The alpha-2adrenergic receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor associated with the Gi heterotrimeric G-protein. It consists of three highly homologous subtypes, including α2A-, α2B-, and α2C-adrenergic. Some species other than humans express a fourth α2D-adrenergic receptor as well. Catecholamines like norepinephrine and epinephrine signal through the α2-adrenergic receptor in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Cellular localization
The α2A adrenergic receptor is localised in the following central nervous system structures:
The α2-adrenergic receptor is classically located on vascular prejunctional terminals where it inhibits the release of norepinephrine in a form of negative feedback. It is also located on the vascular smooth muscle cells of certain blood vessels, such as those found in skin arterioles or on veins, where it sits alongside the more plentiful α1-adrenergic receptor. The α2-adrenergic receptor binds both norepinephrine released by sympathetic postganglionic fibers and epinephrine released by the adrenal medulla, binding norepinephrine with slightly higher affinity. It has several general functions in common with the α1-adrenergic receptor, but also has specific effects of its own. Agonists of the α2-adrenergic receptor are frequently used in veterinaryanaesthesia where they affect sedation, muscle relaxation and analgesia through effects on the central nervous system.
General
Common effects include:
Suppression of release of norepinephrine by negative feedback.
Vasoconstriction of arteries to heart ; however, the extent of this effect may be limited and may be negated by the vasodilatory effect from β2 receptors
Decreased aqueous humor fluid production from the ciliary body
Signaling cascade
The α subunit of an inhibitory G protein - Gi dissociates from the G protein, and associates with adenylyl cyclase. This causes the inactivation of adenylyl cyclase, resulting in a decrease of cAMP produced from ATP, which leads to a decrease of intracellular cAMP. PKA is not able to be activated by cAMP, so proteins such as phosphorylase kinase cannot be phosphorylated by PKA. In particular, phosphorylase kinase is responsible for the phosphorylation and activation of glycogen phosphorylase, an enzyme necessary for glycogen breakdown. Thus in this pathway, the downstream effect of adenylyl cyclase inactivation is decreased breakdown of glycogen. The relaxation of gastrointestinal tract motility is by presynaptic inhibition, where transmitters inhibit further release by homotropic effects.
has higher affinity for the α2 receptor than has epinephrine, and therefore relates less to the latter's functions. Nonselective α2 agonists include the antihypertensive drug clonidine, which can be used to lower blood pressure and to reduce hot flashes associated with menopause. Clonidine has also been successfully used in indications that exceed what would be expected from a simple blood-pressure lowering drug: it has recently shown positive results in children with ADHD who suffer from tics resulting from the treatment with a CNS stimulant drug, such as Adderall XR or methylphenidate; clonidine also helps alleviate symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The hypotensive effect of clonidine was initially attributed through its agonist action on presynaptic α2 receptors, which act as a down-regulator on the amount of norepinephrine released in the synaptic cleft, an example of autoreceptor. However, it is now known that clonidine binds to imidazoline receptors with a much greater affinity than α2 receptors, which would account for its applications outside the field of hypertension alone. Imidazoline receptors occur in the nucleus tractus solitarii and also the centrolateral medulla. Clonidine is now thought to decrease blood pressure via this central mechanism. Other nonselective agonists include dexmedetomidine, lofexidine, TDIQ, tizanidine and xylazine. Xylazine has veterinary use. In the European Union, dexmedetomidine received a marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency on August 10, 2012 under the brand name of Dexdor. It is indicated for sedation in the ICU for patients needing mechanical ventilation. In non-human species this is an immobilizing and anesthetic drug, presumptively also mediated by α2 adrenergic receptors because it is reversed by yohimbine, an α2antagonist. α2A selective agonists include guanfacine and Brimonidine. -3-nitrobiphenyline is an α2Cselective agonist as well as being a weak antagonist at the α and α subtypes.
