Heat Acclimation Does Not Alter Rat Mesenteric Artery Response to Norepinephrine

Previous studies have shown that heat acclimation raises the temperature threshold for heat-induced splanchnic vasoconstriction in the rat (W. Haddad and M. Horowitz. Thermal Balance in Health and Disease, Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. Basel: Birkhauser, 1994, p. 203-208; M. Shochina, W. Haddad, U. Meiri, and M. Horo-witz. J. Therm. Biol. 21: 289-295, 1996). We tested the hypothesis that heat acclimation alters splanchnic resistance artery sensitivity to norepinephrine (NE). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 5) were acclimated to 35 degreesC ambient temperature for 5-8 wk. Control rats (n = 5) were maintained at 22-23 degreesC ambient temperature for 5-7 wk. Small mesenteric artery segments (2- to 3-mm length, 100- to 340-micrometer ID) were isolated, cannulated at both ends, and pressurized to 50 mmHg. Artery luminal diameter was measured in response to cumulative doses of NE (10(-9) to 10(-5) M) by using video microscopy. NE dose response was measured at 37 and 43 degreesC bath temperatures. There were no differences in constriction responses to NE between acclimated and control rat arteries at either 37 or 43 degreesC. We conclude that acclimation does not alter rat mesenteric artery sensitivity to NE.