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. 1989 Jul;97(3):829–834. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1989.tb12022.x

Postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors mediate vasoconstriction in human subcutaneous resistance vessels.

H Nielsen 1, S M Thom 1, A D Hughes 1, G N Martin 1, M J Mulvany 1, P S Sever 1
PMCID: PMC1854570  PMID: 2547487

Abstract

1. In vitro studies have been performed on human medium-sized muscular arteries (internal diameter 1-4 mm) in a classical organ bath and with human subcutaneous resistance arteries (internal diameter 103-626 microns) in a microvascular myograph. 2. Although the medium-sized muscular arteries showed no response to either of the alpha 2-agonists B-HT 933 or UK 14304 in concentrations up to 10 microM, the subcutaneous resistance arteries from all regions examined showed well-pronounced and concentration-dependent responses to B-HT 933, the pD2 (-log EC50) being 5.11 +/- 0.09. 3. In the resistance arteries the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine caused a parallel shift to the right of the B-HT 933 concentration-response curve; the yohimbine pA2 for the B-HT 933 receptor was 7.86 +/- 0.12. 4. There was an inverse relationship between the maximum response to B-HT 933 and the calibre of the resistance vessels. 5. These results indicate the presence of a postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptor in human subcutaneous resistance arteries and not in medium sized muscular arteries.

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Selected References

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