetized Rat

DrShivMD
 Exercise 2

How to Start
• Launch the application file.
• Click on "Start."
• Select the drug “Acetylcholine” in "Agonists.”
• Choose the dose “10 mcg/kg”
• Click "Inject Drug." 
• Create a chart/graph of the tracings in your practical records and repeat this
step each time you use a new drug or procedure.
• Select the drug: "20 mcg/kg Acetylcholine."
• Select the drug: "10 mg/kg Atropine (muscarinic blocker)" in “Antagonists.”
• Select the drug: "10mcg/kg Acetylcholine."
• Select the drug: "20mcg/kg Acetylcholine."
DrShivMD
 Effect of I.V. Injections of Acetylcholine alone & after Pre-treatment with Atropine
on Blood Pressure & Heart Rate of an Anaesthetized Rat
Blood Pressure

ABP
Heart Rate

20 mmHg

Atropine
10 mg/kg
HR

ACh ACh
10 mcg/kg ACh 10 mcg/kg ACh
20 mcg/kg 20 mcg/kg
-1 BPM
Atr 10 mg/kg

DrShivMD
100 s
 Exercise 2

Worksheet
Q.1. How does ACh affect BP and HR?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Q.2. When atropine is added, what effect does ACh have on BP and HR?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

DrShivMD
 Exercise 2

Worksheet
Q.3. Explain the receptors responsible for the effects of ACh on BP and HR.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
Q.4. A 35-year-old male patient arrived at the emergency department with symptoms
of organophosphate (OP) poisoning. The patient had accidentally ingested a toxic
amount of an OP pesticide commonly used in his agricultural work. On arrival, the
patient was experiencing excessive sweating, diarrhea, and urinary incontinence.
Which treatment did the doctor prescribe to this case and why?
a) Atropine
b) Cholinesterase inhibitors (CHEIs)
c) Atropine+CHEIs
DrShivMD
Interpreting the Findings &
Identifying the Unknown Drugs
Exercises 1 & 2

DrShivMD
 Effect of I.V. Injections of Selected Drugs
on Blood Pressure & Heart Rate of an Anaesthetized Rat
Blood Pressure

ABP

20 mmHg
Heart Rate

HR

Drug A
Drug A Drug B 20 mcg/kg
20 mcg/kg 10 mg/kg
-1 BPM
Atr 10 mg/kg Drug C Drug A
100 mg/kg 20 mcg/kg
DrShivMD
100 s
 Effect of I.V. Injections of Selected Drugs
on Blood Pressure & Heart Rate of an Anaesthetized Rat
Blood Pressure

ABP
Heart Rate

20 mmHg

Drug Y
10 mg/kg
HR

Drug X Drug X
10 mcg/kg Drug X Drug X
10 mcg/kg
20 mcg/kg 20 mcg/kg
-1 BPM
Atr 10 mg/kg

DrShivMD
100 s