Alpha-adrenoceptor reserve in the canine cephalic vein

In the canine cephalic vein, the pD2 for the selective alpha 1-agonist, phenylephrine, was 6.08 +/- 0.08 (n = 14) and that for the selective alpha 2-agonist, UK-14,304, was 8.32 +/- 0.06 (n = 10). The pA2 values for the antagonism exerted by the selective alpha 1-antagonist, prazosin, against phenylephrine and UK-14,304 were 7.74 +/- 0.05 (n = 14) and 6.28 +/- 0.03 (n = 8), respectively, while those for the antagonism exerted by the selective alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine, against phenylephrine and UK-14,304 were 7.40 +/- 0.02 (n = 14) and 8.93 +/- 0.05 (n = 14), respectively. Furthermore, the concentration-response curve for UK-14,304 was typically biphasic, the first phase being antagonized by yohimbine and the second phase by prazosin and phenoxybenzamine. These results show that there are postsynaptic alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the canine cephalic vein. In such a preparation, only one concentration of phenoxybenzamine (1 nM) shifted the concentration-response curves for noradrenaline, adrenaline and isoprenaline to the right without reducing the maximum. However, at the concentrations tested, phenoxybenzamine did not shift the concentration-response curve for phenylephrine to the right without depressing its maximum. It is concluded that: (1) the canine cephalic vein is a suitable preparation to study postsynaptic alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors; (2) according to the original definition of 'spare receptors', there is no alpha 1-adrenoceptor reserve in canine cephalic vein; (3) UK-14,304 is a partial agonist at alpha 1-adrenoceptors.