Evidence for the binding of beta-adrenoceptor blockers to microsomal Na+/K+-ATPase in guinea pig heart preparations

We reported in a previous study that beta -adrenoceptor blockers inhibit th e Mg2+-dependent ATP-hydrolytic function of Na+/K+-ATPase. To determine if this action is a result of binding of beta -blockers to the receptor sites that bind the digitalis glycosides, we performed displacement binding assay s of eight beta -blockers with [H-3]-ouabain (OUA) in guinea pig myocardial microsomal preparations. In the first series of experiments, 10-200 muM of the beta -blockers were displaced with 250 nM OUA. In the second set of ex periments, 10-500 nM of OUA was displaced using 200 muM of the beta -blocke rs. The drugs showed concentration-dependent receptor occupancy at the diff erent OUA levels. Propranolol (PPN), metoprolol (MTP), and sotalol (STL) sh owed the strongest binding; nadolol (NDL), indenolol (IDN), and atenolol (A TN) had intermediate binding; carazolol (CRZ) and celiprolol (CLP) had the weakest binding properties. The results suggest that beta -blockers may com pete for the same binding sites with ouabain in their inhibition of the Na/K+-ATPase. These actions may contribute to the mechanism for some of their cardiac effects, especially their proarrhythmic and arrhythmogenic actions .