title: Differences between alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic inotropic effects in rat heart papillary muscles.
abstract: alpha-And beta-adrenergic inotropic effects have been shown to be qualitatively different. In order to further characterize these difference we compared the mechanical response to alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor stimulation, respectively, in electrically driven left ventricular papillary muscles from rat heart. The muscles were stimulated by either isoprenaline (Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation), phenylephrine in the presence of propranolol (alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation) or phenylephrine alone (combined alpha-and Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation). Isometric tension (T), rate of rise and decline of tension (first derivate=T') and rate of transition from tension rise to tension decline (negative part of second derivative=T') were recorded. These recordings disclosed qualitative differences between the alpha-and Beta-inotropic response both in dose-response and time course experiments. Maximal Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation caused a small increase in Tmax (18%), intermediate increases in T'max (45%) and T'min (68%) and considerable increase in T'min (145%) ("Beta-type" effect). Maximal alpha adrenoceptor stimulation increased all qualities by about the same degree (23-24% ("a-type" effect). While Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation gave a dose-dependent and pronounced increase in the ratio T"min/T'max (relaxation-onset index), alpha adrenoceptor stimulation decreased it to subcontrol values and phenylephrine alone gave a small dose-dependent increase at higher dose. The time course of the alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation was characterized by a transient decrease in all qualities followed by an increase which reached maximum at 4-5 min. Beta-Adrenoceptor stimulation gave a monophasic response which reached maximum after 1-2 min. Phenylephrine alone gave mainly an "a-type" effect although T"min increased significantly more in the absence than in the presence of propranolol and T"min/T'max showed a small increase which developed slowly. Thus Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation activated relaxation compared to contraction by a higher degree than did alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation. This probably reflects different mechanisms of action. While the alpha-effect may rely primarily on an increased calcium influx, the Beta-effect probably is the final result of several subcellular effects of cyclic AMP.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011433:Propranolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D007545:Isoproterenol