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On the presence and distribution of α-adrenoceptors in the heart of various mammalian species

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Summary

The presence and distribution of myocardial α-adrenoceptors in different parts of the heart of various mammalian species was investigated. For this reason experiments were performed in isolated cardiac preparations of rats, guinea pigs and cats. In order to obtain more information about the nature of the cardiac α-adrenoceptors additional experiments were undertaken at different temperatures. These studies were aimed to show whether or not a conversion of β-to α-adrenoceptors or vice versa takes place. Moreover, we analyzed the influence of hypothyroidism on the sensitivity of α- and β-adrenoceptors of preparations from rats fed with propylthiouracil. Finally, we tried to find out whether stimulation of these α-adrenoceptors leads to the formation of the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP.

The following results were obtained:

  1. 1.

    In right ventricular strips of rats, guinea pigs and cats phenylephrine stimulated α-adrenoceptors. After blockade of β-adrenoceptors the respective pD2-values of phenylephrine were 5.32, 5.99 and 5.33. The doseresponse curves obtained in the presence of α-adrenolytic drugs were shifted to the right without depression of the maximum. In the rat, in addition, the pA2-values for the α-adrenolytic drugs yohimbine (5.79) and phentolamine (7.85) were determined. They were at least 0.5 log units higher than those found in the rat for other α-adrenoceptors (Van Rossum, 1965) thus supporting the view that the population of cardiac α-adrenoceptors is different from that of other organs.

    In left ventricular strips of guinea pigs the pD2-value for the α-mimetic effect of phenylephrine was of the same order of magnitude as that obtained in the right ventricle.

  2. 2.

    In the papillary muscle of the right ventricle of guinea pigs and cats phenylephrine stimulated α-adrenoceptors.

  3. 3.

    In the left atrium of the rat, phenylephrine stimulated myocardial α-adrenoceptors (pD2: 5.58). Also in this preparation the pA2-values for yohimbine (6.36) and phentolamine (8.21) were different from those found for other α-adrenoceptors in the rat (Van Rossum, 1965). Likewise in strips from the left atrium of the cat myocardial α-adrenoceptors are present.

  4. 4.

    In spontaneously beating right atria of the rat a clear-cut positive chronotropic effect mediated by stimulation of α-adrenoceptors could not be demonstrated although in 6 out of 15 preparations a small positive chronotropic effect became evident. No positive chronotropic effect at all was obtained by stimulation of α-adrenoceptors in the cat right atrium.

  5. 5.

    In ventricular strips as well as in left atria from hypothyroid rats the pD2-value for the α-effect of phenylephrine was increased, in the atrium more than in the ventricle, while the pA2-values for yohimbine and phentolamine were not significantly different from the controls.

    Under these conditions a distinct positive chronotropic effect mediated by stimulation of α-receptors was found in the spontaneously beating rat atrium.

  6. 6.

    After stimulation of α-adrenoceptors in atria and ventricular strips of normal and propylthiouraciltreated rats, as well as in strips of guinea-pig ventricles or cat atria no elevation of cAMP and cGMP was observed.

  7. 7.

    The concept of a single adrenoceptor convertible from α- to β-type or vice versa was not supported by our experiments. These were carried out at different temperatures on left atria and on ventricular strips of rat hearts using the irreversible α-adrenoceptor blocking agent phenoxybenzamine.

  8. 8.

    The present experiments provide evidence for the existence of α-adrenoceptors in the myocardium of various mammalian species. Their stimulation produces positive inotropic effects without increases in heart rate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmakologisches Institut der Universität Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-4300, Essen 1, Germany

    J. Wagner & O. -E. Brodde

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  1. J. Wagner
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  2. O. -E. Brodde
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This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

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Wagner, J., Brodde, O.E. On the presence and distribution of α-adrenoceptors in the heart of various mammalian species. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 302, 239–254 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508293

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508293

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