Our recent findings have shown that ethanol selectively counteracts decreases in blood pressure (BP) evoked via activation of central I1-imidazoline receptors but not alpha-2 adrenoceptors in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study investigated the role of sympathetic activity, cardiac output and total peripheral resistance (TPR) in the differential effect of ethanol on cen...

The alpha 2 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors, both of which are activated by epinephrine, but which can be differentiated by selective drugs, have opposite effects (inhibitory and stimulatory) on the adenylyl cyclase system. The two receptors are homologous with each other, rhodopsin, and other receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins and they contain seven hydrophobic domains...

PURPOSE To identify the apical and basolateral membrane mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways in human fetal retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) that mediate membrane voltage and resistance changes caused by apical membrane adrenergic receptor activation. METHODS Intact sheets of RPE-choroid from human fetal eyes were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. Ringer's solution composition...

In the developing fetus, cerebral artery (CA) contractility demonstrates significant functional differences from that of the adult. This may be a consequence of differential activities of alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(1)-AR) subtypes. Thus we tested the hypothesis that maturational differences in adrenergic-mediated CA contractility are, in part, a consequence of differential expression a...

In conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 16 months of age, the blockade of autonomic ganglia (with chlorisondamine) or postjunctional alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (with prazosin) or the depletion of peripheral norepinephrine stores (with syrosingopine), in contrast to the blockade of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (with yohimbine, rauwolscine), produced a sustained ...

PURPOSE To determine whether the intact isolated ciliary epithelial bilayer retains the alpha-2 and beta adrenergic receptor activation and interaction described for whole ciliary processes and whether this pure epithelial bilayer displays bioelectric parameters sensitive to alterations in cyclic adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) production induced by adrenergic compounds. METHODS The intact cil...