title: alpha 2-Adrenoceptors potentiate angiotensin II- and vasopressin-induced renal vasoconstriction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: Hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) is due in part to enhanced effects of vasoactive peptides on the renal vasculature. We hypothesize that the G(i) signal transduction pathway enhances renovascular responses to vasoactive peptides in SHRs more so than in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. To test this hypothesis, we examined in isolated perfused kidneys from SHRs and WKY rats the renovascular responses (assessed as changes in renal perfusion pressure in mm Hg) to angiotensin II (10 nM) and vasopressin (3 nM) in the presence and absence of UK-14,304 [5-bromo-N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-6-quinoxalinamine; an agonist that selectively activates the G(i) pathway by stimulating alpha(2)-adrenoceptors]. In SHR, but not WKY, kidneys, UK-14,304 (10 nM) enhanced (P < 0.05) renovascular responses to angiotensin II (control WKY, 43 +/- 6; UK-14,304-treated WKY, 52 +/- 19; control SHR, 66 +/- 17; UK-14,304-treated SHR, 125 +/- 16) and vasopressin (control WKY, 42 +/- 17; UK-14,304-treated WKY, 36 +/- 11; control SHR, 16 +/- 8; UK-14,304-treated SHR, 83 +/- 17). Pretreatment of SHRs with pertussis toxin (30 microg/kg, intravenously, 3-4 days before study) to inactivate G(i) blocked the effects of UK-14,304. Western blot analysis of receptor expression in whole kidney and preglomerular microvessels revealed similar levels of expression of AT(1), V(1a), and alpha(2A) receptors in SHRs compared with WKY rats. We conclude that activation of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors selectively enhances renovascular responses to angiotensin II and vasopressin in SHRs via an enhanced cross talk between the G(i) signal transduction pathway and signal transduction pathways activated by angiotensin II and vasopressin.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. edj+@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chongxue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Edwin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000187:drug effects; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000187:drug effects; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014667:Vasopressins; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go