Use of a fluorescent probe to study the adrenoreceptive function of human erythrocytes

The authors have studied the possibility of using the fluorescent probe 4-(p-dimethyl aminostyryl)-1-methylpyridinium (DSM) for observing the interaction of β-adreno-active substances (adrenaline and propranolol) with specific human erythrocyte (E) receptors. Two types of binding of DSM to the E membranes have been identified - specific and unspecific. It has been established that DSM selectively reacts to preliminary treatment with β-adreno-active substances; the agonist adrenaline raises and the antagonist propranolol reduce the binding of the probe to the erythrocyte membrane. It is concluded that the DSM probe may be used to study the β adrenoreceptor function of the cell membranes.