Expression and localization of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in aorta of diabetic Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats (1051.18)

Hypertension and diabetes are multifactorial diseases that frequently coexist and exacerbate each another. During the development of diabetes the impairment of noradrenergic system has been reported especially to the response mediated by alpha-1 receptors. Although their participation in the development of cardiovascular complications is still controversial some studies have found increased or diminished response to the vasoconstrictive effect of noradrenaline in a time-dependent manner of diabetes. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate possible changes in the expression or localization of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (alpha-1A and alpha-1D) in aorta of rat after 4 weeks of the onset of diabetes. In order to be able to examine the expression of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors immunofluorescence procedure was performed in tunica intima and media of hystological sections of aorta. Fluorescence was detected by a confocal microscopy. Our results suggest that both receptors showed a higher density in tuni...