Function, characterization and autoradiographic localization and quantitation of beta-adrenoceptors in cardiac tissues.

1. This paper demonstrates the use of organ bath, radioligand binding and autoradiography to detect beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in human and guinea-pig cardiac tissues. 2. In organ bath experiments, non-selective and beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor selective agonists produced concentration-dependent inotropic responses in human right atrial appendage. Both subtypes mediate inotropic responses. In guinea-pig right atria chronotropic responses were mediated predominantly through beta 1-adrenoceptors. 3. Receptor binding studies using (-)[125I]-cyanopindolol (CYP) and beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor selective antagonists showed that beta 2-adrenoceptors comprised 25% of the total population of beta-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig right atria. In human right atria the proportion is higher (40%). 4. Quantitative autoradiography was used to determine the location and densities of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig heart. Both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors were distributed on myocardium. The atrioventricular conducting system had a higher density of beta 2-adrenoceptors compared with myocardium.