Characterization and Regulation of β1-Adrenergic Receptors in a Human Neuroepithelioma Cell Line

Intact human neuroepithelioma SK-N-MC cells bound the beta-adrenergic antagonist (-)-[3H]-CGP 12177 with a KD of 0.13 nM and a Bmax of 17,500 sites/cell. When the cells were exposed to beta-adrenergic agonists, they accumulated cyclic AMP in the following order of potency: isoproterenol much greater than norepinephrine greater than epinephrine, which is indicative of a beta 1-subtype receptor. Membranes prepared from the cells bound (-)-3-[125I]iodocyanopindolol with a KD of 11.5 pM. Inhibition of agonist-stimulated cyclic AMP production and competition binding experiments indicated that the beta 1-selective antagonists CGP 20712A and ICI 89,406 were much more potent than the beta 2-selective antagonist ICI 118,551. Analysis of the displacement curves indicated that the cells contained only beta 1-adrenergic receptors. Northern blot analysis of SK-N-MC mRNA using cDNA probes for the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors revealed the presence of a very strong beta 1-adrenergic receptor mRNA signal, while under the same conditions no beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA was observed. Thus, SK-N-MC cells appear to express a pure population of beta 1-adrenergic receptors. When the cells were exposed to isoproterenol, there was no observable desensitization during the first hour. After longer exposure, desensitization slowly occurred and the receptors slowly down-regulated to 50% of control levels by 24 h. Other agents that elevate cyclic AMP levels, such as forskolin, cholera toxin, and cyclic AMP analogues, caused no or little substantial receptor loss.     

Autoradiographic localization of beta-adrenoreceptors in rat uterus

The inhibitory effects of catecholamines on uterine smooth muscle are known to be mediated through beta-adrenergic receptors. To investigate further the distribution of these receptors in the rat uterus, we utilized in vitro autoradiography using [125I]-cyanopindolol [CYP], a specific beta-receptor ligand that has equal activity for both beta 1- and beta 2-receptor subtypes. The specificity of the labeling and the characterization of receptor subtypes in different cell types were achieved by displacement of radioligand with increasing concentrations of zinterol, a beta-adrenergic agonist with preferential affinity for the beta 2-adrenoreceptor subtype, and practolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist that binds preferentially to the beta 1-subtype. Quantitative estimation of ligand binding was performed by densitometry. It was shown that the vast majority of beta-adrenoreceptors were of the beta 2-subtype and were found in high concentration not only in the myometrium but also in the endometrial and serosal epithelia. Specific labeling was also observed in glandular elements. These results suggest that beta-adrenoreceptors might be involved in different functions in the uterus.     

Beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes and subcellular compartmentation of cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in rabbit cardiomyocytes

In purified ventricular myocytes from adult rabbit, beta-adrenergic stimulation causes cyclic AMP accumulation and cyclic AMP-protein kinase activation in both particulate and soluble fractions of the cell, whereas prostaglandin E1 elevates cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-protein kinase activity in the soluble fraction exclusively. Only activation of particulate cyclic AMP-protein kinase activity results in phosphorylase b----a conversion. Using radioligand binding technics, we have determined whether beta 1- and beta 2-receptor subtypes mediate beta-adrenergic effects in particulate and soluble subcellular compartments, respectively. The non-selective antagonist [125I]iodocyanopindolol binds to intact ventricular myocytes with KD of 25 pM and a Bmax of 2.6 X 10(5) receptors/myocyte. Competition for [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding to intact myocytes by the beta-receptor subtype-specific antagonists practolol (beta 1) and zinterol (beta 2) results in monophasic curves with antagonist KD values of 1 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively. We conclude that adult rabbit cardiac myocytes do not possess detectable beta 2 receptors. Further, the ability of isoproterenol to cause elevation of cyclic AMP in two functionally distinct regions within the myocyte must pertain to the actions of a single subtype of beta-receptor, the beta 1-receptor.     

Binding properties of beta-adrenergic receptors in early human fetal lung

The characteristics of beta-adrenergic receptors in human fetal lung were examined using the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist 3H-dihydroalprenolol /DHA/. Steady-state binding was reached by 15 min at 25 degrees C, and the association and dissociation rate constants were 0.0422 nM-1 min-1 and 0.0874 min-1, respectively. From saturation experiments, Bmax of 82.0 +/- 38 fmol/mg protein and KD = 1.85 +/- 0.92 nM were calculated. Inhibition of 3H-DHA binding by beta-1 /metoprolol/ and beta-2 /zinterol, IPS-339, fenoterol/ selective drugs resulted in biphasic displacement curves with slope factors less than 1.0. Analysis of these curves revealed a beta-1: beta-2 ratio of 40:60 in human fetal lung. The presence of 3H-DHA binding sites in early human lung may have a developmental importance which is not yet understood.     

An assay for beta-adrenergic receptors in isolated human fat cells

The beta-adrenergic receptors have been characterized in isolated human adipocytes using a potent beta-adrenergic antagonist (-)-[3H]dihydroalprenolol. Binding of (-)-[3H]dihydroalprenolol to isolated fat cells was stereospecific and saturable, the maximum number of binding sites calculated being 7.8 +/- 2.2 pmol of bound ligand/10(7) cells, corresponding to 450,000 binding sites/cell. The dissociation constant was estimated to be 2.7 +/- 1.1 nM. The results with competition-inhibition experiments using beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists indicated that the binding sites in isolated adipocytes were predominantly of the beta1-subtype; about 80% of the receptors were of this type. With the present method, specific beta-adrenergic receptor number and affinity in isolated human adipocytes could be determined in about 1 g of human adipose tissue.     

Effect of calcium channel modulators on isolated endothelial cells

Indirect evidence, using organic calcium channel modulators suggests that calcium channels exist in endothelial cells. Using freshly prepared and cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, we have studied the effect of calcium channel modulators on Fura-2 fluorescence and have examined the binding of the dihydropyridine, (+)[3H]PN200-110. In both isolated primary and cultured cells, external calcium (0.5-2 mM) and bradykinin (10(-8) M) increased the intracellular calcium concentration. In cultured cells, the increase in calcium was not significantly attenuated by preincubation with nitrendipine (10(-8) M) or d-cis-diltiazem (10(-6) M). The calcium agonists (-)Bay k8644 and (+)202-791 had no effect on intracellular calcium concentration, but other agonists including ATP (10(-4) M) and thrombin (1.5 micrograms/ml) significantly increased the calcium concentration. Competition binding studies with (+)[3H]PN200-110 indicated specific binding of this ligand with a KD of 57 nM and a Bmax of 2.1 pmol/10(6) cells. While these data do not provide convincing evidence for the existence of calcium channels in cultured or fresh bovine aortic endothelial cells, explanations may yet reconcile our observations with the presence of calcium channels in these cells.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the rat beta 1-adrenergic receptor gene.

Using the sequence homology approach for cloning related genes within the G-protein-coupled receptor gene family, we have cloned the gene for the rat beta 1-adrenergic receptor (beta 1-AR). The rat beta 1-adrenergic receptor gene was isolated from a lambda EMBL3 rat genomic DNA library using the hamster beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2-AR) coding sequence as a probe under low stringency hybridization conditions. The rat beta 1-AR gene encodes a protein of 466 amino acids that contains one consensus site for N-linked glycosylation (Asn-15) and three consensus sites for cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation (Ser-296, Ser-301, and Ser-401). The encoded rat beta 1-AR is 98 and 91% similar at the amino acid level with the human beta 1-AR in the transmembrane domains and in the overall sequence, respectively. Genomic Southern blot and gene dosage analyses indicate that the rat beta 1-AR gene is a single copy gene. The tissue distribution of the rat beta 1-AR mRNA was highest in the pineal gland with other brain regions and peripheral tissues, including the heart, expressing the mRNA at moderate levels. The bacteriophage clone containing the rat beta 1-AR gene with its natural promoter was co-transfected with the selectable marker (pRSVneo) conferring neomycin resistance into beta 1-AR-deficient mouse L cells. Analyses of the selected transfectant demonstrates efficient expression of the beta 1-AR gene and functional receptor. 125I-Labeled iodocyanopindolol bound transfectant membranes with an affinity of KD = 24 pm; the beta 1-AR-selective antagonist ICI 89,406 displaced iodocyanopindolol binding with a Ki approximately 140 times lower than that for the beta 2-AR-selective antagonist ICI 118,551. In addition, in the transfectant cell line, adenylylcyclase was stimulated by beta-adrenergic receptor agonists with the rank order of potency of isoproterenol greater than norepinephrine = epinephrine, consistent with properties expected of the beta 1-AR subtype.     

Temperature-dependent binding of hydrophilic beta-adrenergic receptor ligands to intact human lymphocytes

Important differences in binding characteristics between agonists and antagonists of the beta-adrenergic receptor have been described. However, these observations have been complicated since most available antagonists are much more lipophilic than agonists. In order to separate out those binding characteristics of agonist vs. antagonist from those characteristics of lipophilic vs. hydrophilic ligands, we have studied competition of the hydrophilic ligands isoproterenol (agonist) and CGP-12177 (antagonist) with [125I]iodopindolol binding in intact human lymphocytes. Analyzing competition curves from assays performed at 13 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C we demonstrated that at lower temperatures there was a decrease in IC50 for isoproterenol but not for CGP-12177. Using cells preincubated with isoproterenol then extensively washed, competition curves with both isoproterenol and CGP-12177 were biphasic, and characterized by the appearance of a population of receptors with a low affinity for both hydrophilic ligands. Furthermore, at lower temperatures the biphasic nature of these curves was accentuated and was characterized by a 6-fold and 40-fold increase in the apparent KD of a population of low affinity sites for isoproterenol and CGP-12177, respectively.     

Differential pharmacological properties of GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in dorsal compared to ventral rat hippocampus

Several studies have indicated a functional differentiation across the septotemporal axis of rat hippocampus. Our previous results have shown that the alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2-GABAA receptor subtype dominates in dorsal hippocampus (DH), while the alpha 2 beta 1 gamma 2-subtype prevails in ventral hippocampus (VH). We therefore studied possible differences in the pharmacological properties and receptor binding parameters of the GABAA receptor subtypes between DH and VH, by examining: (1)(a) the specific binding of [3H]-flunitrazepam (Benzodiazepine sites agonist) by using quantitative autoradiography, (b) the kinetic parameters of [3H]-flunitrazepam specific binding, by using the "wipe off" technique and (2) the competitive displacement of [3H]-flunitrazepam binding by using zolpidem (selective agonist of the alpha 1-subtype) and L-655,708 (selective inverse agonist of the alpha 5-subtype) and the enhancement of [3H]-flunitrazepam binding by using etomidate (selective positive modulator of the beta 2-subunit), in an autoradiographical saturation kinetic study. Our results showed in VH compared to DH: (A) lower level of [3H]-flunitrazepam binding, apparently due to weaker binding affinity (higher KD value), since no differences in the Bmax value could be detected, (B) higher IC50 values for zolpidem and lower IC50 values for L-655,708 and (C) higher EC50 values for etomidate. In conclusion, the lower binding for zolpidem and etomidate and the higher binding for L-655,708 observed in VH support the evidence that the alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2-GABAA receptor subtype dominates in DH and the alpha 5-subtype prevails in VH. Further, our results suggest differential pharmacological effects of the benzodiazepines in DH compared to VH, with the sedative effects being more potent in the dorsal hippocampus.     

Beta 2-receptors in the rat anterior pituitary mediate adrenergic stimulation of prolactin release

As previously shown, the beta-adrenergic agonists isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine stimulate prolactin (PRL) release from superfused rat anterior pituitary cell aggregates. In order to further characterize the beta-adrenergic response in this tissue preparation, the effects of various beta-adrenergic agents were investigated. The beta 2-agonist, zinterol, stimulated PRL release at concentrations more than 4 orders of magnitude lower than prenalterol, a beta 1-agonist with high potency in rat heart. The order of potency of the antagonists IPS 339 (beta 2), ICI 118.551 (beta 2), propranolol, sotalol, practolol (beta 1), metoprolol (beta 1) and H 35/25 for inhibition of beta-agonist-stimulated PRL release provided additional support for a beta 2-stimulatory effect. beta-Agonists were also capable of stimulating PRL release from superfused intact pituitaries. The beta-adrenergic response desensitized rapidly during prolonged exposure of the aggregates to beta-agonists.     

Beta-adrenergic receptors and stimulatory effects of (-) isoproterenol on testosterone production in fetal mouse Leydig cells

Beta-adrenergic receptors were characterized in freshly excised fetal mouse testis using the radioiodinated antagonist iodocyanopindolol (ICYP). [125I]-CYP bound to a single class of high affinity sites with a KD value of 42.2 +/- 7.0 pM. Adrenergic agonists competed for ICYP binding sites with the following order of potency: (-)isoproterenol greater than (-)epinephrine much greater than (-)norepinephrine which is typical for a beta 2-adrenergic receptor. A selective beta 2-receptor antagonist ICI 118-551 showed an approximately 200 fold higher affinity than the beta 1-selective compound, betaxolol. The beta-adrenergic agonist (-)isoproterenol did not or slightly affect testosterone production by freshly isolated fetal Leydig cells. The ability of fetal Leydig cells to respond to (-)isoproterenol increased during culture. This change in responsiveness was not accompanied either by modification of the number of binding sites or by change in the binding affinity. Taken together these data suggest that i) the stimulatory effect of (-)isoproterenol on testosterone production by cultured fetal Leydig cells is mediated through beta 2-adrenergic receptors ii), the inability of freshly Leydig cells to respond to catecholamines is probably due to post receptor events.     

Preponderance of alpha 2- over beta 1-adrenergic receptor sites in human fat cells is not predictive of the lipolytic effect of physiological catecholamines

Adrenergic control of human fat cell lipolysis is mediated by two kinds of receptor sites that are simultaneously stimulated by physiological amines. To establish a correlation between the binding characteristics of the receptor and biological functions, the ability of physiological amines to stimulate or inhibit isolated fat cell lipolysis in vitro was compared to the beta- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor properties of the same fat cell batch. The beta-selective antagonist (-)[3H]dihydroalprenolol ([3H]DHA) and the alpha 2-selective antagonists [3H]yohimbine ([3H]YOH) and [3H]rauwolscine ([3H]RAU) were used to identify and characterize the two receptor sites. Binding of each ligand was rapid, saturable, and specific. The results demonstrate 1) the weaker lipolytic effect of epinephrine compared with norepinephrine. This can be explained by the equipotency of the amines at the beta 1-sites and the higher affinity of epinephrine for alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. 2) The preponderance of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor sites labeled by [3H]YOH (Bmax, 586 +/- 95 fmol/mg protein; KD, 2.7 +/- 0.2 nM) or [3H]RAU (Bmax, 580 +/- 100 fmol/mg protein; KD, 3.7 +/- 0.1 nM). These two ligands can be successfully used to label alpha 2-adrenergic receptor sites. 3) The beta 1-adrenergic receptor population labeled by [3H]DHA(Bmax, 234 +/- 37 fmol/mg protein; KD, 1.8 +/- 0.4 nM), although a third as numerous as the alpha 2-adrenergic population, is responsible for the lipolytic effect of physiological amines and is weakly counteracted by simultaneous alpha 2-adrenergic receptor stimulation under our experimental conditions. It is concluded that, in human fat cells, the characterization of beta 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors by saturation studies or kinetic analysis to determine affinity (KD) and maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) is not sufficient for an accurate characterization of the functional adrenergic receptors involved in the observed biological effect.     

Characterization of extracellular binding sites for [3H]-staurosporine on capillary endothelial cells.

[3H]-staurosporine, a non-specific protein kinase inhibitor, bound with high affinity and in a reversible manner to specific and saturable binding sites in cultured bovine cerebral cortex capillary endothelial cells. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of one class of non-interacting binding sites with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 9.2 nM and Bmax of 19.3 fmol/10(5) cells. The binding of [3H]-staurosporine was fully displaced by unlabelled staurosporine, H-7 and ATP with IC50 values of 6.9 nM, 3 microM and 0.4 microM respectively. Mild trypsinization of cells after [3H]-staurosporine binding revealed the presence of membrane-associated, extracellular binding sites which could be an ecto-protein kinase.     

beta-Adrenergic receptors in rabbit liver plasma membranes. Predominance of beta 2-receptors and mediation of adrenergic regulation of hepatic glycogenolysis

[3H]Dihydroalprenolol was used to study beta-adrenergic binding sites in plasma membranes isolated from rabbit liver. Specific binding was measured at 25 degrees C as the difference between total binding and binding in the presence of 2 microM dl-propranolol or 10 microM l-isoproterenol. Binding was saturable and stereoselective. The maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) was 434 +/- 41 fmol/mg of protein. The Kd for this binding as determined by Scatchard analysis was 1.39 +/- 0.09 nM. This value agreed well with the Kd value (1.27 +/- 0.12 nM) determined by kinetic analysis. The potency order for the displacement of bound [3H]dihydroalprenolol was isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine, indicative of beta 2-receptors. Use of beta 1- and beta 2-subtype-selective inhibitors also supported the interpretation that the binding characteristics are those of beta 2-receptors. Computer-aided analysis of this inhibition indicated that the beta-receptors in this membrane are predominantly, if not exclusively, of the beta 2-subtype. That these receptors are responsible for mediating catecholamine stimulation of hepatic glycogenolysis was deduced from the inhibition of agonist-stimulated glycogenolysis, in isolated hepatocytes, by beta-receptor subtype-selective antagonists. Thus, the hydrochloride of (t-butylamino-3-ol-2-propyl)oximino-9 fluorene, a beta-antagonist which has higher affinity at beta 2-sites than at beta 1-sites, was 3 orders of magnitude more potent in inhibiting isoproterenol-stimulated glycogenolysis than either atenolol or practolol, both of which are beta 1-selective antagonists. These results resemble the inhibition of [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding in plasma membranes. The glycogenolytic effects of catecholamines occurred with the potency order isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine. Thus, both by radioligand binding studies and by metabolic studies, the functional adrenergic receptor in the rabbit liver is shown to be of the beta 2-subtype.     

Atypical beta-adrenergic receptor in 3T3-F442A adipocytes. Pharmacological and molecular relationship with the human beta 3-adrenergic receptor.

Expression of ligand binding properties for an atypical beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) subtype was studied during the adipose differentiation of murine 3T3-F442A cells and compared with that of the human beta 3-AR expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with the human beta 3-AR gene (CHO-beta 3 cells) Emorine, L. J., Marullo, S., Briend-Sutren, M. M., Patey, G., Tate, K., Delavier-Klutchko, C., and Strosberg, A. D. (1989) Science 245, 1118-1121). 3T3-F442A adipocytes exhibited high and low affinity binding sites for (-)-4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy) [5,7-3H]benzimidazole-2-one ((-)-[3H]CGP-12177) (KD = 1.2 and 38.3 nM) and (-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol ([125I]CYP) (KD = 47 and 1,510 pM). The high affinity sites corresponded to the classical beta 1- and beta 2-AR subtypes whereas the KD values of the low affinity sites for the radioligands were similar to those measured in CHO-beta 3 cells (KD = 28 nM and 1,890 pM for (-)-[3H]CGP12177 and [125I]CYP, respectively). These low affinity sites were undetectable in preadipocytes but represented about 90% of total beta-ARs in adipocytes. The atypical beta-AR and the human beta 3-AR add similarly low affinities (Ki = 3-5 microM) for (+/-)-(2-(3-carbamoyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy)ethylamino-3)-(4-(1-methyl- 4- trifluormethyl-2-imidazolyl)-phenoxy)-2-propanol methane sulfonate (CGP20712A) or erythro-(+/-)-1-(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)-3-isopropylaminob utan-2-ol (ICI118551), highly selective beta 1- and beta 2-AR antagonists, respectively, in agreement with the poor inhibitory effect of the compounds on (-)-isoproterenol (IPR)-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Atypical beta-AR and beta 3-AR had an affinity about 10-50 times higher for sodium-4-(2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propyl)phenoxyace tate sesquihydrate (BRL37344) than the beta 1-AR subtype. This correlates with the potent lipolytic effect of BRL37344 in adipocytes. The rank order of potency of agonists in functional and binding studies was BRL37344 greater than IPR less than (-)-norepinephrine greater than (-)-epinephrine both in 3T3 adipocytes and CHO-beta 3 cells. As in CHO-beta 3 cells, the classical beta 1- and beta 2-antagonists CGP12177, oxprenolol, and pindolol were partial agonists in adipocytes. Although undetectable in preadipocytes, a major mRNA species of 2.3 kilobases (kb) and a minor one of 2.8 kb were observed in adipocytes by hybridization to a human beta 3-AR specific probe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Adenylate cyclase uncoupled beta-adrenergic receptors in salamander proximal tubules

The isolated perfused proximal tubule of the neotenic salamander Ambystoma tigrinum responds with either a hyperpolarization or depolarization of both the basolateral cell membrane and transepithelial potentials following the addition of 10(-5) M isoproterenol to the bath superfusate. Both responses were blocked by 10(-6) M propranolol but neither response was mimicked by 10(-4) M cAMP. beta-Adrenergic binding studies of individual microdissected proximal tubules using (-)-[3H]CGP-12177 as a hydrophyllic radioligand and (+/-)-timolol (0.1 mM) as the displacer drug revealed two distinct populations of proximal tubules possessing either low (KD = 153.8 nM; Bmax = 110.2 fM/mm) or high affinity (KD = 12.0 nM: Bmax = 3.9 fM/mm) binding characteristics. Competition studies indicated that the bound (-)-[3H]CGP-12177 behaved as a typical beta-adrenergic ligand, being displaced by (-)-isoproterenol but not by (+)-isoproterenol or (-)-phenylephrine. However, neither appeared to be coupled to the adenylate cyclase system. These data suggest the presence of functional beta-adrenergic receptors that do not appear to be coupled to the adenylate cyclase system.     

Decrease in rat cardiac beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors by training and endurance exercise

The cardiac beta-adrenoceptor adaptation to physical activity was investigated in rats which were subjected to a six-week endurance swimming training (ET; n = 7) and a training of high intensity (MT; n = 7). In addition, the effect of a single bout of endurance exercise without preceding training (EE; n = 7) was evaluated. These groups were compared with a sedentary control group (C; n = 9). Beta-adrenergic receptors in rat myocardial membranes were labelled using the high affinity antagonist radioligand (-)125iodocyanopindolol (ICYP). Computer modelling techniques provided estimates of the maximal binding capacity (Bmax) and the dissociation constants (KD). Tissue was constantly kept at temperatures of less than or equal to 4 degrees C and incubated at 4 degrees C for 18 h in buffer containing 100 microM GTP so as to prevent masking of beta-adrenoceptors by endogenous norepinephrine. In comparison with the C group (Bmax = 43.2 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg protein, KD = 11.7 +/- 1.5 pM) computerized coanalyses of saturation binding data of ET, MT, and EE revealed a 13.0%, 25.5%, and 16.6% decrease in Bmax (P less than 0.01), respectively, without significantly differing KD values (10.6 pM, 9.0 pM, 10.5 pM, respectively). We provide the first evidence that acute exercise lowers the sarcolemmal beta-adrenoceptor number in the rat heart. In the competition radioligand binding, CGP20712A and ICI118.551 were employed as subtype-selective antagonists of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, respectively, to determine the relative proportions of the receptor subtypes. The ratio of beta 1-/beta 2-adrenoceptors in C was 67.5:32.5 and no statistically significant variation occurred in animals subjected to physical activity. On the basis of published data we assume that acute exercise induces a sequestration of beta-adrenoceptors from the cell surface to some intracellular compartment, whereas the molecular basis of the chronic beta-adrenoceptor down-regulation may involve a training-induced reduction in receptor synthesis. Our findings on cardiac beta-adrenoceptor adaptation to physical activity may represent one of the mechanisms underlying the relative bradycardia in trained subjects.     

Binding, internalization, and degradation of basic fibroblast growth factor in human microvascular endothelial cells

The binding, internalization, and degradation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in human omental microvascular endothelial cells (HOME cells) were investigated. Binding studies of bFGF in human endothelial cells have not yet been reported. Basic FGF bound to HOME cells (KD of 42.0 +/- 3.8 pM and 70,526 +/- 6121 binding sites/cell for the high-affinity sites, KD of 0.933 +/- 0.27 nM and 630,252 +/- 172,459 sites/cell for low-affinity binding sites). The number of low-affinity binding sites was found to be variable. Washing the cells with 2 M phosphate-buffered saline removed completely 125I-bFGF bound to low-affinity binding sites but decreased also the high-affinity binding. The majority of the surface-bound 125I-bFGF was removed by washing the cells with acetic acid buffer at pH 3. At 37 degrees C, 30% of the cell-associated 125I-bFGF became resistant to the acidic wash after 90 min, suggesting that this fraction of bound 125I-bFGF was internalized. At this temperature, degradation of the internalized ligand was followed after 1 h by the appearance of three major bands of 15,000, 10,000, and 8,000 Da and was inhibited by chloroquine. These results demonstrated two classes of binding sites for bFGF in HOME cells; the number of high-affinity binding sites being larger than the number reported for bovine capillary endothelial cells. The intracellular processing of bFGF in HOME cells seems to be different from that of heparin binding growth factor-1 in murine lung capillary endothelial cells and of eye-derived growth factor-1 in Chinese hamster fibroblasts.     

Identification and ontogenesis of beta-adrenergic receptors in fetal and neonatal rabbit myocardium

In adult animals, beta-adrenergic receptors are involved in the regulation of myocardial contractility and heart rate. Their properties in the fetal and early neonatal period have not been adequately investigated. We have directly characterized beta-adrenergic receptors in rabbit fetal and neonatal myocardial membranes by a radioligand binding assay utilizing 125I-hydroxybenzylpindolol (I-HYP), a potent, non-specific, beta-adrenergic antagonist, I-HYP binding sites were detected as early as the 21st day of gestation (term 31 days). The binding was rapid, saturable and reversible. The dissociation constant, KD, as determined by Scatchard plots, ranged from 30 pM to 50 pM. There was a progressive increase in the density of the receptor sites with advancing gestation. Competition studies with beta-agonists and antagonists showed that the order of potency in inhibiting I-HYP binding was consistent with a beta 1-subtype of beta-adrenergic receptors. We conclude that the progressive increase in density of beta-adrenergic receptors in rabbit fetal myocardium parallels similar maturational processes occurring in other tissues with advancing gestation. It may also account for the reported developmental changes in fetal myocardial contractility.