PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - MAN SEN YONG AU - MARK NICKERSON TI - DISSOCIATION OF <em>ALPHA</em> ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR PROTECTION FROM INHIBITION OF <sup>3</sup>H-PHENOXYBENZAMINE BINDING IN VASCULAR TISSUE DP - 1973 Jul 01 TA - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics PG - 100--108 VI - 186 IP - 1 4099 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/186/1/100.short 4100 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/186/1/100.full SO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1973 Jul 01; 186 AB - 3H-phenoxybenzamine (3H-POB) of high specific activity was synthesized, and its alpha adrenergic blocking action and tissue binding were studied in parallel on strips of rabbit thoracie aorta. The presence of a sympathomimetic amine could decrease both the blocking action and the bound radioactivity, but the two effects were not parallel. Epinephrine and α-methylnorepinephrine most effectively protected the receptors but decreased binding no more than did norepinephrine or isoproterenol. Only catecholamines (all of six tested) reduced binding significantly. Dopamine and α-methyldopamine decreased binding in the absence of significant receptor protection. Conversely, alpha and beta. adrenergic blocking agents markedly decreased the POB block without a decrease in bound radioactivity. Inhibition of both monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase affected binding more than blockade, perhaps due to a localized accumulation of catecholamine. It is concluded that apha adrenergic receptors represent too small a fraction of total bound POB for their protection to be detected as a decrease in binding, even with 3H-POB of high specific activity. The major decrease in binding appeared to involve "silent receptors" that are quite specific for catecholamines. This site could not be equated with any of those now known to be involved in catecholamine action or inactivation. However, it is of sufficient capacity, up to 45% of the total 3H-POB bound in the present experiments, to have an important effect on catecholamine action. © 1972 by The Williams &amp; Wilkins Co.