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To determine the influence of individual differences in betaadrenergic receptor density on physiologic response to mental stress, we contrasted heart rate, blood pressure and plasma catecholamine responses to the Stroop test in groups of young adult males who differed in the numbers of surface beta-adrenergic receptors detected on mononuclear leukocytes. Beta receptor density was determined at baseline by analysis of specific {1251} iodopindolol binding in 24 subjects. Heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were recorded at baseline and during the 21 minute Stroop test, while blood samples for determination of catecholamines were drawn at baseline and minutes 2, 11, and 20 of the task.

Three groups were identified by tertHe division of the distribution of receptor density [x binding sites/cell= 238+ 33 (Low R), 471±21 (Intermediate R), and 820±142 (High R)]. Baseline …