Alterations of the glomerular beta-adrenoceptor-linked adenylate cyclase system in perinephritis hypertension

The present study was undertaken to investigate beta-adrenoceptor-adenylate cyclase coupling in a myocardial ventricular membrane preparation and in isolated renal glomeruli of cellophane perinephritis hypertensive rats. Adenylate cyclase activity and [125I]iodocyanopindolol binding were differentially affected in these preparations. In isolated glomeruli of hypertensive rats a reduced intrinsic activity of isoproterenol was associated with an apparent loss of the guanine nucleotide-sensitive high-affinity state of the beta-adrenoceptors, whereas their absolute number was unchanged when compared with the normotensive control rats. On the other hand, in the sarcolemmal preparation of hypertensive rats adenylate cyclase activity, the relative amount of high-affinity states, and the density of beta-adrenoceptors were not different from the respective values in normotensive controls. Experiments performed on isolated glomeruli of rats with unilateral cellophane perinephritis that developed only moderate hypertension provide evidence that the apparent loss of the high-affinity state is a consequence of hypertension, since no difference was observed in glomeruli from the wrapped, as compared with the intact kidney.