The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on lung function

In the graph below, data for atenolol and placebo are taken from the collated practical classes in 2022, while data for pindolol was obtained from a previous cohort of students.

Figure 5: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on resting peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment.

Are the curves significantly different from one another?

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on lung function

Predict the effect of β-adrenoceptor blockade on lung function (PEFR) at rest and during exercise

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on blood pressure at rest 

Figure 4: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on resting diastolic blood pressure of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment. mmHg, millimetres of mercury.

In your practical class, you learned that β-adrenoceptor blockade should have no effect on blood pressure at rest. What is a possible explanation for the decrease in diastolic blood pressure observed here?

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on blood pressure at rest

In the graph below, data for atenolol and placebo are taken from the collated practical classes in 2022, while data for pindolol was obtained from a previous cohort of students.

Figure 3: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on resting systolic blood pressure of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment. mmHg, millimetre of mercury.

Briefly describe the data shown.

Predict the effect of β-adrenoceptor blockade on blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) at rest and during exercise.

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on exercise heart rate

In the graph below, data for atenolol and placebo are taken from the collated practical classes in 2022, while data for pindolol was obtained from a previous cohort of students.

Figure 2: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on exercise heart rate of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment. Bpm, beats per minute.

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on exercise heart rate

In the graph below, data for atenolol and placebo are taken from the collated practical classes in 2022, while data for pindolol was obtained from a previous cohort of students.

Figure 2: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on exercise heart rate of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment. Bpm, beats per minute.

Briefly describe the data shown.

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on blood pressure at rest 

In the graph below, data for atenolol and placebo are taken from the collated practical classes in 2022, while data for pindolol was obtained from a previous cohort of students.

Figure 4: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on resting diastolic blood pressure of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment. mmHg, millimetres of mercury.

Briefly describe the data shown.

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on blood pressure at rest

In the graph below, data for atenolol and placebo are taken from the collated practical classes in 2022, while data for pindolol was obtained from a previous cohort of students.

Figure 3: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on resting systolic blood pressure of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 0 min. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo (ANOVA); n = 41-73 per treatment. mmHg, millimetre of mercury.

Is this result expected? Explain why or why not.

The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on resting heart rate.

Figure 1: The effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on resting heart rate of healthy individuals over time. Placebo (vitamin B6, 10 mg), atenolol (50 mg) or pindolol (10 mg) were administered at 30 min. * p<0.05 drug vs placebo; n = 68-69 per treatment. Bpm, beats per minute.

In a previous trial, it was found that the decrease in heart rate observed with pindolol, was faster than that observed with atenolol. What may have caused the difference in effect between atenolol and pindolol at 15 min post-treatment?