Thermodynamic properties of agonist interactions with the beta adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system. I. High- and low-affinity states of agonist binding to membrane-bound beta adrenergic receptors

The properties associated with ligand interactions with membrane-bound beta adrenergic receptors prepared from L6 myoblasts were examined at five temperatures between 10 degrees and 30 degrees C. The interactions of antagonists with membrane-bound receptors were insensitive to temperature, whereas the interactions of agonists were temperature-dependent. The affinity constants for the low-affinity binding states of agonists (KL) decreased slightly with decreasing assay temperature. The small temperature-dependent changes in KL values were similar to the changes in Kd values observed in studies of the binding of agonists in the presence of GTP. The high-affinity dissociation constants (KH) for binding of full agonists to membrane-bound receptors in the absence of GTP were approximately 50-fold lower at 10 degrees than at 30 degrees C. The KH values for partial agonists also decreased with decreasing temperature, but the changes were smaller in magnitude. Thermodynamically, the binding of antagonists was primarily entropy-driven, whereas the binding of agonists was enthalpy-driven. The energetics of the low-affinity component of agonist binding to membrane-bound receptors were similar to the energetics for binding of agonists to membrane-bound receptors in the presence of GTP. Under these conditions, standard enthalpy change (delta H degree) and standard entropy change (delta S degree) values for binding of agonists were more negative than the corresponding values for binding of antagonists, possibly reflecting a conformational change in the receptor or an increased ordering of the lipids surrounding the receptor. The interaction of the receptor with the guanine nucleotide-binding protein to form the high-affinity component of agonist binding was thermodynamically described by larger negative changes in enthalpy and entropy than the values for formation of the low-affinity component of agonist binding. There was a correlation between the efficacies of ligands in activating adenylate cyclase and the delta H degree and delta S degree values for high-affinity binding of agonists. Thus, the extent or nature of the interaction between the guanine nucleotide-binding protein and the receptor may determine the efficacies of ligands.     

Effects of ethanol in vitro on the beta adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system

The effects of ethanol on the beta adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system were examined in vitro using membranes prepared from S49 lymphoma cells. Ethanol caused a dose-dependent increase in adenylate cyclase activity in membranes prepared from wild-type cells when the activity was measured in the presence of GTP. Activity measured in the presence of isoproterenol was also increased by ethanol, but the fold-stimulation by isoproterenol was lower in the presence of ethanol. Ethanol also shifted the dose-response curve for stimulation of the enzyme by isoproterenol to the right. This shift was due to a decrease in the affinity of the beta adrenergic receptor for isoproterenol. A decrease in the affinity of the receptor for the antagonists [125I]iodopindolol and propranolol was also observed, but the magnitude of this effect was less than that seen with the agonist isoproterenol. The density of binding sites for [125I]iodopindolol was not affected by ethanol. Dose-response curves for NaF and guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), both of which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity through an effect on the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs), were shifted to the left by the addition of ethanol. In membranes prepared from the CYC- variant of S49 cells, which lacks the alpha subunit of Gs, guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The inhibition by guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) was not affected by ethanol. In membranes prepared from both wild-type and CYC- S49 cells, ethanol inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Whereas the inhibition of this activity by GTP was greatly attenuated in membranes prepared from CYC- S49 cells which had been pretreated with pertussis toxin, the inhibition by ethanol was not affected by pretreatment with pertussis toxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Agonist interactions with beta adrenergic receptors in rat brain

Agonist interactions with beta adrenergic receptors on membranes prepared from rat brain were examined by measuring agonist inhibition of [125I]iodopindolol binding in the absence or presence of GTP. When rat cerebral cortical membranes were prepared with 1 mM EDTA in the homogenization medium and 2.5 mM MgCl2 was included in the binding reaction, then 250 microM GTP increased the Hill coefficient for isoproterenol from 0.77 to 0.99 and increased the IC50 from 88 to 213 nM. By contrast, I-propranolol competition curves were steep (Hill coefficient = 0.98) and were not affected by GTP. It was inferred from the results of computer-modeling that, in the absence of GTP, isoproterenol bound to two states of the receptor; GTP converted isoproterenol binding to a single low-affinity state. I-Propranolol bound to a single state in the absence or presence of GTP. The effect of GTP on I-epinephrine inhibition of [125I]iodopindolol binding was essentially identical to its effect on isoproterenol inhibition. GTP and GDP were the most potent of all the nucleotides tested. Guanylylimidodiphosphate (1 mM) produced only partial shifts in the isoproterenol competition curves and GMP and ATP were inactive. In membranes prepared from rat hippocampus and hypothalamus, isoproterenol competition curves and GTP effects were qualitatively similar to those observed in cerebral cortex. However, GTP produced only partial shifts of I-isoproterenol competition curves in cerebellum and neostratium. It appears that agonists, but not antagonists, can stabilize a high-affinity ternary complex with the beta adrenergic receptor and the guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein in membranes prepared from various regions of the rat brain.     

Desensitization of adenylate cyclase and down regulation of beta adrenergic receptors after in vivo administration of beta agonist

In vitro incubation of cells with catecholamines leads to both down regulation of beta adrenergic receptor number and desensitization of agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. These same parameters, down regulation of beta adrenergic receptor number and desensitization of adenylate cyclase activity were assessed in rat lung membranes after in vivo administration of metaproterenol, a beta-2 selective agonist. In vivo treatment with metaproterenol leads to: 1) reduced beta adrenergic receptor number; 2) reduced isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity; 3) unaffected NaF or 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity; and 4) reduced affinity of the receptor for isoproterenol similar to the affinity observed in the presence of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate. The date suggest that in vivo metaproterenol administration results in an uncoupled receptor-adenylate cyclase complex. The effects of in vivo administration of the glucocorticoid, methylprednisolone, to metaproterenol-pretreated animals were also assessed. Glucocorticoid treatment was associated with 1) increased beta adrenergic receptor number in rats in which the receptors have been down regulated, 2) increased isoproterenol responsiveness in agonist-desensitized rats and 3) no effect on agonist affinity in desensitized animals. These data suggest that the restoration of agonist responsiveness by glucocorticoids in the catecholamine refractive state is not simply a reversal of receptor down regulation or adenylate cyclase desensitization.     

Hypothyroidism modulates beta adrenergic receptor adenylate cyclase interactions in rat reticulocytes.

We have investigated alterations in beta adrenergic receptor binding sites of rat reticulocytes occurring in animals rendered hypothyroid by thyroidectomy. Beta adrenergic receptor interactions were assessed by measuring the number of (-)[3H]-dihydroalprenolol binding sites and the ability of an agonist to compete for occupancy of the receptors. The number of receptors was significantly reduced in cells from the hypothyroid animals. In addition, there were significant agonist-specific alterations in binding. Using computer assisted curve fitting techniques, it was found that the ability of (-)isoproterenol to stabilize a high affinity guanine nucleotide sensitive "coupled" form of the receptor was impaired. Reticulocytes from hypothyroid animals have, in addition, a reduction in the concentration of the nucleotide regulatory protein as assessed by the number of 42,000 Mr substrates for cholera toxin catalyzed ADP ribosylation. These alterations are associated with reductions in catecholamine and NaF stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Diminished coupling of beta adrenergic receptors with other regulatory components of the adenylate cyclase system represents a mechanism by which altered thyroid states modulate beta adrenergic receptor function and beta adrenergic responsiveness of tissues.     

Pineal beta adrenergic receptor: correlation of binding of 3H-l-alprenolol with stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

3H-l-Alprenolol, a potent competitive beta adrenergic antagonist, binds to sites in rat pineal gland membranes. The properties of these binding sites were compared to those of the receptors which mediate the beta adrenergic activation of pineal adenylate cyclase. Both sites are highly stereospecific. The l-stereoisomers of alprenolol and propranolol were at least two orders of magnitude more potent than the d-stereoisomers in inhibiting isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase or 3H-l-alprenolol binding. The dissociation constants (Kd) of the l-stereoisomers of both alprenolol and propranolol were 10 to 22 nM as determined by competition for binding sites or by inhibition of isoproternol-stimulated adenylate cyclase. Beta adrenergic agonists which stimulated adenylate cyclase also competitively inhibited the binding of 3H-l-alprenolol. They showed the same order of potency (isoproterenol greater than norepinephrine greater than or equal to epinephrine) and the same individual affinities in the two systems. Alpha adrenergic blockers were ineffective in inhibiting either adenylate cyclase stimulation or 3H-l-alprenolol binding. Isoproternol stimulation of adenylate cyclase acrivity, and 3H-l-alprenolol binding, were rapid and rapidly reversible. The 3H-l-alprenolol binding sites were saturable and bound 0.6 pmol of ligand per mg of added protein. The data suggest that the binding of 3H-l-alprenolol occurs at sites indistinguishable from the pineal beta adrenergic receptor.     

Effects of agonist exposure on the coupling of beta 1 and beta 3 adrenergic receptors to adenylyl cyclase in isolated adipocytes.

The coupling of beta 1 and beta 3 adrenergic receptors to adenylyl cyclase was examined in membranes of isolated white adipocytes. The activation of adenylyl cyclase by isoproterenol (ISO) was biphasic. The high-affinity activation of adenylyl cyclase, which occurred at submicromolar concentrations of ISO, was mediated by beta 1 receptors, whereas low-affinity activation was mediated by beta 3 receptors. The relative activation of adenylyl cyclase by beta 3 receptors was less when ISO was used to stimulate activity, compared to when the beta 3-selective agonist BRL 37344 was used. These data indicate that both receptor subtypes can stimulate the same adenylyl cyclase in membranes of control cells, and that the activation of adenylyl cyclase by beta 1 receptors by low concentrations of catecholamines can obscure the activation by beta 3 receptors by high concentrations of catecholamines. Exposure of adipocytes to ISO at concentrations that either selectively stimulate beta 1 receptors or nonselectively stimulate both beta receptor subtypes greatly decreased the ability of beta 1, but not beta 3, receptors to activate adenylyl cyclase. In contrast, the exposure of cells to the beta 3-selective agonist BRL only slightly desensitized beta 1 receptors and did not affect beta 3 receptor activation of adenylyl cyclase. These data indicate that acute agonist exposure desensitizes beta 1, but not beta 3, receptors.     

Comparison of beta adrenergic receptor binding characteristics and coupling to adenylate cyclase in rat pulmonary artery versus aorta

In an effort to define the mechanisms regulating pulmonary vasodilatation and explain the greater in vitro response to iso-proterenol in the pulmonary artery (PA) vs. aorta (AO), we compared beta adrenergic receptor binding characteristics and coupling to adenylate cyclase in PA and AO obtained from adult male rats. Beta adrenergic receptor binding characteristics and affinity for agonists were determined with [125I]-iodocyanopindolol. Agonist displacement studies were characteristic of a beta-2 adrenergic receptor subtype. Receptor density (44.7 +/- 7.3 vs. 39.6 +/- 0.8 fmol/mg of protein means +/- S.E.M., PA vs. AO) and the dissociation constant for the radioligand (10.3 +/- 2.6 vs. 13.4 +/- 3.5 pM) were similar in the two arteries. However, affinity for l-isoproterenol was greater (the inhibition constant was lower) in PA compared to AO (0.08 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.20 +/- 0.18 microM, P less than .05), as was affinity for l-epinephrine (0.89 +/- 0.20 vs. 3.87 +/- 0.62 microM, P less than .05). Affinity was similar for l-norepinephrine (18.93 +/- 3.63 vs. 13.49 +/- 3.12 microM). Base-line cyclic AMP (cAMP) content, basal adenylate cyclase activity and adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by GTP, isoproterenol plus GTP and forskolin were measured by radioimmunoassay for cAMP. Base-line cAMP content was greater in PA than in AO (513.5 +/- 46.9 vs. 125.5 +/- 19.1 pmol of cAMP per mg of protein, P less than .001), as was basal adenylate cyclase activity (10.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 5.7 +/- 1.3 pmol of cAMP per mg of protein per min, P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Perinatal changes in the coupling of beta 1- and beta 3 adrenergic receptors to brown fat adenylyl cyclase.

The stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by catecholamines in neonatal brown adipose tissue (BAT) is markedly biphasic, suggesting the existence of receptors that have both high and low affinities for catecholamines. The identities of these receptors were examined by comparing responses in neonatal BAT membranes to those of Chinese hamster ovary cells which had been transfected to express the cloned rat beta 1 and beta 3 receptors. The results from these experiments indicate that high-affinity stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by catecholamines in BAT is mediated by beta 1 receptors, as evidenced by the potencies of norepinephrine and isoproterenol at this receptor and the potent blockade of the receptor by alprenolol. The low-affinity catecholamine receptor appears to be the beta 3 receptor, as indicated by the low potency of catecholamine agonists and the inability of low concentrations of alprenolol to block this activity. Furthermore, this receptor, like the cloned rat beta 3 receptor, was antagonized by (-)-4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)benzimidazol-2-one (CGP 12177) and was stimulated by (R',R')-4-(2-[(2[(3-chlorophenyl)-2- hydroxyethyl]amino)propyl]phenyl)phenoxyacetic acid (BRL 37344). These results indicate that both beta 1 and beta 3 receptors couple to adenylyl cyclase in BAT and that activation of adenylyl cyclase in neonatal BAT is mediated primarily by beta 3 receptors. Beta 3 receptors were also clearly detected in weanling BAT with the beta 3-selective agonist BRL 37344. However, when catecholamines were used to stimulate activity, the activation of adenylyl cyclase by beta 1 receptors, which occurred at low concentrations of catecholamines, obscured the activation of adenylyl cyclase by beta 3 receptors, which occurred only at high concentrations.     

Kinetic analysis of the interactions of agonists and antagonists with beta adrenergic receptors

The affinity of the beta adrenergic receptor for antagonists is frequently higher than that for agonists. It has been assumed that the binding of agonists and antagonists is diffusion limited and that the high affinity of the receptor for typical antagonists is due to slow rates of dissociation. To test this hypothesis, the kinetics of binding of unlabeled agonists and antagonists were determined using the method described by Motulsky and Mahan (Mol. Pharmacol. 25: 1-9, 1984). The time course of the binding of a radioligand in the presence of a competing unlabeled ligand was analyzed in terms of rate constants of association (kon) and dissociation (koff) for binding of the radioligand and the competitor. This approach was validated by showing that the rate constants for binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol and [3H]CGP-12177 [[3H]-4-(3-tertiarybutylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-benzimidazole-2-on ] determined directly were similar to values determined when the binding of [125I]iodopindolol was measured in the presence of [3H]dihydroalprenolol or [3H]CGP-12177. Computer simulations suggested that this method was experimentally limited to competing ligands with rate constants of dissociation below approximately 0.50 min-1. The apparent rate constants for binding of four unlabeled agonists and eight antagonists were determined experimentally at 10 degrees C. Although the values of koff for agonists and antagonists were similar, the values for kon for binding of agonists were consistently lower than the values for binding of antagonists. The relatively slow rate constant for association of agonists may be explained by a two-step mechanism or may involve agonist-induced isomerization of the receptor.     

Thyroid hormone regulates ontogeny of beta adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase in rat heart and kidney: effects of propylthiouracil-induced perinatal hypothyroidism.

In mature animals, thyroid hormone is permissive for beta adrenergic receptor expression and adrenergic control of adenylate cyclase. To determine if endogenous thyroid hormones play a similar role in the development of receptors and transduction mechanisms, we administered propylthiouracil perinatally to rat dams and pups from gestational day 17 through postnatal day 5. Circulating thyroid hormones were completely suppressed through postnatal day 10 and then rose to only slightly subnormal values by the 3rd to 4th postnatal week. In the heart, hypothyroidism completely suppressed the initial development of beta adrenergic receptor binding sites, with recovery paralleling the return of thyroid hormone levels. In contrast, development of basal and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity showed more lasting deficiencies with a delayed onset corresponding to general growth impairment; however, forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase developed in a nearly normal pattern. Effects on development of renal beta receptors and adenylate cyclase were of smaller magnitude and comprised only the delayed onset phase; receptor deficiencies appeared after 10 days and adverse effects on adenylate cyclase were limited to the isoproterenol-sensitive component, consisting of a shift of the ontogenetic peak to later ages. Endogenous thyroid hormones thus contribute two distinct factors to beta receptor/adenylate cyclase development: they are obligatory for cardiac beta receptor development, but also, in parallel with general effects on growth and development, serve to program the ontogeny of transduction factors linking the receptors to adenylate cyclase. The predominance of propylthiouracil effects on isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase but not on enzymatic responses to forskolin suggests that thyroid hormones may be controlling the development of regulatory G-proteins.     

Beta adrenergic receptor subtypes in the atria: evidence for close coupling of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptors to adenylate cyclase

The relationship between occupancy of beta adrenergic receptors and stimulation of adenylate cyclase in dog atrial tissue was examined by studying the binding of [125I]iodopindolol and the activation of adenylate cyclase. Computer-assisted nonlinear regression analysis was used to analyze the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by beta-1- or beta-2-selective antagonists. The Ki values for each subtype of receptor for the selective antagonists resulting from studies of the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity were similar to those determined in studies of the inhibition of the binding of [125I]iodopindolol. To compare further the occupancy of beta-1 or beta-2 adrenergic receptors with the activation of adenylate cyclase mediated by each class of receptor, computer modeling of the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by the beta-1-selective agonist norepinephrine was carried out. The EC50 values of norepinephrine for each receptor subtype, as measured in studies of norepinephrine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, were similar to the Ki values for the inhibition by norepinephrine of the binding of [125I]iodopindolol to each receptor subtype. The data led to the conclusion that beta-1 adrenergic receptors make up about 70% of the total number of beta adrenergic receptors and mediate 70% of the increase in adenylate cyclase activity produced by isoproterenol. These results suggest that the relationship between occupancy of each class of receptor and activation of adenylate cyclase is linear and that, when agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is used as a functional response, neither spare beta-1 nor spare beta-2 adrenergic receptors exist in the atrium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Interactions of beta adrenergic antagonists with isolated rat alveolar type II pneumocytes. I. Analysis, characterization and regulation of specific beta adrenergic receptors

Binding of beta adrenergic receptors (BAR) in membranes of freshly isolated type II pulmonary epithelial cells to the radioligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol was saturable, steresospecific and of high affinity. Optimal conditions for the assay of BAR on type II pneumocyte membranes are presented. Type II pneumocyte BAR are primarily of the beta-2 subtype, as indicated by inhibition of subtype-specific antagonists, ICI 118,551 and betaxolol. Maximum binding and Kd were measured (Kd, 4-20 pM; maximum binding, 30-50 fmol/mg of protein) and used to identify factors which alter BAR. The number of BAR on type II pneumocytes doubled after 42-hr culture in the presence of dexamethasone. Ligand-receptor interactions were of similar affinity to those in membrane particulates from whole lung, but maximum binding was reduced 3- to 4-fold. Less than 5% of total pulmonary BAR can be accounted for by those expressed on freshly isolated type II pneumocyte membranes. Other cell types thus probably account for the majority of specific beta adrenergic binding sites in the lung as a whole.     

Phorbol ester-induced modulation of agonist binding to alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in bovine aortic membranes

Effects of the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) on the binding behavior of the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor were determined from radioligand binding assays at 25 and 2 degrees C. Membranes prepared from PDBu-treated bovine aorta exhibited a 16% reduction in [3H]prazosin binding capacity, whereas [3H]prazosin affinity was unchanged. This may reflect a role for protein kinase C-mediated receptor phosphorylation in determining receptor turnover and surface density. After PDBu treatment, the affinity of epinephrine for [3H]prazosin sites was altered in two respects. Control membranes exhibited both high and low affinity epinephrine binding (KDH, 20 nM; KDL, 1086 nM) whereas, PDBu-treated membranes exhibited only a single class of low affinity sites (KDL, 655 nM). The inclusion of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate caused the loss of high affinity sites in control membranes but had no effect on PDBu-treated membranes (KDL, 681 nM). Thus, protein kinase C blocks the ability of the agonist-receptor complex to couple to a GTP binding regulatory protein. In binding studies conducted at 2 degrees C epinephrine also bound to high (KDH, 34 nM) and low affinity (KDL, 1920 nM) sites although the percentage of high affinity sites was higher (percentage of RH, 80) than at 25 degrees C (percentage of RH, 19). PDBu-treated membranes also exhibited two agonist affinity states in 2 degrees C studies although affinity was slightly reduced (KDH, 74 nM; KDL, 2405 nM). 5'-Guanylylimidodiphosphate was without effect at 2 degrees C. These results indicate that a high affinity agonist binding state can still be achieved after PDBu treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of acute ischemia in the dog on myocardial blood flow, beta receptors, and adenylate cyclase activity with and without chronic beta blockade.

We ligated the left anterior descending coronary artery for 1 or 2 h in 31 purebred beagles. We did not detect any changes in beta-adrenergic receptor density or affinity when normal and ischemic zones were compared, either in the subendocardium or in the subepicardium. In the ischemic zones, there was a significant decline in all measures of adenylate cyclase activity, including activity mediated by the beta-adrenergic receptor. By contrast, after chronic beta-adrenergic blockade (1.5 mg/kg propranolol i.v. twice daily for 7 d), there was an increase in adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by (-)-isoproterenol relative to adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by guanyl-5'imidodiphosphate (GppNHp) in both normal and ischemic tissue, suggesting that one effect of chronic beta blockade may be to enhance coupling between the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Gs) and the beta-adrenergic receptor, despite a reduction in the number or function of Gs units. Chronic beta blockade also led to up regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor density in subepicardial regions. After 20 min of reperfusion following 2 h of ischemia, adenylate cyclase activity tended to return to control levels, particularly in the subepicardium, where (-)-isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was not different from normal myocardium. We conclude that chronic beta-adrenergic blockade may have beneficial effects during prolonged episodes of myocardial ischemia by preserving signal transduction mediated by the beta-adrenergic receptor.     

Selective regulation of beta-2 adrenergic receptors by the chronic administration of the lipophilic beta adrenergic receptor agonist clenbuterol: an autoradiographic study

Many antidepressant drugs, when administered chronically to rats, have been shown to produce decreases in the density of beta adrenergic receptors in the central nervous system. The centrally active beta adrenergic receptor agonist clenbuterol is currently being evaluated clinically as an antidepressant. The chronic administration of this drug to rats resulted in a large decrease in the density of beta adrenergic receptors in some areas of the rat brain but not in others. Thus, autoradiographic studies revealed that the total density of beta adrenergic receptors in the molecular layer of the cerebellum, but not in layers 1 to 3 or layer 4 of the cerebral cortex, was decreased. To examine whether this regional selectivity occurred because of differences in plasticity of cerebellum and cortex or because cerebellum contains mainly beta-2 adrenergic receptors and cortex contains mainly beta-1 adrenergic receptors, separate analyses of the subtypes of beta adrenergic receptors were performed in each area. These experiments indicated that the decrease in receptor density was entirely specific for beta-2 adrenergic receptors, whereas the density of beta-1 receptors was unchanged. Thus, even in layers 1 to 3 and layer 4 of the cerebral cortex, beta-2 receptor density was decreased, with no change in beta-1 receptor density. Using the autoradiographic assay for ligand binding, it was shown that clenbuterol has equal affinity for beta-1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptors, indicating that the selective effect of this drug was not due to a selective affinity for beta-2 receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Measurement of adenylate cyclase activity in the minute bovine ciliary epithelial cells during the pharmacological stimulation of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors

Although essential to the secretion of aqueous humor, little is known about the signal transduction underlying postreceptor adrenergic and cholinergic processes in the ciliary epithelium. We adopted a highly sensitive fluorometric assay technique in order to examine adenylate cyclase activity in minute membrane preparations made from the bovine ciliary epithelial cells. The protein concentration of the preparation was 3-5 mg/ ml. Norepinephrine (10(-7), 10(-6) and 10(-5) M) and carbachol (10(-7) and 10(-5) M) were incubated with 10 microl of membrane preparation to analyze the extent of the receptor-coupled influences on the adenylate cyclase activity. Meanwhile, forskolin (10(-5) M) was used to estimate the maximum adenylate cyclase activity. After the initial enzymatic destruction of noncyclic adenine nucleotides and phosphorylated metabolites, the diester linkage of cyclic AMP was cleaved and then converted to ATP. The ATP was enzymatically amplified to about 10,000 times of fructose-6-phosphate. The NADPH, formed when the fructose-6-phosphate was converted to 6-phosphogluconolactone, was measured fluorometrically. Basal and forskolin-stimulated maximum adenylate cyclase activities (pmol/mg protein/min) were 29.6+/-7.6 and 86.6+/-7.2 (mean+/-SE), respectively. Norepinephrine increased the adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner, while carbachol hardly affected the activity. These results indicate that the adenylate cyclase activity can be measured in the minute ciliary epithelial cells and, moreover, that the current assay can be applied to assess the efficacy of newly available ophthalmic solutions or systemic drugs influencing adenylate cyclase activity in a discrete portion in the eye.