Rainbow trout hepatocyte beta-adrenoceptors, catecholamine responsiveness, and effects of cortisol

Hepatocyte beta-adrenoceptors were characterized in trout with chronically raised plasma cortisol levels (132.1 +/- 14.8 ng/ml, n = 8, 11-12 days) and compared with shams (1.8 +/- 0.9 ng/ml, n = 8) using radioreceptor assay techniques. Hepatocytes prepared from sham trout possessed 1,696 +/- 179 beta-adrenoceptors/cell. These receptors were characterized as beta 2-adrenoceptors based on the potency order of specific inhibition of CGP binding. The number of putative surface beta 2-adrenoceptors significantly increased to 6,005 +/- 1,165 receptors/cell, in hepatocytes from trout exposed to the elevated plasma cortisol concentration. The physiological significance of the increase in hepatocyte surface receptors was assessed by the in vitro responsiveness of hepatocytes to a range of epinephrine concentrations (10-1,000 nmol/l). Both total glucose production and intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content, indicators of epinephrine responsiveness, were enhanced as a result of chronically raised levels of plasma cortisol. We suggest that these cortisol-mediated alterations in the adrenergic responsiveness of trout hepatocytes may ultimately enhance the ability of the liver to supply glucose to the fish during acute stress after extended periods of chronic stress.