[Effect of adrenaline on incorporation of 125I-LDL into the aorta]

Adrenaline in concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-4) M increased the incorporation of 125I-low density lipoproteins (LDLP) into the perfused rabbit aorta, stimulating predominantly the non-specific uptake of 125I-LDLP. It was parallelled by the swelling of the endothelial lining of the aorta, expansion of the intercellular borders and an increase in the argyrophilic cell properties. The adrenoreceptor blockers phentolamine and propranolol prevented the morphological changes in the endothelium and in the incorporation of 152I-LDLP into the vascular wall. The authors feel that the catecholamine-induced damage to the endothelial lining of the aorta presents one of the mechanisms of atherogenesis stimulation following psychoemotional stress.