Identification of α2-adrenoceptors and non-adrenergic idazoxan binding sites in rabbit colon epithelial cells

alpha 2-Adrenoceptors are possibly involved in the regulation of the hydroelectrolytic flux across the digestive mucosa. As no data are available concerning the existence of these receptors in colon epithelial cells, we aimed to investigate the existence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in this tissue using tritiated antagonists. [3H]Yohimbine and [3H]rauwolscine were not usable to label colonic alpha 2-adrenoceptors because of their very high level of non-specific binding. In contrast, the methoxy derivative of idazoxan, [3H]RX821002, appeared a convenient radioligand for the purpose. [3H]RX821002 bound with high affinity (KD = 6.2 +/- 0.8 nM) to a single population of non-interacting sites (Bmax …