Phenoxybenzamine mediated inhibition of the vascular dopamine D1 receptor

Cultures of rat mesenteric artery vascular smooth muscle cells express both vascular dopamine D1 receptors and beta 2-adrenoceptors but not alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoceptors, permitting direct investigation of the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist activity of phenoxybenzamine. After incubating cells with phenoxybenzamine (10(-5) M) for 20 min, an 80% inhibition of dopamine-induced (10(-4) M) cAMP formation was observed. Isoprenaline-induced (10(-5) M) cAMP formation remained unaffected by phenoxybenzamine. Inhibition of the dopamine response following 20 min incubation with phenoxybenzamine, was concentration-related and could not be reversed by repeated washing. Mean IC50 (95% confidence limits) = 4.68 x 10(-6) M (3.86-5.01). Exposure of cells to the selective dopamine D1 receptor partial agonist (+)-SKF 38393 (10(-6) M) prior to phenoxybenzamine incubation, resulted in protection of dopamine-induced cAMP formation. Exposure of cells to the stereo-enantiomer (-)-SKF 38393 (10(-6) M) did not produce any protective effect. The concentration-effect curve for (+)-SKF 38393 mediated protection had a mean EC50 value of 0.11 x 10(-6) M (0.10-0.11), which is comparable with the Ka apparent value (0.06 x 10(-6) M) for this compound when acting as an agonist to induce cAMP formation via the vascular dopamine D1 receptor. Previous studies of the vascular dopamine D1 receptor are likely to have been influenced by the frequent use of phenoxybenzamine, which we have shown to act as a potent antagonist at this site.