Alpha-adrenoceptors, adrenaline, and exaggerated vasoconstrictor response to stress in essential hypertension

• Published in: Chest Vol. 83; no. 2 Suppl; p. 304
• Main Authors: Bühler, F R, Bolli, P, Hulthén, U L, Amann, F W, Kiowski, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1983
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Pressure; Cold Temperature; Epinephrine - blood; Heart Rate; Humans; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Prazosin - pharmacology; Receptors, Adrenergic - physiology; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha - drug effects; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha - physiology; Stress, Physiological - physiopathology; Vasoconstriction; Vasomotor System - drug effects
• ISSN: 0012-3692
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.83.2.304

Stressful sympathetic stimulation by cold pressor test in patients with essential hypertension results in an exaggerated response of the already elevated plasma adrenaline, heart rate, blood pressure, and alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction when compared with normotensive subjects. The stress-induced increase in adrenaline was correlated with the attendant increase in blood pressure. The stress-induced reduction in forearm flow was reversed during infusion of the postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker prazosin. Therefore, enhanced responses to sympathetic stress, as reflected and perhaps caused by an exaggerated rise in plasma adrenaline, may contribute to an increased alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in essential hypertension.