Human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes and hamster adipocytes as cellular model systems for the study of β‐adrenergic effects

Abstract

Two cellular model systems for the in vitro study of biochemical and pharmacological effects of new p-adrenergic compounds were compared: the human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocyte and the hamster white fat tissue adipocyte. The adipocyte p-adrenoceptor governing the physiological response is atypical in nature, whereas neutrophils seem to have a homogeneous p2-adrenoceptor population. Both model systems have their own advantages, but as far as pharmacological characterisation is concerned, the &-adrenoceptor of neutrophils is far more sensitive and this model system is an obvious choice for the comparison of, for example, isomers. The differentiation between R 67 138 and R 67 145, optical isomers of the p-adrenoceptor antagonist nebivolol (R 67 555), is 20 times larger on neutrophils than on adipocytes. Some broader applications of both systems are discussed.

β3 and Atypical β‐Adrenoceptors

“…50 Hamster white adipocyte receptors appear to be very similar to those of the rat by the criteria of agonist potencies, antagonist PA, values and the partial agonist activity of CGP 12177, pindolol and CYP. 36,46,47,51,52 In rabbit white adipocytes CGP 12177 behaves as a partial lipolytic a g~n i s t , ,~ but antagonist data are lacking. In bovine white adipocytes BRL 37344 is more potent than isoprenaline but, in common with a number of other noncatecholamines, is a partial a g~n i s t .~~ Antagonist data are again unavailable.…”