alpha(1)-Adrenoceptor subtypes mediating contraction in carotid, aorta, mesenteric and caudal arteries from both Wistar Kyoto (WKY) normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were investigated by using the alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine and antagonized with selective, competitive antagonists WB-4101, 5-methyl urapidil or BMY 7378 (8-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-8-azaspiro(4,5)decane-7,9-dione dihydrochloride). Isometric tension changes were recorded after methoxamine addition to the arterial rings, and the effects of the antagonists determined. All the antagonists shifted to the right the concentration-response curve to methoxamine. pA(2) values indicate that all arteries but caudal express the alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor subtype, since BMY 7378 values were high in these arteries. Due to the high pA(2) values for 5-methyl urapidil and WB-4101 and the low values for BMY 7378 we conclude that the tail artery expresses the alpha(1A) and not the alpha(1B) subtype. No differences were found between both strains of rats, suggesting that hypertension does not modify the alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in conductance arteries.
