Developmental changes in ne-induced contraction, [alpha]1 -adrenergic receptors, and ins(1,4,5)p3 responses in cerebral arteries. Longo, Lawrence D., Nobumi Ueno, Yu Zhao, William J. Pearce, and Lubo Zhang. Center for Perinatal Biology, Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350
APStracts 3:0229H, 1996.
Background. Cerebral arteries show significant developmental and artery-specific changes in noradrenergic-mediated contraction. To test the hypothesis that these changes result from differences in the density of [alpha]1-adrenergic receptors ([alpha]1-AR) and/or norepinephrine (NE)-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) synthesis, we quantified these variables and the NE -induced contraction in common carotid (COM), circle of Willis (WIL), and anterior, middle, and posterior (AMP) cerebral arteries, from term fetal (_140 gestational day) and newborn (2-5 day) sheep, and compared these values to the adult. Results. In fetal and newborn COM, maximal contractions to NE (% of K+ maximum), were 132+/-14% and 118+/-9%, respectively, as compared to adult of 92+/-7%. For fetal and newborn MCA, these values were 34+/-10% and 43+/-7%, respectively, as compared to 24 +/-7% for adult. For each age group the values of COM were significantly greater than those of AMP. [alpha]1-AR density values (Bmax, fmol/mg protein) in COM of fetal and newborn sheep were 113+/-18 and 106+/-4, respectively. These values contrast with the adult value of 54+/-3. For the AMP cerebral arteries Bmax values were 47+/-2 and 24+/-3, respectively, and compare to the adult value of 23+/-3. In WIL vessels of each age group, [alpha]1AR were not detectable. In term fetal and newborn AMP cerebral arteries, NE produced dose-dependent increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3, the maximal increases above basal values being 245+/ -40% and 189+/-16%, respectively. These compare with the adult value of 254+/-35 above baseline. Neither fetus nor newborn COM or WIL showed significant Ins(1,4,5) P3 responses to NE. Conclusions. 1) In fetal and newborn COM and AMP cerebral arteries, [alpha]1-AR density and NE-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 response varied as a function of developmental age and specific vessel. However, these variations did not correlate with NE-induced maximum contraction. Thus, we reject the hypothesis that age-dependent and vessel specific differences of cerebral artery adrenergic-mediated contraction are a function of [alpha]1-AR density or Ins(1,4,5)P3 response. Rather, the differences would appear to result from other factors, such as non-Ins(1,4,5)P3 mediated calcium activation and/or sensitivity to Ins(1,4,5)P3. 2) The studies also suggest considerable potential for maturational modulation of pharmaco-mechanical coupling and homeostatic regulation of cerebrovascular tone.

Received 19 January 1996; accepted in final form 14 May 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H44-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 5 June 96