Epinephrine induces platelet aggregation, potentiates aggregation by other agents, and blocks the stimulation of the adenylate cyclase by prostaglandins. Synthetic α-adrenergic agents have not been shown to induce aggregation. The effects of clonidine, an α2-agonist, and ρ-aminoclonidine on platelets were examined. Clonidine potentiated aggregation induced by 0.5μM ADP by 1.4-fold (1/2 max 0.5μM). It did not induce significant aggregation itself, and it inhibited aggregation induced by 5μM epinephrine (1/2 max lμM). It inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation induced by PGE1 by a maximum of 25% (1/2 max O.lμM) and it blocked inhibition by epinephrine. No significant specific binding of [3H] clonidine was observed to intact platelets. ρ-Aminoclonidine induced aggregation with delayed second phase (1/2 max 0.2μM), and potentiated ADP aggregation by 2-fold (1/2 max 0.2μM). Aggregation induced by epinephrine was more rapid, and was partially inhibited by ρ-aminoclonidine. It inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation by 50% max (1/2 max O.lμM) and attenuated epinephrine’s effect to the same level. The direct effects of ρ-aminoclonidine were blocked by lμM yohimbine, a selective α2-antagonist. Both clonidine and ρ—aminoclonidine blocked the specific binding of [3H]yohimbine (1/2 max 0.5μM). These results suggest that the platelet bears an α2-receptor with affinity for epinephrine, ρ-aminoclonidine and clonidine as agonists but that these agents display differing intrinsic activity and/or receptor reserve.
Comparisons of α2-Adrenergic Agents, Medetomidine and Xylazine, with Pentobarbital for Anesthesia: Important Pitfalls in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Rats
