INCREASE IN CATECHOLAMINE-INDUCED RESPONSIVENESS IN MICROGRAVITY SIMULATED BY HEAD-DOWN MANEUVER IN RATS
Olorunfemi O. Joyce*, Solomon U. Micah, Kiridi E. Gabriel, Ngaikedi C. Nnamdi and Bohr E.L.
ABSTRACT
Aim/background: Increase in catecholamine-induced responsiveness in microgravity, Simulated by head-down
Maneuver in rats were examined on Wistar albino rats in the study. The research was carried out by assessing the
activities of epinephrine and dopamine (Catecholamine) on the cardiovascular indices such as systolic and
diastolic blood pressure, pulse rats and the mean arterial pressure of the rats by simulating then at head-down
Maneuver. Method: Groupings were as follows; group I (control), group II (epinephrine-treated), group III
(dopamine-treated). And group IV (mixture of groups II and III). Before and after the administration of the drugs
(epinephrine and dopamine) and simulated by head- down Maneuver. Results: The mean value for the
cardiovascular indices investigated were 119. 80+ (before infusion of drug and simulation (O min)) and 115. 60+
(after infusion of drug and simulation (30 min)) of the control group, 89.40+ (O min) and 123. 60+ (30 min) of the
group II, 117. 40+ (O min) and 127.20+ (30 min) of the group III and 117.60+ (O min) and 124.20+ (30min) of
the group IV. While that of the dopamine cardiovascular indices and simulated by head- down Maneuver,
investigated as following, of its mean value, 116.60+(O min) and 122.80+ (30 min) of the control group, 117. 40+
(O min) and 156.40+ (30 min) of the group II and 127. 60+ (O min) and 110.80+ (30 min) of the group III. From
the results, it was observed that all the test groups had significant increase in their cardiovascular indices when
compared with that of the control group. Conclusion: During the simulation of by head-down maneuver, there
was significant alteration in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate and means arterial pressure of the
experimental animals as a result of the decrease in the cardiac outputs in sharp contrast to when treated with the
exogenous catecholamine.
Keywords: Catecholamine, microgravity, simulation, head-down maneuver, blood pressure.
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