Decreased myometrial beta-adrenoceptors in women receiving beta 2-adrenergic tocolytic therapy: correlation with lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptors.

We have determined simultaneously the density of beta-adrenoceptors in human myometria (by (-)-[125I]iodopindolol binding) derived from 36 women undergoing cesarean section and in the corresponding circulating lymphocytes (by (-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol binding). In myometrial membranes about 80% to 85% of the beta-adrenoceptors were of the beta 2-subtype. The density of myometrial and lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptors in women treated with the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist hexoprenaline to prevent preterm labor was about 65% to 70% lower than that in nontreated women. Concomitantly, in hexoprenaline-treated women the 10 mumol/L isoproterenol-evoked increase in lymphocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate content (as index for lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness) was diminished to a similar extent. Combining all data resulted in a significant positive correlation between myometrial and lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor densities (r = 0.7303; n = 36; p less than 0.001). It is possible that determination of beta-adrenoceptor function in circulating lymphocytes may be a useful model to monitor myometrial beta-adrenoceptor changes during tocolytic therapy.