Correlation Between Vasodilator Potencies of β-Adrenoceptor Blocking Drugs and their Chemical Structures

Abstract

Nakano and Kusakari (1) and Shanks (2) reported that an i.a. injection of propranolol produced relatively short-lived vasodilation and Shanks suggested that the local anesthetic action of propranolol was probably involved in the vasodilation. Recently, our group found that alprenolol directly dilates several vascular beds in anesthetized dogs and we suggested that the hypotensive effect of i.v. alprenolol would be largely due to a direct vasodilator action (3). The present study was designed to determine possible relationships between chemical structures and vasodilator potencies of β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs.