Effect of an ergoline derivate-nicergoline (Sermion®) on methylandrostenediol-induced hypertension in the rat

The antihypertensive activity of nicergoline (Sermion®), an adrenolytic and vasodilator drug, was tested in rats when hypertensive vascular disease was induced by administration of methylandrostenediol (MAD). Nicergoline not only counteracted the effect of MAD on the systolic blood pressure of the rats, but it also prevented the appearance of vascular lesions usually induced by this type of experimental hypertension on arterioles of several organs such as heart, kidney and brain and of the pancreatic mesenteric region. When given alone, the drug was well tolerated. Since the drug did not interfere with the modification induced by MAD on the adrenal steroidogenesis, as seen by EM studies of the zona fasciculata of the androgen-treated animals, it is likely that it may have exerted its adrenolytic effect on the peripheral vessels of the MAD-induced hypertensive rats.