Ultrastructural Effects of Topical Beta-Adrenergic Antagonists and an Alpha-Adrenergic Agonist on the Rabbit Cornea

The effect of alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists on renal and submaxillary renin of different molecular weights was studied using male albino mice as experimental animals. Phenylephrine or isoproterenol was administered intravenously after removal of the submaxillary glands and/or kidneys. Renin was isolated from plasma by column chromatography and then measured by a direct radioimmunoassay. Phenylephrine increased both 68,500-dalton renin (big renin) and 38,000-dalton renin (small renin) in the plasma of nephrectomized mice. Isoproterenol increased big and small renin in the plasma of mice whose submaxillary glands were removed. In both cases, the increase of small renin was significantly greater than that of big renin. The results suggest that the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine affects the submaxillary gland, leading to the increase of both big and small plasma renin. In contrast, the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol affects the kidney, leading to the increase of both big and small plasma renin.

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Regulation of Trypanosoma cruzi infectivity by alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists: desensitization produced by prolonged treatments or increasing agonist concentrations

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000078720 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 429-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Ayala ◽

F. Kierszenbaum

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Tissue Level ◽

Adrenergic Agonists ◽

Adrenergic Agonist ◽

Beta Adrenergic ◽

Beta Adrenergic Agonists ◽

Alpha Adrenergic Agonist

SUMMARYWe previously reported that blood forms of Trypanosoma cruzi express alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors and that binding of specific agonists to these receptors modifies the infective capacity of the parasite in vitro. The present study has revealed that the inhibitory effect of the beta-adrenergic agonist L-isoproterenol and the stimulatory effect of the alpha-adrenergic agonist L-phenylephrine are not produced when the parasite is subjected to prolonged exposure to otherwise effective doses of these agonists or when supraoptimal doses of these agonists are used. We refer to these phenomena as ‘desensitization’ because of their analogy with vertebrate cells becoming desensitized by prolonged exposure to, or relatively high concentrations of, adrenergic agonists. At a constant agonist concentration, T. cruzi desensitization was time-dependent and, when the time of parasite treatment with the agonists was not changed, the higher concentrations of the agonist tested were the most effective in producing desensitization. The reduced infectivity resulting from treatment with optimal doses of L-isoproterenol was accompanied by elevated levels of cyclic adenosine mono- phosphate (cAMP) which were not detectable when L-isoproterenol concentrations producing desensitization were used. This finding implicated cAMP as a likely second signal in the inhibitory mechanisms of this agonist. No significant change in cAMP was detectable in parasites treated with L-phenylephrine, leaving open the question about how optimal doses of this alpha-adrenergic agonist enhance T. cruzi infectivity. Parasite responsiveness to alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists as well as the desensitization effects define a system which regulates infectivity and could be modified at the host tissue level by naturally occurring agonists.

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Mechanism of inhibition by methacholine of norepinephrine-stimulated ANP secretion

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1988.255.6.h1429 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 255 (6) ◽

pp. H1429-H1433 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. J. Schiebinger

Keyword(s):

Adenylate Cyclase ◽

Cyclase Activity ◽

Adenylate Cyclase Activity ◽

Base Line ◽

Adrenergic Agonist ◽

Beta Adrenergic ◽

Mechanism Of Inhibition ◽

Beta Adrenergic Agonist ◽

Alpha Adrenergic Agonist

We have previously reported that methacholine inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP-IR) secretion by 65% in vitro. In the present study, we examined the mechanism by which methacholine inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated secretion using isolated, paced rat left atria superfused in vitro. Norepinephrine has beta- and alpha-adrenergic properties, both of which stimulate ANP secretion. Thus we separately examined the effect of 10 microM methacholine on ANP-IR secretion stimulated by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (0.1 microM) and by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (10 microM). Methacholine lowered isoproterenol-stimulated ANP-IR secretion to base line but did not inhibit phenylephrine-stimulated ANP-IR secretion. Atria were superfused with 0.5 mM dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) to determine whether inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated secretion by methacholine occurred by a reduction in adenylate cyclase activity or at a point distal to cAMP. Methacholine inhibited dibutyryl cAMP-stimulated ANP-IR secretion by 50%. This inhibition could not be reversed by 20 microM isobutylmethylxanthine. We conclude that 1) methacholine completely blocks isoproterenol-stimulated ANP-IR secretion; 2) inhibition appears to be primarily due to a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity; however, inhibition occurs at a point(s) distal to cAMP production; 3) methacholine does not inhibit phenylephrine-stimulated ANP-IR secretion; and 4) inhibition by methacholine of norepinephrine-stimulated ANP-IR secretion reflects a block in beta-adrenergic activity.

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Central effects of catecholamine antagonists on angiotensin-induced vasopressin secretion in conscious rats

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1180082 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 118 (1) ◽

pp. 82-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ken'ichi Yamaguchi ◽

Takeo Karakida ◽

Mamoru Koike ◽

Hitoshi Hama

Keyword(s):

Angiotensin Ii ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Adrenergic Agonist ◽

Beta Adrenergic ◽

Central Effects ◽

Conscious Rats ◽

Vasopressin Secretion ◽

Beta Adrenergic Agonist ◽

Alpha Antagonist ◽

Alpha Adrenergic Agonist

Abstract. To evaluate the roles for catecholamines in angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced vasopressin (AVP) release, we examined in conscious rats the effects of intraventricular (ivt) administrations of catecholamine antagonists on plasma AVP responses to ivt applications of its agonists and ANG II. Plasma AVP was determined by RIA using trunk blood collected after decapitation. Dopamine (0.15 μmol), phenylephrine (an alpha-adrenergic agonist, 0.15 μmol) or ANG II (48.2 pmol) augmented plasma AVP 90 sec after the injection, whereas after isoproterenol (a beta-adrenergic agonist, 0.15 μmol) plasma AVP was unaffected. The plasma AVP responses to both dopamine and ANG II were significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited by haloperidol (a dopamine blocker, 0.15 μmol) given 10 min before administration of these agents. Pre-administration of phenoxybenzamine (an alpha antagonist, 0.15 μmol) which was confirmed to abolish the effect of phenylephrine, or propranolol (a beta antagonist, 0.15 μmol) did not block the effect of ANG II. Administration of haloperidol, phenoxybenzamine or propranolol alone was without effect on plasma AVP level. On the basis of these results, we concluded that ANG II-induced AVP secretion may be mediated and/or modulated by dopamine.

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