[Specific and non-specific effects of beta-adreno-receptor blocking drugs in man (author's transl)]

The effect of tyramine infusion or exercise on catecholamine concentration and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in plasma of normal volunteers has been studied. Whereas the increase in plasma catecholamine concentrations by tyramine infusion was not changed 90 min after oral application of a single dose of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs (penbutolol, practolol, I.C.I. 66082), the increase in blood pressure was diminished. However, the increase in plasma catecholamine, concentration, i.e. the adrenergic response to exercise was significantly enhanced during beta-adrenoceptor blockade. On the other hand, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity was not further increased during beta-adrenoceptor blockade. - The non-specific membrane activity of the beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs wass assessed by the degree of inhibition of serotonin uptake by human platelets in vitro. Their order of potency, according to IC 50 values estimated from the dose response curves was: propranolol less than penbutolol less than practolol less than I.C.I. 66082. The inhibitory activity of these drugs in vivo was also studied by measuring serotonin uptake by platelets isolated 90 min after oral administration. Due to the high dose only propranolol showed a marked membrane activity.