Postsynaptic alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the vascular system of the herring gull, Larus argentatus.
The nature of the vascular alpha-adrenoceptors has been studied in the herring gull, Larus argentatus. In the anaesthetized herring gull, both phenylephrine and clonidine elicited dose-dependent increases in arterial blood pressure. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin was a better antagonist of phenylephrine than were the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and rauwolscine. Yohimbine and rauwolscine were better antagonists of clonidine than was prazosin. The maximum response to phenylephrine, but not clonidine, was lower in reserpine-treated birds, indicating that phenylephrine in high doses liberates endogenous catecholamines, which contribute to the effect. It is concluded that the herring gull possesses postsynaptic, vascular alpha-adrenoceptors, of both the alpha 1- and alpha 2-subtypes, similar to those found in mammals.
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000294:innervation*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D012110:Reserpine