Norepinephrine induces expression of c-fos mRNA through the alpha-adrenoceptor in rat aortic rings.
We examined whether norepinephrine at pharmacologically relevant doses induces increased expression of c-fos mRNA in rat aortic rings. c-fos mRNA was expressed at norepinephrine concentrations known to cause minimum and maximum contraction of rat aorta in vitro. At the concentration known to cause maximum contraction, norepinephrine produced a marked and sustained increase of c-fos mRNA expression. Induction of c-fos was blocked completely by the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin, partially by the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine, and not at all by the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. A prazosin inhibition curve showed that 1 nmol/L prazosin inhibited 10 micromol/L norepinephrine induced c-fos expression by 40%. At the pharmacologic dose known to cause maximum contraction, norepinephrine induces c-fos mRNA expression through the alpha-adrenoceptor in rat aortic rings.
Carcillo
J A
JA
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583, USA.
Hough
C J
CJ
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000235:genetics*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015016:Yohimbine; D011433:Propranolol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D011224:Prazosin