Catecholamines and Blood Pressure Regulation: The Role of α-Adrenoceptors

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Abstract
Studies on the role of catecholamine mechanisms and the sympathetic nervous system and blood pressure regulation in hypertension have, until recently, been directed mainly at measurement of catecholamine levels in plasma and urine. The recent development of high specific activity tritiumlabelled analogues of α- and β-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists has permitted the assessment of the affinity and density of adrenoceptors to be studied from specific binding with adrenoceptor ligands. In vitro ligand binding suggests that at least two distinct types of α-receptors are located postsynaptically on vascular smooth muscle and may contribute to regulation of peripheral vascular resistance. The binding results are supported by studies of pressor and depressor responses to α-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists in intact animals. Postsynaptic α-receptors of two types can be characterised and classified as classical α1- or α2-types having features in common with presynaptic α-receptors.

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