Renal alpha 2-adrenoceptors in New Zealand genetically hypertensive rats.
1. Renal alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors were characterized in the New Zealand strain of genetically hypertensive (GH) rat and the Otago random-bred albino normotensive (NT) control rat at 4 and 12 weeks of age with [3H]-prazosin and [3H]-rauwolscine. 2. At 4 weeks of age, the density of alpha-adrenoceptors in NT and GH rats was similar to both the alpha 1- (193 +/- 11 vs 163 +/- 14 fmol mg-1 protein) and alpha 2- (347 +/- 34 vs 319 +/- 41 fmol mg-1 protein) adrenoceptor. At 12 weeks of age, GH rats had a greater density of renal alpha 1- (152 +/- 27 vs 238 +/- 17 fmol mg-1 protein) and alpha 2- (175 +/- 42 vs 350 +/- 23 fmol mg-1 protein) adrenoceptors compared to the NT rats. 3. Pre-incubation of kidneys from GH rats (12 weeks of age) with 1 and 10 microM clonidine decreased the density of receptors identified by unlabelled clonidine displacement of [3H]-rauwolscine to 77% and 56% of control. Pre-incubation with adrenaline, 2,6 dimethylclonidine or phenylephrine failed to alter binding. 4. Pre-incubation of kidneys from NT rats (12 weeks) or young GH rats (4 weeks) with 10 microM clonidine failed to alter displacement of [3H]-rauwolscine by unlabelled clonidine. 5. These studies demonstrate that in another strain of hypertensive rat, the GH rat, alpha 2-adrenoceptor density is increased as compared to the normotensive control at 12 but not 4 weeks of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
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Smyth
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Phelan
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Stanko
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha