PERIPHERAL BETA-ADRENOCEPTORS AND STRESS-INDUCED HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIAIN RATS

Three experiments were conducted examining the contribution of beta-ad renergic receptors to stress-induced cholesterol increases. Rats were exposed to 3 90-min sessions of inescapable tailshock, or left undistu rbed in their home cage. Propranolol, a nonselective beta-blocker, att enuated the stress-induced cholesterol increase when administered prio r to the daily shack session. Atenolol, a beta-1 specific antagonist, also attenuated the stress-induced cholesterol increase. Butoxamine, a beta-2 specific antagonist, had no effect on the stress-induced chole sterol increases. Results are discussed in terms of catecholamine-stim ulated free fatty acid (FFA) release as a potential mechanism for prod ucing stress-induced hypercholesterolemia. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.