Acute Hypercalcemia-Induced Hypertension: The Roles of Calcium Channel and Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptor
Somchit Eiam-Ong PhD*, Somchai Eiam-Ong MD**, Pongsak Punsin BSc**, Visith Sitprija MD***, Narongsak Chaiyabutr PhD, DVM****
Affiliation : * Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, ** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, *** Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross, ****Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University
Objective : To study the mechanism (s) of acute hypercalcemia-induced hypertension in dogs.
Materials and Methods : Adult male mongrel dogs were intravenously infused with: 1) normal saline solution,
2) CaCl2 solution, 3) CaCl2 + calcium channel blocker (verapamil), 4) CaCl2 + selective alpha-1 adrenergic
receptor blocker (prazosin), or 5) CaCl2 + verapamil + prazosin. Either verapamil or prazosin treatment
was started at forty minutes before CaCl2 infusion and then was co-administered throughout the three-hour
experimental period. Systemic and renal hemodynamics parameters were determined.
Results : Infusion of CaCl2 caused increases in mean arterial blood pressure (p < 0.01), total peripheral
resistance (p < 0.001), and renal vascular resistance (p < 0.001). Prior treatment with either verapamil or
prazosin lowered baseline blood pressure (p < 0.01) and could prevent hypercalcemia-induced hypertension.
This occurred accompanying regaining to near normal values of abnormal systemic hemodynamics parameters.
Combination of both drugs showed more profound effects, particularly on lowering renal vascular resistance.
Conclusion : Acute hypercalemic hypertension is caused by an increase in vascular resistance mediated via
the direct effect of calcium on vascular smooth muscle as well as the indirect effect of calcium induced
hypercatecholaminemia. The stimulatory effect of hypercalcemia on renal vascular resistance is more
prominent than that on peripheral vascular resistance.
Keywords : Acute hypercalcemic hypertension, Hypercatecholaminemia, Calcium channel blocker, Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blocker
