Effects of phorbol esters on adrenergic receptors of DDT MF-2 smooth muscle cells

Phorbol esters have been reported to induce redistribution or internalization of several types of cell surface receptors, including beta-adrenergic receptors (BAR) in some cells. They investigated the effects of phorbol esters on adrenergic receptor distribution in DDT/sub 1/ MF-2 smooth muscle cells in suspension culture. Exposure of cells to epinephrine, an agonist for both BAR and alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (AAR), led to a shift of about half of BAR from plasma membrane to light vesicle fractions on sucrose density gradient centrifugation. This change correlates with other evidence for internalization or sequestration of BAR away from the cell surface. AAR distribution remained unaltered following agonist treatment. Pretreatment of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which caused about 80% inhibition of epinephrine-stimulated turnover of inositol phospholipids, did not lead to redistribution of either BAR or AAR.