Evidence from binding studies for alpha 2-adrenoceptors directly associated with glomeruli from rat kidney.

Binding of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor radioligands [3H]clonidine and [3H]rauwolscine but not the alpha 1-adrenoceptor radioligand [3H]prazosin was enhanced in membranes prepared from rat isolated renal glomeruli. [3H]Rauwolscine binding to glomeruli was stereoselective with respect to the (-)-isomer of noradrenaline and the order of potency of a series of antagonists for displacement of binding indicated that the alpha 2-adrenoceptors in this preparation differ somewhat from those in some other species and tissues. Chemical sympathectomy produced no significant change in the number of sites labelled by [3H]rauwolscine indicating that few of the alpha 2-adrenoceptors in glomerular membranes are associated with sympathetic nerve terminals.