Coexistence and localization of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the human heart

Quantitative autoradiography was used to determine the location and density of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the right atrium (RA), left ventricular free wall (LVFW), right ventricular free wall (RVFW), interventricular septum (IVS), right atrium from an area near the atrioventricular node (RAAV) and cardiac nerves (N) taken from a patient with end-stage cardiac failure. The densities of beta-adrenoceptors detected by the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist radioligand (-)-[125I] cyanopindolol (50pM) were 4.93 (N), 10.6 (RVFW), 12.2 (RA), 12.4 (IVS), 15.8 (LVFW) and 18.7 fmol (mg protein)-1 (RAAV). The proportion of beta 2-adrenoceptors ranged from 19.5% (RAAV) to 95% (N). RA taken from patients with ischaemic heart disease had a higher density of beta-adrenoceptors (29.3 fmol (mg protein)-1). The results suggest that both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors are down-regulated in patients with end-stage cardiac failure. Positive inotropic responses were established to (-)-isoprenaline, RO363 (beta 1-selective), procaterol (beta 2-selective) and dopexamine in the absence or presence of the antagonist CGP 20712A (beta 1-selective) or ICI 118,551 (beta 2-selective) in electrically driven human right atrial appendage strips. RO363 and procaterol were nearly full agonists in this preparation and produced their responses through activation of beta 1- or beta 2-adrenoceptors, while dopexamine was a partial agonist which produced its inotropic responses through activation of both receptor subtypes. These studies demonstrate the presence and location of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the human heart.