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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI110055
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Burns, T. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Langley, P. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Terry, B. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Bylund, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Hoffman, B. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Tharp, M. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Lefkowitz, R. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by García-Saínz, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Department of Pharmacology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65211
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Department of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
Section of Physiological Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Find articles by Fain, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Published February 1, 1981 - More info
Three types of adrenergic receptors, beta, alpha-1, and alpha-2, were identified in human adipocytes, isolated from properitoneal adipose tissue, using both the binding of radioactive ligands and the effects of adrenergic agents on receptor-specific biochemical responses. Adrenergic binding studies showed the following results: [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding (beta adrenergic) Bmax 280 fmol/mg protein, KD 0.38 nM; [3H]para-aminoclonidine binding (alpha-2 adrenergic) Bmax 166 fmol/mg protein, KD 0.49 nM; [3H]WB 4101 binding (alpha-1 adrenergic) Bmax 303 fmol/mg protein, KD 0.86 nM. In adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue, [3H]dihydroergocryptine binding indicated the presence of alpha-2 but not alpha-1 receptors.
Beta and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors appeared to be positively and negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase, respectively. Cells or cell membranes were incubated with epinephrine (10 μM) alone and in combination with the antagonists yohimbine (alpha-2) and prazosin (alpha-1). Epinephrine alone prompted a modest increase in adenylate cyclase activity, cyclic AMP, and glycerol release, an index of lipolysis. Yohimbine (0.1 μM) greatly enhanced these actions whereas prazosin was without effect. The beta agonist, isoproterenol, stimulated glycerol release, whereas the alpha-2 agonist, clonidine, inhibited lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation. To assess further alpha-1 receptors, cells were incubated with [32P]phosphate and epinephrine (10 μM) alone and in combination with prazosin and yohimbine. Epinephrine alone caused a three- to fourfold increase in 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. Prazosin (0.1 μM) blocked this action whereas yohimbine (0.1 μM) was without effect. Thus, in a homogeneous cell preparation, the human adipocyte appears to have three different adrenergic receptors, each of which is coupled to a distinct biochemical response.