Membrane perturbing activity of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs in isolated rat mast cells

Abstract
Beta-adrenoceptor blocking (BAB) drugs perturb the membranes of isolated rat mast cells. Membrane fluidisation was temperature dependent and was determined by the liposolubility of the BAB drugs. The secretory index, evaluated as the ratio between histamine liberation and degranulation, correlated with the membrane order parameter of the mast cell membranes. The rank order of potency for mast cell activation and membrane fluidisation was: exaprolol > propranolol > metipranolol > atenolol.