Identification and characterization of α1-adrenergic receptors in human myometrium by [3H]prazosin binding

α1-adrenergic receptors can be directly characterized in myometrial membranes using the specific α1-adrenergic radioligand [3H]prazosin. Compared to the previous approach, this allows a more precise determination of the α1-adrenergic receptor number and of their agonist and antagonist binding properties. Use of this radioligand might prove to be a powerful tool in distinguishing α1-receptors from the total amount of α-adrenergic receptors. As a practical application, it becomes now possible to determine whether the reported influence of sex steroid hormones on the total α-adrenergic receptor population in animal uteri does also apply to the α1-subpopulation.SCOPUS: ar.j