α2‐Adrenergic receptor binding in canine Purkinje fibers

Autoradiograms were developed from free running strands of Purkinje fibers and from left ventricular myocardium of dog hearts exposed to [7-methoxy-3H]prazosin or [O-methyl-3H]yohimbine in the presence or absence of excessive non-radioactive ligands. Both Purkinje fiber and ventricular myocardium show high density, tissue-specific binding to [3H]prazosin. In contrast, high density, tissue-specific binding to [3H]yohimbine was present in Purkinje fibers but not in ventricular myocardium. Membrane fractions showed high affinity, saturable, and displaceable binding with [3H]yohimbine in preparations from canine cardiac Purkinje fibers but not those from canine cardiac ventricular myocardium. Scatchard analysis of the canine Purkinje membrane alpha 2-adrenergic receptor binding showed a Bmax of 54.9 fmol/mg protein with a Kd of 6.25 nM. These results confirm the electrophysiological findings that post-junctional alpha 2-adrenergic receptors are present in Purkinje fibers.