Alpha-adrenergic regulation of secretion by tracheal glands.

The purpose of the present study was to begin to characterize, pharmacologically, the alpha-adrenergic regulation of glycoconjugate secretion from airway glands. Using isolated gland cells from cat trachea, we determined the binding characteristics of [3H]dihydroergocryptine ([3H]DHE), an alpha-adrenergic antagonist, with equal affinities for alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Specific binding of [3H]DHE to gland cell homogenates was saturable, of high affinity (KDapp = 4.2 nM) and inhibited with greater efficacy by epinephrine much greater than isoproterenol. Competition experiments with alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic selective antagonists (prazosin and yohimbine, respectively) demonstrated high- and low-affinity sites for each antagonist, indicating the presence of both receptor subtypes. In studies of glycoconjugate secretion by cat tracheal explants, secretion was stimulated by adrenergic agonists with the rank potency: norepinephrine greater than or equal to phenylephrine greater than epinephrine much greater than clonidine. alpha-Adrenergic-stimulated secretion (epinephrine + propranolol) was inhibited by low concentrations of prazosin, but was unaffected by 100 nM yohimbine. The alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, clonidine and UK-14,304, each markedly inhibited beta-adrenergic-stimulated secretion. Collectively, these results demonstrate alpha 1-adrenergic regulation of glandular glycoconjugate secretion and suggest alpha 2-adrenergic receptors may modulate beta-adrenergic-stimulated secretion.