Patterns of adrenergic receptors and adrenergic agonists underlying cardiovascular responses to a psychological challenge.

Abstract

Numerous physiological and biochemical factors contribute to the dynamic regulation of the cardiovascular system. This study used a cluster analytic statistical technique to discern patterns of adrenergic receptors and adrenergic agonists underlying cardiovascular responses to a laboratory challenge. Fifty hypertensive and normotensive black and white individuals had their beta- and alpha-adrenergic receptor sensitivity determined through agonist infusions. Norepinephrine, epinephrine, blood pressure, and heart rate responses to a standardized mental arithmetic task were also obtained. The cluster analysis identified four subgroups of individuals having distinct patterns of receptor and neurohormonal regulation of end-organ responses. In general, the data indicated that end-organ cardiovascular responses are, in part determined by the sensitivity of adrenergic receptors and the accompanying catecholamine responses. The findings also suggest that for some individuals nonadrenergic factors play a more dominant role than adrenergic mechanisms in determining cardiovascular pressor responses.

Disordered eating behaviour is associated with blunted cortisol and cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress

“…It is possible that the disordered eating behaviour is associated with diminished badrenergic activation. Alternatively, individuals vary in the sensitivity of b adrenergic receptors (Mills et al, 1994), and it is also possible that disordered eating is association with reduced receptor sensitivity. There is at least some evidence in favour of the former as bulimics have been found to show blunted norepinephrine reactions to stress (Pirke et al, 1992).…”

Cardiovascular reactivity: Mechanisms and pathways to cardiovascular disease

“…Density of beta adrenergic receptors accounted for more of the response variance than traditional response measures, such as catecholamine activation, and these traditional measures in conjunction with receptor densities accounted for a considerable amount of the response variance. Cluster analysis of results from a large group of individuals indicated that peripheral receptor compliments may be a dominant factor in determining reactions to mental stress (Mills et al, 1994). An implication of these findings is that descending influences reflecting activation at the level of the frontallimbic system or at the hypothalamus and brainstem will nonetheless have greater influences on persons with greater numbers of peripheral adrenergic receptors.…”

The UCSD Statin Study: a randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of statins on selected noncardiac outcomes

“…Although catecholamine reactivity testing would be desirable, subject blood draw burdens (testing requires placement of an indwelling catheter) and substantial laboratory burdens for these particular tests precluded inclusion of such measures [84][85][86].…”