The α₁B -adrenoceptor subtype mediates adrenergic vasoconstriction in mouse retinal arterioles with damaged endothelium.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The α₁-adrenoceptor family plays a critical role in regulating ocular perfusion by mediating responses to catecholamines. The purpose of the present study was to determine the contribution of individual α₁-adrenoceptor subtypes to adrenergic vasoconstriction of retinal arterioles using gene-targeted mice deficient in one of the three adrenoceptor subtypes (α₁A-AR(-/-), α₁B-AR(-/-) and α₁D-AR(-/-) respectively).

Experimental approach

Using real-time PCR, mRNA expression for individual α₁-adrenoceptor subtypes was determined in murine retinal arterioles. To assess the functional relevance of the three α₁-adrenoceptor subtypes for mediating vascular responses, retinal vascular preparations from wild-type mice and mice deficient in individual α₁-adrenocept

SUBMITTER: Bohmer T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4128048 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature