title: Interactions between sympathomimetic agonists and blocking agents: cardiac effects of phenylephrine and isoproterenol.
abstract: In the isolated rat atria the effects of phenylephrine (alpha-agonist) and isoproterenol (beta-agonist) on the contractile force and heart rate were studied either in presence or not of alpha- and/or beta-blockade. Phentolamine 10(-6) M and propranolol 10(-8) M were used as alpha- and beta-antagonists, respectively. The chronotropic dose-response curves were made in both spontaneously beating atria while inotropic effects were derived from left atria driven at 1 Hz, 5 msec and voltage about 20 percent above threshold. Both agonists induced an inotropic effect that could be significantly blocked by phentolamine, propranolol and both antagonists given together. The chronotropic dose-response curve of isoproterenol (pD2 = 10.70 +/- 0.11) was blocked by phentolamine (pD2 = 9.27 +/- 0.08, p less than 0.001) and propranolol (pD2 = 9.21 +/- 0.19, p less than 0.001). Contrarily, pentolamine was unable to shift to the right the chronotropic dose-response curve for phenylephrine (pD2 = 6.48 +/- 0.07 and 6.63 +/- 0.10, respectively). This action of phenylephrine on the heart rate was significantly blocked by propranolol (pD2 = 6.21 +/- 0.13, p less than 0.05) and by propranolol plus phentolamine (pD2 = 6.07 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.001). From the present results it is concluded that in the rat's atrial myocardium there exist alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors mediating the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol and phenylephrine. Yet, the chronotropic action seems to behave in a different way: while isoproterenol triggered either type of receptors; phenylephrine is only mediated by beta-adrenoceptors.U
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D010646:Phentolamine