[3H]Iloprost and prostaglandin E2 compete for the same receptor site on cardiac sarcolemmal membranes

We have previously demonstrated that high-affinity PGE receptors are present on purified cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) membrane from bovine heart (Lopaschuk et al. (1989) Circ. Res. 65. 538-545). In this study we determined whether PGI2 receptors are also present on the cardiac SL membrane. Due to the extreme lability of prostacyclin (PGI2) under physiological conditions, the PGI2 analogue, Iloprost was substituted for PGI2. H-3-Iloprost specifically bound to two sites on the SL membrane; one of high affinity (K(d) = 0.3 nM, B(max) = 97.0 fmol/mg SL), and one of lower affinity (K(d) = 20.6 nM, B(max) = 1589 fmol/mg SL). Competition studies demonstrated that the concentrations of PGE2 and PGE1 necessary to displace 50% of the specific binding of 20 nM [H-3]Iloprost on cardiac SL were 15-fold lower than the concentrations of unlabelled Iloprost necessary to displace 50% of binding. In contrast, a 15-fold higher concentration of unlabelled Iloprost was needed to displace 50% of specific binding of 2 nM [H-3]PGE2 compared to the concentrations of PGE1 or PGE2 required to displace 50% of [H-3]PGE2 binding. In summary, our results indicate that a prostacyclin receptor is present on the cardiac sarcolemmal membrane, and that PGI2 competes for the same receptor site as PGE2.