title: Characterization of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors on rat pinealocytes.
abstract: alpha 2-Adrenergic receptors in rat pineal membranes were characterized using p-[125I]iodoclonidine, a highly selective, high specific activity ligand. Binding was rapid (association constant rate = 0.0462 nM/min-1) and reversible after the addition of phentolamine (apparent dissociation rate constant = 0.04 min-1). Saturation experiments indicate the presence of a single class of noncooperative binding sites, with an equilibrium binding constant (Kd) of 1.1 +/- 0.3 nM and a binding capacity (Bmax) of 69 +/- 9 fmol/mg protein. Analysis of the relative potency of selected adrenoreceptor agonists and antagonists in competition studies with p-[125I]iodoclonidine indicates that the ligand is binding to a member of the family of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors that has a high affinity for oxymetazoline, phentolamine, and (-)norepinephrine and a low affinity for prazosin, similar to the recently described alpha 2-adrenergic receptor present in the bovine pineal gland, classified as belonging to the newly described alpha 2D-adrenergic receptor subtype. Rat pineal alpha 2-adrenergic receptors were unaltered after nerve endings degenerated. This observation and the recent finding that alpha 2-adrenergic agonists potentiate N6,2'-O-dibutyryl-cAMP or isobutylmethylxanthine stimulation of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase in the rat pineal gland establish that alpha 2D-like adrenergic receptors are located on pinealocytes.
authors.affiliation: Section on Neuroendocrinology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Schaad
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003000:Clonidine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D014316:Tritium; D015016:Yohimbine; D003000:Clonidine