title: A fundamental temperature-dependent difference between beta-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists.
abstract: Positive inotropic and chronotropic responses of guinea-pig isolated left and right atria to sympathomimetic amines were examined at bath temperatures of 38, 30 or 25 degrees C. The concentration-response curves to isoproterenol and orciprenaline were displaced to the left by cooling, indicating hypothermia-induced supersensitivity. The affinities of isoproterenol and orciprenaline were determined as their dissociation constants (pKA) from antagonism of their responses by either the functional antagonist carbachol or Ro 03-7894 which is reported to be an irreversible beta-adrenoceptor antagonist. By both methods of calculation, the affinities of isoproterenol and orciprenaline for the beta-adrenoceptors mediating inotropic and chronotropic responses were increased by lowering the temperature. In contrast, the affinity of practolol, measured as the pA2 for competitive antagonism of the isoproterenol- and orciprenaline-induced inotropic and chronotropic responses, did not increase with cooling. Thus hypothermia-induced supersensitivity is associated with an increase in agonist affinity only, which indicates a fundamental temperature-dependent difference between agonist and antagonist interactions with the beta-adrenoceptor.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009921:Metaproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D009921:Metaproterenol; D007545:Isoproterenol