Functional evidence for an alpha 1B-adrenoceptor mediating contraction of the mouse spleen

alpha 1-Adrenoceptor agonists ((-)-adrenaline = (-)-noradrenaline > > L-phenylephrine > methoxamine > (-)-(4a R, 10a R)-3,4,4a,5,10,10a-hexahydro-6-methoxy-4-methyl-9-methylthio-2 H-naphth[2,3-b]-1,4-oxazine (SDZ NVI 085) > cirazoline) evoked contraction of isolated mouse spleen strips, whereas oxymetazoline and indanidine were nearly inactive. Splenic contractions elicited by (-)-noradrenaline were inhibited by chloroethylclonidine (3 x 10(-6) - 6 x 10(-5) M) and partially attenuated by SZL-49 (10(-7) -10(-6) M), but remained resistant to (+/-)-isradipine (10(-9) -10(-7) M). The contractions were competitively antagonized by low concentrations of the alpha 1B-adrenoceptor-selective antagonist, spiperone (pA2 = 8.29), but by relatively high concentrations of the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor-selective receptor antagonists, tamsulosin (pA2 = 8.62), 5-methyl-urapidil (pA2 = 7.03), (+)-niguldipine (pA2 = 6.26) and the alpha 1D-adrenoceptor-selective antagonist, 8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro-[4.5]dec ane-7, 9-dione (BMY 7378) (pA2 = 6.76). Functional antagonist affinities at mouse spleen alpha 1-adrenoceptors were consistent with those at guinea-pig splenic alpha 1B-adrenoceptors, but not with those of either rat vas deferens alpha 1A- or rat aortic alpha 1D-adrenoceptors. Antagonist affinities at mouse spleen alpha 1-adrenoceptors correlated also best with published antagonist data on cloned and expressed alpha 1b-adrenoceptors but less well with those for either alpha 1a- or alpha 1d-adrenoceptors. The results provide pharmacological evidence that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediating smooth muscle contraction of mouse spleen is the B subtype.