title: Acute sinoaortic denervation induces pre- and postsynaptic alpha-adrenergic subsensitivity in mesenteric arteries in the rat.
abstract: Bilateral sinoaortic denervation induced a rapid increase in blood pressure and heart rate in the rat. Four hours after sinoaortic denervation, the dose-response curve to l-norepinephrine (NE) in perfused mesenteric arteries in vitro was shifted to the right and the maximal response reduced, compared with sham-operated controls. These changes were abolished in the presence of cocaine (10 micrograms/ml). Four hours after sinoaortic denervation, the dose-response curves to methoxamine and serotonin, but not to adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP), were significantly reduced and the muscular response induced by barium chloride was not modified. Vascular responses to stimulation with different frequencies of the sympathetic nerve were reduced 4 hr after sinoaortic denervation. These changes in both the responses to l-NE and to nerve stimulation were reversed 24 hr after sinoaortic denervation. In the same preparation, 4 hr after sinoaortic denervation, the fractional release per pulse of [3H]-NE was significantly enhanced at 10 and 20 Hz frequencies of stimulation, whereas the blockade of the alpha-presynaptic receptors with phentolamine (3.1 microM) did not increase the release of [3H]-NE induced by nerve stimulation, as was observed in sham-operated controls. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that 4 hr after sinoaortic denervation, the pre- and postsynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors are desensitized. These changes could affect arterial sympathetic neurotransmission; the increase in blood pressure observed following sinoaortic denervation could therefore not be explained only by an increase in sympathetic tone.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003714:Denervation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D003042:Cocaine; D009638:Norepinephrine