Changes of adrenoceptor density in heart and brain and the reactivity of isolated pulmonary artery ring in atherosclerotic rabbit

The alpha-adrenoceptor density in cerebral cortex and brain stem as well as the beta-adrenoceptor density in heart were measured by radioligand binding assay in normal rabbits (group 1), atherosclerotic rabbits (group 2) and atherosclerotic rabbits treated orally with aspirin 20 mg/kg daily for 16 wk (group 3). The results showed that the beta-receptor density and the KD values of the hearts among the 3 groups and the alpha-receptor density and KD of brain stem between groups 1 and 2 were not significantly different except that the alpha-receptor density in group 3 was decreased slightly. The number of alpha 1-receptor of cerebral cortex was decreased more in group 2 than that in group 3. The contractile responses of isolated pulmonary artery ring by NE were similar among the 3 groups but the reactivity to 5-HT in group 3 was increased significantly.