Postjunctional vascular smooth muscle alpha-2 adrenoreceptors in human autonomic failure

Animal studies have suggested that vasoconstrictor alpha-2 adrenoreceptors exist on vascular smooth muscle cells. We tested this hypothesis in a patient with severe autonomic failure who demonstrated a pressor response to oral clonidine (a selective alpha-2 adrenoreceptor partial agonist). After clonidine 0.8 mg orally, mean arterial pressure rose by 54 mm Hg. After pretreatment with prazosin (a selective alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist) and confirmation of alpha-1 blockade, clonidine 0.8 mg still raised mean arterial pressure by 43 mm Hg. After pretreatment with yohimbine (a selective alpha-2 adrenoreceptor antagonist), clonidine 0.8 mg elevated mean arterial pressure by 13 mm Hg. Since alpha-1 antagonism does not block, and alpha-2 antagonism does not block the pressor effect of clonidine, we conclude that clonidine raised blood pressure in this severely affected autonomic failure patient by vascular alpha-2 adrenoreceptor stimulation. Thus, this provides pharmacological evidence that postjunctional vascular smooth muscle alpha-2 adrenoreceptors exist in man and can modulate blood pressure.