Functional beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors in the left and right atrium of pre-hypertensive rats

There is a small increase in the functional beta2-adrenoceptor response on the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) left atrium in the early stages of hypertension. In the present study, the functional beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors of the left and right atrium in SHR pre-hypertension and age-matched (5-week-old) Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were characterized. Contractility methods with isoprenaline, T-0509 (a selective beta1-adrenoceptor agonist) and procaterol (a selective beta2-adrenoceptor agonist) were used. At 5 weeks, the SHRs were pre-hypertensive. Isoprenaline was more potent on the left atrium of 5-week-old SHRs than WKY rats. Bisoprolol, a selective beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist, was more potent against isoprenaline and T-0509 on the SHR than WKY rat left atrium. ICI 118,551, a selective beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist, was more potent against procaterol and T-0509 on the SHR than WKY rat left atrium. The results with bisoprolol and ICI 118,551 suggest that there are more functional beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors on the left atrium of 5-week-old SHRs than WKY rats. Isoprenaline, T-0509 and procaterol were equipotent on the right atrium of 5-week-old WKY rats and SHRs. Bisoprolol was more potent against isoprenaline, T-0509 and procaterol on the SHR than WKY rat right atrium. ICI 118,551 was more potent against T-0509, but not isoprenaline and procaterol, on the SHR than WKY rat left atrium. This suggests there are more functional beta1-adrenoceptors, and probably more functional beta2-adrenoceptors, on the right atrium of 5-week-old SHRs than WKY rats. These functional differences in beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor-mediated responses of the left and right atria of pre-hypertensive SHRs cannot be caused by hypertension, and may be associated with the onset of hypertension.