GP-2-128

GP-2-128 is a novel catecholamine designed for transdermal iontophoretic delivery in patients with limited mobility to prevent deconditioning and muscular wasting. We characterized the interactions of this agent with alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in vitro. In electrically stimulated rat left atria, GP-2-128 produced a concentration-dependent increase in contractile force. pD2 values for GP-2-128, isoproterenol (ISO), and dobutamine (DOB) were 10.6 +/- 0.12, 8.55 +/- 0.02, and 7.0 +/- 0.20, respectively. Metoprolol caused a shift in the concentration-effect curves for the three agonists. In spontaneously beating rat right atria, pD2 values of GP-2-128, ISO, and DOB are 10.4 +/- 0.24, 8.82 +/- 0.18, and 6.92 +/- 0.18, respectively. The affinity constant (KA) of GP-2-128, ISO, and DOB for cardiac beta 1-adrenoceptors was determined by competition binding assays to be 8.09, 6.04 and 4.49, respectively. In guinea pig trachea precontracted with histamine, GP-2-128 and ISO produced a concentration-dependent relaxation. pD2 values were 10.0 +/- 0.1 and 8.2 +/- 0.1, respectively. DOB was more potent than GP-2-128 in contracting isolated rat aortic rings (alpha 1 effect) and in displacing [3H]rauwolscine (alpha 2 effect). We also studied the interactions of GP-2-128 and ISO with the atypical beta-adrenoceptors (beta 3) in guinea pig ilea and rat and hamster adipocytes. Both agents inhibited twitches produced by transmural nerve stimulation in the presence of 10(-5) M nadolol. The EC30 for GP-2-128 and ISO at this atypical receptor site were 4.25 x 10(-10) and 5.05 x 10(-8) M, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)