GPCR dimerization in brainstem nuclei contributes to the development of hypertension

摘要

Background and Purposeμ-Opioid receptors, pro-opiomelanocortin and pro-enkephalin are highly expressed in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and μ receptor agonists given to the NTS dose-dependently increased BP. However, the molecular mechanisms of this process remain unclear. In vitro, μ receptors heterodimerize with α2A-adrenoceptors. We hypothesized that α2A-adrenoceptor agonists would lose their depressor effects when their receptors heterodimerize in the NTS with μ receptors.