Functional analysis of desensitization of the beta-adrenoceptor signalling pathway in rat cardiac tissues following chronic isoprenaline infusion.

1. This study examined beta-adrenoceptor signalling in cardiac tissues following infusion of isoprenaline (400 microg kg(-1) h(-1)) or vehicle to rats for 14 days. 2. Isoprenaline infusion caused marked hypertrophy of atria and ventricles and reduced the resting rate of spontaneously beating right atria and the basal force of left atrial contraction. 3. In spontaneously beating right atria, concentration-response curves to isoprenaline and forskolin were shifted 7.9 and 3.2 fold to the right following treatment whereas responses to the cyclic AMP analogue 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate were unchanged. 4. In electrically driven left atria, concentration-response curves to isoprenaline and forskolin were shifted 4 fold to the right and maximum responses reduced. Responses to dibutyryl cyclic AMP were shifted 3.2 fold to the right but those to Ca2+ were unchanged. 5. Inotropic responses of left and right ventricular papillary muscles to isoprenaline were abolished and markedly reduced respectively by isoprenaline treatment. Responses to forskolin were shifted 5 fold to the right. Responses to dibutyryl cyclic AMP were shifted to the right 3.2 and 2 fold in left and right ventricular papillary muscles. Responses to isobutyl methyl xanthine were shifted to the right 15.8 and 6.3 fold in left and right papillary muscles whereas those to Ca2+ were not significantly altered. 6. This study indicates differences in beta-adrenoceptor desensitization in different regions of the heart following chronic infusion of isoprenaline. Chronotropic responses showed impaired signalling between the receptor and adenylate cyclase whereas inotropic responses exhibited additional desensitization at the level of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase.

Cardiac binding of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate following chronic stimulation of cyclic AMP signalling in guinea pigs.

Binding of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ([3H]IP3) to guinea pig heart has been characterised, localised and the effect of the in vivo desensitisation of cardiac beta-adrenoceptorcyclic AMP signalling examined. Quantitative autoradiography showed highest levels of [3H]IP3 binding associated with coronary blood vessels and with the endothelial cells of the aorta and the mitral and tricuspid valves. Moderate levels of [3H]IP3 bound to the atrioventricular conducting system, cardiac valves and aortic smooth muscle. Lower levels of [3H]IP3 binding were detected in atrial and ventricular myocardium. Although the phosphoinositide signalling pathway does not contribute greatly to normal cardiac function, there is evidence of an increased importance in situations of compromised excitation-contraction such as occurs in cardiac failure or with, beta-adrenoceptor desensitisation. We examined whether chronic in vivo stimulation of beta-adrenoceptor-adenylate cyclase signalling affected cardiac binding of [3H]IP3. Infusion of guinea pigs with isoprenaline (400 micrograms kg-1 h-1, 7 days) tended to reduce [3H]IP3 binding in myocardium although not significantly (P > 0.05, n = 4). These data indicate that [3H]IP3 binding has a heterogeneous distribution in guinea pig heart with highest levels of binding discretely localised to endothelial cells. Desensitisation of beta-adrenoceptor-cyclic AMP signalling in heart did not lead to upregulation of [3H]IP3 binding.

Signalling pathways in cardiac failure.

UNLABELLED: 1. Cardiac failure in humans and in animal models is associated with a marked desensitization of the catecholamine signalling pathway. 2. Beta 1- and beta 2- and possibly beta 3-adrenoceptors (beta-AR) are found in the hearts of humans and common laboratory animals such as rats and guinea-pigs. In rats and guinea-pigs chronic stimulation of cardiac beta-AR leads to a rapid loss of beta 2-AR whereas heart failure in humans is associated with a loss of beta 1-AR or beta 1-AR and beta 2-AR. 3. Desensitization is also associated with phosphorylation of beta-AR by beta-AR kinase (beta-ARK) and uncoupling of receptors from the signalling pathway. Beta-ARK but not beta-arrestin activity and mRNA are markedly increased in heart failure. 4. Chronic beta-AR stimulation and heart failure are associated with increases in Gi alpha but little if any change in Gs alpha. 5. The roles of beta gamma subunits of G-proteins, adenylate cyclase subtypes and cAMP dependent protein kinase A in heart failure are unclear at present. ABBREVIATIONS: beta-ARK - beta-adrenoceptor kinase AR - adrenoceptor G-protein - GTP binding protein

[3H]forskolin binding to cardiac adenylate cyclase in guinea pigs chronically infused with isoproterenol.

Guinea pigs were infused with the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (400 micrograms/kg/hr, 7 days) and cardiac adenylate cyclase was detected using [3H]forskolin. Two populations of [3H]forskolin binding sites were present in heart, the affinities (KD 2 nM and 280 nM) and densities (Bmax 9 and 900 fmol/mg protein) of which were unchanged by isoproterenol infusion compared with vehicle (1 mM HCl). The autoradiographic localisation of [3H]forskolin binding was also unchanged. The G protein activators NaF 10 mM and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) 10 microM increased [3H]forskolin binding in heart from vehicle-treated animals by 100% and 80% respectively. NaF-stimulated binding was unchanged in isoproterenol-treated animals, however, Gpp(NH)p-stimulated binding was reduced by 35% which may indicate an increased influence of Gi.

The role of genetic counseling in visually impaired adolescents.

The presence of genetic disorders in a high percentage of adolescents with significant visual impairments emphasizes the important role that genetic counseling can play in this population. However, its intended goals have been controversial. Responses to structured interviews about genetic counseling services from three groups of former students from the Kentucky School for the Blind were compared. One group consisted of students who had received genetic counseling; another, of students who had declined it; and a third, of students who had graduated before the service was available. In all groups, genetic counseling was viewed as a valuable service which would have been pursued by the majority of those who did not have the opportunity to receive it, and by many of those who refused it initially. Although genetic counseling did little to enhance knowledge of the cause of the specific visual impairment, it appeared to be useful in providing information regarding the risk of visual impairment in future offspring. A relatively high rate of unplanned pregnancies was noted in the group who had refused genetic counseling. The significance of this observation is uncertain. One interpretation is that the group refusing genetic counseling may have consisted of individuals who had fewer concerns as adolescents about family planning issues. These observations suggest that it may be appropriate to recommend to adolescents with significant visual impairments to defer childbearing until independent life experiences are accumulated outside the school setting. Then, prior to considering childbearing, genetic counseling should be sought.

Differential regulation of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors in guinea pig atrioventricular conducting system after chronic (-)-isoproterenol infusion.

Quantitative autoradiography was used to determine the effects of chronic administration of (-)-isoproterenol (400 micrograms/kg/hr, 7 days) on the distribution and density of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors in guinea pig atrioventricular conducting system and surrounding regions. X-ray film was exposed to sections of heart labeled with (-)-[125I]-cyanopindolol in the absence or presence of ICI 118,551 (70 nM) to block beta-2 adrenoceptors, CGP 20712A (100 nM) to block beta-1 adrenoceptors or (-)-propranolol (1 microM) to define nonspecific binding. Quantitative autoradiography was performed using computer-assisted image processing and the AVID system. The proportions of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors were determined by the extent of inhibition of (-)-[125I]cyanopindolol binding by CGP 20712A (100 nM) together with equations which take into account the differing affinities of ligands for beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors. In vehicle (1 mM HCl)-treated animals there was a higher density and proportion of beta-2 adrenoceptors in the atrioventricular node, bundle of His and right and left bundle branches than in myocardium. Chronic administration of (-)-isoproterenol produced marked loss of beta-2 adrenoceptor binding in all regions of the atrioventricular conducting system, surrounding myocardium, cardiac valves and the smooth muscle of the aorta accompanied by less pronounced effects on beta-1 adrenoceptors. Beta-1 adrenoceptors were significantly reduced only in the left bundle branch whereas there were trends toward a reduction in the right bundle branch, bundle of His and an increase in the atrioventricular node. There was no alteration in beta-1 adrenoceptor density in myocardium. Loss of beta adrenoceptor binding produced by (-)-isoproterenol was mainly confined to beta-2 adrenoceptors.

The autoradiographic localization of adenylate cyclase in rat kidney using [3H]forskolin.

The localization of [3H]forskolin binding to microscope slide mounted sections of rat kidney has been examined using autoradiography. Saturation studies showed [3H]forskolin binding to two sites, a high affinity site (KD = 8.7 nM, Bmax = 0.14 pmol/mg protein) and a low affinity site (KD = 6.7 microM, Bmax = 11.0 pmol/mg protein). Autoradiographs showed high affinity binding (thought to identify stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gs)-linked adenylate cyclase) to all renal structures known to possess hormone sensitive adenylate cyclase, including all tubular segments, glomeruli and blood vessels. High concentrations of binding were associated with a portion of the proximal tubule and with papillary collecting tubules and ducts.

New tools for the localization of second messenger systems.

1. Probes available for the localization of components of second messenger systems include G-protein oligonucleotides which have been used to produce cDNA probes to label G-protein mRNA by in situ hybridization histochemistry. 2. Enzymes involved in second messenger responses have been labelled with [3H]-forskolin (Gs-linked adenylate cyclase), [3H]-cAMP (cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and [3H]-PDBu2 (protein kinase C). 3. [3H]-Inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate labels a site on sarcoplasmic reticulum believed to trigger Ca2+ release. 4. These probes allow the comparison of location of receptors and second messengers and the examination of changes in second messenger systems with drug treatment and disease.

Autoradiographic localization and densitometric analysis of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors in the canine left anterior descending coronary artery.

The location and proportions of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors in canine coronary arteries (0.5-2 mm) has been examined by autoradiography. X-ray film and nuclear emulsion-coated coverslips were exposed to sections of coronary artery previously incubated with [125I]iodocyanopindolol (50 pM) in the absence and presence of ICI 118,551 (70 nM) to block beta-2 adrenoceptors, CGP 20712A (100 nM) to block beta-1 adrenoceptors or (-)-propranolol (1 microM) to define nonspecific binding. The medial smooth muscle of the coronary artery had an even distribution of beta-1 adrenoceptors and two populations of beta-2 adrenoceptors, one evenly distributed and the other highly localized. Beta-2 adrenoceptors were also located on nerve tissue and in the adventitia. There was no evidence for localization of beta adrenoceptors on endothelial cells. Quantitative autoradiography was performed using computer-assisted image processing and the program AVID. The binding of [125I]cyanopindolol was saturable (KD = 50 pM) and competition binding curves with the beta-1 selective antagonist CGP 20712A and beta-2 selective antagonist ICI 118,551 showed beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors in the proportions of 85:15% in both 0.5- and 2-mm arteries.