Are α-Adrenoceptors Involved in Positive Inotropic Effects of Phenylephrine in Chick Ventricles?

Abstract

Effects of phenylephrine on contraction and Ca-action potentials were investigated to clarify whether the α-adrenergic mechanism may play a role in chick ventricles. Phenylephrine increased the contractile force of the ventricles isolated from both embryonic and hatched chicks, while methoxamine did not affect their contractility. Developmental changes in the sensitivity to phenylephrine, i.e., increase with age from late embryonic to early neonatal stages, were quite similar to those to a β-agonist, isoproterenol. The positive inotropism of phenylephrine was antagonized by phentolamine and sotalol, but not antagonized by prazosin or yohimbine. Isobutylmethylxanthine augmented the effect of phenylephrine. Maximum upstroke velocity of Ca-action potentials recorded in partially depolarized ventricles were enhanced by phenylephrine, and the enhancement was eliminated by sotalol but not by phentolamine. The results suggested that the β-adrenergic action of phenylephrine may be involved in part of its positive inotropic effect, which is mediated by increased Ca-influx through sarcolemma. Another mechanism may also participate in the effects of phenylephrine, but may not necessarily be classified as an “α-adrenergic effect”.