title: Changes in alpha(1)-adrenergic vascular reactivity in monocrotaline-treated rats.
abstract: In rats, injection of monocrotaline (MCT) causes pulmonary hypertension that leads to right ventricular failure. The aim of the present study was to characterize the responses of various vessels (the pulmonary artery, the thoracic aorta and small mesenteric arteries) to noradrenaline (NA; 10(-10)-10(-5) M) and carbachol (10 microM) in MCT-treated rats. For this purpose 6-week-old male Wistar rats ( n=13) were treated with 60 mg/kg MCT i.p. After 4-6 weeks the rats were killed and the heart, lungs and vessels removed and compared with those from age-matched saline-treated control rats ( n=47). First, the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtype(s) involved in the vascular NA-responses were characterized in normal rats using the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtype-selective antagonists 5-methylurapidil (5-MU; competitive alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor antagonist; 10(-8)-10(-6) M), BMY 7378 (competitive alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor antagonist; 10(-7)-10(-6) M) and chloroethylclonidine (CEC; irreversible alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor antagonist; 30 microM). In the pulmonary artery the pA(2) for BMY 7378 was 7.93, while that for 5-MU could not be calculated. CEC suppressed the NA-induced contraction significantly. In the thoracic aorta, the pA(2) for BMY 7378 was 8.06, while 5-MU was less effective (pA(2) 7.31). CEC again suppressed the NA-induced contraction significantly. In mesenteric arteries, CEC was ineffective whereas 5-MU induced a significant, rightwards shift of the concentration/response curve for NA (pA(2) 8.05). BMY 7378 had a lower pA(2) (6.6). MCT-treated rats developed an increased right ventricular pressure, obliteration of pulmonary vessels and inflammatory lung infiltration. In the pulmonary artery, but not in the thoracic aorta or mesenteric artery of MCT-treated rats NA-induced contraction was attenuated. In addition, carbachol-induced relaxation was reduced in the pulmonary and mesenteric arteries. In conclusion, NA-induced contraction is mediated predominantly by alpha(1A)-adrenoceptors in small mesenteric arteries, by alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors in the thoracic aorta (with a contribution from alpha(1A)- and alpha(1B)-adrenoceptors) and by alpha(1D)- and alpha(1B)-adrenoceptors in pulmonary arteries. MCT leads to reduced NA-responsiveness exclusively in the pulmonary artery that does not, however, account for the development of pulmonary hypertension, and to a more generalized endothelial dysfunction which may contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension in this model.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Strasse 4, 06097 Halle/Saale, Germany. stefan.dhein@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhein
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giessler
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heinroth-Hoffmann
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leineweber
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
authors.forename: Otto-Erich
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Brodde
mesh_terms: D058646:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016686:Monocrotaline / Q000633:toxicity*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D058646:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; C057446:5-methylurapidil; C051731:chlorethylclonidine; D016686:Monocrotaline; C053428:BMY 7378; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine