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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Functional, biochemical and molecular biological evidence for a possible β3-adrenoceptor in human near-term myometrium

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The possible existence of a β3-adrenoceptor (β3-AR) in human near-term myometrium was investigated by in vitro functional and biochemical studies and analysis of mRNA expression. SR 59119A and SR 59104A and CGP 12177 (two selective agonists and a partial agonist, respectively, of the β3-AR), salbutamol and terbutaline (β2-AR agonists) each produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the myometrial spontaneous contractions. There were no differences in pD2 values for the relaxing potencies of terbutaline, salbutamol, CGP 12177 and SR 59119A. The rank order for their relaxing efficacies was SR 59119A>SR 59104A>terbutaline∼salbutamol∼CGP 12177 (Emax=52±7%, 42±12% and ∼ 30% respectively). Propranolol, a β1- and β2-AR antagonist, and ICI 118551, a β2-AR antagonist (both at 0.1 μM), did not affect the SR 59119A-induced relaxation whereas SR 59230A, a selective β3-AR antagonist (1 μM), significantly reduced the maximal relaxing effect of SR 59119A. SR 59119A and salbutamol induced a significant increase in cyclic AMP levels that was antagonized by SR 59230A but not by propranolol for SR 59119A, and by propranolol but not by SR 59230A for salbutamol. The β3-AR mRNA was positively expressed in myometrium preparations in a reverse transcription polymerase chain assay. The results presented provide the first evidence for the existence of the β3-AR subtype in human near-term myometrium and suggest that the effects of SR 59119A might be mediated through an increase in cyclic AMP level. British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 130, 1960–1966; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703491