Hostility and adrenergic receptor responsiveness:: Evidence of reduced β-receptor responsiveness in high hostile men

We examined the relation of Cook and Medley Hostility (Ho) scores to alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor responsiveness to pharmacological agonists in 22 normotensive and 14 hypertensives (aged 18-34) white males, matched for age and body mass. alpha-Adrenergic receptor responsiveness was measured by the phenylephrine dose required to increase mean blood pressure by 25 mmHg (PD25) beta-Adrenergic responsiveness was measured by the isoproterenol dose needed to increase heart rate by 25 bpm (CD25): and to lower systemic vascular resistance by 40% (VD40). Relative to men with low Ho scores (less than or equal to 21), men with high Ho scores (greater than or equal to 21) showed significantly reduced vascular beta(2)-adrenergic receptor responsiveness (VD40). Moreover, the decreased vascular responsiveness was more pronounced in borderline hypertensive men with high Ho scores. Ho scores were also marginally significant in predicting cardiac beta(1)-and beta(2)-adrenergic receptor responsiveness, such that men with high Ho scores showed decreased responsiveness as indexed by a larger CD25. Vascular alpha(1)-adrenergic responsiveness was not associated with hostility. These observations suggest that hostility, alone or in conjuction with BP status, is associated with reduced cardiovascular beta-adrenergic receptor responsiveness. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.