Phentolamine-resistant neurogenic constriction occurs in small arteries at higher frequencies

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1985

Abstract

The effect of the α1, α2-antagonist phentolamine (PTA) on neuromuscular transmission and exogenous norepinephrine (NE) was assessed in arteries of diminishing diameter posessing a substantial adventitiomedial junction adrenergic innervation in the rabbit ear, i/.e., central ear artery (CEA), unstretched lumen diameter (ULD) ≃ 300 μm; main side branch (MSB) off the CEA (ULD ≃ 150 μm); and terminal branch (TB) off the MSB (ULD ≃ 75 μm). With increasing PTA concentrations, contractile response to transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) were decreased proportionately less in TB than in MSB and CEA. PTA (4 x 10-6 M, a competitive antagonist concentration) blocked the tetrodotoxin-sensitive TNS-induced contractions of CEA segments at 2, 4, and 8 Hz. The response at 8 Hz was reduced at least 98% in MSB and 86% in TB. However, responses to 8 Hz were not abolished in MSB and TB until 2 x 10-5 and 3 x 10-5 M PTA, respectively. PTA (3 x 10-5 M) possessed nonspecific depressant properties in addition to its α-antagonist properties. We conclude that the sympathetic nervous system influences tone through α-adrenoceptors in the CEA and in the MSB and TB at lower frequencies. Responses in the MSB and TB at higher frequencies of nerve stimulation are mediated predominately through α-receptors. If the possibility of a nonadrenergic transmitter is discounted, the possibilities that the small PTA-resistant component of the neurogenic response is due to a high concentration of NE acting on α-adrenoceptors and/or a high threshold site cannot be distinguished.

Publication Title

American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology

Volume

249

Issue

2

First Page

H404

Last Page

H414

Comments

This article was published in American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Volume 249, Issue 2, Pages H404-H414.

The published version is available at http://ajpheart.physiology.org/content/249/2/H404 .

Copyright © 1985 APS.

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