α1- and α2-Adrenoceptor Stimulation in the Isolated Perfused Hindquarters of the Rat

Abstract

In the isolated perfused hindquarters of rats pretreated with reserpine, vasoconstrictor responses were induced by activation of postjunctional alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. B-HT 920 and methoxamine were used as selective stimulants of alpha 2- and alpha 1-adrenoceptors, respectively. Prazosin (pA2 8.83) exhibited a competitive antagonism toward methoxamine-induced vasoconstrictor responses, whereas yohimbine (pA2 8.95) effectively antagonized B-HT 920-induced vasoconstriction in a competitive manner. When calcium was omitted from the perfusion fluid, no vasoconstriction via alpha 2-adrenoceptors could be evoked. On the other hand, raising the extracellular calcium concentration in the perfusion fluid enhanced the alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor effects. Vasoconstriction via postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors seemed hardly, if at all, dependent on extracellular calcium. The calcium entry blockers Co2+, La3+, and nisoldipine selectively inhibited the alpha 2-adrenoceptor-induced vasoconstriction in a noncompetitive manner. The results further support the concept that extracellular calcium is a prerequisite for the process of vasoconstriction induced by activation of postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors.