This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Janowsky, D. S. Articles by Huey, L. Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Janowsky, D. S. Articles by Huey, L. Y. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB PHYSOSTIGMINE

Hypertension, Vol 7, 140-145, Copyright © 1985 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Central cardiovascular effects of physostigmine in humans

DS Janowsky, SC Risch and LY Huey

Central cholinergic control of pulse rate and blood pressure has seldom been studied in humans. In the current study we contrasted the cardiovascular effects of the centrally acting cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine, which increases central and peripheral acetylcholine levels, with those of saline placebo and with those of the non- centrally acting cholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine, which only increases peripheral acetylcholine levels. We found that physostigmine, in contrast to neostigmine and saline, caused significant and often profound increases in pulse rate and blood pressure levels in humans. Thus, we conclude that acetylcholine may have a role in central cardiovascular regulation in humans. We also found that administration of physostigmine may cause net increases in pulse of up to 74 beats/minute, systolic blood pressure increases of up to 50 mm Hg, and diastolic increases of up to 45 mm Hg. Such increases could be dangerous in elderly patients with concomitant cerebrovascular or coronary circulation disorders.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Medina, N. Bodick, A. L. Goldberger, M. M. Mahon, and L. A. Lipsitz Effects of Central Muscarinic-1 Receptor Stimulation on Blood Pressure Regulation Hypertension, March 1, 1997; 29(3): 828 - 834. [Abstract] [Full Text]