Identification of all alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat lung

The function of lung tissue is regulated via a release of neurotransmitters from autonomic nerves. The neurotransmitters of sympathetic nervous system, adrenaline and noradrenaline, activate both alpha-adrenoceptors and beta-adrenoceptors. Although the function and expression of beta-adrenoceptors can be considered major, some doubts exist about the function and expression of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in the lung tissue. Therefore a set of competition binding experiments was employed in order to discriminate between the alpha1-adrenoceptor binding site subtypes in the rat lung. We identified three subpopulations of alpha1-adrenoceptor binding sites in the rat lung (alpha1A, alpha1B and alpha1D).