Supplementation of the antihypertensive action of the peripheral vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) with clonidine, a centrally-acting agent, was studied in ten dogs anesthetized with isoflurane to evaluate the efficacy of clonidine for reducing the amount of SNP required during induced hypotension. The dose of SNP required to lower mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) by 40% was determined prior to the administration of intravenous clonidine (control), and after incremental doses of 1, 4, and 15 micrograms/kg. After each dose of clonidine, hypotension was induced with SNP and maintained for 30 min, followed by a 30-min recovery period.
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