THE EFFECT OF CRYO-STORAGE ON THE BETA(2)-ADRENOCEPTOR DENSITY AND RESPONSIVENESS IN INTACT HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES

This study evaluates the effect of cryo-storage on beta(2)-adrenocepto r number and formation of adenosine 3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in intact human lymphocytes as a measure of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor responsiveness. Cryo-storage at - 196 degrees C up to 12 months caused no significant differences in the total number of beta(2)-adrenocepto rs implying that apparently no loss of beta(2)-adrenoceptor-protein oc curs. The maximal isoprenaline-stimulated cAMP generation, and the sti mulation-induced number of cAMP-molecules min(-1) beta(2)- adrenocepto r were unaffected of short-term storage (1-14 days), but changed signi ficantly after long-term storage (3-12 months). We can conclude that l ymphocytes can be stored for months for later determination of beta-ad renoceptors. The cryo-storage method described in this paper are, howe ver, only useful for measurements of very large changes in cAMP format ion, and our results indicate that the method should be further modifi ed in order to preserve the lymphocyte responsiveness after cryo-stora ge.