Effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on reactivity of adrenergic receptors in rabbit sino-atrial node / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) on the activity of adrenergic receptor(AR) in rabbit sino-atrial node (SAN) by intracellular recording.METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups control group (Con), 14 d CIHH treatment group (CIHH14) and 28 d CIHH treatment group (CIHH28). The CIHH rabbits were exposed to a simulated 5 000 m (oxygen 11.1%) hypobaric hypoxia in hypoxic chamber for 14 d or 28 d (6 h/d), respectively. SAN preparation was used and the transmembrane action potential was recorded by micropipettes. Isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO, agonist of β-AR) and phenylephrine (PE, agonist of α_1-AR) at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol/L) were applied cumulatively to investigate the electrophysiological effect of the drugs on the rabbit SAN among Con, CIHH14 and CIHH28 groups, respectively. RESULTS: (1) CIHH didnt change the parameters of action potential of SAN recorded under basic condition. (2) ISO changed some parameters of AP significantly in a dose-dependent manner, including increases in the amplitude of AP (APA), maximal rate of depolarization (V_(max)), the velocity of diastolic (phase 4) depolarization (VDD), and rate of pacemaker firing (RPF). (3) The response of AP to ISO in CIHH rabbits was decreased significantly compared to that in Con animals. Under 1 μmol/L of ISO, the increases in VDD, RPF, APA and V_(max) in CIHH animals were smaller than those in Con animals (P<0.05). (4) No effect of PE (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol/L) on the parameters of action potential was observed. CONCLUSION: CIHH decreases the reactivity of β-AR, but has no effect on α_1-AR in SAN of rabbit.