Effect of the alpha2C-adrenoreceptor deletion322-325 variant on sympathetic activity and cardiovascular measures in healthy subjects.

The alpha2C-adrenergic receptor plays an important role in the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system and, therefore, blood pressure and heart rate. A deletion polymorphism in its gene (ADRA2C del322-325), ten times more common in black than white Americans, has been associated with a loss of function in vitro and, under controlled study conditions, raised blood pressure and catecholamine secretion. We therefore examined the hypothesis that the ADRA2C deletion variant would alter sympathetic activity and contribute to ethnic differences in blood pressure.