Quantification of H2-agonism by clonidine and dimaprit in an adenylate cyclase assay

In homogenates of guinea-pig ventricle clonidine and dimaprit both stimulate adenylate cyclase and exhibit "bell-shaped' E/[A] curves. The two properties (stimulatory and inhibitory) could be resolved using a theoretical model assuming a "down line' auto-inhibitory mechanism. In the case of clonidine a further depressive property could be seen in the presence of high concentrations of the selective H2-receptor antagonist tiotidine which is not explicable in terms of this model. The results suggest that clonidine has a direct agonistic effect on H2-receptors in guinea-pig heart. However, like dimaprit, clonidine appears to be a partial agonist because its expression is confounded by a secondary inhibitory property(ies).