Nicorandil affects diurnal rhythms of body temperature, heart rate and locomotor activity in rats

Manon Gantenbein, Laurence Attolini, Bernard Bruguerolle*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of nicorandil, a K+ channel opener with a potent vasodilator action, on diurnal rhythms of body temperature, heart rate and locomotor activity were assessed in rats. Transmitters were intraperitoneally implanted under ether anaesthesia. After recovery from surgery, body temperature, heart rate and locomotor activity were recorded during control, saline or nicorandil (10 mg · kg-1 administered orally) treatment and for 5 days after treatment. For each period, Fourier analysis determined the predominant rhythmicity for body temperature, heart rate and locomotor activity while cosinor analysis assessed the corresponding mesors, acrophases and amplitudes and maxima and minima were directly plotted from raw data. The results indicated: (1) loss of the diurnal rhythmicity for all three rhythms after implantation; (2) stress-induced modifications of almost all the characteristics of the three rhythms after saline and (3) a loss of diurnal rhythmicity of heart rate after nicorandil, an effect that was not observed after saline and which was reversed when nicorandil administration was stopped. In conclusion, nicorandil perturbed the diurnal rhythmicity of heart rate while the rhythmicity of body temperature and locomotor activity was not affected.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)125-130
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmacology
Volume346
Issue number2-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Apr 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • (Rat)
  • Body temperature
  • Diurnal rhythm
  • Heart rate
  • Locomotor activity
  • Nicorandil
  • Telemetry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Nicorandil affects diurnal rhythms of body temperature, heart rate and locomotor activity in rats'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this