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(Hypertension. 1998;32:311-317.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Expression of ₂-Adrenergic Receptors in Normal and Atherosclerotic Rabbit Aorta

Diane E. Handy; Conrado Johns; Margaret R. Bresnahan; Agostinho Tavares; Michael Bursztyn; ; Haralambos Gavras

From the Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine (Mass).

Correspondence to Diane E. Handy, PhD, Boston University Medical Center, W508, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail dhandy{at}bu.edu

Abstract—₂-Adrenergic receptors (₂-ARs) in vascular smooth muscle cells are known to mediate vasoconstriction; however, it is unknown which of the 3 subtypes of ₂-AR (_2A, _2B, or _2C) is expressed in vascular tissue. We have used subtype-specific probes in in situ hybridization and RNase protection assays to analyze the expression of ₂-AR in the thoracic aorta of New Zealand White (NZW) and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits, a model for atherosclerosis. We found that the _2A-AR mRNA was in endothelial and smooth muscle cells in both NZW and WHHL aorta. In addition, the shoulders and subendothelial regions of the atherosclerotic lesions in WHHL aorta showed abundant expression of _2A-AR mRNA. Antibodies to macrophage (RAM-11) and smooth muscle cell (HHF-35) antigens were used to localize macrophage and smooth muscle cells in aortic sections from WHHL rabbits. The expression of _2A-AR mRNA within the lesions of WHHL rabbits correlated with the presence of infiltrating macrophages. We discuss the potential role of _2A-ARs in macrophage function and in promoting atherosclerosis.

Key Words: receptors, adrenergic • aorta • atherosclerosis • rabbits

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