Effects of beta 1-adrenoceptor agonism on plasma renin activity in normal men

Fenoterol stimulates human erythropoietin production via activation of the renin angiotensin system

AIMS

The present study assessed the hypothesis that the beta2 sympathomimetic fenoterol influences the production of erythropoietin (EPO) by activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), i.e. angiotensin II.

METHODS

In an open, parallel, randomized study healthy volunteers received i.v. either placebo (electrolyte solution), fenoterol or fenoterol in combination with an oral dose of the AT1-receptor antagonist losartan.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo treatment AUCEPO(0,24 h) was significantly increased after fenoterol application by 48% whereas no increase in the group receiving fenoterol and losartan could be detected. The rise of PRA was statistically significant under fenoterol and fenoterol plus lorsartan.

CONCLUSIONS

Stimulation of EPO production during fenoterol infusion appears to be angiotensin II-mediated. Thus, angiotensin II may be considered as one important physiological modulator of EPO production in humans.

Metabolic and hormonal effects of preferential beta 1 and beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation in man

The changes of blood glucose, serum potassium (K+), plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), plasma insulin and plasma renin activity (PRA) following the preferential stimulation of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors were studied in 7 healthy subjects during a 60-min infusion of prenalterol, a new, relatively beta-1 selective agonist and salbutamol, a well known, relatively beta-2 selective agonist. Two different high and low doses were used for both agents: 300 micrograms and 600 micrograms and 1 mg and 2 mg for salbutamol and prenalterol, respectively. The levels of PRA seemed equally increased by the two agents in proportion to the dose infused, thus suggesting an equally important role for beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors in renin release. Blood glucose did not change during prenalterol infusions, while increased by 12 +/- 2 mg/100 ml (mean +/- SE; p less than 0.01) and 25 +/- 3 mg/100 ml (p less than 0.01) on salbutamol, at low and high dose, respectively. Similarly the decrement of serum K+ was significantly more pronounced (p less than 0.01) after salbutamol infusion (0.6 +/- 0.07 mEq/L and 1.0 less than 0.09 mEq/L, at low and high dose, respectively) than after prenalterol (0.1 +/- 0.07 mEq/L and 0.3 +/- 0.05 mEq/L). These metabolic effects should suggest a main beta-2 adrenoceptor involvement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)