Two alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtypes regulating the vasopressor response have differential roles in blood pressure regulation

Mol Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;67(3):912-22. doi: 10.1124/mol.104.007500. Epub 2004 Dec 14.

Abstract

To study the functional role of individual alpha1-adrenergic (AR) subtypes in blood pressure (BP) regulation, we used mice lacking the alpha1B-AR and/or alpha1D-AR with the same genetic background and further studied their hemodynamic and vasoconstrictive responses. Both the alpha1D-AR knockout and alpha1B-/alpha1D-AR double knockout mice, but not the alpha1B-AR knockout mice, had significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of basal systolic and mean arterial BP than wild-type mice in nonanesthetized condition, and they showed no significant change in heart rate or in cardiac function, as assessed by echocardiogram. All mutants showed a significantly (p < 0.05) reduced catecholamine-induced pressor and vasoconstriction responses. It is noteworthy that the infusion of norepinephrine did not elicit any pressor response at all in alpha1B-/alpha1D-AR double knockout mice. In an attempt to further examine alpha1-AR subtype, which is involved in the genesis or maintenance of hypertension, BP after salt loading was monitored by tail-cuff readings and confirmed at the endpoint by direct intra-arterial recording. After salt loading, alpha1B-AR knockout mice developed a comparable level of hypertension to wild-type mice, whereas mice lacking alpha1D-AR had significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated BP and lower levels of circulating catecholamines. Our data indicated that alpha1B- and alpha1D-AR subtypes participate cooperatively in BP regulation; however, the deletion of the functional alpha1D-AR, not alpha1B-AR, leads to an antihypertensive effect. The study shows differential contributions of alpha1B- and alpha1D-ARs in BP regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta, Thoracic / drug effects
  • Aorta, Thoracic / physiology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Potassium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Prazosin / pharmacokinetics
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / deficiency
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / drug effects
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / physiology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / drug effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects
  • Vasoconstriction / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Prazosin