title: Adrenergic modulation of vascular prostacyclin (PGI2) secretion.
abstract: An in vitro model for the study of adrenoreceptor-prostacyclin (PGI2) relationships in the rat aorta is described. PGI2 synthesis was stimulated by adrenergic agonists (rank order of potency: epinephrine greater than norepinephrine greater than phenylephrine greater than methoxamine). Isoproterenol, UK 14304, clonidine and salbutamol were without effect. Epinephrine (3 X 10(-7) M)-stimulated PGI2 synthesis was inhibited by adrenoreceptor antagonists (rank order of potency: yohimbine greater than prazosin greater than phentolamine greater than corynanthine much greater than propranolol). The absence of calcium in incubation media abolished epinephrine-stimulated PGI2 synthesis as did the calcium channel blocker, verapamil, in a dose-dependent manner. Calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-5) M)-stimulated PGI2 synthesis was inhibited by verapamil (in a dose-dependent manner), but not by prazosin, phentolamine or yohimbine. It is concluded that epinephrine-mediated rat aortic PGI2 synthesis is alpha-adrenoceptor- and not beta-adrenoceptor-mediated, calcium-dependent, and that the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists evaluated do not have verapamil-like calcium channel blocking activities. These findings may be relevant to contraction-relaxation cycles of vascular tissue.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D013565:Sympatholytics; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D000001:Calcimycin; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D014700:Verapamil; D011464:Epoprostenol; D002118:Calcium; D004837:Epinephrine