Racial differences in epinephrine and beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of ethnicity and hypertension on beta 2-adrenergic receptors and on plasma catecholamines in a group of 77 unmedicated mildly hypertensive and normotensive men. Black hypertensive subjects had the most sensitive and white hypertensive subjects the least sensitive beta-receptors (as assessed by isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP in lymphocytes [P = .02]). In contrast, postreceptor adenylate cyclase activation (as assessed by forskolin stimulation) was similar among groups. As with beta-receptor sensitivity, black hypertensive subjects had the highest beta-receptor density and white hypertensive subjects the lowest (P = .03). Blacks demonstrated lower plasma epinephrine values compared with whites (P = .03). Across all subjects, plasma epinephrine was negatively correlated with beta-receptor density (r = -.26, P < .05) and sensitivity (r = -.25, P < .05). There were no group differences in binding affinity to the beta-antagonist iodopindolol. The findings support the notion of increased beta-adrenergic receptors in hypertension in blacks.

• Authors: P J Mills, J E Dimsdale, M G Ziegler, R A Nelesen
• Journal: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) (Hypertension) Vol. 25 Issue 1 Pg. 88-91 (Jan 1995) ISSN: 0194-911X [Print] United States
• PMID: 7843760 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
• Sodium
• Cyclic AMP
• Norepinephrine
• Epinephrine

Topics

• Adult
• Black People
• Cyclic AMP (biosynthesis)
• Epinephrine (blood)
• Humans
• Hypertension (blood, ethnology, metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Norepinephrine (blood)
• Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 (analysis, physiology)
• Sodium (urine)
• White People