Beta-receptors in resistance to phosphaturic effect of PTH in respiratory alkalosis.

Respiratory alkalosis results in a resistance to the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). The present studies evaluated the role of the beta-adrenergic system in that resistance phenomenon. In clearance experiments on acutely thyroparathyroidectomized male Wistar rats, respiratory alkalosis blunted the PTH-mediated increase in absolute and fractional excretion of phosphate (FEPi). Propranolol infusion restored the phosphaturic response to PTH:FEPi, 0.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 8.1 +/- 2.5% (P less than 0.005). Similarly, the increase of FEPi during cAMP infusion was also diminished by respiratory alkalosis: FEPi, 15.5 +/- 2.2 vs. 5.5 +/- 1.1% (P less than 0.005). This hypophosphaturic effect of respiratory alkalosis in the presence of cAMP was not observed in rats infused with propranolol compared with the period of normal ventilation: FEPi, 21.1 +/- 1.7 vs. 15.3 +/- 1.6 (P less than 0.02). Also, during the infusion of the highly selective beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI 118,551, cAMP was phosphaturic in respiratory alkalosis compared with FEPi in the absence of the antagonist: FEPi, 13.0 +/- 2.5 vs. 5.5 +/- 1.1% (P less than 0.02). Finally, the infusion of the beta 2-agonist, fenoterol, to the normally ventilated rats significantly decreased FEPi in cAMP-infused rats in comparison to the absence of the agonist: FEPi, 4.0 +/- 0.7 vs. 22.1 +/- 2.6% (P less than 0.001). We conclude that the resistance to the phosphaturic effect of PTH and cAMP in respiratory alkalosis is mediated by beta-adrenoceptors.