The aim of the present functional study was to assess the role of beta3-adrenoceptors in the light of recent findings suggesting the existence of a putative fourth beta-adrenoceptor in adipose and heart tissue. The effect of the non-conventional beta3-adrenoceptor partial agonist CGP12177A is resistant to the effect of the beta3-adrenoceptor antagonist SR59230A. Under isotonic conditions in circular muscle strips of human distal colon, the concentration-effect relationship of CGP12177A and SR59104A (beta3-adrenoceptor agonists), alone and in the presence of CGP20712A (beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist) ICI118551 (beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist) and SR59230A, all 0.1 microm was studied. CGP12177A concentration-dependently relaxed circular muscle strips (pEC50=6.16+/-0.05). This effect was left unchanged by beta1-/beta2-adrenoceptor blockade, but antagonised by SR59230A (pA2=8.12+/-0.02). SR59104A concentration-dependently relaxed circular muscle strips (pEC50=5.43+/-0.01), an effect that was not significantly affected by pretreatment with CGP20712A and ICI118551, but competitively antagonised by SR59230A (p KB=7.89). Isoprenaline-induced relaxations were antagonised by propranolol with a low pA2value (7.76+/-0.16). These results provide further evidence for the presence of functional beta3-adrenoceptors in the human colon, but do not support a role for an atypical beta-adrenoceptor distinct from the beta3-subtype.
Copyright 1999 The Italian Pharmacological Society.