Effects of α-methyldopa on blood pressure in the anaesthetized dog

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Abstract
Intravenous infusion over 1 h of 20 mg kg−1 of α-methyldopa produced hypotension in the anaesthetized dog. The magnitude of this effect was, however, inversely correlated with bodyweight. Either rapid intravenous injection of α-methyldopa or slow infusion of α-methyldopate was less effective in lowering blood pressure than infusion of free α-methyldopa, in dogs of equivalent bodyweight. Infusion of α-methyldopa into a vertebral or internal carotid artery produced hypotensive responses but these were no greater and generally less than those obtained to intravenous infusion. α-Methyldopa was therefore capable of producing hypotension in the dog but no evidence was obtained for this being the result of an action within the brain.