Classification of beta-adrenoceptors in human isolated bronchus.

(+/-)-Isoprenaline (Iso), (-)-adrenaline (Ad), (-)-noradrenaline (NA), (+/-)-phenylephrine (Phe) and the beta 2-selective adrenoceptor agonist (+/-)-fenoterol (Fen) caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of human isolated bronchial preparations. Iso, Ad and NA caused complete relaxation of both spontaneous and carbachol-induced bronchial tone. Fen, which was only tested in preparations where tone was induced with carbachol, also caused complete relaxation. However, Phe was a partial agonist in all preparations tested. When relaxation responses to these amines were calculated as a % of their maximal effects, comparison of EC50 values showed that the order of potency was Iso greater than Ad = Fen greater than NA greater than Phe (92:27:25:1:0.2) in preparations with carbachol-induced tone and Iso greater than Ad greater than NA greater than Phe (112:38:1:0.3) in preparations with spontaneous tone. pA2 values determined for the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists propranolol (non-selective), atenolol (beta-selective) and ICI-118, 551 (beta 2-selective), using Iso as an agonist were, 9.3, 5.3 and 9.1 respectively. These results indicate that beta 2-adrenoceptors mediate relaxation of human isolated bronchus to sympathomimetic amines in preparations obtained 4-14 h post-mortem from non-diseased lung. alpha-Adrenoceptors were apparently sparse or absent in this tissue.