Functional involvement of angiotensin AT2 receptor in adrenal catecholamine secretion in vivo

The aim of the present study was to analyse modulations of adrenal catecholamine secretion from the adrenal gland of anesthetized dogs in response to locally administered angiotensin II (AngII) in the presence of either PD 123319 or CGP 42112, both of which are highly specific and selective ligands to angiotensin AT2 receptor. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine in adrenal venous and aortic blood were quantified by a high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) method. Adrenal venous blood flow was measured by gravimetry. Local administration of AngII (0.05 microg, 0.1 microM) to the left adrenal gland increased adrenal gland catecholamine output more than 30 times that found in nonstimulated states. Administration of either PD 123319 (0.085 microg (0.23 microM) to 8.5 microg (23 microM)) or CGP 42112 (0.005 microg (0.01 microM) to 5 microg (10 microM)) did not affect the basal catecholamine output significantly. The increase in adrenal catecholamine output in response to AngII was inhibited by approximately 80% following the largest dose of PD 123319. CGP 42112 significantly attenuated the catecholamine response to AngII by approximately 70%. PD 123319 and CGP 42112 were devoid of any agonist actions with respect to catecholamine output by the adrenal gland in vivo. Furthermore, both PD 123319 and CGP 42112 inhibited the increase in adrenal catecholamine secretion induced by local administration of AngII. The present study suggests that AT2 receptors play a role in mediating catecholamine secretion by the adrenal medulla in response to AngII receptor agonist administration in vivo.