Adrenergic drug effects on cyclic AMP in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells

Cyclic AMP production in the presence or absence of various adrenergic agonists and antagonists was determined in cultured human trabecular cells using a gammaflow automated radioimmunoassay that allowed multiple simultaneous experiments and reproducible results. Adrenergic agonists and antagonists showed activation and inhibition constants consistent with the presence of beta(2)-receptors: K-a of isoproterenol < epinephrine < norepinephrine < phenylephrine; K-i of timolol < betaxolol < celiprolol < atenolol. Selective ICI antagonists showed beta(2)-specificity.