Alpha-1 adrenoceptor stimulation triggers axon-reflex vasodilatation in human skin

The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-treatment of human skin with the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin would block vasoconstrictor responses and axon-reflex vasodilatation to the α1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine. Drugs were administered by iontophoresis into the skin of the forearm of 15 healthy participants, and skin blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler flow probe at the site of methoxamine iontophoresis (to monitor direct vasoconstrictor responses) or 5-10 mm from the site of methoxamine iontophoresis (to monitor axon-reflex vasodilatation). Experimental sites were pre-treated with terazosin (administered by iontophoresis for 10 min at 200 µA), and the same current intensity was passed through 0.9% saline to control for the nonspecific effects of iontophoresis. Pre-treatment with terazosin blocked vasoconstrictor responses to increasing doses of methoxamine, and also blocked vasodilatation several mm from the site of terazosin and methoxamine administration. These findings support the view that α1-adrenoceptors play a role in generating axon-reflex vasodilatation, and thus might contribute to local vascular disturbances in acute and chronic inflammation.