Relaxation of isolated human myometrial muscle by beta2-adrenergic receptors but not beta1-adrenergic receptors.

OBJECTIVE

Human myometrium contains both beta1-adrenergic and beta2-adrenergic receptors. This study was designed to assess the importance of each beta-adrenergic receptor subtype in relaxation of human myometrial muscle strips.

STUDY DESIGN

Radioligand binding studies were used to establish the presence of each beta-adrenergic receptor subtype, whereas highly selective beta1-antagonists and beta2-antagonists were used to assess the contribution of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes to myometrial relaxation after exposure to (-)-isoproterenol.

RESULTS

Membranes prepared from myometrium contained 82% +/- 4% beta2-adrenergic receptors. After contraction produced by exposure to potassium chloride (35 mmol/L), isoproterenol produced relaxation with half maximal effect at 0.02 micromol/L and a maximal relaxation of 52% +/- 3%. Beta1-antagonist CGP-20712A had no significant effect, whereas beta2-antagonist ICI-118551 produced a characteristic rightward shift of the isoproterenol concentration-relaxation relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both beta1-adrenergic receptors and beta2-adrenergic receptors are present in human myometrial tissue at term, relaxation by nonselective beta-agonist isoproterenol is mediated exclusively by beta2-adrenergic receptors.