Distribution and quantitative developmental changes in guinea pig pulmonary beta-receptors.

Studies using tissue homogenates have demonstrated an increase in pulmonary beta-receptors during development. However, techniques using disrupted tissue have not permitted the precise anatomic localization of pulmonary beta-receptors or identification of structures where increases occur. Using L-[3H]dihydroalprenolol, beta-receptors were radioautographically localized and quantitated in sections of newborn (NB) and adult (A) guinea pig lung. Scatchard analysis showed a single class of binding sites with a maximum binding capacity of 189 +/- 3 (NB) and 305 +/- 37 (A) fmol X mg-1 protein (P less than 0.02). Binding was of high affinity with the dissociation constant (Kd) = 1.46 +/- 0.2 (NB) and 1.26 +/- 0.3 (A) nM (NS). The majority of beta-receptors were localized in alveolar wall and airway epithelia (alveolar much greater than bronchiolar greater than bronchial) (P less than 0.0001). Airway and vascular smooth muscle had significantly fewer demonstrable beta-receptors. The increased number of beta-receptors in the adult appeared to be due primarily to a 2.0 +/- 0.12-fold increase in alveolar wall and airway epithelia as opposed to only a 1.3 +/- 0.18-fold increase in the already low number in airway and vascular smooth muscle (P less than 0.05). While apparent receptor density may not necessarily correlate with physiological response or importance, radioautographic localization of pulmonary beta-receptors may significantly enhance our understanding of their role in normal and pathologic states.