Characterization of the Hypotensive Side Effect of Macrolide Antibiotics in Animals

Abstract

Neuromuscular blocking activities have been reported for aminoglycosides, for antibiotics of the polymyxin group, and has also been discussed in relation to macrolides such as tylosin, erythromycin and turimycin (Singh and Marshall 1977; Viswanath and Jenkins 1978; Anderson et al 1966; Härtl et al 1979). Investigations have shown that turimycin (T) at doses ranging from 10–50 mg/kg i. v. induced a reversible dose-dependent hypotensive effect in cats and dogs. In vitro T successfully reduced both the tonus of the smooth muscle of the rat ileum and the amplitude of the guinea-pig atrium (Härtl et al 1979). The present study was performed to characterize this hypotensive response in vivo and in vitro experiments.