Coupling of inhibitory receptors with Gi-proteins in hamster adipocytes: comparison between adenosine A1 receptor and alpha 2-adrenoceptor.

Adenosine A1 receptors and alpha 2-adrenoceptors are both potent inhibitors of adipocyte lipolysis when activated by their agonists. The aim of this work was to compare the coupling of these receptors to the Gi-proteins in hamster adipocytes. The adenosine A1 receptor was characterized with the antagonist [3H]dipropyl-cyclopentyl-xanthine ([3H]DPCPX) and the agonist 3H-phenylisopropyladenosine ([3H]PIA). It was demonstrated by [32P]ADP-ribosylation with pertussis toxin and immunoblotting that Gi1, Gi2 and Gi3 are expressed in hamster adipocytes. Partial ADP-ribosylation of Gi-proteins by pertussis toxin, acting on the intact cells or on the adipocyte membranes, demonstrated that the adenosine A1 receptor was less sensitive to the disappearance of functional Gi-proteins than the alpha 2-adrenoceptor. These results are in accordance with the weak sensitivity of the binding of the agonist [3H]PIA to guanine nucleotides and seem to confirm that the adenosine A1 receptor is strongly and differently coupled than the alpha 2-adrenoceptor to the Gi-proteins in hamster adipocyte membranes.