Adrenoceptor types in the respiratory vasculature of the salamander gill.

Adrenoreceptor types were determined in the branchial respiratory vasculature of the neotenic tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum. Phenoxybenzamine antagonized increases in branchial vascular resistance caused by both epinephrine and norepinephrine. Propranolol antagonized both epinephrine- and norepinephrine-induced dilation of this vascular bed. Isoproterenol produced solely vasodilation, phenylephrine had no effect, and methoxamine caused constriction only at a very high dose. It is concluded that alpha-adrenoceptors mediate the catecholamine-induced vasoconstriction, and beta-adrenoceptors the catecholamine-induced vasodilation in the respiratory circulation of the gill.