Beta-adrenergic receptors in DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors: correlation with progesterone receptor and tumor growth.

In order to gain further knowledge about the potential role of catecholamines in mammary carcinoma, we have used the potent beta-adrenergic antagonist cyanopindolol (CYP) as iodinated ligand to characterize beta-adrenergic receptors in membranes prepared from mammary tumors induced by dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) administration in the rat. The binding of [125I]CYP to membrane preparations of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors is rapid at room temperature, reaching half maximal specific binding at 30 min of incubation. Scatchard analysis of the data indicates that [125I]CYP binds to a single class of high affinity sites (114 +/- 2.1 fmoles/mg protein) at an apparent KD value of 38.0 +/- 0.3 pM. The order of potency of a series of agonists to compete for [125I]CYP binding is consistent with interaction with a beta 2-subtype receptor: zinterol greater than (-)isoproterenol greater than (-)epinephrine much greater than (-)norepinephrine. In addition, the potency of a series of specific beta 1 and beta 2 synthetic compounds to displace [125I]CYP in mammary tumors is similar to their potency in typical beta 2-adrenergic tissues. The binding of [125I]CYP to DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors shows a marked stereoselectivity, the (-)isomers of isoproterenol and propranolol being 150 and 80 times more potent, respectively, than their respective enantiomers. The autoradiographic localization of [125I]CYP performed on frozen sections revealed the presence of specific beta-adrenergic receptors in all the malignant cells. Spontaneous mammary tumors of aging (18-22 months) female rats have high levels of beta-adrenergic receptors. Castration decreased the concentration of [125I]CYP binding sites in DMBA-induced mammary tumors. A close correlation was observed between progressing, static, and regressing tumors after ovariectomy and beta-adrenergic receptor concentration. The presence of beta-adrenergic receptors in mammary tumors as well as the modulation of their level by ovarian hormones provides a mechanism for catecholaminergic influence in mammary cancer tissue.