Alterations in myocardial adenylate cyclase in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Particulate fractions of myocardium taken from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) contained an adenylate cyclase system that was less responsive than normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats to norepinephrine, isoproterenol (mixed beta-agonist), salbutamol (beta 2-agonist), dobutamine (beta 1-agonist), dopamine, histamine, and glucagon. Addition of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate to the SHR myocardial preparation again yielded a lessened sensitivity to all agents except norepinephrine, dopamine, and histamine. Chronic treatment of SHR with clonidine and a high dose of propranolol produced a cardiac enzyme that was insensitive to activation by norepinephrine. Similar treatment with a low dose of propranolol did not alter myocardial responses to norepinephrine.