Adrenoceptors in experimental hypertension.

Cardiac, aortic and renal alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors were examined in three types of experimental hypertension in rats. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), cardiac alpha 1-adrenoceptor concentration was increased and cardiac and aortic beta-adrenoceptor concentrations were decreased compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). A similar decrease in cardiac beta-adrenoceptor concentration was also shown in two-kidney, one clip (2K, 1C) and deoxycorticosterone acetate(DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. Renal alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor concentrations were increased in SHR, but not in 2K, 1C and DOCA-salt hypertension. In contrast, renal beta-adrenoceptor concentration was increased in 2K, 1C and DOCA-salt hypertension, but unchanged in SHR. The observed increase in cardiac alpha 1- and renal alpha 2-adrenoceptor concentrations may partly contribute to the elevation of blood pressure in SHR.