Mice with altered a2-adrenergic receptor genes have become important tools in elucidating the subtype-specific functions of the three a2-adrenergic receptor subtypes because of the lack of sufficiently subtype-selective pharmacological agents. Mice with a deletion (knockout) of the a2A-, a2B-, or a2C-gene as well as a point mutation of the a2A-gene (a2A-D79N) and a 3-fold overexpression of the ...

BACKGROUND The activation of the beta-adrenergic system promotes G protein stimulation that, via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), alters the structure of protein kinase A (PKA) and leads to phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation. This protein participates in the system that controls intracellular calcium in muscle cells, and it is the primary regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump ...

α(1)-Adrenergic receptor subtypes are widely distributed in the central nervous system and are involved in autonomic functions such as micturition. We investigated the presence and the role of supraspinal and/or spinal α(1)-adrenergic receptors in modulating the micturition reflex in conscious female Wistar rats. The expression of α(1)-adrenergic receptor subtypes in rat brain and lumbosacral s...

the effect of dietary terbutaline, a beta adrenergic agonist, on carcass characteristics and blood attributes in 288 japanese quails was studied from 21 through 49 days of age. dietary treatments included four levels of terbutaline [0 (t0), 1 (t1), 3 (t3), and 5 (t5) mg/kg of the diet]. quails were bled at the end of the trial for biochemical assays and the carcass characteristics were then mea...

The role of renal prostaglandins and the adrenergic nervous system in the control of renin release was studied in conscious dogs with thoracic caval constriction. Indomethacin reduced plasma renin activity (PRA) in intact animals with thoracic caval constriction by 43% but failed to change PRA after surgical renal denervation and during chronic propranolol administration; adrenergic blockade re...

Propranolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent possessing no other autonomic nervous system activity. It specifically competes with beta-adrenergic receptor agonist agents for available receptor sites. When access to beta-receptor sites is blocked by propranolol, the chronotropic, inotropic, and vasodilator responses to beta-adrenergic stimulation are decreased proportion...

Both peripheral innervation and nitric oxide (NO) participate in ovarian steroidogenesis. The purpose of this work was to analyse the ganglionic adrenergic influence on the ovarian release of steroids and NO and the possible steroids/NO relationship. The experiments were carried out in the ex vivo coeliac ganglion-superior ovarian nerve (SON)-ovary system of prepubertal rats. The coeliac gangli...

Background—Past studies have suggested that the adrenergic system becomes abnormally activated in chronic volume overload, such as in severe aortic valve regurgitation (AR). However, the effectiveness of agents directed against this adrenergic activation has never been adequately tested in chronic AR. We therefore tested the effects of metoprolol treatment on the left ventricular (LV) function ...

Heart failure (HF) is a common endpoint for many forms of cardiovascular disease and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The development of end-stage HF often involves an initial insult to the myocardium that reduces cardiac output and leads to a compensatory increase in sympathetic nervous system activity. Acutely, the sympathetic hyperactivity through the activation of beta-adrene...