1. Neutrophils from drug-free elderly subjects produced approximately 50% less cyclic AMP in response to isoprenaline than did neutrophils from young subjects. A significant difference in basal cyclic AMP levels was also evident (elderly 2.8 ± 0.37; young 4.9 ± 0.36 pmol of cAMP/107 cells; P < 0.05).

2. With a range of anti-neutrophil monoclonal antibodies no evidence of age-related neutrophil population heterogeneity was found.

3. These findings indicate that the age-related decline in β-adrenoceptor responsiveness is not due to changes in the neutrophil population.

4. The present results support the hypothesis that there is a generalized decline in β-adrenoceptor-mediated responsiveness in the elderly.

Keywords:
adrenoceptor, age, isoprenaline, neutrophil
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© 1983 The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society
1983
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