Effects of synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethone hormone on cardiovascular system of anesthetic rats

The general adaptation syndrome is characterized by an increase in the level of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones and changes in cardiovascular system activity (CVS). It can be assumed that GC can have modulating effects on the reflex mechanisms of circulatory regulation. The aim of the paper is to study the effects of synthetic dexamethasone (DM) GC on the parameters of CVS activity and baroreflex. Materials and Methods. In acute experiments on Wistar rats (n=18, 300-350 g) anesthetized with urethane (1800 mg/kg, i.p.), the authors directly recorded the pressure in the femoral artery, determined the mean blood pressure (BP) and cardiac rate (CR). Baroreflex was tested by intravenous administration of phenylephrine (PE) solution, which caused a dose-dependent BP increase and, as a result, a reflex CR decrease. The change in the baroreflex force was evaluated by the change in the linear regression coefficient (a) in the straight-line equation, approximating the relationship between BP and CR changes...