[Biochemical studies of acebutolol-the beta1 specificity of acebutolol (author's transl)].

Effects of acebutolol on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rats and on adenylate cyclase of heart and liver in dogs were investigated to determine the beta receptor blocking properties of the compound. Acebutolol exhibited the beta blocking activity and inhibited the increase of serum lactate concentration induced by adrenaline. This inhibition was about one-sixth as potent as that of propranolol. In hyperglycemic and free fatty acid effects of adrenaline, acebutolol inhibited the adrenaline-induced free fatty acid increase more effectively than hyperglycemia induced by adrenaline. In the inhibition of stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the heart and liver, acebutolol was more active on the heart than on liver. Relative beta1 specificity of acebutolol was 93.2. Inhibition of propranolol on adenylate cyclase activity was more potent than that of acebutolol on both tissues, but showed no specificity. These results suggest that acebutolol is beta1 selective, although its beta blocking potency is less than that of propranolol.