1 The present study investigated the effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat renal resistance vessels. 2 Studies on renal haemodynamics were carried out 7 days after the last streptozotocin. Changes in renal blood flow were recorded in response to electrical stimulation of the renal nerve (RNS) and a range of adrenergic agonists; noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) and methoxamine (MTX), either in the absence or the presence of nitrendipine (Nit), 5-methylurapidil (MEU), chlorethylclonidine (CEC) or BMY 7378. 3 In non-diabetic animals, Nit, MEU and BMY 7378 significantly attenuated renal vasoconstriction induced by adrenergic agonists, while CEC showed a significant accentuation in RNS-induced responses without having a significant effect on responses to adrenergic agonists. In diabetic rats, renal vasoconstriction was also significantly reduced in Nit-, MEU- and BMY 7378-treated groups and CEC potentiated RNS-induced contractions caused a change similar to that observed in non-diabetic rats. BMY 7378 significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the PE- and MTX-induced vasoconstrictions but did not cause any significant (P > 0.05) alteration in the RNS- and NA-induced responses. 4 The results showed functional co-existence of alpha(1A)- and alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors in the renal vasculature of SD rats irrespective of the presence of diabetes. A possible minor contribution of prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptor subtype has also been suggested in either experimental group, particularly possible functional involvement of alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor subtypes in non-diabetic SD rats.
This study investigates the subtypes of the alpha1-adrenoceptor mediating the adrenergically-induced renal vasoconstrictor responses in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and non-diabetic 2-kidney one clip (2K1C) Goldblatt hypertensive rats.
1. Diabetes and hypertension are both associated with an increased risk of renal disease and are associated with neuropathies, which can cause defective autonomic control of major organs including the kidney. This study aimed to examine the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtype(s) involved in mediating adrenergically induced renal vasoconstriction in a rat model of diabetes and hypertension. 2. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 220-280 g, were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone 7-day poststreptozotocin (55 mg x kg(-1) i.p.) treatment. The reductions in renal blood flow (RBF) induced by increasing frequencies of electrical renal nerve stimulation (RNS), close intrarenal bolus doses of noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) or methoxamine were determined before and after administration of nitrendipine (Nit), 5-methylurapidil (5-MeU), chloroethylclonidine (CEC) and BMY 7378. 3. In the nondiabetic SHR group, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 146+/-6 mmHg, RBF was 28.0+/-1.4 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) and blood glucose was 112.3+/-4.7 mg x dl(-1), and in the diabetic SHR Group, MAP was 144+/-3 mmHg, RBF 26.9+/-1.3 ml(-1) min x kg(-1) and blood glucose 316.2+/-10.5 mg x dl(-1). Nit, 5-MeU and BMY 7378 blunted all the adrenergically induced renal vasoconstrictor responses in SHR and diabetic SHR by 25-35% (all P<0.05), but in diabetic rats the responses induced by RNS and NA treated with 5-MeU were not changed. By contrast, during the administration of CEC, vasoconstrictor responses to all agonists were enhanced by 20-25% (all P<0.05) in both the SHR and diabetic SHR. 4. These findings suggest that alpha(1A) and alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor subtypes contribute in mediating the adrenergically induced constriction of the renal vasculature in both the SHR and diabetic SHR. There was also an indication of a greater contribution of presynaptic adrenoceptors, that is, alpha(1B)-, and/or alpha(2)-subtypes.