Expression changes of alpha adrenergic receptors in heart and mesenteric artery in autonomic dysreflexia rats after spinal cord transection / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the changes of alpha adrenergic receptors (α-AR) mRNA expression in heart and mesenteric artery in autonomic dysreflexia (AD) rats after spinal cord transection, so as to explore the possible mechanism of AD. Methods: The spinal cord of rats was exposed and the fourth thoracic spinal cord was transected; 4 weeks later, rats' rectum was stimulated by self-made catheter and those with a mean arterial blood pressure increased by more than 15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) were chosen as AD group (n=16). Heart and mesenteric arteries along with their branches were harvested. mRNA expression of α1A-, α1B-, α1D-, α2A-, α2B- and α2C-AR was quantified by real time PCR and the result was compared with that in sham-operated group (the fourth thoracic spinal cord was exposed but not transected). Results: Compared with sham-opera ted group, rats in AD group had a lower expression of α1A-AR mRNA (P<0.05) and α1B-AR mRNA (P<0.01) in their heart, but the expression of α1D-AR mRNA had no obvious change. Also, rats in AD group had a higer expression of α1A-, α1D-, α2B-AR mRNA (all P<0.01) and α2C-AR mRNA (P<0.05) in their mesentric artery, but α1B- and α2A-AR mRNA expression had no obvious change. Conclusion: AD may occur in the chronic stage of spinal cord transection in rats. The abnormal expression of α1A- and α1B-AR mRNA in the heart and α1A-, α1D-, α2B- and α2C-AR mRNA in the mesenteric artery may be related to AD.