Some characteristics of the beta-adrenergic system in rat adipocyte membranes after the chronic administrations of isoproterenol.

The effects of chronic administrations of isoproterenol (IPR) on adipocyte beta-adrenergic system were investigated. A 21-days in vivo administration of IPR (2.5 mg/kg BW/day) reduced (-)-IPR- and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. Moreover, the number of beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) and (-)-IPR-stimulated [3H]GDP release from adipocyte membranes were significantly depressed in the treated rats compared to controls. These results suggest that the desensitized response of adenylate cyclase to beta-agonists, induced by chronic in vivo administrations of IPR, may result from impaired coupling efficiency between beta-AR and adenylate cyclase with the significant loss of the number of beta-AR and possible change(s) of guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins.