Downregulation of hepatic [beta]-adrenergic receptors following hemorrhagic shock. Tait, Stephen M., Ping Wang, Zheng F. Ba, and Irshad H. Chaudry. Shock and Trauma Research Institute, Departments of Physiology and Surgery, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
APStracts 2:0014G, 1995.
Although it is well known that sympathoadrenal activity increases under various adverse circulatory conditions, it is not known whether there are any alterations in hepatic plasma membrane [beta]-adrenergic receptors following trauma-hemorrhage and crystalloid resuscitation. To study this, rats underwent a 5 cm midline laparotomy (i.e., trauma induced) and were bled to and maintained at a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg until 40% of the maximal bleedout (MB) volume was returned in the form of Ringer's lactate (RL). The animals were then resuscitated with four times the volume of MB in the form of RL over 60 minutes. Hepatic plasma membranes were isolated using discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and the dissociation constant (Kd, i.e., 1/affinity) of [125I]-Iodopindolol binding to [beta]-adrenergic receptors was determined using a membrane filtration assay and Scatchard analysis. The results indicate that there was a significant decrease in the Bmax at the time of maximal bleedout, which persisted despite crystalloid resuscitation following hemorrhage. However, there were no significant changes in the Kd at any time points during this study. The downregulation of [beta]-adrenergic receptor binding capacity may be responsible for metabolic abnormalities observed following hemorrhagic shock.

Received 6 June 1994; accepted in final form 3 January 1995.
APS Manuscript Number G217-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 23 February 1995.