Alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation and cellular cAMP levels in microdissected rat glomeruli.

A functional role for the numerically predominant glomerular alpha 2-adrenoceptors is unknown. In other tissues, activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors inhibits adenylate cyclase activity. We therefore examined the effect of alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation with (-)-epinephrine (E) on the cellular cAMP concentration in glomeruli isolated by microdissection. Parathyroid hormone (1-34 PTH), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), histamine, serotonin, or adenosine, in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) and propranolol, was used to activate adenylate cyclase in single intact rat glomeruli. alpha 2-Adrenoceptors were activated with varying concentrations of E (37 degrees C, 2 min). In the presence of PTH-stimulated cAMP production, alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation with E (5 X 10(-7) to 5 X 10(-6) M) suppressed cellular cAMP levels in a dose-dependent fashion with the maximum at 30%. This suppression by E was inhibited by 5 X 10(-6) M yohimbine but not by 5 X 10(-6) M prazosin, confirming alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediation of this effect of E. Consistent with the above findings, the specific alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist BHT933 inhibited PTH-stimulated cAMP accumulation. E also inhibited cAMP accumulation stimulated by serotonin. However, E did not suppress the PGE2-, histamine-, or adenosine-stimulated increase in cellular cAMP in the glomerulus. Activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors inhibits cAMP formation stimulated by PTH or serotonin but not by PGE2, histamine, or adenosine in the rat glomerulus. Thus, the ability of alpha 2-adrenoceptors to inhibit adenylate cyclase appears to be hormone and probably function specific.