As plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels may be similar in hypertensive and normotensive subjects, the sensitivity of adrenergic receptors was investigated in patients with essential hypertension and normotensive subjects of similar age and sex. Alpha-adrenergic receptor sensitivity was measured in platelets by the specific binding of [3H]dihydroergocryptine and the NE inhibition of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) production. The number of alpha-adrenergic receptors in platelets from hypertensive women was 1.5 times that in the platelets from normotensive ones, with no differences between hypertensive and normotensive women or between men and women in the affinity of the alpha-adrenergic receptor for [3H]dihydroergocryptine. PGE1-stimulated cAMP production was half as great in hypertensive as in normotensive men, while NE inhibition of PGE1-stimulated cAMP production was similar in hypertensive and normotensive men and women. [3H]Dihydroergoeryptine binding in female hypertensives, and PGE1-stimulated cAMP in male hypertensives did not differ from that in sex-matched controls. The sensitivity of the beta-adrenergic receptor, measured by [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding and cAMP production was similar in hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

SummaryUsing the recipient's human heart removed at cardiac transplantation, the distribution of digoxin at both the cellular and subcellular level has been studied. In the presence of diffuse histological myocardial abnormalities tissue digoxin is decreased, but the subcellular distribution, presumably reflecting binding to a possible receptor site, is uniform. When the histological abnormality is focal then digoxin distribution is uniform.These results suggest that in the presence of myocardial ischaemia plasma digoxin concentrations may not reflect total myocardial levels accurately.

1. To examine the hypothesis that the normalcy of blood pressure, despite an increase in circulating angiotensin II, and the blood pressor hyporesponsiveness to infusion of pressor agents which are associated with hypokalaemia, are due to overproduction of prostacyclin, the principal prostaglandin (PG) synthesized by the vascular endothelium, we studied the effect of experimental hypokalaemia on the urinary excretion of immunoreactive 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, a stable metabolite of prostacyclin, in the rat. 2. The animals were fed on a potassium-deficient diet for 9 days. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected daily for measurement of urinary excretion of immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGE2 and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM). 3. Hypokalaemia caused significant increases of the three prostaglandins measured. 4. We conclude that hypokalaemia is a potent stimulus of both renal and vascular prostaglandins. The results suggest that an increase in prostacyclin synthesis in peripheral blood vessel walls may be responsible for the resistance of blood pressure to infusion of pressor substances as well as for the normalcy of blood pressure, despite the presence of high circulating angiotensin II concentrations, in conditions associated with hypokalaemia.