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Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613511984611328 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Greeff, O.B.W. (Oppel Bernhardt Wilhelm), 1948- |
| author_browse | Greeff, O.B.W. (Oppel Bernhardt Wilhelm), 1948- |
| author_facet | Greeff, O.B.W. (Oppel Bernhardt Wilhelm), 1948- |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/33332 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:19.082Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/33332 Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants Greeff, O.B.W. (Oppel Bernhardt Wilhelm), 1948- Soma, Prashilla Kruger, Mariska Methyldopa Alpha-Methyldopa Autonomic nervous system Sympathetic nervous system UCTD Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. Methyldopa (L-alpha-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) is a catecholamine used as an antihypertensive agent.1 Alpha-Methyldopa is not used as frequently anymore due to side effects, but it is still used especially in developing countries due to its low cost. Indications are mostly for the management of pregnancyinduced hypertension (PIH), as it is relatively safe in pregnancy compared to other antihypertensive drugs. This project is intended to increase the already-existing knowledge base of the mechanism of pharmacological action and to stimulate further investigation through research. The sympathetic nervous system is a division of the autonomic nervous system and it is responsible for the “flight-or-fight” response. It is involuntary and constantly active to maintain homeostasis in the human body. Sympathetic responses include an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac output, dilation of pupils and bronchioles, constriction of blood vessels, contraction of sphincters and inhibition of gut motility and secretions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the activity of the sympathetic nervous system of volunteers by three different techniques (QT interval and Heart rate variability and Skin conductance) after a week of a bi-daily dosage of alphamethyldopa. All volunteers received either 250mg alpha-methyldopa orally or a placebo tablet in a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study design. The correlation between the following techniques was also evaluated: Skin conductance as measured by the ProComp Infiniti Biofeedback apparatus, QT interval on ECG and HRV measured with Viport apparatus. A salivary sample was collected to evaluate the effect of alpha-methyldopa on salivary cortisol using an ELISA kit for analysis. gm2014 Pharmacology unrestricted 2014-02-11T05:10:31Z 2014-02-11T05:10:31Z 2013-09-06 2013 Dissertation Kruger, M 2013,Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/33332> E13/9/944/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/33332 en © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Methyldopa Alpha-Methyldopa Autonomic nervous system Sympathetic nervous system UCTD Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| title | Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| title_full | Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| title_fullStr | Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| title_short | Effects of alpha-methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| title_sort | effects of alpha methyldopa on the sympathetic nervous system activity in health participants |
| topic | Methyldopa Alpha-Methyldopa Autonomic nervous system Sympathetic nervous system UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/33332 |