Adrenergic receptors in the forehead microcirculation

P. D. Drummond¹

(1)	Division of Psychology, Murdoch University, 6156, Western Australia

Received: 7 August 1995 Accepted: 26 October 1995

The presence of - and -adrenoceptors in the forehead microcirculation was investigated in 49 healthy subjects. Local vascular responses to noradrenaline, isoprenaline and adrenergic antagonists, administered transcutaneously by iontophoresis, were monitored via laser Doppler flowmetry. Iontophoresis of the -adrenergic antagonist phentolamine induced a persistent increase in skin blood flow, whereas iontophoresis of saline induced a minor increase in skin blood flow which subsided rapidly. Skin blood flow increased moderately after the iontophoresis of the -adrenergic antagonist propranolol.