Studies on the affinity and selectivity of denopamine (TA-064), a new cardiotonic agent, for beta-adrenergic receptors.

Denopamine is a new orally active cardiotonic agent. The present experiment was carried out to characterize the binding affinity and selectivity of this drug for beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes. Binding studies were performed using 3H-dihydroalprenolol as the radioligand. Binding affinities of denopamine and some beta-agonists for rat heart membranes (KiH), which contain predominantly the beta 1-subtype, were in the order of isoproterenol (Iso, 14.1 nM) greater than prenalterol (158) greater than norepinephrine (Nor, 227) greater than or equal to epinephrine (Epi, 248) greater than denopamine (545) greater than or equal to dobutamine (645) greater than procaterol (1440) greater than terbutaline (6420). In rat lung membranes (predominantly beta 2-subtype), the order of potency (KiL) was Iso (20.6 nM) greater than procaterol (70.2) greater than Epi (136) greater than prenalterol (412) greater than dobutamine (735) greater than or equal to Nor (744) greater than denopamine (2205) greater than terbutaline (2500). The beta 1/beta 2-selectivity as judged from the KiL/KiH values was in the order of denopamine (4.1) greater than Nor (3.3) greater than prenalterol (2.6) greater than Iso (1.5) greater than dobutamine (1.1) greater than Epi (0.55) greater than terbutaline (0.39) greater than procaterol (0.05). Practolol, a beta 1-antagonist, showed a high beta 1-selectivity (KiL/KiH = 15.3). In the presence of guanine nucleotide (GTP), the denopamine radioligand competition curve showed a rightward shift, and its Hill coefficient increased like other agonists, although the degree of the shift was less than that observed with full agonists such as Iso. These results essentially correspond with the pharmacological and biochemical properties of denopamine and confirm the beta 1-selectivity and the agonist property of this compound.