title: Regional variations of vasomotion to G-protein coupled receptor agonists following heat stress in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to compare vascular contractile and relaxing responses to G-protein coupled receptor agonists among the different regions of arteries following heat stress in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heat exposure was performed by increasing the internal temperature of the rats to 42 degrees C for 15 min. After heat stress for 48 h, a myograph system was used to monitor the contractile responses in rat renal, femoral and mesenteric arteries to agonists of endothelin type B (ET(B)) receptor, endothelin type A (ET(A)) receptor, serotonin receptor and alpha-adrenoceptor, respectively. In addition, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-induced vasodilation was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that heat stress induced decreased contractions mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors and serotonin receptors (at lower concentration), while it increased contraction mediated by endothelin ET(B) receptors and enhanced relaxation mediated by CGRP receptors in the renal artery. Heat stress increased contractions mediated by endothelin ET(B) receptors, endothelin ET(A) receptors and alpha-adrenoceptors in the femoral artery. In the mesenteric artery, heat stress increased contractions mediated by endothelin ET(B) and serotonin receptors and relaxation mediated by CGRP receptors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vasomotor responses to the G-protein coupled receptor agonists with altered vascular contractions and relaxations were different in rat renal, femoral and mesenteric arteries after heat stress. This might have contributed to the redistribution of blood flow and aids understanding of the preconditioning phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P R China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Xiao
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Kun-Lun
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Cang-Bao
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000819:agonists; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000819:agonists*; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide