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The role of endogenous noradrenaline in the beta-blocker withdrawal phenomenon — studies with culture heart cells

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Summary

An in vitro model to evaluate the role of endogenous noradrenaline in the beta-blocker withdrawal phenomenon is described: Beating chicken heart muscle cells (5000 beta1-adrenoceptors/cell) and heart nonmuscle cells (3000 beta2-adrenoceptors/cell) were cultured in serum-free, hormone-supplemented medium. Basal state, subtype selective down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors by endogenous noradrenaline (decrease in receptor number, beta1 more than beta2) was simulated by addition of noradrenaline to the culture medium; chronic beta-blockade was simulated by exposure of the cells for 3 days to various betablockers (propranolol, no ISA; timolol, slight ISA; pindolol, strong ISA). Beta-blocker withdrawal phenomenon — increased response in isoproterenol-induced cAMP production and positive inotropy — is correlated with the increase in the number of beta-adrenoceptors after withdrawal of the drugs. Propranolol induces a withdrawal phenomenon at every degree of noradrenaline-induced basal state down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors; in contrast, a withdrawal phenomenon by pindolol is only seen at a higher degree of beta-adrenoceptor down-regulation.

In the presence of physiological noradrenaline concentrations pindolol affects beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in a qualitatively different manner: the number of beta1-adrenoceptors is increased, the number of beta2-adrenoceptors is decreased. This finding demonstrates that the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of nonselective beta-blockers can manifest itself only if the receptors are not strongly down-regulated. As beta2-adrenoceptors are present in a much less down-regulated state than beta1, ISA mainly acts on beta2-adrenoceptor subtype, thus, presenting a beta2-“pseudo-selectivity” of ISA.

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Abbreviations

(−)CGP 12177:

(−)(4-3-Tert-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-benzimidazol-2-one-hydrochloride

HEPES:

N-2-Hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulphonic acid

IBMX:

3-Isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine

ISA:

Intrinsic sympathomimetic activity

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  1. Medizinische Klinik I der Universität München, Germany

    C. Reithmann, A. Thomschke & K. Werdan

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  1. C. Reithmann
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  2. A. Thomschke
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  3. K. Werdan
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Reithmann, C., Thomschke, A. & Werdan, K. The role of endogenous noradrenaline in the beta-blocker withdrawal phenomenon — studies with culture heart cells. Klin Wochenschr 65, 308–316 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01745384

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