1. Pharmacological characterization of postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors in human nasal mucosa.
- Author
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Corboz MR, Rivelli MA, Varty L, Mutter J, Cartwright M, Rizzo CA, Eckel SP, Anthes JC, and Hey JA
- Subjects
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists pharmacology, Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists pharmacology, Adult, Aged, Arteries physiology, Epinephrine pharmacology, Female, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Male, Norepinephrine pharmacology, Oxymetazoline pharmacology, Prazosin pharmacology, Turbinates, Vasoconstriction drug effects, Veins physiology, Yohimbine pharmacology, Nasal Mucosa blood supply, Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha physiology
- Abstract
Background: Functional alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoreceptor subtype pharmacology was characterized in an in vitro human nasal mucosa contractile bioassay., Methods: Nasal mucosa was obtained from 49 donor patients and mucosal strips were placed in chambers filled with Krebs-Ringer solution and attached to isometric force transducers., Results: Nonselective a-adrenoreceptor agonists epinephrine, norepinephrine, and oxymetazoline produced concentration-dependent contractions of isolated human nasal mucosa (pD2 = 5.2, 4.9, and 6.5, respectively). The alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist BHT-920 (10 microM)-induced contractions were blocked by yohimbine (0.01-1 microM) and prazosin (0.01-1 microM) inhibited the contractile response to the alpha1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (10 microM). Histological analysis showed that phenylephrine and BHT-920 differentially contracted the arteries and veins of human nasal mucosa, respectively., Conclusion: Our results indicate that functional alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptors are present and functional in human nasal mucosa. The alpha2-adrenoceptors display a predominant role in contracting the veins and the alpha1-adrenoceptors appear to preferentially constrict the human nasal arteries.
- Published
- 2005