Expression of alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes by smooth muscle cells and adventitial fibroblasts in rat aorta and in cell culture.

Previous radioligand binding reports of vascular alpha-adrenoceptor (AR) density have been limited to total alpha1- or alpha2-ARs. Studies using whole blood vessel homogenates have not differentiated among receptor or mRNA expression by medial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) versus adventitial fibroblasts (AFBs). Therefore, we used quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and radioligand binding to measure alpha-AR subtypes in media, adventitia, and cultured SMCs and AFBs from rat aorta. Both media and adventitia expressed alpha1A-, alpha1B-, alpha1D-, and alpha2D-AR mRNAs, but in markedly different abundances. Total alpha1-AR density was the same for media and adventitia (Bmax = 101 +/- 10 versus 96 +/- 16 fmol/mg of protein). However, densities for alpha1A-, alpha1B-, and alpha1D-AR subtypes in media were 19 +/- 2, 26 +/- 4, and 55 +/- 2%, and in adventitia were 44 +/- 3, 37 +/- 5, and 19 +/- 2%. No alpha2B- or alpha2C-AR transcripts were detected in either layer or in cultured SMCs or AFBs. Total alpha1-AR densities in cultured SMCs and AFBs (Bmax = 111 +/- 4 and 48 +/- 6 fmol/mg of protein, respectively) were similar to media and adventitia, with alpha1B- and alpha1D-AR transcript levels and receptors largely sustained. However, alpha1A- and alpha2D-AR expression in cultured SMCs and AFBs was strongly reduced, compared with media and adventitia, an effect not prevented by 30 different culture conditions. Like SMCs, exposure of AFBs to norepinephrine induced protein synthesis and proliferation of AFBs. This is the first study to quantitate alpha-AR subtype expression in media and adventitia and in cultured SMCs and AFBs. In addition, we report the intriguing finding that AFBs express alpha1-ARs in similar abundance as medial SMCs and that norepinephrine induced them to proliferate.