Epinephrine Reduces the Severity of Catheter‐induced Urethral Inflammation by Action at the α 2 ‐adrenoceptors

Summary— We have studied the contribution of epinephrine to experimentally induced urethral inflammation in the rat. Inflammation was induced by inserting latex strips into the urethra. The effects of various experimental procedures were assessed according to a 4‐point scale based on histological findings. The results showed that 0.5 mg/kg epinephrine decreased the severity of catheter‐induced urethral inflammation. This effect was blocked by the α 2 ‐adrenergic agonist, yohimbine, but not by α 1 (prazosin), β 1 (M32 MTC), or β 2 (butoxamine) antagonists. The results suggest that the suppressive effect of epinephrine is mediated by action at the α 2 adrenergic receptor.