Enhanced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the pineal gland of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We studied the phosphoinositide (PI) turnover in the pineal gland of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and compared it to that in Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar rats. Both basal and norepinephrine-stimulated PI turnover were significantly higher in the SHR than in the other strains. Prazosin (1 mumol/L) completely blocked the norepinephrine-induced PI hydrolysis in all groups. However, prazosin failed to lower the enhanced basal PI turnover in SHR. Pineal response to the cholinergic agonist carbachol was similar in all groups. These results suggest enhanced membrane phospholipid turnover in the pineal gland of SHR. Moreover, signaling via the alpha 1-adrenoceptor might be sensitized in the SHR.