Korean J Anesthesiol.  2011 Nov;61(5):419-427. 10.4097/kjae.2011.61.5.419.

Gender difference and change of alpha1-adrenoceptors in the distal mesenteric arteries of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

• Park SH
• Bahk JH
• Oh AY
• Gil NS
• Huh J
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2092325
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2011.61.5.419

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gender-related changes in the function and distribution of alpha1-adrenoceptors in the distal mesenteric artery of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats at the level of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes.
METHODS
Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of STZ in a dose of 60 mg/kg through the tail vein in 8 week-old male or female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 13/group). Age-matched normal rats (n = 15) were used as a control group. Four weeks after STZ injection, the change in mean arterial pressure caused by a 45degrees tilting was recorded. The alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating contractions of the distal mesenteric artery were investigated using the agonist, phenylephrine as well as subtype-selective antagonists including prazocin, 5-methylurapidil, and BMY 7378. The expression of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes of each artery was examined by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting using subtype selective antibodies.
RESULTS
Compared with normal male rats, the contractile response to phenylephrine was decreased in the distal mesenteric artery in normal female rats. Moreover, a decrease in contractile force was observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats compared with age-matched controls. Western blotting revealed that there was the difference between normal male and female rats in manifestation of the alpha1D-adrenoceptor. In STZ-induced male and female diabetic rats, all alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes were decreased in distal mesenteric arteries, compared with normal rats.
CONCLUSIONS
There was the gender-related functional difference of alpha1-adrenoceptors in normal rats. In both male and female rats, diabetes decreased the contractile response in mesenteric arteries, which might be caused by the overall change in alpha1-adrenoceptor.

Keyword

Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor; Gender; Mesenteric arteries; Streptozotocin diabetes

MeSH Terms

Animals
Arterial Pressure
Arteries
Blotting, Western
Contracts
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Mesenteric Arteries
Negotiating
Phenylephrine
Piperazines
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
Streptozocin
Veins
Phenylephrine
Piperazines
Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
Streptozocin