Abstract
The pharmacological action of higenamine in isolated rat aorta was investigated. Although the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (1 x 10-5 M) completely blocked the beta-adrenoceptor agonist higenamine in inducing a positive chronotropic activity in isolated mouse atria, the higenamine-induced aortic relaxation was not completely antagonized by this concentration of propranolol. The present data also demonstrate that the higenamine-induced aortic relaxation was attenuated in the absence of endothelium. These findings suggest that the beta-adrenoceptor specificity to higenamine in aorta is different from that of beta-1 in atria; moreover, the beta-adrenoceptors sensitive to higenamine are mainly located in the endothelial layer.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 130-132 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Planta Medica |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1997 |
Keywords
- Aconitum japonicum
- aortic relaxation
- benzylisoquinoline alkaloid
- beta-adrenoceptor
- endothelium
- higenamine
- propranolol
- Ranunculaceae
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Analytical Chemistry
- Molecular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Science
- Drug Discovery
- Complementary and alternative medicine
- Organic Chemistry