Renal alpha-adrenergic receptor abnormality in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Activation of renal alpha-adrenergic receptors induces vasoconstriction, proximal tubular reabsorption of sodium, and inhibition of renal release. Excesses of these effects are present in varying degrees in animal models of, and in patients with, "essential" hypertension. Since essential hypertension is genetically determined, we sought abnormalities of renal alpha-adrenergic receptors in the Okamoto-Aoki strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats (sr-SHR) and their stroke-prone variant (sp-SHR). Total alpha-adrenergic receptor concentrations were determined by Scatchard analysis of [3H]dihydroergocryptine binding to a renal membrane fraction and were found to be increased (p less than 0.02) in male sr-SHR at 4, 16, and 32 weeks of age and in female sr-SHR at 16 weeks of age as compared to age- and sex-matched Wistar-Kyoto controls. They were also increased in 9-week-old sp-SHR renal membranes (p less than 0.005). Further studies revealed that this increase in renal alpha-adrenergic receptors was due entirely to an increase in alpha 2-receptors as measured by [3H]yohimbine binding rather than to an increase in alpha 1-receptors as quantitated by [3H]prazosin binding. No difference in binding affinities of the various radioligands could be demonstrated between any of the hypertensive and normotensive groups of rats. Plasma norepinephrine levels were elevated (p less than 0.01) in the 4-, 9- and 16-week-old SHR, but not in the 32-week-old hypertensive rats. Thus, high renal alpha 2-adrenergic receptor number is coupled with a significant increase in plasma norepinephrine concentrations during the development of hypertension in SHR. By mediating an enhanced receptor-coupled response, such as increased proximal tubular sodium reabsorption, this abnormality of renal alpha-adrenergic receptors may contribute to some or all of the pathophysiologic derangements leading to hypertension in SHR.