title: Alpha 1-adrenergic control of contractility and coronary flow in the perfused rat heart.
abstract: Prazosin inhibition of phenylephrine plus propranolol (alpha 1-adrenergic agonist combination)-mediated inotropy, oxygen uptake, and coronary vasoconstriction of the perfused rat heart were compared with prazosin binding under identical conditions. Binding studies for the perfused heart indicated a population of high-affinity sites (Kd, 0.41 nM; Bmax, 13.2 pmol/g wet wt). Phenylephrine (50 microM) plus dl-propranolol (10 microM) did not significantly alter binding of 3.9 nM prazosin. The alpha 1-agonist combination mediated a dose-dependent increase in tension development and oxygen uptake and a decrease in coronary flow, each of which was inhibited by prazosin. The concentration of prazosin required for half-maximal inhibition of inotropy and oxygen uptake produced by 50-100 microM phenylephrine was 30-40 nM; no inhibition occurred at 2-3 nM prazosin concentration when binding sites were saturated. One nanomolar prazosin was required for half-maximal inhibition of the flow decrease produced by 10 microM phenylephrine. It is concluded that less than 1% of the alpha 1-binding sites are required for full development of inotropy and that this may result from an excess of binding sites or a small population of low-affinity receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rattigan
authors.forename: E Q
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Colquhoun
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Woodcock
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010477:Perfusion; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011224:Prazosin