Sodium regulation of alpha 2-adrenoreceptors of human platelets: inactivation by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene disulfonic acid (DIDS)

In the present study, we investigated the effect of DIDS on Na+ regulation of alpha 2-adrenoreceptors in human platelets. Pretreatment of platelet membranes at 23 degrees C for 60 min with DIDS produced a reduction in the affinity of the receptors for both antagonist and agonist in a concentration related manner; however, there was a marked difference in the degree of reduction in the affinity of the receptors for antagonist and agonist. Thus, at 1 mM concentration of DIDS, the affinity of the receptors for antagonist was reduced by 2-fold while the affinity of the receptors for agonist was reduced by 14-fold. Furthermore, this concentration of DIDS abolished the ability of Na+ in reducing the affinity of the receptors for agonist. We suggest that the effect of DIDS is via Na+ binding component of the alpha 2-adrenoreceptor-adenylate cyclase complex.