Identification of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors by (minus) [3H]alprenolol binding.

(Minus) [3-H] alprenolol, a potent beta-adrenergic antagonist, was used to identify binding sites in a fraction of canine cyocardium. Beta adrenergic agonists and antagonists compete for these binding sites in a manner which directly parallels their known affinity for the cardiac beta-adrenergic receptor. Thus, binding was highly stereo-specific, with the (minus) isomers of beta-adrenergic agonists or antagonists being at least two orders of magnitude more potent than were the (plus) isomers in competing for these sites. The order of potency for inhibition of binding by beta-adrenergic agonists was (minus) isoproterenol greater than (minus) epinephrine greater than (minus) norepinephrine. The dissociation constant (KD) of (minus) alprenolol for the beta-adrenergic receptors was 7-11 nM as determined independently by direct binding studies or by inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1]. The beta-adrenergic antagonist (minus) propranolol also had high affinity for the binding sites (KD equals 12 nM). The physiologically inactive catechol-containing compounds pyrocatechol and (plus or minus) dihydroxymandelic acid, as well as the metabolite (plus or minus) normetanephrine, and the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine did not compete for the binding sites at a concentration of 160 muM. Binding was rapid (t1/2 less than 30 sec) and was rapidly reversible (t1/2 less than 15 sec). The binding sites were saturable and bound 0.35 pmol of (minus) [3-H] alprenolol per mg of membrane protein. These characteristics suggest that these binding sites represent the cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors.     

Catecholamine-induced subsensitivity of adenylate cyclase associated with loss of beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites.

Injection of frogs with beta-adrenergic catecholamines for 1-24 hr produces marked subsensitivity of the erythrocyte membrane adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing); EC 4.6.1.1.] to in vitro stimulation by isoproterenol. The subsensitization is specific for catecholamine stimulation, since basal and fluoride-stimulated enzyme activity are unaffected. Maximum isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity declines by 75% in the isoproterenol-treated animals (P less than 0.001). The concentration of isoproterenol causing one-half maximal activation of adenylate cyclase, however, is unaltered. (-)[3H]Alprenolol, a potent competitive beta-adrenergic antagonist, was used to study directly the beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites in the erythrocyte membranes from control and subsensitized animals. A highly significant (P less than 0.005) 60% fall in the number of the beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites ("specific"(-)[3H]alprenolol binding sites) in the treated animals was found. The binding affinity of the sites was not markedly altered. These data suggest that beta-adrenergic catecholamines are able to regulate catecholamine sensitivity of tissues in vivo, by regulating the properties of the beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites.     

Photoaffinity label for the beta-adrenergic receptor: synthesis and effects on isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase.

An azide derivative of the beta-adrenergic antagonist acebutolol has been synthesized and its effect examined on the isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing); EC 4.6.1.1] activity of rat reticulocytes. It behaved as an effective competitive antagonist (Kd = 2 X 10(-7) M) prior to photolysis. However, when the reticulocyte preparation pretreated with acebutolol azide was photolyzed, a noncompetitive inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase was obtained. Photolysis of the azide derivative in buffer alone did not convert it to a product of higher affnity. Labeling of the beta-adrenergic receptor appeared to be irreversible; multiple washings could not reverse the inhibition produced during photolysis with the label whereas washing would completely reverse the antagonism produced by the same concentration of label prior to photolysis. The effect appears to be specific for the beta-adrenergic receptor because the inhibition could be blocked stereoselectively by propranolol and there was no inhibition of fluoride- or GMP-P(NH)P-stimulated adenylate cyclase. furthermore, no effect was observed on the glucagon-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase of liver membranes, whereas the catecholamine response in the same membranes was inhibited.     

The beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase system in the cardiac ventricles of a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy rat model.

The WKY/NCrj rat strain is considered to be a good animal model for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The purpose of this study was to examine the beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase system in the cardiac ventricles of these rats. beta-adrenergic receptor density (Bmax) in the right ventricle (RV) was higher in WKY/NCrj than in Wistar rats. In contrast, Bmax in the interventricular septum (IVS) was lower in WKY/NCrj than in Wistar rats. Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in cardiac ventricular slices showed that changes corresponded to the changes of Bmax in every type of studied cardiac ventricle. The intracellular adenylate cyclase pathway (GTP gamma S-, NaF- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in cardiac ventricular particulate fraction) did not differ between WKY/NCrj and Wistar rats in any region of the cardiac ventricles. Catecholamine levels tended to be low in the RV and to increase in the IVS of WKY/NCrj rats. Our results suggest that the activity of the beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylate cyclase system varies in different cardiac ventricles of the WKY/NCrj rat model for HCM.     

Decreased beta-adrenergic agonist affinity and adenylate cyclase activity in senescent rat lung

Beta-adrenergic receptor affinity for the agonist, isoproterenol, and coupling to adenylate cyclase assessed by Hill plots were investigated at both 23 degrees C and 37 degrees C in Fischer 344 rats of 4, 13, and 25 months of age. Apparent dissociation constants for isoproterenol at 23 degrees C were unaltered in the three age groups (2.0 +/- .3; 2.2 +/- .3; 2.6 +/- .3 X 10(-7)M, respectively). At 37 degrees C, however, the apparent dissociation constants increased progressively with age (6.9 +/- .9;8.6 +/- .6;13.2 +/- 1.4 X 10(-7)M). Hill coefficients were less than 0.7 for all age groups, suggesting the presence of two binding sites that have been described as a low (uncoupled) and a high (coupled) affinity state. In the presence of guanylylimidodiphosphate the apparent dissociation constant increased in all age groups and there was no longer a difference among age groups at 37 degrees C (14.1 +/- 2.7; 13.6 +/- 1.7; 14.8 +/- 2.4 X 10(-7)M). Basal adenylate cyclase activity (17 +/- 1 vs. 25 +/- 3 pmols cAMP/mg/min) as well as isoproterenol (27 +/- 5 vs. 60 +/- 11), NaF (116 +/- 8 vs. 209 +/- 24), and forskolin (70 +/- 6 vs. 124 +/- 14) stimulated activity were reduced in 25 compared to 4-month-old animals. The data suggest that in lungs from senescent rats there is a decrease in beta-adrenergic agonist affinity of the high affinity binding site and no change in the affinity of the low affinity binding site. Additionally, adenylate cyclase activity is reduced in senescent compared with young rats, and this reduction may be due to decreased activity of the catalytic unit. Both these changes may contribute to the diminished hormonal responsiveness of senescence.     

Antibodies to the beta-adrenergic receptor: attenuation of catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase and demonstration of postsynaptic receptor localization in brain.

Antibodies to the beta 2-adrenergic receptor of frog erythrocytes have been raised in rabbits by immunization with purified receptor preparations. Binding of the antibodies to the receptors was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation and by the altered mobility of the antibody-bound receptors on steric-exclusion HPLC columns. As assessed by a radioimmunoassay developed with the antibody, beta 2-adrenergic receptors from several sources showed various degrees of immunological crossreactivity whereas several beta 1-adrenergic receptors did not crossreact. The antibody appeared to not bind at the ligand binding site of the receptor and did not perturb antagonist radioligand binding to the receptor. Nonetheless, the antibodies selectively attenuated catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase. This suggests that the antibodies recognize and bind to domains of the receptor other than the binding site and that may be involved in coupling to other components of the adenylate cyclase system. Immunocytochemical techniques were used with the antibodies to delineate a postsynaptic localization of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat and frog brain. Thus, these anti-beta-adrenergic receptor antibodies provide a useful reagent for probing beta-adrenergic receptor structure, function, and localization.     

Regulation by progesterone of the high-affinity state of myometrial beta-adrenergic receptor and of adenylate cyclase activity in the pregnant rat.

The effects of pregnancy or progesterone dominance on the beta-adrenergic responsiveness of the uterus were studied in myometrial membranes from mid- and late-pregnant rats (day 15 and on the 16th h of day 22 of pregnancy respectively) or 24 h after administration of progesterone. Levels of the high (RH)- and low (RL)-affinity states of the beta-adrenergic receptor were determined by competition experiments between 125I-labelled cyanopindolol binding and the selective beta-agonist isoproterenol. The ratio KL/KH (respective dissociation constants) was determined since it also reflects the degree of formation of the high-affinity state of the beta-adrenergic receptor. From day 15 to the 10th h of day 22 of pregnancy, two distinct affinity states were apparent: 80-55% RH (KH = 0.31-0.21 microM) and 45-20% RL (KL = 14-5 microM) with a ratio of KL/KH of 55-34. In the last 6 h before birth, beta-adrenergic receptors underwent uncoupling which was paralleled by decreased responsiveness of myometrial adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol (maximum velocity (Vmax) = 17 +/- 3 vs 44 +/- 3 fmol cyclic AMP/10 min per mg protein on day 15). At this stage of pregnancy, previous exposure to progesterone resulted in a 1.8-fold increase in 125I-labelled cyanopindolol-binding sites (Bmax) and the reappearance of the high-affinity state (67% RH, KH = 0.19 +/- 0.04 (S.E.M.) microM, ratio KL/KH = 81.1 +/- 16.9).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Age-associated decrease in beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in rat brown adipose tissue

The ability to regulate body temperature diminishes with age. In the rat, nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) serves as the regulator of body temperature. This process is stimulated by catecholamine activation of adenylate cyclase through the beta-adrenergic receptor. However, beta-adrenergic responsiveness also diminishes with age. To investigate the age-related alterations in beta-adrenergic function in BAT, beta-adrenergic receptor number and cytochrome c oxidase activity were assessed in 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old rats, and adenylate cyclase activity was assessed in 3-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old rats. The amount of brown adipose tissue recovered from senescent rats was 30% less than that from either the 3- or 12-month-old rats. There was a corresponding decrease in the total amount of cytochrome c oxidase activity in the 24-month-old rats. In the senescent rats, the density of beta-adrenergic receptors was twofold less than in the 3- and 12-month-old rats. The decrease in density was predominately due to a decrease in the beta 1-adrenergic subtype. Isoproterenol- and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity were threefold greater and forskolin-stimulated activity was fourfold greater in the 3-month than in the older rats. There was no change in the Kact for isoproterenol with age. These biochemical alterations with age may contribute to the inability of older animals to thermoregulate when exposed to cold.     

Phorbol ester induces desensitization of adenylate cyclase and phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor in turkey erythrocytes.

Incubation of turkey erythrocytes with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) results in a dose- and time-dependent desensitization of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Compared to controls, membranes from PMA-treated cells have an isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity that is decreased 20%-40%, with little effect on forskolin or fluoride activation of adenylate cyclase. No change in beta-adrenergic receptor number is observed after PMA treatment, indicating that the major effect of PMA is to uncouple receptor interactions with Ns, the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase. Purification of beta-adrenergic receptors from 32Pi-labeled turkey erythrocytes, incubated in the presence or absence of PMA, indicates that the phorbol ester is capable of inducing a 3-fold increase in phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor. The PMA effect is similar to the phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor during isoproterenol- and dibutyryl cAMP-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase in turkey erythrocytes. The findings indicate that decreased receptor-Ns coupling is correlated with receptor phosphorylation and that phorbol esters can influence the responsiveness of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase in certain cell types.     

Impairment in coupled beta-adrenergic receptor and adenylate cyclase system during bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coupled beta-adrenergic receptor (BAR) and adenylate cyclase (AC) system of the lung during the course of the bleomycin-(Bleo) induced pulmonary fibrosis in hamsters. The BAR population, dissociation constants (Kd), AC activity, and its sensitivity to various stimulators were studied at 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after intratracheal administration of either 1 unit of Bleo or an equivalent volume of saline. The BAR population in the lungs of Bleo-treated animals did not differ from control at the early times, but it was significantly reduced to 5.9 X 10(3) fmol and 3.6 X 10(3) fmol from the control values of 1.1 X 10(4) fmol and 1.5 X 10(4) fmol per lung at 14 and 21 days after treatment, respectively. The Kd values for control hamster lung ranged from 2.5 X 10(-11) M to 3.7 X 10(-11) M, and for Bleo-treated hamster lung, from 2.7 X 10(-11) M to 4.8 X 10(-11) M. The Kd at the earliest time, 2 days after treatment, did not differ significantly from the Kd values at the subsequent times in control, while for Bleo-treated hamster lung, the Kd values at 7, 14, and 21 days were significantly higher than the Kd at 2 days after treatment. The Kd values for Bleo-treated hamster lung were also significantly higher than control at 14 and 21 days. The AC activity of the lung in Bleo-treated hamster was significantly reduced to 67%, 40%, 38%, and 50% of their respective controls in response to H2O (basal), GTP (10(-4) M), GTP + isoproterenol (10(-4) M each), and NaF (10 mM) at 21 days after treatment. The extent of AC stimulation in Bleo-treated hamster lung in response to various stimulators was generally less than that of saline control. Reductions in the BAR population and increased Kd values in Bleo-treated hamster lung were attributed to its fibrogenic ability and not to nutritional deficiency, which may partly be accountable for decreased AC activity of the lung in these animals. However, there were qualitative differences in the lung AC activity between Bleo-treated and nutritionally deprived hamsters, since the enzyme from the latter group was generally more responsive to stimulators than the enzyme from the former group. It was concluded from the findings of this study that an impairment in the coupled BAR and AC system of the lung may be partly responsible for the fibrogenic ability of bleomycin.     

Rat parathyroid hormone-(1-34) fragment: renal adenylate cyclase activity and receptor binding properties in vitro

The rat PTH molecule contains five sequence differences from either the bovine or the human hormone within the biologically active 1-34 region. A synthetic rat 1-34 peptide was tested for activity by in vitro activation of canine and rat renal adenylate cyclase and binding to canine renal membrane receptors. The mean potency of 21,400 Medical Research Council units/mg in the canine adenylate cyclase system and 24,900 in the rat system was 8- to 10-fold higher than human 1-34 and 2- to 4-fold greater than bovine 1-34. These values represent the highest potency we have observed to date for a PTH preparation by these assay systems. In contrast, receptor binding of the rat fragment was comparable to that of bovine and human 1-34. Half-maximal inhibition of radioligand binding occurred at 1.7- 2.0 X 10(-9) M with all synthetic hormones. Hence, the amino acid substitutions in rat 1-34 appear to affect the cyclase-activating sequence domain without increasing avidity for the receptor. Analogs combining the rat sequence with modifications known to enhance receptor binding and/or retard enzymatic degradation offer a promising approach to the preparation of still more potent parathyroid agonists.     

Mechanism of adenylate cyclase activation through the beta-adrenergic receptor: catecholamine-induced displacement of bound GDP by GTP.

The fate of the guanyl nucleotide bound to the regulatory site of adenylate cyclase was studied on a preparation of turkey erythrocyte membranes that was incubated with [3H]GTP plus isoproterenol and subsequently washed to remove hormone and free guanyl nucleotide. Further incubation of this preparation in the presence of beta-adrenergic agonists resulted in the release from the membrane of tritiated nucleotide, identified as [3H]GDP. The catecholamine-induced release of [3H]GDP was increased 2 to 3 times in the presence of the unlabeled guanyl nucleotides GTP, guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imino)triphosphate [gpp(NH)p], GDP, and GMP, whereas adenine nucleotides had little effect. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p, isoproterenol induced the release of [3H]GDP and the activation of adenylate cyclase, both effects following similar time courses. The findings indicate that the inactive adenylate cyclase possesses tightly bound (GDP, produced by the hydrolysis of GTP at the regulatory site. The hormone stimulates adenylate cyclase activity by inducing an "opening" of the guanyl nucleotide site, resulting in dissociation of the bound GDP and binding of the activating guanosine triphosphate.     

Inhibitory adenosine receptors in the heart: characterization by ligand binding studies and effects on beta-adrenergic receptor stimulated adenylate cyclase and membrane protein phosphorylation

Adenosine causes negative chronotropic and inotropic effects on cardiac tissue. We have investigated the nature of the cardiac adenosine receptor and its effector mechanisms in preparations of newborn chick heart. The adenosine analog [3H]N6 (L-phenylisopropyl) adenosine (L-PIA), an agonist at R-type adenosine receptors, bound with high affinity to receptors in crude and highly-purified membrane preparations. The KD was 3-5 nM. The receptor density was low in crude membranes (10 fmol/mg protein) but significantly enriched in purified sarcolemma (164 fmol/mg protein). Competition studies showed that N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine and N6(D-phenylisopropyl)adenosine were less potent than N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine at the chick heart adenosine receptor, as expected for an Ri-type adenosine receptor. Gpp(NH)p decreased the binding of [3H]N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine to chick heart membranes, suggesting that the guanine nucleotide converted the receptor to a lower affinity state. N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine inhibited beta-adrenergic receptor stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The IC50 for cyclase attenuation by N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine was 1 microM. N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine reversed the effect of the beta-receptor agonist isoproterenol on phospholamban phosphorylation in 32P-labelled slices of newborn chick hearts. This effect of N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine was evident by 2 min, had an IC50 of 200 nM, and was prevented by the adenosine receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline. Taken together, the results suggest that the antiadrenergic effects of adenosine on cardiac tissue are mediated by a decrease in membrane protein phosphorylation signalled by activation of Ri-adenosine receptors. The coupling mechanism between receptor activation and protein phosphorylation may be an attenuation of adenylate cyclase.     

Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor regulates its functional coupling to adenylate cyclase and subcellular distribution.

Prolonged exposure of cells or tissues to drugs or hormones such as catecholamines leads to a state of refractoriness to further stimulation by that agent, known as homologous desensitization. In the case of the beta-adrenergic receptor coupled to adenylate cyclase, this process has been shown to be intimately associated with the sequestration of the receptors from the cell surface through a cAMP-independent process. Recently, we have shown that homologous desensitization in the frog erythrocyte model system is also associated with increased phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor. We now provide evidence that the phosphorylation state of the beta-adrenergic receptor regulates its functional coupling to adenylate cyclase, subcellular translocation, and recycling to the cell surface during the process of agonist-induced homologous desensitization. Moreover, we show that the receptor phosphorylation is reversed by a phosphatase specifically associated with the sequestered subcellular compartment. At 23 degrees C, the time courses of beta-adrenergic receptor phosphorylation, sequestration, and adenylate cyclase desensitization are identical, occurring without a lag, exhibiting a t1/2 of 30 min, and reaching a maximum at approximately 3 hr. Upon cell lysis, the sequestered beta-adrenergic receptors can be partially recovered in a light membrane vesicle fraction that is separable from the plasma membranes by differential centrifugation. The increased beta-adrenergic receptor phosphorylation is apparently reversed in the sequestered vesicle fraction as the sequestered receptors exhibit a phosphate/receptor stoichiometry that is similar to that observed under basal conditions. High levels of a beta-adrenergic receptor phosphatase activity appear to be associated with the sequestered vesicle membranes. The functional activity of the phosphorylated beta-adrenergic receptor was examined by reconstituting purified receptor with its biochemical effector the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Ns) in phospholipid vesicles and assessing the receptor-stimulated GTPase activity of Ns. Compared to controls, phosphorylated beta-adrenergic receptors, purified from desensitized cells, were less efficacious in activating the Ns GTPase activity. These results suggest that phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor leads to its functional uncoupling and physical translocation away from the cell surface into a sequestered membrane domain. In the sequestered compartment, the phosphorylation is reversed thus enabling the receptor to recycle back to the cell surface and recouple with adenylate cyclase.     

Diet restriction retards the age-related loss of beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in rat lung

In the rat, dietary restriction prolongs life span and retards a variety of physiological processes that change with age. Beta-adrenergic responsiveness declines with age. We assessed beta-adrenergic receptor density and adenylate cyclase activity in lungs of 6-, 18-, 24-, and 27-month-old rats fed ad libitum or restricted to 60% of the ad libitum food after 6 weeks of age. Beta-adrenergic receptor density declined in the ad libitum group (M +/- SE, 417 +/- 30, 349 +/- 23, 297 +/- 19, 260 +/- 30 fmol/mg protein, p less than .01). In the diet-restricted group, beta-adrenergic receptor density declined between 6 and 18 months (493 +/- 35, 370 +/- 28, p less than .05) but remained unchanged from 18 to 27 months (370 +/- 28, 333 +/- 19, 360 +/- 16). Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity declined with age in the ad libitum group (53.4 +/- 7.5, 46.8 +/- 8.8, 38 +/- 3.9, 27.8 +/- 3.3 p mol cAMP/mg protein, p less than .05) but not in diet-restricted group (45.1 +/- 8.9, 44 +/- 7.9, 41.8 +/- 2.4, 47.3 +/- 5.1). Changes in forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity with age were not affected by diet restriction. These data suggest that diet restriction retards some of the age-related changes in the beta-adrenergic pathway.     

Postnatal beta-adrenergic receptor [(3H] CGP-12177) binding in myocardial slices of cardiomyopathic hamsters

A muscle slice technique was used to compare the development changes in binding of the beta-adrenergic antagonist, [3H]CGP-12177 (CGP), in right ventricles of male Canadian Hybrid Farms CHF 147 cardiomyopathic hamsters and two strains of control healthy animals, golden Syrian (GH) and CHF 148 albino noncardiomyopathic (AH) hamsters. CGP binding to myocardial slices was saturable, reversible, stereospecific, proportional to slice number and of high affinity. Bmax in GH and AH myocardium was not altered with age although there was a tendency to decrease between 16 and 30 days of age in both strains. In the cardiomyopathic ventricles, receptor number decreased between 30 (7.07 +/- 0.74 fmol/mg wet weight) and 60 days of age (4.58 +/- 0.52) (P less than 0.05) and remained at the lower level thereafter. Bmax in cardiomyopathics was slightly higher than that of either GH (5.01 +/- 0.88) or AH (5.05 +/- 0.82) at 30 days of age (P less than 0.05) but was not different at the other ages tested. Kd was decreased in GH at 30 days of age but was unaltered during postnatal development in either the AH or cardiomyopathic hearts. The elevated level of cell surface beta-adrenergic receptors in the cardiomyopathic ventricle at a time when necrotic lesions are developing may be important with respect to the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy in these animals.     

Characterization of [3H](+/-)carazolol binding to beta-adrenergic receptors. Application to study of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes in canine ventricular myocardium and lung

[3H](+/-)Carazolol, a newly available beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, can be used to characterize beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes present in membrane vesicles derived from canine ventricular myocardium and canine lung. [3H](+/-)Carazolol binding is saturable, of high affinity, and is displaceable by beta-adrenergic agents in accordance with their known pharmacological potencies. The interaction of carazolol with beta-adrenergic receptors is stereospecific; the (-) stereoisomer demonstrates greater potency than the (+) stereoisomer. Kinetic analysis of [3H](+/-)carazolol interaction with beta-adrenergic receptors suggests that presence of two phases of interaction, consistent with initial rapidly reversible "low" affinity association of ligand with receptor, followed by isomerization to form a high affinity, slowly reversible complex. Through use of a [3H](+/-)carazolol binding assay based on the high affinity complex, pharmacological specificities of beta-adrenergic receptor populations of canine myocardium and lung were quantified. Analysis using computer-assisted techniques suggests a beta 1/beta 2 receptor ratio of approximately 85%/15% for canine myocardium and 5%/95% for canine lung. In the absence of added guanine nucleotides, comparison of potencies of beta-adrenergic agonists in the two membrane systems suggests significant beta 2 selectivity of l-isoproterenol and l-epinephrine, and non-selectivity of norepinephrine. In the presence of saturating levels of guanine nucleotides, comparison of agonist potencies confirms the non-selectivity of l-isoproterenol and l-epinephrine, and beta 1 selectivity of norepinephrine. These results demonstrate that the state of guanine nucleotide regulation of receptors should be defined when examining agonist selectivities for beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes in vitro.     

Ontogenic development of antidiuretic hormone receptors in rat kidney: comparison of hormonal binding and adenylate cyclase activation.

The development of adenylate cyclase responsiveness to vasopressin and parathyroid hormone was studied using membrane fractions prepared from medullo-papillary and cortical portions of kidneys of 2-46-day-old rats. The development of vasopressin binding capacity was followed on the same preparations, using [3H]vasopressin. The characteristics of medullo-papillary adenylate cyclase response to vasopressin were identical in young and adult control animals as regards apparent Km values for [Lys8]vasopressin (3 X 10(-8) M), specificity towards the natural neurohypophysial peptides and the effects of Mg2+. However, the magnitude of maximal enzyme activation by vasopressin was much lower in very young than adult animals. Accordingly vasopressin responsiveness increased sharply between the 10th and 25th days but the magnitude of the maximal response only reached the adult value between the 30th and 45th days after birth. During both periods basal adenylate cyclase activity was almost independent of age. Specific vasopressin binding sites were detected on kidney medullo-papillary membranes from young animals. Vasopressin binding capacity and adenylate cyclase responsiveness to the hormone followed similar development patterns. However, the appearance of specific binding sites slightly preceded the onset of adenylate cyclase responsiveness. Basal cortical adenylate cyclase activity/mg protein was 12 times higher in 2-day-old rats than in the adult controls. It dropped with age but only fell to the adult value between the 25th and the 35th days after birth. For the youngest animals tested (2 days old), the increase in activity due to parathyroid hormone was about half the increase measured in adults, and gradually rose to about 75% of the adult response between the 2nd and 46th days after birth. Apparent Km values for parathyroid hormone were identical in young and adult animals (3.2 and 3.0 U/ml, respectively).