Human myometrial adrenergic receptors: Identification of the beta-adrenergic receptor by [3H] dihydroalprenolol binding

The radioactive beta-adrenergic antagonist [3H] dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binds to particulate preparations of human myometrium in a manner compatible with binding to the beta-adrenergic receptor. The binding of DHA is rapid (attaining equilibrium in 12minutes), readily reversible (half time=16minutes), high affinity (KD=0.50 nM), low capacity (Bmax=70 fmoles/mg of protein), and stereoselective ([−]-propranolol is 100 times as potent as [+] -propranolol in inhibiting DHA binding). Adrenergic agonists competed for DHA binding sites in a manner compatible with beta-adrenergic interactions and mirrored β2 pharmacologic potencies: isoproterenol>epinephrine≫norepinephrine. Studies in which zinterol, a β2-adrenergic agonist, competed for DHA binding sites in human myometrial particulate indicated that at least 87% of the beta-adrenergic receptors present are β2-adrenergic receptors. Binding of DHA to human myometrial beta-adrenergic receptors provides a tool which may be used in the examination of gonadal hormonal modification of adrenergic response in human uterus as well as in the analysis of beta-adrenergic agents as potentially useful tocolytic agents.