[The changes in beta-adrenergic receptors in the course of dilated cardiomyopathy]

The relation between the density of beta receptors on myocardial cells and lymphocytes and the pathologic change of myocardium in hypertensive-diabetic (HD) rats in various stages during development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was investigated and the alteration of lymphocytic beta receptors in 20 patients with DCM was also studied. The results showed that the density of beta receptors on lymphocytes in the patients with class I-II cardiac status appeared to be in up regulation. The same was found with the receptors on lymphocytes and myocardial cells in HD rats at early stage. Conversely, the receptors were in down regulation on lymphocytes in DCM patients with class III-IV cardiac status and the same with those on lymphocytes and myocardial cells in HD rats at late stage. The changes of the receptors on lymphocytes and myocardial cells in the rats and the patients were quite parallel. Up regulation of beta receptors happened earlier than the pathologic changes in the myocardium in HD rats. Thus, the changes of lymphocytic beta receptors did reflect the behaviour of the receptors on myocardial cells with these data, it is reasonable to use beta blocker at early stage in patients with DCM so as to slow down the disease process.