Metabolic inhibition and adrenoceptor interconversion

The adrenergic receptor responses of isolated strips of iris dilator muscle from rabbits were studied. An alpha agonist, norepinephrine and a beta agonist, isoprenaline, were used to assess adrenergic sensitivity before and after pretreatment of tissues with metabolic inhibitors at 22, 29 and 37 degrees C. The metabolic inhibitors used were iodoacetic acid and dinitrophenol. Temperature change altered adrenoceptor sensitivity in the same manner before and after metabolic inhibition. Iodoacetic acid (10.4 mug/ml) pretreatment increased both alpha and beta responses. Dinitrophenol (1.8 mug/ml) pretreatment increased alpha and decreased beta responsiveness. The results obtained indicate that some metabolic process altered by dinitrophenol may be involved in this adrenoceptor interconversion seen when temperature is changed. This supports the theory that local environment determines the drug sensitivity (alpha or beta) of a single adrenergic receptor.