The hepatic adrenergic receptors.

The presence of both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in liver designated the hepatic plasma membrane as a useful tool for the elucidation of the mechanisms by which the hormonal signal is transferred through the membrane via a coupling system to an amplifying entity. This process is well documented for the beta-adrenergic receptor which is linked to adenylate cyclase, whereby it modulates the cyclic AMP level. Much less is known about the alpha-adrenergic receptor. Recently, two factors have contributed to a renewed interest in alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in liver: i) The fact that activation of glycogenolysis in isolated liver parenchymal cells by epinephrine may be mediated by either alpha- or beta-adrenergic receptors, depending on the species or on the state of nutrition, and not only by beta-adrenergic receptors as previously thought. ii) The existence of specific adrenergic agonists and antagonists radiolabeled to a high specific activity which has permitted the characterization of adrenergic receptors in terms of nature, number, affinity and regulation. The present review will be devoted to the recent progress made in the physiological, pharmacological and biochemical characterization of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in the liver.