Changes of beta-adrenergic receptor number and catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in guinea pig lung after inhalation of histamine aerosol.

After guinea pigs were exposed to histamine or acetylcholine aerosol for 1 week, alpha 1- and beta-adrenergic and cholinergic muscarinic receptors on the lung membranes were measured by direct binding techniques using 3H-prazosin, l-3H-dihydroalprenolol, and l-3H-quinuclidinyl benzilate, respectively, and adenylate cyclase responses to l-isoproterenol (10(-5) to 10(-8) M) and NaF (20 mM) were also examined on the membranes. After the inhalation, the number of beta-adrenergic receptors was decreased by about 25% without a significant change in binding affinity for l-3H-dihydroalprenolol, while the number and the affinity of alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors on the membranes were not significantly different from those in the control animals. When compared with the control animals, the lung membranes showed a reduced adenylate cyclase response to l-isoproterenol, and the response to 10(-5) M of l-isoproterenol was significantly decreased by 11% in the lung membranes. The histamine inhalation showed no significant effect on basal adenylate cyclase activity and adenylate cyclase response to NaF.