Functional assessment of beta adrenoceptor subtypes in human colonic circular and longitudinal (taenia coli) smooth muscle.
OBJECTIVE
The subtype and species related heterogeneity of beta adrenoceptors prompted a functional reappraisal of these molecular targets of motility inhibition in the human colon.


METHODS
Relaxation of muscle strips was measured in vitro.


RESULTS
The following agonists had decreasing relaxing potency (effective concentration range 10(-8)-10(-4) mol/l): (-)isoprenaline (non-selective), terbutaline (beta(2) selective), CGP 12177 (beta(3) selective, also beta(1), beta(2) antagonist), and SR 58611A (beta(3) selective). Isoprenaline and terbutaline were more potent on circular than taenia strips; CGP 12177 and SR 58611A weakly and partially relaxed taenia but had little effect on circular strips. The potency of isoprenaline on circular strips was greatly reduced by the beta(1) selective antagonist CGP 20712 (10(-7) mol/l), and less so by ICI 118551 (10(-7) mol/l, beta(2) selective). CGP 20712 and ICI 118551 together (both 3 x 10(-6) mol/l) had no effect on taenia relaxation by SR 58611A and rendered isoprenaline and terbutaline virtually inactive on circular strips, although not on taenia, which was relaxed at higher than control concentrations and maximally by isoprenaline. Propranolol, a beta(1), beta(2) non-selective antagonist, at high concentrations (10(-5) mol/l) prevented taenia relaxation by CGP 12177 and SR 58611A; its quantitative antagonism of isoprenaline (in common with that of CGP 12177 used as an antagonist) was competitive in circular strips but not on taenia.


CONCLUSIONS
beta(1), beta(2), and beta(3) adrenoceptors are functionally detectable in the human colon; agonist stimulation of any one type relaxed taenia but only isoprenaline was fully effective at the beta(3) subtype.
Research Centre Sanofi Midy, Via GB Piranesi 38, 20137 Milan, Italy. luciano.manara@sanofi-synthelabo.com
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L
Manara
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Croci
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Aureggi
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Guagnini
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JP
Maffrand
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Le Fur
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Mukenge
G
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Ferla
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; C026777:ICI 118551; D011433:Propranolol; C049763:CGP 20712A; D007545:Isoproterenol; D013726:Terbutaline; C076252:amibegron; C033394:CGP 12177