alpha 2-Adrenoceptors in rat resistance vessels

Characterization of Urothelial Inclusions in Male Wistar Han Rats Treated Orally With the Novel α2A-Adrenoceptor Agonist Tasipimidine

Intracellular inclusions were observed in urinary bladder epithelium of male Wistar rats, following oral treatment with high doses of the α_2A-adrenoceptor agonist tasipimidine for 28 days. No cell death or inflammation was associated with the brightly eosinophilic inclusions. Electron microscopy (EM) studies showed that the inclusions represented intact or fragmented red blood cells (RBC) resulting from erythrophagocytosis, further supported by the presence of iron in urothelial cells. In addition, scattered iron-positive macrophages were observed in the submucosa and muscle layer, indicating microvascular leakage, as no major hemorrhage was evident. Despite the presence of inclusions, the urothelium showed normal uroplakin III distribution, normal cell turnover, and an absence of α-2u-globulin. It is, therefore, concluded that the inclusions were not associated with urothelial damage or increased renewal of the epithelium. This finding shows also that urothelial cells have the capability to phagocytize and break down RBCs originating from submucosal microvascular leakage. Similar changes were not observed in tasipimidine-treated beagle dogs (28 days), suggesting these findings were rat specific. The leakage of RBCs into the urothelium is suggested to be a consequence of exaggerated pharmacology leading to vasoconstriction of submucosal blood vessels in combination with transient increased bladder distension and pressure.

Alpha-adrenoceptors and vascular regulation: molecular, pharmacologic and clinical correlates

This manuscript is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the alpha-adrenoceptors (ARs) and their role in vascular regulation. The historical development of the concept of receptors and the division of the alpha-ARs into alpha 1 and alpha 2 subtypes is traced. Emphasis will be placed on current understanding of the specific contribution of discrete alpha 1- and alpha 2-AR subtypes in the regulation of the vasculature, selective agonists and antagonists for these receptors, the second messengers utilized by these receptors, the myoplasmic calcium pathways activated to initiate smooth muscle contraction, as well as the clinical uses of agonists and antagonists that work at these receptors. New information is presented that deals with the molecular aspects of ligand interactions with specific subdomains of these receptors, as well as mRNA distribution and the regulation of alpha 1- and alpha 2-AR gene transcription and translation.

Characterisation of beta-adrenoceptors in equine digital veins: implications of the modes of vasodilatory action of isoxsuprine

Isolated equine digital veins (EDVs) were used to study beta-adrenoceptor mediated vasodilation and to examine isoxsuprine's vasodilatory mechanism of action. When the blood vessel wall tension was raised with potassium chloride solution (KCl; 59 mmol/l), the order of vasodilator potency of beta-agonists was: isoprenaline > fenoterol > noradrenaline > dobutamine > isoxsuprine. The beta 2-selective adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI 118551 (1 nmol/l) caused a 6.74 and 6.65-fold parallel shift to the right in the dose response curves to fenoterol and noradrenaline respectively. Propranolol (10 nmol/l) inhibited the vasodilatory action of isoprenaline in a competitive manner (19.6 +/- 6.4-fold parallel shift to the right) but was much less effective as an inhibitor of isoxsuprine's vasodilatory action. Isoprenaline and fenoterol were just as effective as vasodilators when blood vessel wall tension was raised with KCl, the thromboxanemimetic U44069 (9, 11-dideoxy-9 alpha, 11 alpha-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha; 30 nmol/l) or the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (0.3 mumol/l). In addition, fenoterol's relaxation of U44069-induced tone was competitively inhibited by the beta 2-selective adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118551 (8.4 +/- 0.9-fold parallel shift to the right). By contrast, isoxsuprine was 81.9 times more potent as a vasorelaxant of phenylephrine-induced tone when compared with KCl-induced tone and proved completely ineffective as a vasodilator of U44069-induced tone. When dose response curves to alpha-adrenoceptor vasoconstrictor agonists were obtained in the presence of isoxsuprine (0.1 mumol/l), competitive antagonism occurred with methoxamine and noncompetitive antagonism with BHT-920. These data suggest EDVs possess beta 2-adrenoceptors mediating vasodilation. Isoxsuprine is an alpha 1-selective adrenoceptor antagonist but has very low potency and efficacy as a beta-adrenoceptor agonist in this functional bioassay. Indeed, much of the vasodilatory action of isoxsuprine may be due to a mechanism which does not involve beta-adrenoceptors.

Effects of hydralazine on contractile responses to alpha 1 and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in isolated rubbed rat aorta

1. Effects of hydralazine on contractile responses to noradrenaline (an alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist) to phenylephrine and methoxamine (both selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists) and to clonidine and BHT-920 (both relatively selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists) were examined in isolated rat aorta deprived of endothelium. Hydralazine (1 mM) produced a rightward shift with depression of the maximal tension of the concentration-response curves for all the agonists tested. The effects on curves for clonidine and BHT-920 (partial agonists) were greater than on curves for noradrenaline, phenylephrine and methoxamine (full agonists). 2. The inhibitory effect of prazosin (pA2, about 10) was much greater than that of yohimbine (pA2, about 7) for all the agonists. 3. In tissues pretreated with phenoxybenzamine, hydralazine (1 mM) inhibited the residual response to all the agonists. The inhibitory effect on residual response to full agonists was similar to that observed on response to partial agonists in tissues not treated with phenoxybenzamine. 4. The relationship between maximal response and percentage receptor occupancy was nonlinear for full agonists, but near-linear for partial agonists. 5. These results indicate that the responses induced by noradrenaline, phenylephrine, methoxamine, clonidine and BHT-920 in the rat aorta are due to the activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors and confirm the vasorelaxant action of hydralazine. 6. These results also suggest that the differential effects of hydralazine on the responses to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists may be due to differences in the amount of receptor reserve available available in this blood vessel for full agonists (noradrenaline, phenylephrine or methoxamine) and partial agonists (clonidine or BHT-920).

Mechanisms involved in angiotensin II induced increases in cardiac output in pithed rats

This study was conducted to determine the mechanisms by which angiotensin II (Ang-II) acutely increases cardiac output. Pithed Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared for continuous measurement of cardiac output by electromagnetic flowmetry. Ang-II (31-1000 ng/kg, i.v.) produced dose-related increases in cardiac output, heart rate and stroke volume. Although the heart rate increases were abolished by beta-adrenoceptor blockade, the cardiac output responses were unchanged due to an offsetting increase in stroke volume. The constancy of the cardiac output response following beta-adrenoceptor blockade suggested that Ang-II increased cardiac output by constricting venous smooth muscle and thereby increasing venous return. This conclusion is supported by the observation that Ang-II produced marked increases in left ventricular end diastolic pressure that paralleled the increases in cardiac output. In fact, based on volume loading with Tyrode's solution, the changes in left ventricular end diastolic pressure produced by Ang-II should have resulted in even greater increases in cardiac output. However, it appears that the significant rise in peripheral resistance to Ang-II tended to counter the effects of increased venous return on cardiac output. In addition, the Ang-II-induced elevations in cardiac output were not altered by alpha-adrenoceptor blockade. Therefore, catecholamines do not play a role in mediating the Ang-II effects. The results of this study support the conclusion that Ang-II is capable of increasing cardiac output by constriction of venous smooth muscle.

Effects of (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol on repolarizing outward currents and pacemaker current in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres

This study was aimed to differentiate the action of (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol (10-1000 mumol/l) on membrane currents which are active during the repolarization of cardiac action potentials. Effects where studied in shortened sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres with the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. Action potentials were activated at a frequency of 0.25 Hz and membrane currents at 0.03 Hz or 0.05 Hz in most experiments. Out of the currents investigated the transient outward current (ito) reacted most sensitively to (+)- and (+/-)-sotalol. Ito-amplitude was decreased on the average to 77% of reference at 10 mumol/l and to 53% at 1000 mumol/l (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol. The maximally available ito-current was decreased but the voltage-dependent control of inactivation was left nearly unchanged. The initial inwardly rectifying current (iK1), which propels the last repolarization phase of the action potential and controls resting potential to a large extent was reduced on the average to 93% of reference at 10 mumol/l and to 62% at 1000 mumol/l (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol. Time-dependent (delayed) outward current (iK) was on the average not affected by (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol up to 100 mumol/l and was decreased to 84% of reference current under the influence of 1000 mumol/l. An initial outward current, which is activated at positive membrane potentials (iinst) was not clearly affected by (+)- or (+/-)-sotalol at concentrations up to 1000 mumol/l. Pacemaker current (if) was not influenced by the drugs up to 100 mumol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Direct effects of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor stimulation on intravascular systemic capacity in the dog

The role of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor stimulation in the regulation of systemic vascular capacity and venous return, a major determinant of cardiac output, is not well understood. With the influence of the central nervous system isolated from the systemic circulation, the direct peripheral vascular effects of two specific, chemically distinct alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonists, UK 14,304 and B-HT 920, were investigated in 19 dogs on total cardiopulmonary bypass with constant arterial perfusion and central venous pressure. Five-minute intra-arterial infusions of UK 14,304 (200 micrograms/min) resulted in increased arterial resistance (mean arterial pressure increased 18 +/- 4 [SEM] mm Hg; p less than 0.01) and a decrease in systemic vascular capacity (81 +/- 20 ml; p less than 0.01). This decrease in systemic vascular capacity appears to result from vasoconstriction, since there was no decrease in transhepatic resistance to portal flow and no significant change in hepatic vein flow to suggest redistribution of arterial blood flow. Yohimbine abolished both the arterial and systemic capacity effects, whereas prazosin did not. Intra-arterial administration of B-HT 920 (200 theta grams/min) in five dogs produced similar changes in arterial resistance and systemic capacity. These findings provide direct evidence for beta 2-adrenergic control, not only of arterial resistance but also of systemic vascular capacity, which in the intact animal would increase venous return to the heart.

Studies on the anti-vasoconstrictor activity of BRL 34915 in spontaneously hypertensive rats; a comparison with nifedipine

1. The blood pressure lowering and anti-vasoconstrictor effects of BRL 34915 and nifedipine were compared in female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2. In conscious SHR, intravenous injection of BRL 34915 (0.1, 0.3 mg kg-1) produced rapid, dose-related falls in mean arterial pressure of greater than 3 h duration. Nifedipine, at the same intravenous dose levels, also evoked rapid anti-hypertensive effects, though these responses were of lesser magnitude and duration than those observed for BRL 34915. 3. In anaesthetized, ganglion-blocked SHR, BRL 34915 (0.1, 0.3 mg kg-1 i.v.) dose-dependently antagonized the pressor responses to incremental intravenous infusions of noradrenaline (3.8-28.5 ng min-1) or phenylephrine (120-907 ng min-1) but did not inhibit pressor responses to incremental infusions of methoxamine (0.47-3.63 micrograms min-1), angiotensin II (7.0-52.9 ng min-1) or vasopressin (0.27-2.0 mu min-1). 4. In anaesthetized, ganglion-blocked SHR, nifedipine (0.1, 0.3 mgkg-1 i.v.) antagonized the pressor responses to each of the infused vasoconstrictor agents, being most effective against responses to noradrenaline or angiotensin II. 5. In pithed SHR, both BRL 34915 and nifedipine (each at 0.3 mg kg-1 i.v.) reduced the basal blood pressure level and produced marked inhibition of frequency-dependent pressor responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the spinal cord sympathetic outflow (0.25-4.0 Hz). Restoration of the basal diastolic blood pressure to within the control range, using a continuous intravenous infusion of vasopressin (0.98 mu min-1), prevented the inhibitory effect of BRL 34915. In the case of nifedipine, however, even raising the basal blood pressure to a level exceeding that recorded in control rats (with vasopressin, 2.0 mu min-1), did not reverse the inhibitory effect of the drug on frequency-dependent pressor responses. 6. It is concluded that the anti-hypertensive properties of BRL 34915 in SHR are probably unrelated to an anti-vasoconstrictor action. In contrast, it is suggested that the broadly-based anti-vasoconstrictor properties of nifedipine may contribute substantially to the anti-hypertensive properties of this drug.

Postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors in blood vessels of human nasal mucosa

Human nasal mucosa has various types of blood vessels and is a good tissue for demonstrating receptors for many vasoactive substances, including alpha-adrenoceptors. In contrast to the large contractile response induced by alpha 1-agonists, our studies have shown that alpha 2-agonists produce a small maximal contraction. This alpha 2-induced response was easily blocked by alpha 1-antagonists, indicating that it is evoked, at least partially, by the stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Noradrenaline (NA)-induced contractions could not be abolished by either alpha 1- or alpha 2-antagonists alone, but were almost completely blocked by the combination of both antagonists. This suggests the presence of postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The low-maximal responsiveness to alpha 2-agonists and calcium independency of NA-induced contractions were distinct from our former results obtained on canine nasal specimens.

Postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors mediate venoconstriction in the hindquarters circulation of anaesthetized cats

1 A study was made of the subtypes of postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors which mediate arterial and venous constriction in the hindquarters circulation of anaesthetized cats, as measured by changes in perfusion pressure and vena cava blood flow, respectively. 2 It was found that, while noradrenaline caused constriction in both the arterial and venous compartments, methoxamine caused only arterial constriction. Clonidine and B-HT 920 also caused arterial and venous constriction although autodesensitization to both drugs occurred. 3 The ability of either prazosin or yohimbine to antagonize the constrictor effects of noradrenaline was also examined. It was found that the combination of both antagonist drugs abolished both the arterial and venous constrictor effects of noradrenaline. However, there was a greater prazosin-resistant response to noradrenaline in the venous compartment as compared with the arterial effects of noradrenaline. Yohimbine caused approximately equal reductions in the effect of noradrenaline in both arteries and veins, which was greater than that observed with prazosin. 4 These results suggest that, in the cat hindquarters, both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors are present in the arterial circulation, whereas there are mainly alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the venous circulation.

Equal potency of nifedipine to inhibit alpha 1-(dobutamine and BDF 6143) and alpha 2-adrenoceptor (B-HT 920) induced pressor responses in pithed rats; lack of effect of phenoxybenzamine

Intravenous (i.v.) dobutamine and BDF 6143 were partial agonists in increasing diastolic pressure in beta-adrenoceptor-blocked pithed rats. The log dose-pressor effect curves were not influenced by yohimbine (1 mg/kg i.v., -15 min) but were markedly shifted to the right by prazosin (0.1 mg/kg i.v., -15 min) indicating the exclusive involvement of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Nifedipine (0.1-1 mg/kg i.a., -15 min) non-competitively inhibited the pressor effects of dobutamine and BDF 6143 as well as of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agent B-HT 920 with equal potency. The -log ED50 values calculated for nifedipine amounted to 6.25 +/- 0.12, 6.16 +/- 0.14 and 6.20 +/- 0.10, respectively. Phenoxybenzamine (3 or 10 micrograms/kg i.v., -60 min) did not affect the effectiveness of nifedipine (0.1 mg/kg) to inhibit the pressor effects of dobutamine and BDF 6143. Following treatment with Bay k 8644 (1 mg/kg i.a., -15 min), the log dose-pressor effect curves for dobutamine and BDF 6143 were shifted to the left and the maximum responses were elevated. Our findings suggest that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-induced pressor effects of dobutamine and BDF 6143 rely heavily on the influx of Ca2+, and are indistinguishable in this respect from the effects initiated by alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation. The data further support the view that the sensitivity of alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated pressor effects to inhibition by Ca2+ entry blockers depends on the extent to which Ca2+ influx contributes to the overall response and is not determined by the intrinsic activity or by the receptor reserve of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist.

Blockade by nifedipine of responses to intravenous bolus injection or infusion of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in the pithed rat

Nifedipine was tested against pressor responses in the pithed rat to ten agonists with varying selectivity for alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, injected as a bolus or infused intravenously: i.e. amidephrine, azepexole, cirazoline, indanidine, M7, methoxamine, noradrenaline (NA), oxymetazoline, phenylephrine and xylazine. Nifedipine, administered before the agonists, inhibited responses initiated by all agonists, usually for both the bolus and infusion responses. With a bolus, blockade was significantly greater against the more prolonged, secondary components of the pressor responses. This demonstrates that calcium-entry occurs during the secondary component of the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated response and can be initiated by either alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoceptor subtypes. The time courses of responses to infusion varied. Selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists, with the exception of indanidine, did not produce a stable pressor response during the 20 min infusion time but alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists did. Nifedipine reduced responses to infusion with no preference for alpha 1- or alpha 2-agonists. Phenylephrine and NA produced pressor responses which reached a peak and then declined during the remainder of the infusion. The levels of NA in arterial and venous plasma were measured by h.p.l.c. during the infusion of NA. Arterial NA levels rose throughout the infusion whereas venous levels remained relatively unaffected. The absolute levels of plasma NA suggest that a large proportion of intravenously administered NA is removed in the pulmonary circulation and the remainder is removed in the systemic circulation with negligible recirculation. The consequences of these results, for assessment of the mechanisms of action of adrenoceptor agonists and calcium entry blockers, are discussed.

Influence of calcium entry blockade on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction in the forearm of hypertensive patients

The influence of treatment with the calcium entry blockers PY 108-068 (PY) and PN 200-110 (PN) on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction has been investigated in the forearms of hypertensive patients. Changes in forearm vascular resistance (FVR) in response to the intra-arterial infusion of drugs were determined at the end of a placebo period and after 2-4 weeks of treatment with PY or PN. The drugs used were the selective agonists methoxamine (alpha 1) and B-HT 933 (alpha 2). During placebo, basal FVR was dose-dependently increased by methoxamine and B-HT 933. Basal blood pressure was lowered during PN but not during PY. Treatment with the calcium entry blockers did not influence the effect of methoxamine, but the vasoconstriction induced by B-HT 933 was attenuated by both of the calcium entry blockers. These results confirm the findings in animal studies that calcium entry blockers preferentially inhibit the alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction induced by selective agonists.

A comparison of the ability of various alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists to induce EGTA-resistant contractions of rat aorta

Phenylephrine (PE) and Guanfacine (GU) produced maximum contractions of rat isolated aorta which were 96.8 +/- 1.3% and 96.0 +/- 2.8% respectively of the maximum responses induced by noradrenaline (NA). The responses produced by maximum concentrations of NA following 2 min incubation of the preparations with 3.0 mM EGTA were 38.1 +/- 1.2% of the maxima achieved in normal Krebs. PE produced maximum EGTA-resistant responses which were significantly less than those seen with NA; GU produced EGTA-resistant responses which were significantly less than those to PE. The concentration response curves to NA and PE were shifted to the right by incubation with EGTA. The curve for PE was shifted by a significantly greater degree than that for NA. Amidephrine, UK-14,304 and St-587 produced only nominal EGTA-resistant responses even though one of these (UK-14,304) produced contractions in normal Krebs which were almost 70% of the maximum achieved by NA. The log dose ratio for all agonists (except amidephrine) were similar following the addition of 5 nM prazosin. Amidephrine had no effect in the presence of this concentration of prazosin. It is concluded that all agonists tested were acting on alpha 1-adrenoreceptors. Prazosin (5 nM) but not corynanthine (2.5 microM) slowed the rate of rise of contraction of all agonists tested. It is proposed that the rate of rise of agonist/receptor combinations is an important determinant of alpha-adrenoreceptor agonist induced EGTA-resistant responses in rat aorta.

Effects of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists on cardiac output and its regional distribution in the pithed rat

Cardiac output, its distribution and tissue blood flows were determined with tracer microspheres in pithed rats during pressor responses elicited by either alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists (cirazoline, phenylephrine) or alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists (xylaxine, B-HT 933). Two doses were used for each of cirazoline and B-HT 933 and phenylephrine was investigated in the presence of propranolol (3 mg kg-1). The rats were pithed under halothane anaesthesia. Cardiac output was increased by xylazine, the higher dose of B-HT 933 and phenylephrine. Heart rate was increased by phenylephrine and the higher doses of both cirazoline and B-HT 933. Stroke volume was greater in those groups given xylazine, phenylephrine and the higher dose of B-HT 933 but was decreased in those animals given the higher dose of cirazoline. Both alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists increased the number of microspheres trapped in the lungs and the proportion of the cardiac output passing through the hepatic artery but decreased that flowing through the spleen and gastrointestinal tract. The higher dose of B-HT 933 also decreased the fraction of cardiac output flowing to the kidneys but kidney blood flow was maintained as a result of the increased cardiac output. Also, this treatment reduced blood flow in the epididimal fat pads. Both alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists increased the fraction of cardiac output received by the coronary vasculature but the only other effect on distribution common to these agents was an increase in the percentage of the cardiac output passing to the hepatic artery. Cirazoline decreased the proportion of cardiac output distributed to the gastrointestinal tract and spleen but the total fraction of cardiac output passing to the hepatosplanchnic region was maintained as a result of the increase to the hepatic artery. Cirazoline markedly reduced the proportion of the cardiac output received by the kidneys and absolute flow in these organs was only 1.4% of control after the higher dose of this agonist but flow at the lower dose was maintained by the higher cardiac output. It is concluded that there is a significant contribution to the pressor responses elicited by alpha-agonists resulting from an alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated increase in cardiac output that may result from greater heart rates or stroke volumes. Also, there is a differential distribution of alpha-receptor subtypes throughout the vasculature which is especially noticeable in the kidneys.

Inhibitory effect of calcium antagonist drugs on vasoconstriction induced by vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation

A survey is given of the mechanisms of the antihypertensive effect of calcium entry blockers. The main background of the antihypertensive/hypotensive action is dilatation of precapillary arterioles (resistance vessels that cause a reduction in total peripheral resistance and, hence, a decrease in blood pressure). The vascular relaxation is caused by an inhibition of the transmembranous calcium influx and, probably less so, by interference with calmoduline. Calcium entry blockers significantly reduce the vasoconstriction induced by the excitation of vascular postsynaptic alpha 2 adrenoceptors. The inhibitory effect of calcium entry blockers is reversed by the calcium entry promoter Bay k 8644. The vasoconstriction induced by alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation is less generally influenced by calcium entry blockers than the alpha 2 effects. The interference with alpha 2-adrenoceptor-induced vasoconstriction may contribute to the vasodilator action of the calcium entry blockers, especially in hypertensive patients who show a hyperreactivity to pressor responses toward catecholamines.

Relative contribution of different vascular beds to the pressor effects of alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists and vasopressin in pithed rats: radioactive microsphere determination

The relative fractional distribution of 51Cr-labelled microspheres was evaluated in pithed rats during equieffective vascoconstrictor responses evoked by infusions of the alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists methoxamine (alpha 1-selective), UK-14,304 (alpha 2-selective) or vasopressin. The proportion of injected radioactive microspheres trapped in each tissue during a sustained pressor response relative to saline treated controls is considered a reflection of the degree of local vascoconstriction in the tissue analysed. All three agonists (methoxamine, UK-14,304 and vasopressin) decreased the number of microspheres trapped in the mesentery and tail. Only methoxamine reduced the blood flow to the kidney and spleen. UK-14,304 did not modify the number of microspheres in the sample of skeletal muscle, however, both vasopressin and methoxamine reduced the blood flow to this tissue. Vasopressin increased the counts in the lungs and particularly in the liver but decreased the number of spheres trapped in the stomach and skin. In contrast to the alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists, vasopressin did not increase the number of microspheres trapped in the heart. Since a reduction in the number of microspheres trapped in the tissue reflects a decrease in blood flow, to that organ it is reasonable to conclude that alpha 1-adrenoreceptor stimulation increases kidney, spleen, mesentery, caudal and skeletal muscle vascular resistance, whereas alpha 2-adrenoreceptors appear to preferentially vasoconstrict the mesenteric and the caudal vascular beds.

Influence of respiratory acidosis or alkalosis on pressor responses mediated by alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in pithed normotensive rats

The effect of respiratory acidosis and alkalosis on the vasoconstriction to alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation was studied in pithed normotensive rats. The selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists (-)amidephrine, cirazoline, (+/-)erythro methoxamine, (-)phenylephrine, Sgd 101/75 and St 587 were used, as well as the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists B-HT 920, B-HT 933, DP-6,7-ADTN, M-7 and UK 14,304. The non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor agonists xylazine, noradrenaline and adrenaline were included as well. The latter two were also studied under selective doses of the antagonists rauwolscine and prazosin, thus yielding the respective alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor components of the vasoconstriction to these agonists. The effect of acid-base balance disturbances on presynaptically released noradrenaline elicited by electrical stimulation of preganglionic nerves was studied as well. Dose response curves for the agonists were generated under various conditions of ventilation, yielding either alkalotic, normal or acidotic values of arterial blood pH. Pressor responses to all agonists were maximally affected by changes in acid-base status at the low doses of the agonists. Acidosis was found to inhibit increases in diastolic pressure mediated by the alpha 1-as well as the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists studied, although not to the same extent. Alkalosis exerted either an obvious potentiation or did not significantly influence alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated pressor responses. On the basis of acid-base sensitivity the following groups of agonists were distinguished: Cirazoline, phenylephrine, methoxyamine, electrically released noradrenaline from presynaptic sites, of which pressor responses are obviously potentiated and attenuated by alkalosis and acidosis, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium entry blockers inhibit vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors

Stimulation of the sympathetic outflow (spinal cord segments T 7-9) in pithed rats resulted in an increase in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, total peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output. The increase in blood pressure and peripheral resistance was markedly depressed by prazosin and to a lesser extent by yohimbine, suggesting that these responses were mediated primarily by postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The calcium entry blockers nifedipine, tiapamil and verapamil also depressed pressor responses and the increase in total peripheral resistance to electrical stimulation of the sympathetic outflow in these rats. This depression resulted primarily from an effect on peripheral vascular resistance components, as cardiac output remained unaffected by the calcium entry blockers. This conclusion was supported by studies on isolated, perfused rat renal arteries. Vasoconstrictor responses of this in vitro preparation to perivascular nerve stimulation were depressed by 1,000-fold lower concentrations of prazosin than rauwolscine, demonstrating the predominantly alpha 1-adrenoceptor nature of these effects. Likewise, these vasoconstrictor responses were depressed by nifedipine, tiapamil and verapamil in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of this study suggest that vasoconstrictor responses of rat resistance vessels to sympathetic nerve stimulation are mediated primarily by postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors and can be inhibited by calcium entry blockers. This implies that contractile responses of these resistance vessels to alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation are not independent of the availability of extracellular calcium.

Studies on the effects of felodipine on the vascular resistance and reactivity in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs

Bilateral perfused hindlimb preparations in pentobarbital anesthetized dogs were utilized in the present study to evaluate vasodilator effects of felodipine, in the presence and in the absence of sympathetic neurogenic tone. Vascular resistance was evaluated by establishing pressure-flow characteristics. A lower dose of this agent (0.01 mumol/kg i.v.) produced significant reductions in the systemic arterial blood pressure and vascular resistance only in the innervated but not in the denervated limb. This effect was shown to be due to interference with noradrenaline induced vasoconstriction. However, a tenfold higher dose of felodipine (0.1 mumol/kg i.v.) was indeed effective in attenuating resistance in the denervated vascular bed; this ability of the higher dose (0.1 mumol/kg) to inhibit vascular resistance may be due to an additional intracellular action of this drug affecting myogenic tone and/or due to inhibition of the vascular effects of the endogenous renin-angiotensin system. In the present experimental model, felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, was equally effective in inhibiting either alpha 1- or alpha 2-mediated vasoconstriction. These data suggest that the ability of felodipine to interfere with sympathetic vasoconstrictor mechanisms primarily contributes to its hypotensive effects in the barbiturate-anesthetized dogs.

Investigations into the nature of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat tail arteries

In rat isolated perfused tail arteries, dose-response curves were established for the vasopressor effects of phenylephrine (alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist), clonidine (alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist), clonidine in the presence of 10(-7) mol/l prazosin (alpha 2-agonist), and BHT-920 (alpha 2-agonist). The ED50 values were: phenylephrine 1.85 X 10(-10) mol; clonidine 6.3 X 10(-10) mol; clonidine + prazosin 3.2 X 10(-6) mol; BHT-920 6.1 X 10(-6) mol. The arterial reactivity to BHT-920 was stable only after 4-5 h of perfusion. Responses to BHT-920 were not antagonized by yohimbine (alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist) but were antagonized by low concentrations of prazosin (alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist). These data constitute conflicting evidence regarding the existence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat tail arteries. The data are consistent with the proposal that there are two recognition sites on alpha 1-adrenoceptors; phenylephrine and BHT-920 may stimulate different sites on alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

Preferential antagonism by diltiazem of alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstrictor responses in perfused tail arteries of spontaneous hypertensive rats

Vasoconstrictor responses mediated by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist TL99, were particularly sensitive to blockade by the calcium antagonist drug diltiazem in isolated perfused tail arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In contrast, the vasoconstrictor responses induced by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine were significantly more resistant to antagonism by diltiazem. At higher concentrations (greater than 300 nmol/l) diltiazem became an effective antagonist of all alpha-adrenoceptor mediated responses. In normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) or Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats diltiazem was significantly less potent against vasoconstrictor responses to TL99 than in SHR. The blockade of alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction by diltiazem was not significantly different when normotensive rats and SHR were compared. The vasoconstrictor responses evoked by 5HT in the perfused tail arteries were particularly resistant to blockade by diltiazem in SHR arteries. The responses to endogenously released noradrenaline, evoked by electrical field stimulation, were significantly antagonised by diltiazem (30 nmol/1-3 mumol/l) in SHR-tail arteries, while they were not modified in WKY-tail arteries. At the concentrations of diltiazem which blocked end organ responses to field stimulation, there was no modification of total tritium overflow from SHR-tail arteries after labelling the tissue with 3H-noradrenaline, indicating that diltiazem does not inhibit transmitter release at these concentrations. The tail artery preparation of SHR contains a population of postsynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors which mediate contraction in this blood vessel and the calcium entry blocker diltiazem is a potent antagonist of vasoconstrictor responses mediated by vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors in hypertensive rats. These findings may be relevant to the antihypertensive action of diltiazem.

Invariable susceptibility to blockade by nifedipine of vasoconstriction to various alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in pithed rats

The sensitivity of the increase in diastolic pressure brought about by the selective agonists of alpha 2-adrenoceptors, B-HT 920, B-HT 933, xylazine, UK-14,304, M-7, TL-99 and DP-6, 7-ADTN in pithed normotensive rats to blockade by the calcium entry inhibitor nifedipine has been investigated. To exclude any participation of vascular alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, as well as cardiac beta 1-adrenoceptors, in the pressor responses, the study was made after treatment of the pithed rats with prazosin (0.1 mg kg-1) and (-)-propranol (1 mg kg-1). Without exception, the preferential agonists of alpha 2-adrenoceptors elicited vasoconstrictor responses which were susceptible to inhibition by nifedipine (0.03-1 mg kg-1) in a dose-dependent manner regardless of the differences in intrinsic activity of the compounds. The pressor activity was almost completely abolished after 1 mg kg-1 of nifedipine. The results show that vasoconstriction induced in pithed rats by various selective stimulating agents of postjunctional vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors is invariably and equally sensitive to attenuation by nifedipine. This susceptibility of alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction to impairment by blockade of calcium entry is not dependent on the nature, the potency or the efficacy of the agonist.

Interactions between the putative calcium entry promotor Bay k 8644 and pressor responses produced by alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in the pithed normotensive rat

Interactions between the putative calcium entry promotor Bay k 8644 and both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated increases in diastolic pressure were studied in the pithed normotensive rat. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated pressor responses elicited by B-HT920, TL-99, DP-6,7-ADTN and B-HT958 were potentiated by Bay k 8644, reflected by a leftward shift and an increase in the maximum of the log dose-pressor response curves. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated effects elicited by cirazoline, methoxamine, (-)-amidephrine, St 587, (-)-phenylephrine and Sgd 101/75 were less enhanced by Bay k 8644. Only a leftward shift of the dose-response curves was observed, which was most pronounced for (-)-phenylephrine and Sgd 101/75. The alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated pressor components of (-)-noradrenaline were similarly distinguished by Bay k 8644 as observed for the selective alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists. Effects of Bay k 8644 on the increase in diastolic pressure mediated by B-HT 920, St 587 and cirazoline were also studied after pretreatment with the calcium entry blocker nifedipine. After additional pretreatment with nifedipine the potentiation by Bay k 8644 observed for B-HT 920 and St 587 was more pronounced. The presence of nifedipine had no effect on the interaction between Bay k 8644 and cirazoline. It is concluded that Bay k 8644 behaves as a mirror image of nifedipine.+

On the postjunctional alpha-adrenoreceptors in rat cerebral and mesenteric arteries

The contractile response to exogenously applied noradrenaline (NA) was examined in vitro in tubal segments (0.2-0.1 mm in diameter) of rat middle cerebral (MCA), basilar (BA) and mesenteric (MA) arteries. In the MCA, the maximum contractile response to NA (10(-4)M) was considerably smaller than that induced by K+ (124 mM) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (10(-5)M), whereas the inverse relationship was found in the MA. NA usually failed to elicit contraction in the BA even in the presence of propranolol and cocaine. In the MCA, propranolol (3 X 10(-7)M) enhanced the maximum contractile response to NA by approximately 100% without affecting the potency of the agonist. In the MA, propranolol had no effect on the concentration-response relationship for NA. Cocaine (10(-5)M) or 6-hydroxydopamine pretreatment increased the NA sensitivity of the MA by a factor of three, whereas these procedures failed to influence the NA sensitivity of the MCA. A marked stereoselectivity was found in the MCA, as (-)-NA was more than 100 times more potent than (+)-NA as a contractile agent. The order of potency of a series of alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists was (-)-adrenaline greater than oxymetazoline greater than (+/-)-NA approximately (-)-phenylephrine greater than methoxamine in the MCA and (+/-)-NA greater than (-)-phenylephrine in the MA. Clonidine failed to elicit contraction in concentrations lower than 3 X 10(-4)M in both types of artery. Prazosin was between three and four orders of magnitude more potent than rauwolscine in inhibiting NA-induced contractions in the MCA and MA. The pA2 values for, respectively, prazosin and rauwolscine were 9.3 and 5.4 in the MCA and 9.7 and 6.8 in the MA. The slope of the Schild plot deviated significantly from unity only for rauwolscine in the MA (0.64). It is concluded that the contractile response to exogenous NA in the MCA and MA is mediated mainly by stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoreceptors, although a small contribution of postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoreceptors in the MA cannot be excluded. In contrast to the MCA, the BA appears to lack contraction-mediating alpha-adrenoreceptors, indicating regional differences in the alpha-adrenoreceptor distribution in the rat cerebrovascular bed.

Effects of captopril on vascular noradrenergic transmission in SHR

The effects of captopril, 3 and 10 mg/kg, on vascular noradrenergic transmission were examined in vivo in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). These experiments were performed on mesenteric vascular beds perfused in situ. In WKY, 3 mg/kg captopril failed to significantly lower mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and also failed to have a significant effect on the frequency-response curve to sympathetic nerve stimulation or dose-response curve to norepinephrine (NE) in the mesentery of WKY. In SHR mesentery, 3 mg/kg captopril failed to alter the frequency response curve or NE dose-response curve, while it significantly lowered MAP. The higher dose of captopril, 10 mg/kg, also failed to lower MAP in WKY mesentery, although it caused some reduction in pressor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation and NE. In SHR mesentery, 10 mg/kg captopril significantly lowered MAP and reduced pressor responses to both nerve stimulation and NE. It should be noted, however, that captopril lowered responses to nerve stimulation and NE to a similar degree in both SHR and WKY, and there was no indication of a prejunctional action on vascular noradrenergic transmission. In conclusion, although captopril was more effective in lowering MAP in SHR than in WKY, no evidence was found for significantly greater facilitation of vascular sympathetic neurotransmission by endogenous angiotensin II in SHR than in WKY, and most of the actions of captopril on vascular neurotransmission appeared to be postjunctional in nature and unrelated to either the renin-angiotensin system or the kallikrein-kinin system.

Lack of relationship between intrinsic activity and susceptibility of pressor responses to blockade by nifedipine among the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists B-HT 920 and B-HT 958

Following i.v. bolus injections into pithed normotensive rats, the maximal diastolic pressor responses to B-HT 920 and B-HT 958 amounted to 115 and 35 mm Hg, respectively. Prazosin (0.1 mg/kg, i.v., -15 min) was without effect on the log dose-pressor effect curve of B-HT 958, whereas yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.v., -15 min) shifted this curve about 30-fold to the right, showing the exclusive participation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the vasoconstrictor response to B-HT 958. In doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg, B-HT 958 displaced the log dose-vasoconstrictor effect curve of B-HT 920 approximately 6- and 30-fold, respectively, to the right, illustrating the partial agonism of B-HT 958 at postjunctional vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Despite the marked difference in intrinsic activity of B-HT 920 and B-HT 958, the calcium entry blocker nifedipine exhibited a comparable inhibitory action on the vasopressor responses to both agonists. This finding indicates that partial and full agonism at vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors are not related to the susceptibility of the initiated pressor response to inhibition by calcium entry blockade.

The influence of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists on cardiac output in rats and cats

In pithed rats, but not in pithed cats, the alpha 2-/dopamine agonist B-HT 920 (10-300 micrograms kg-1) increased cardiac output. The increase was inhibited by yohimbine (1 mg kg-1), but not by sulpiride (0.3 mg kg-1) and nifedipine (1 mg kg-1). Both in pithed rats and cats, the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine (30-300 micrograms kg-1 and 30-1000 micrograms kg-1, respectively) increased cardiac output. This increase (rats) was inhibited by prazosin (0.1 mg kg-1). The results indicate the existence of functional venous alpha 2-adrenoceptors in pithed rats, and their absence in pithed cats. Furthermore, alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated venoconstriction appears independent of extracellular calcium.

Differential effect of calcium entry blockers on alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in vivo

The effects of the calcium entry blockers nifedipine, (-)-verapamil and the dihydropyridine derivative PY 108-068 were evaluated on the increase in diastolic pressure of pithed normotensive rats caused by the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists cirazoline, (-)-phenylephrine, (+/-)-erythro-methoxamine, (-)-amidephrine and St 587 [(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethylphenylimino)-2-imidazolidine] as well as by the mixed alpha 1/alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine and DPI [(3,4-dihydroxyphenylimino)-2-imidazolidine]. The calcium entry inhibitors (up to 3 mg/kg) caused 3- to 5-fold, parallel rightward shifts of the log dose-pressor effect curves to cirazoline, (-)-phenylephrine, (+/-)-erythro-methoxamine and (-)-amidephrine accompanied by only a slight depression of the maximal pressor response. In contrast, the calcium entry inhibitors produced a dose-dependent profound depression of both maximum and slope of the log dose-pressor response curves to St 587 and clonidine. For DPI about 10- and 100-fold parallel displacements to the right without reduction of the maximum were found following treatment with 1 and 3 mg/kg of nifedipine, respectively. Infusion of vasopressin to counteract the vasodilatory action produced by the calcium entry inhibitors did not significantly change the pattern of interference observed under the conditions of decreased baseline diastolic pressure. The results indicate that alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in the pithed normotensive rat, which is characterized by its sensitivity to blockade by prazosin and its relative insensitivity to antagonism by yohimbine or rauwolscine, can be subdivided into two distinct processes which are differentially influenced by blockade of calcium entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacological characterization of alpha-adrenoreceptor subtypes in rat isolated thoracic aorta

The subtype of alpha-adrenoreceptor mediating contraction in rat isolated thoracic aorta was classified pharmacologically using preferential agonists and antagonists, and by utilizing mixed agonist and antagonist interactions. Noradrenaline was 8 to 10-times more potent at contracting the aorta than phenylephrine and both agonists were about 1000 and 10,000-fold respectively more potent than azepexole (a preferential alpha 2-agonist). Prazosin (a preferential alpha 1-antagonist) inhibited the dose-response curves to noradrenaline and phenylephrine 100 and 1000-times respectively more effectively than either phentolamine or rauwolscine (a preferential alpha 2-antagonist). Furthermore, prazosin (5 x 10(-9) M) completely abolished contractions elicited by a single concentration of azepexole (3 x 10(-4) M). In mixed antagonist studies, rauwolscine (5 x 10(-7) M) failed to shift the dose-response curves to noradrenaline and phenylephrine obtained in the presence of prazosin (5 x 10(-9) M). In mixed agonist experiments, azepexole (3 x 10(-4) M) acted as a partial antagonist toward phenylephrine-induced contractions. The results suggest that the alpha-adrenoreceptor of the rat thoracic aorta is predominantly, if not exclusively, of the alpha 1-subtype.

Attenuation of sympathetic vasoconstriction by nifedipine: the role of vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors

The effects of nifedipine on hindlimb vasoconstriction caused by norepinephrine infusion and sympathetic stimulation (0.1-1.0 Hz) were compared in dogs given 0.12 mg/kg prazosin or 0.3 mg/kg rauwolscine. Constrictions due to stimulation or norephinephrine with prazosin, presumed to be mediated by vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors, were significantly attenuated by 30 micrograms/kg nifedipine, while constrictions with rauwolscine, presumably alpha 1-mediated, remained unaffected. These data support the hypothesis that the antihypertensive effect of calcium antagonists is based upon interference with alpha 2-mediated sympathetic vasoconstriction.