alpha1-Adrenoceptors (alpha1-ARs) are members of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily of membrane proteins that mediate the actions of the endogenous catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline. alpha 1-ARs are the prime mediators of vascular smooth muscle contraction and hypertrophic growth, and play a key role in the regulation of arterial blood pressure.
Four weeks of high-salt diet (11% NaCl) significantly increased blood pressure (37.1%). An average two-fold decrease in alpha1D-AR mRNA expression was observed in the DA, ABA and EBA in high-salt diet fed trout. The chronically hypertensive fish exhibited a blunted vascular response to hypercapnia and exogenous catecholamines. These results suggest either a lowered vascular response capacity or that alpha1D-AR down-regulation occurred in high-salt diet fed fish as a consequence of the elevated blood pressure. The alpha1D-AR is, at least in part, involved in salt-induced high blood pressure in rainbow trout.
This study is the first to characterize the alpha1-AR gene family at molecular level in any fish species, and provides the first evidence for a link between alpha1-ARs and salt-induced high blood pressure.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/26870 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Chen, Xi |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 113 p. |
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