Coexistence of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in human right atrium. Direct identification by (+/-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol binding.

The highly specific beta-adrenoceptor radioligand, (+/-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol, has been used to subclassify beta-adrenoceptors in membranes from human right atrial appendage obtained during open heart surgery. Binding of (+/-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol was saturable (Bmax = 86.4 +/- 7.4 fmol (+/-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol bound/mg protein, n = 4), of high affinity (KD = 53 +/- 6 pM, n = 4), rapid, reversible, and stereospecific. The relative potencies of isoprenaline, adrenaline, and noradrenaline for inhibition of (+/-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol binding and activation of adenylate cyclase were 1:10:10, indicating a population composed mainly of beta 1-adrenoceptors. Inhibition of (+/-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol binding by beta 1- (practolol, metoprolol, betaxolol) and beta 2- (IPS 339, ICI 118,551, zinterol, procaterol) selective drugs, however, resulted in biphasic displacement curves with slope factors (nH, pseudo Hill coefficients) significantly less than 1.0. Nonlinear regression analysis of these curves revealed a beta 1: beta 2 ratio of 80:20 in human right atrial appendage. Nonselective beta-adrenergic drugs (propranolol, isoprenaline, and adrenaline), on the contrary, inhibited binding with monophasic displacement curves and nH = 1.0. Binding of agonists to the beta-adrenoceptors in human right atrial appendage seems to be regulated by guanyl nucleotides. In the absence of GTP, isoprenaline binds to high and low affinity state of the beta-adrenoceptors. GTP (10(-4) M) converts this heterogeneous binding into a homogeneous one of low affinity. It is concluded that, in human right atria, beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors coexist; however, beta 1-adrenoceptors predominate. The physiological function of beta 2-adrenoceptors in human right atrium remains to be elucidated.