Beta-adrenergic ([3H] CGP-12177) receptors are elevated in slices of soleus muscle from CHE 147 dystrophic hamsters.

We have utilized a muscle slice technique to compare the ontogeny of cell surface beta-adrenergic receptor binding in soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of male Golden Syrian (GS) and Canadian Hybrid Farms 147 (CHF 147) dystrophic hamsters. Binding of the beta-adrenergic antagonist, [3H] CGP-12177 (CGP), to GS muscle slices was reversible, saturable, stereospecific and of high affinity. Bmax was higher in the soleus (2.57 +/- .12 fmol/mg wet wt) than in the EDL (1.6 +/- .17 fmol/mg wet wt) of adult animals while affinities were similar (0.35 +/- .06 and 0.24 +/- .04 nM respectively). No differences in binding characteristics were seen in EDL of GS compared to CHF 147 animals. In soleus slices frm GS hamsters, Bmax was highest at 16 days of age (5.72 +/- 0.26 fmol/mg), decreased between 16 and 29 days and remained constant until 300 days (2.51 +/- 0.52 fmol/mg). In dystrophic soleus slices, Bmax was also higher at 16 days than at any other age but receptor number decreased gradually, remaining higher than in GS until 90 days of age (p less than 0.05). The failure of beta-adrenergic receptor number to decrease at a normal rate may be implicated in the pathogenesis of hamster polymyopathy.