title: alpha-Adrenergic regulation of human renal function.
abstract: Pharmacological and molecular cloning techniques have identified six human subtypes of alpha-adrenoceptors which are designated alpha 1A, alpha 1D, alpha 2A, and alpha 2C. At the protein level human kidney expresses predominantly alpha 2A-adrenoceptors while other alpha 2-adrenoceptor subtypes or alpha 1-adrenoceptors have not been detected consistently in radioligand binding studies. However, the presynaptic receptors, which inhibit noradrenaline release in the human kidney, appear to belong to the alpha 2C-subtype. Intrarenal infusion of the nonselective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine, and of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, but not of the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, doxazosin, increase renal blood flow and renin release in hypertensive patients undergoing diagnostic renal angiography. Thus, alpha 2- but not alpha 1-adrenoceptors appear to mediate a tonic renal vasoconstriction and inhibition of renin release. Effects of systemically given alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists are difficult to interpret on a mechanistic level since direct effects in the kidney and indirect effects due to baroreflex activation and peripheral presynaptic and central sympatholytic actions may at least partially offset each other. Moreover, some of these drugs may additionally act independent of alpha-adrenoceptors, for example, via imidazoline recognition sits. The net result in a given subject may depend on the endogenous sympatho-adrenal tone. Thus, for each target population of interest, effects have to be described empirically for each drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rump
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha