title: Characterization of alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes in pregnant human myometrium.
abstract: The aim of the present investigation was to determine which subtypes of the alpha2-adrenoceptors are being expressed in the human pregnant myometrium at term pregnancy. In radioligand binding studies, the specific binding of [3H]rauwolscine to human myometrial membranes was specific and of high affinity with Kd of 2.8 +/- 0.6 nMand Bmax of 95 +/- 5 fmol/mg protein. Results from competition for the binding of [3H]rauwolscine using subtype-selective ligands, oxymetazoline (alpha2A-subptype), chlorpromazine (alpha2B-subtype) and prazosin (alpha2B-alpha2C-subtype), suggested that the alpha2A- and alpha2B-subtypes are being co-expressed. In order to examine if also the alpha2C-subtype is being expressed we used an optimal concentration of oxymetazoline or chlorpromazine which would block the high-affinity site, equivalent to the alpha2A- and alpha2B-subtype respectively. Competition curves of both oxymetazoline and chlorpromazine still showed a significantly better fit using a two-site model, suggesting that the alpha2C-subtype also is being expressed. The expression of alpha2C-subtype mRNA was confirmed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on mRNA isolated from myometrial biopsies. In conclusion, our results suggest that all three subtypes of alpha2-adrenoceptors are being coexpressed in the human myometrium at term pregnancy and that alpha2-expression is dominated by the alpha2A-subtype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. per.adolfsson@far.liu.se
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Adolfsson
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Dahle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Svensson
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010109:Oxymetazoline / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011224:Prazosin / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D014316:Tritium; D015016:Yohimbine; D010109:Oxymetazoline; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D002746:Chlorpromazine; D011224:Prazosin