On the interaction of beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs with isolated mast cells.

The interaction of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs (BAB drugs) with isolated mast cells resulted, according to the compound, in either a liberation of biogenic amines or an inhibition of stimulated amine release. The liberatory drugs exaprolol and Kö 1124 decreased the level of cAMP, stimulated the activity of cyclic nucleotide-phosphodiesterase, decreased the incorporation of orthophosphate into membrane phospholipids and rapidly displaced calcium from binding sites in mast cells. The inhibitory drugs alprenolol, metipranolol, oxprenolol, practolol and propranolol, possessing lower liposolubility, produced opposite effects. Drugs from both groups displaced histamine from binding sites in isolated mast cell granules. The interaction of BAB drugs with mast cells is a result of non-specific rather than specific receptor interactions. Inhibitory drugs interfere with mast cells at membrane sites while liberatory drugs penetrate the membrane, thus acting both at the level of membrane and intracellularly.