Genistein potentiates the relaxation induced by beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor activation in rat aortic rings

In rat aortic rings, genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, but not daidzein, an inactive analogue of genistein, potentiated the relaxation induced by isoproterenol. Atenolol, a beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist, or ICI-118,551, a beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, inhibited the relaxation induced by isoproterenol. The potentiating effect of genistein on the relaxation induced by isoproterenol in the presence of ICI-118,551 was apparently greater than that in the presence of atenolol. In the presence of ICI-118,551, theophylline, an inhibitor of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE), markedly inhibited the potentiating effect of genistein on the isoproterenol-induced relaxation, whereas in the presence of atenolol, theophylline only partly inhibited the potentiating effect of genistein. The relaxation induced by forskolin, an activator of adenylyl cyclase, was potentiated by genistein or theophylline. In the presence of theophylline, the relaxation induced by forskolin was not further affected by genistein. Genistein also inhibited the activities of cAMP-PDE. In the presence of atenolol, but not ICI-118,551, iberiotoxin, an inhibitor of Ca-activated K channels, inhibited the relaxation induced by isoproterenol and the potentiating effect of genistein. In the presence of atenolol, quinacrine, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, and metyrapone, an inhibitor of P-450 enzymes, but not alpha-naphthoflavone, an inhibitor of P-450 enzymes, indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or AA861, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, inhibited the potentiating effect of genistein. These results suggest that the potentiation of the beta1-adrenoceptor-induced relaxation by activation of genistein may mostly be due to inhibition of cAMP-PDE activities. In addition, the potentiation of the relaxation induced by activation of beta2-adrenoceptors by genistein may be related to the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism and cAMP-PDE activities.     

Demonstration of the beta 2-adrenoceptor intrinsic efficacy of AY-28,925 using the PGF2 alpha-contracted guinea-pig trachea

The abilities of AY-28,925, labetalol and medroxalol to relax the PGF2 alpha-contracted isolated guinea-pig trachea have been investigated to compare their activities at beta 2-adrenoceptors. Maximum relaxation induced by AY-28,925 was significantly greater than that induced by either labetalol or medroxalol. This relaxation occurred in a concentration-dependent manner over a range of concentrations consistent with the previously determined affinity of AY-28,925 for beta-adrenoceptors. ICI-118,551 inhibited AY-28,925-induced relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner with a pA2 value similar to that determined for ICI-118,551 inhibition of the selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol, but not the selective beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist norepinephrine. The Schild plot slope for ICI-118,551 inhibition of AY-28,925 or salbutamol did not differ significantly from unity, while that for inhibition of isoproterenol (a non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist) did. It is concluded that AY-28,925 is a more efficacious relaxant of tracheal smooth muscle than either labetalol or medroxalol, and that this relaxant activity is the result of its greater intrinsic efficacy at the beta 2-adrenoceptor.     

Beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist activities of ICI-215001, a putative beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist.

1. The present study was undertaken to characterize the beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist activity of ICI-215001 and to determine whether it exhibits additional activities on beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in isolated spontaneously beating atrium, trachea and ileum of guinea-pig. 2. In guinea-pig atrium, isoprenaline, a non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist, caused concentration-dependent, positive chronotropic effects that were inhibited by atenolol, a selective beta 1-antagonist. ICI-215001 also competitively antagonized the increase in heart rate caused by isoprenaline. 3. ICI-215001 exhibited low intrinsic activity at increasing the beating rate of atrium and no activity on resting or induced tone of tracheal strips. 4. In strips of guinea-pig trachea, contracted submaximally with carbachol, isoprenaline, caused concentration-dependent relaxations. Both ICI-118551, a selective beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, and ICI-215001 competitively inhibited the relaxations caused by isoprenaline. 5. In isolated strips of guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle contracted with histamine, isoprenaline and ICI-215001 caused relaxations which were inhibited by alprenolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with modest affinity for beta 3-adrenoceptors, but were resistant to ICI-118551 and atenolol. 6. These results indicate that ICI-215001 exhibits beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist activity as demonstrated by relaxations mediated via atypical beta-adrenoceptors in the longitudinal smooth muscle of guinea-pig ileum. Further, the studies demonstrate that ICI-215001 can act as an antagonist at beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in situations where its intrinsic agonist activity is low.     

Beta 1-adrenoceptors mediate smooth muscle relaxation in mouse isolated trachea.

1. The relaxant effects to the beta-adrenoceptor agonists isoprenaline, adrenaline, noradrenaline, RO363, procaterol and fenoterol were investigated in carbachol-contracted mouse isolated tracheal preparations. 2. The order of potencies for those beta-adrenoceptor agonists that induced full relaxation of carbachol-contracted mouse tracheal preparations was isoprenaline greater than RO363 greater than noradrenaline = adrenaline greater than fenoterol. The EC50 value of isoprenaline for relaxation was 46 nM. The beta 1-adrenoceptor-selective agonist, RO363 was ten times more potent than the beta 2-adrenoceptor-selective agonist, fenoterol. The highly beta 2-adrenoceptor-selective agonist procaterol was a partial relaxant and induced only 28 +/- 4% relaxation. 3. Relaxations induced by noradrenaline and isoprenaline were not significantly affected by the neuronal uptake inhibitor, cocaine (10 microM) or by the extraneuronal uptake inhibitor, deoxycorticosterone acetate (25 microM) respectively. The alpha-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine induced no observable elevation of mouse tracheal smooth muscle tone. 4. Schild plots for the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, atenolol and betaxolol (beta 1-adrenoceptor-selective) and ICI 118,551 (beta 2-adrenoceptor-selective) were linear, with slope values approaching unity. Mean pA2 values derived for atenolol, betaxolol and ICI 118,551 for antagonism of beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation were 7.1, 8.4 and 7.2, respectively. These data were independent of the use of isoprenaline or noradrenaline as the agonist. 5. These findings indicate that beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxations of mouse isolated trachea occur predominantly through activation of beta 1-adrenoceptors.     

Demonstration of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors mediating relaxation of isolated ring preparations of rat pulmonary artery.

1 Cumulative concentration-response (relaxation) curves to three beta-adrenoceptor agonists, fenoterol (beta 2-selective), isoprenaline (non-selective) and noradrenaline (beta 1-selective) were obtained on isolated ring preparations of rat pulmonary artery contracted with 15 mM KCl. alpha-Adrenoceptors and neuronal and extraneuronal uptakes were blocked with phenoxybenzamine. The agonist concentration-response curves were reproducible. 2 Responses to each of the three agonists could be blocked by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists atenolol (beta 1-selective) or ICI 118,551 (beta 2-selective) confirming the presence of beta-adrenoceptors. 3 The relative potencies of the agonists were isoprenaline : fenoterol : noradrenaline = 100 : 38 : 1.4. This indicated that the predominant beta-adrenoceptor type was beta 2. 4 Schild plots were obtained for atenolol and ICI 118,551 using the three different agonists. For each antagonist the location of the Schild plot varied depending on which agonist was used. This indicated that the beta-adrenoceptor population mediating relaxation responses to beta-adrenoceptor agonists was not homogeneous. 5 Atenolol was most potent when noradrenaline was the agonist and ICI 118,551 was most potent when fenoterol was the agonist. 6 It is concluded that isolated pulmonary artery ring preparations of the rat contain a mixed population of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors both mediating relaxation.     

Effects of the beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551 on exercise tachycardia and isoprenaline-induced beta-adrenoceptor responses in man.

ICI 118,551, 5 to 80 mg orally, did not significantly alter resting heart rate or blood pressure. In doses less than 40 mg the reduction in exercise tachycardia was under 10 beats/min. ICI 118,551, 10 to 40 mg, did not appear to reduce the maximum rise in systolic pressure with isoprenaline but did attenuate the changes in diastolic pressure, forearm blood flow and finger tremor. It also attenuated the isoprenaline-induced changes in serum glucose, insulin and potassium. On these observed changes, the effect of ICI 118,551 20 mg was similar to that of 40 mg and of propranolol 10 mg, but greater than that of atenolol 25 mg. An isoprenaline tachycardia was attenuated by all doses of ICI 118,551 studied. After atropine (0.04 mg/kg) ICI 118,551 20 mg still significantly reduced the effects of isoprenaline suggesting that functional beta 2-adrenoceptors may be present in the human heart. In doses less than 40 mg, ICI 118,551 appears to be a selective and competitive antagonist of beta 2-adrenoceptors in man.     

Vascular β-Adrenoceptor-mediated Relaxation and the Tone of the Tissue in Canine Arteries

The aim of the present investigation was to study the influence of the tone in the response to β-adrenoceptor activation of four different canine arteries: coronary, pulmonary, mesenteric and splenic. Five different levels of tone were produced (of about 35, 50, 65, 80 and 95% of the maximum) by adding phenylephrine (0·6, 1·0, 2·0, 4·0, and 10 μm , respectively) to the bath. In the coronary artery at spontaneous tone, low concentrations of noradrenaline or adrenaline (1–3 nm ) caused either relaxation or contraction, while after induced tone, both noradrenaline and adrenaline caused concentration-dependent relaxations, noradrenaline being more potent (EC50 of 0·16 (0·13–0·20) and 0·38 (0·28–0·67) μm , respectively; n = 6; P < 0·05). Only in the coronary artery did isoprenaline relax the tissue irrespective of the previous level of tone. In all the other arteries, isoprenaline was able to cause concentration-dependent relaxations only if the previous tone was submaximal. At 80% of the maximum, isoprenaline caused relaxation in the mesenteric and pulmonary arteries, but in the splenic artery it caused relaxation only when the tone was of about 65% of the maximum or less. While in the coronary artery atenolol and ICI-118,551 (erythro-dl 1(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)-3-isopropylaminobutan-2-ol) were equipotent in antagonizing isoprenaline, noradrenaline and adrenaline, in the other vessels ICI-118,551 was from 58 (splenic artery) to 525 (mesenteric artery) times more potent than atenolol against the isoprenaline relaxant effect. We conclude that: the tone of the vessel represents a critical factor deciding the sense of the response (coronary artery; low concentrations of noradrenaline or adrenaline), the level at which the relaxant effect is triggered (mesenteric = 80% vs splenic = 65%), and the magnitude of the relaxant effect (always). β-Adrenoceptors predominate in the mesenteric, pulmonary and splenic arteries, while β₁-adrenoceptors predominate in the coronary artery. It is unlikely that adrenaline is able to cause vasodilation in any of the vascular beds studied.     

Inverse agonist activities of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in rat myocardium.

1. Negative inotropic effects of several beta-adrenoceptor (betaAR) antagonists on electrically-stimulated right atria, left atria, right ventricles and left ventricular papillary muscles from reserpine-treated rats were used as a measure of their inverse agonist activities. 2. Beta1AR antagonists acebutolol, atenolol and metoprolol, beta2AR antagonist ICI-181,551 and nonselective betaAR antagonists alprenolol, nadolol, propranolol and timolol produced negative inotropic effects, which were most marked on the right atria. 3. The nonselective betaAR antagonist pindolol did not exhibit inverse agonist activity but inhibited the negative inotropic activities of ICI-118,551, atenolol and propranolol. 4. The negative inotropic effects of lidocaine, nifedipine and pentobarbitone were similar on all the four myocardial preparations. 5. The positive inotropic efficacy of salbutamol on right and left atria but not on right ventricles and papillary muscles was comparable to that of isoprenaline. The antagonist activity of ICI-118,551 against isoprenaline was greater on right atria than on other cardiac regions. 6. Beta1AR proteins were expressed in all regions of the heart but of beta2AR were primarily localized in the right atrium. 7. It is concluded that beta2AR play a greater role in right atria than in other cardiac regions and almost all betaAR antagonists behave as inverse agonists.     

Expression of beta 2-adrenoceptors mediating cyclic AMP accumulation in astroglial and neuronal cell lines derived from the rat CNS

The effect of isoprenaline on cyclic AMP accumulation has been investigated in the rat neuronal cell line B50 and the rat astrocytoma cell line C6. Noradrenaline and isoprenaline stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in both cell lines. Isoprenaline (0.5 microM; EC50 = 0.1 microM) produced a rapid (T1/2 = 1.3 min) increase in [3H]cyclic AMP accumulation in B50 cells while the response to isoprenaline (0.1 microM; EC50 = 0.01 microM) in C6 cells was somewhat slower (T1/2 = 7.5 min). The response to 0.5 microM isoprenaline was antagonized by both propranolol (IC50 = 8.4 +/- 1.6 nM; N = 3) and the beta 2-selective antagonist ICI 118551 (IC50 = 2.1 +/- 0.2 nM; N = 6). However, no attenuation of the response to isoprenaline (0.5 microM) was observed at concentrations of the beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol up to 10 microM (N = 3). In contrast, in C6 cells, which have previously been shown to possess beta 1-adrenoceptors, atenolol inhibited isoprenaline-induced (0.1 microM) cyclic AMP accumulation (IC50 = 2.0 +/- 0.5 microM; N = 6). Furthermore, the beta 2-selective antagonist ICI 118551 was much less potent in the C6 cell line (IC50 = 0.2 +/- 0.05 microM; N = 3) than in the B50 cells. In conclusion, the present data suggest that isoprenaline mediates cyclic AMP accumulation in the neuronal cell line via activation of beta 2-adrenoceptors, while in the astrocytoma cell line the cyclic AMP response is mediated by beta 1-adrenoceptors.     

Effect of isoprenaline and phenylephrine on the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate content and mechanical activity of cold-stored and fresh taenia caecum from the guinea-pig.

1. Cold storage treatment of the guinea-pig taenia caecum had a greater inhibitory effect on the isoprenaline-induced relaxation than that induced by phenylephrine. Prolonged cold storage (12-14 days) almost abolished the effect of isoprenaline but only reduced the phenylephrine effect. The ED50 of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) that elicited muscle relaxation was not altered by the prolonged cold storage. 2. After cold storage treatment, tissue cyclic AMP content was decreased; however, isoprenaline still caused a dose-dependent increase in the cyclic AMP level. The threshold dose of isoprenaline for cyclic AMP accumulation was the same in fresh and cold-stored preparations. 3. In the fresh preparation, the onset of the isoprenaline (10(-6)M)-induced relaxation preceded the increase in tissue cyclic AMP. 4. Isoprenaline, phenylephrine, adrenaline and noradrenaline at doses (ED50) sufficient to induce muscle relaxation did not always increase the cyclic AMP level. 5. Similarly, the responses to papaverine and nitroglycerine were not accompanied by an increase in cyclic AMP. 6. The adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase (low and high Km) activities of taenia caecum were not attenuated by the prolonged cold storage. 7. Propranolol inhibited both the isoprenaline-induced relazation and cyclic AMP accumulation; however, the pA2 values were significantly different for the two events. 8. Based on these results, both the relaxation and cyclic AMP accumulation caused by isoprenaline are mediated by activation of beta-adrenoceptors but are independent phenomena.     

Relaxation of cat trachea by beta-adrenoceptor agonists can be mediated by both beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors and potentiated by inhibitors of extraneuronal uptake.

1--Responses (relaxation) to the beta-adrenoceptor agonists, isoprenaline, fenoterol or noradrenaline, were obtained on cat tracheal preparations contracted with a submaximal concentration of carbachol (0.5 microM). 2--The relative potencies of isoprenaline: fenoterol: noradrenaline were 100:8.1:10.7. From this, it was concluded that responses were mediated predominantly by beta 1-adrenoceptors but that a minor population of beta 2-adrenoceptors might also be involved. 3--Schild plots for the selective antagonists atenolol (beta 1-selective) or ICI 118,551 (beta 2-selective) were in different locations, i.e. were separated, depending on whether the antagonist was antagonizing noradrenaline or fenoterol. This supported the conclusion that beta 2- as well as beta 1-adrenoceptors were involved in mediating the response. In this respect, cat trachea resembles cat atria (rate responses). 4--In the presence of atenolol the concentration-response curves to fenoterol became biphasic. This was interpreted as indicating that the beta 2-adrenoceptors were too few in number to elicit a maximum tissue response. 5--Responses to isoprenaline of cat trachea were potentiated by the extraneuronal uptake inhibitor drugs, corticosterone and metanephrine. This indicated that extraneuronal uptake could modulate beta-adrenoceptor-mediated responses (relaxation) of cat trachea. 6--Cat trachea resembles guinea-pig trachea in that (i) the beta-adrenoceptor population mediating relaxation is mixed (beta 1 + beta 2) and (ii) responses to isoprenaline are modulated by its extraneuronal uptake. However, cat trachea differs from guinea-pig trachea in that the predominant beta-adrenoceptor sub-type is beta 1 not beta 2.     

beta(2) and beta(3)-adrenoceptor inhibition of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-stimulated Ca(2+) elevation in human cultured prostatic stromal cells

Prostatic beta-adrenoceptors inhibit alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-stimulated contractility. This study examines the effects of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation upon phenylephrine-induced elevations of intracellular Ca(2+)([Ca(2+)](i)) in human cultured prostatic stromal cells, and contractility of human prostatic tissue. Human cultured prostatic stromal cells were used for [(3)H]-cAMP accumulation studies or were loaded with 5-oxazolecarboxylic acid, 2-(6-(bis(2-((acetyloxy)methoxy)-2-oxoethyl)amino)-5-(2-(2-(bis(2-((acetyloxy)methoxy)-2-oxoethyl)amino)-5-methylphenoxy)ethoxy)-2-benzofuranyl)-, (acetyloxy)methyl ester (FURA-2AM, 10 microM) for Ca(2+) imaging studies. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline increased the accumulation of [(3)H]-cAMP (pEC(50)+/-S.E.M. 6.58+/-0.11) in human cultured prostatic stromal cells, an effect antagonized by the beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist (+/-)-1-[2,3-(dihydro-7-methyl-1H-inden-4-yl)oxy]-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-butanol (ICI 118,551), but not by the beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, atenolol. Isoprenaline (3 microM), the adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin (20 microM) and the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, rolipram (10 microM) inhibited the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) elicited by phenylephrine (20 microM). The effect of isoprenaline could be blocked by ICI 118,551 (100 nM), the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor cis-N-(2-phenylcyclopentyl)-azacyclotridec-1-en-2-amine (MDL 12,330A, 20 microM) and the K(Ca) channel blocker, iberiotoxin (100 nM), but not by atenolol (1 microM) or the K(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide (3 microM). Agonists selective for beta(1)-(xamoterol and prenalterol), beta(2)-(procaterol and salbutamol) and beta(3)-((+/-)-(R(*), R(*))-[4-[2-[[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]amino]propyl]phenoxy]acetic acid, BRL37344) adrenoceptors inhibited the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) elicited by phenylephrine (20 microM) with a rank order of BRL37344> or =xamoterol> or =isoprenaline>procaterol> or =prenalterol>salbutamol. The xamoterol effect was reversed by ICI 118,551 (100 nM), but not by 1-(2-ethylphenoxy)-3-[[(1S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenyl]amino]-(2S)-2-propanol (SR59230A, 100 nM) or atenolol (1 microM). The BRL37344 effect was reversed by SR59230A (100 nM), but not by atenolol (1 microM) or ICI 118,551 (100 nM). Both xamoterol and BRL37344 inhibited phenylephrine-induced tissue contractility. This study shows that both xamoterol and BRL37344 are effective inhibitors of phenylephrine-induced effects in human cultured prostatic stromal cells and in prostatic tissue.     

Beta 3-adrenoceptor stimulation induces vasorelaxation mediated essentially by endothelium-derived nitric oxide in rat thoracic aorta.

1. The relaxant effects of isoprenaline may result from activation of another beta-adrenoceptor subtype in addition to beta1 and beta2. This study evaluated the role of a third beta-adrenoceptor subtype, beta3, in beta-adrenoceptor-induced relaxation of rat thoracic aorta by isoprenaline. 2. Isoprenaline produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of phenylephrine pre-contracted rings of the thoracic aorta (pD2=7.46+/-0.15; Emax=85.9+/-3.4%), which was partially attenuated by endothelium removal (Emax=66.5+/-6.3%) and administration of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, L-NG-monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA) (Emax=61.3+/-7.9%). 3. In the presence of nadolol, a beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, isoprenaline-induced relaxation persisted (Emax=55.6+/-5.3%), but occurred at higher concentrations (pD2=6.71+/-0.10) than in the absence of nadolol and lasted longer. 4. Similar relaxant effects were obtained with two beta3-adrenoceptor agonists: SR 58611 (a preferential beta3-adrenoceptor agonist), and CGP 12177 (a partial beta3-adrenoceptor with beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor antagonistic properties). SR 58611 caused concentration-dependent relaxation (pD2=5.24+/-0.07; Emax=59.5+/-3.7%), which was not modified by pre-treatment with nadolol but antagonized by SR 59230A, a beta3-adrenoceptor antagonist. The relaxation induced by SR 58611 was associated with a 1.7 fold increase in tissue cyclic GMP content. 5 Both relaxation and the cyclic GMP increase induced by SR 58611 were greatly reduced by endothelium removal and in the presence of L-NMMA. 6 We conclude that in the rat thoracic aorta, beta3-adrenoceptors are mainly located on endothelial cells, and act in conjuction with beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors to mediate relaxation through activation of an NO synthase pathway and subsequent increase in cyclic GMP levels.     

Pharmacological characterization of the β-adrenoceptor that mediates the relaxant response to noradrenaline in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle

Pharmacological characteristics of beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) mediating noradrenaline-induced relaxation were investigated in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle. The inhibitory effects of several types of beta-AR antagonists on noradrenaline-induced relaxation against histamine contraction were scrutinized with Schild plot analysis. The concentration-response curve for noradrenaline obtained in the absence of phentolamine and uptake inhibitors was competitively antagonized by all of the beta-AR antagonists used in this study (propranolol, bupranolol, atenolol, butoxamine and ICI-118,551). However, their pA2 values were markedly less than the expected values for beta1-AR and beta2-AR. On the other hand, pA2 values of ICI-118,551 (6.85) determined in the presence of phentolamine suggested a contribution of a beta1 -AR rather than beta2 -AR. In the presence of phentolamine and uptake inhibitors (desipramine and deoxycorticosterone), the Schild plot for atenolol was a better fit, with two distinct straight lines. The pA2 values of atenolol provided by the regression were: approximately 7.0, which corresponds to the expected beta1-AR value, and approximately 6.5, which was 3 times less than the expected value for beta1 -AR, and thus the possible presence of two classes of beta1 -AR (beta1(Low) and beta1(High)) was suggested. This view was also supported by Schild plot analysis for propranolol, which fit two straight lines each with a slope of 1.0. The present findings indicate that beta1 -ARs contributing to noradrenaline-elicited relaxation in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle exhibit diverse pharmacological characteristics and may be subdivided into at least two classes with distinct affinities for atenolol. Under physiological conditions, beta1(Low) rather than beta1(High) seems to play a more significant role in noradrenaline-regulated airway smooth muscle tone.     

Beta-adrenoceptor blockade by atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol in the anaesthetized cat.

The inhibitory effects of atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol on isoprenaline-induced tachycardia, broncho-relaxation and vasodilatation were investigated in the reserpinized and anaesthetized cat. In low doses all three antagonists inhibited the heart rate response to isoprenaline, the order of potency being propranolol greater than metoprolol greater than atenolol. While propranolol inhibited the bronchodilation and vasodilation responses to isoprenaline in the same dose range as it blocked the heart rate response, atenolol and metoprolol had to be given in considerably higher doses to block these effects. The results indicate that both metoprolol and atenolol, in contrast to propranolol, are selective beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist. No statistically significant difference in the degree of selectivity was found between metoprolol and atenolol. The three compounds were devoid of intrinsic beta-mimetic activity.     

Local modulation of noradrenaline release in vivo: presynaptic beta 2-adrenoceptors and endogenous adrenaline

Isoprenaline bitartrate (0.5 microgram/kg/min i.v.) increased the rate of noradrenaline release into the circulation of pentobarbitone-anesthetized rabbits. This increase was much greater than that produced by an equi-hypotensive dose of the vasodilator hydralazine (0.2 mg/kg i.v.), suggesting that it was only partly due to baro-reflex activation of sympathetic nerves. This facilitatory effect of isoprenaline was also observed in the nephrectomized, pithed rabbit, with electrically stimulated sympathetic outflow, ruling out central nervous system and renin-angiotensin effects. ICI 118,551 HCl (0.3 mg/kg + 0.1 mg/kg/h i.v.) blocked the isoprenaline-induced hypotension, but did not affect the isoprenaline-induced tachycardia, suggesting that it selectively blocked beta 2-adrenoceptors. ICI 118,551 totally abolished the isoprenaline-induced increase in noradrenaline release, suggesting a beta 2-effect. Atenolol (0.3 mg/kg + 0.1 mg/kg/h) blocked the isoprenaline-induced tachycardia, a beta 1-effect, but only slightly attenuated the isoprenaline-induced increase in noradrenaline release. Atenolol by itself decreased heart rate and arterial pressure, but there was no reflex rise in the noradrenaline release rate, which suggests that atenolol impairs baroreceptor activation of sympathetic nerves. In another series of experiments, also in the pentobarbitone-anesthetized rabbit, adrenaline was released into the circulation by splanchnic nerve stimulation. This resulted in prolonged increases of adrenaline levels in heart tissue. After the plasma adrenaline levels had returned to prestimulation values, the rate of noradrenaline release into the plasma was enhanced. This increase was not observed in rabbits treated with either desipramine HCl (1 mg/kg i.v.) or propranolol HCl (2 mg/kg i.p.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

β-ADRENOCEPTORS ON ENDOTHELIAL CELLS DO NOT INFLUENCE RELEASE OF RELAXING FACTOR IN DOG CORONARY ARTERIES

1. The aim of this study was to determine if stimulation of a beta-adrenoceptor on endothelial cells could release an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) similar to that released by acetylcholine. 2. In dog coronary rings preconstricted with PGF2 alpha or serotonin, removal of the endothelium did not alter the relaxant responses to isoprenaline. However, in rings preconstricted with the thromboxane-mimetic U46619, removal of the endothelium enhanced the response to isoprenaline. 3. The vasorelaxant responses to isoprenaline in endothelium-denuded rings were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the specific beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist CGP-20712A (3-100 nmol/l), but were not altered by the beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI-118551 (30 nmol/l). 4. The vasorelaxant responses to isoprenaline in the presence of CGP-20712A (30 nmol/l) or ICI-118551 (30 nmol/l) were not impaired by removal of the endothelium. 5. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant responses to acetylcholine and bradykinin were not altered by isoprenaline (0.1 mumol/l) in the presence of CGP-20712A (30 nmol/l). 6. Therefore, the beta-adrenoceptors on dog coronary artery smooth muscle which produce relaxation are predominantly of the beta 1-subtype. Stimulation of any beta 2-adrenoceptors on the endothelium in dog coronary artery does not release EDRF, and does not modulate endothelium-dependent vasodilatation induced by other agents.     

The relative importance of the time-course of receptor occupancy and response decay on apparent antagonist potency in dynamic assays

1. The potency of the beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol was measured as an inhibitor of responses to isoprenaline in guinea-pig left atria. Measurements were made in two ways, firstly, by pre-incubating the atria with a given concentration of atenolol followed by an isoprenaline dose-response curve and, secondly, by measuring the response to isoprenaline followed by addition of atenolol. 2. It was found that the estimation of atenolol potency as an antagonist of beta1-adrenoceptors by these two methods gave divergent results. Specifically, it was found that the isoprenaline-induced increased rate of myocardial relaxation was resistant to receptor blockade. Thus, the rate-limiting step in the relaxation response was dissociated from receptor activation and therefore, could not be used for the measurement of receptor occupancy. 3. In contrast, the positive inotropic response was very responsive to receptor occupancy. However, when atenolol was used to block a steady-state isoprenaline response, there was a complicating depression of basal inotropy after receptor blockade that obfuscated measurement of receptor blockade. 4. In general, these data indicated that the blockade of a steady-state agonist response to measure the potency of an antagonist might in some cases yield erroneous results. These studies indicate some caution in the interpretation of blockade responses in pre-contracted or pre-stimulated pharmacological preparations.     

Cyclic AMP-independent relaxation mediated by beta3-adrenoceptors on guinea pig gastrointestine

In this study, we investigated the signal transduction pathway involved in beta(3)-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxations of guinea pig gastric fundus and duodenum. In the presence of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor blockade, the potency (pD2 value) of catecholamines ((-)-isoprenaline, (-)-noradrenaline and (-)-adrenaline) and beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonists ((R*, R*)-(+/-)-4-[2-[(2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]propyl]phenoxyacetic acid sodium (BRL37344) and (+/-)-[4-[3-[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropoxy]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one] hydrochloride ((+/-)-CGP12177A)) to induce relaxation was not affected by the adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine (SQ-22,536, 100 microM). Catecholamines induced an elevation of cyclic AMP and SQ-22,536 significantly abolished the responses of gastric fundus. However, cyclic AMP levels were unaltered by the beta3-adrenoceptor agonists in gastric fundus and by the five agonists in duodenum. Furthermore, the relaxant responses to catecholamines and to beta3-adrenoceptor agonists were unaffected by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, N-(2-[p-bromocinnamylamino]ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-89, 10 microM) in gastric fundus. These results suggest that beta3-adrenoceptor-induced relaxation is mediated through both cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-independent pathways in gastric fundus and through a cyclic AMP-independent pathway in duodenum.