Blockade of α2-adrenoceptors increases opioid μ-receptor-mediated inhibition of the firing rate of rat locus coeruleus neurones

Summary In pontine slices of the rat brain, the frequency of spontaneous action potentials of locus coeruleus (LC) neurones was recorded extracellularly. Noradrenaline 0.1–100 mol/l, UK 14,304 0.01–100 nmol/l, [Met⁵]-enkephalin 1–10,000 nmol/l and [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵]enkephalin 0.1–1,000 nmol/l, all depressed the firing rate. Rauwolscine 1 mol/l antagonized the effects of both noradrenaline and UK 14,304, but potentiated the effects of [Met']enkephalin and [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵]enkephalin. Idazoxan 1 mol/l acted in a similar manner. Prazosin 1 mol/l did not change the effects of either noradrenaline or [Met⁵]enkephalin. Naloxone 0.1 mol/l antagonized both [Met']enkephalin and [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵]enkephalin, but failed to alter the effects of either noradrenaline or UK 14,304. Rauwolscine, idazoxan and prazosin, all 1 mol/l, as well as naloxone 0.1 mol/l, did not influence the firing rate when given alone. Desipramine 1 mol/l inhibited the discharge of action potentials in a rauwolscine-antagonizable manner. Noradrenaline 10 mol/l produced the same depression of firing, both in the presence of noradrenaline 1 mol/l and [Met⁵]enkephalin 0.03 mol/l. Likewise, the effect of [Met⁵]enkephalin 0.3 mol/l was the same, irrespective of whether it was added to a medium containing [Met⁵]enkephalin 0.03 mol/l or noradrenaline 1 mol/l. The spontaneous activity of LC neurones is inhibited by somatic ₂-adrenoceptors and opioid -receptors. We suggest that the two receptors interact with each other at a site located between themselves and not in the subsequent common signal transduction system.Send offprint requests to: P. Illes at the above address     

Pharmacological characterization of central α-adrenoceptors which mediate clonidine-induced locomotor hypoactivity in the developing rat

Summary The present experiment was designed to pharmacologically characterize receptors which mediate the clonidine-induced locomotor change in the developing rat. A subcutaneous injection of clonidine (0.78 mol/kg) produced locomotor hyperactivity in 7-day-old rats but hypoactivity in 20-day-old rats. Phenoxybenzamine (1.5 mol/kg, 5.9 mol/kg and 15 mol/kg) decreased spontaneous activity in a dosedependent manner but did not antagonize clonidineinduced hypoactivity in 20-day-old rats. By contrast, the significant reversal of the clonidine-induced hypoactivity by pretreatment with phentolamine (1.6 mol/kg and 6.3 mol/kg), yohimbine (1.3 mol/kg and 5.1 mol/kg) and piperoxan (7.4 mol/kg) was observed at such doses when the blockers did not cause and hypoactivity by themselves. It is suggested that clonidine could induce locomotor hypoactivity by activating presynaptic (₁-type) -adrenoceptors in the CNS of 20-day-old rat.     

Effects of suramin and α,β-methylene ATP indicate noradrenaline-ATP co-transmission in the response of the mouse vas deferens to single and low frequency pulses

Summary Vasa deferentia from mice were field-stimulated by trains of 10 pulses delivered at 0.5 Hz. The pulses elicited separate twitches, the first of which (corresponding to a single pulse) exceeded the following ones in height and width and often was clearly biphasic. , -Methylene-ATP 1 mol/1 and suramin 100 mol/1 caused almost identical changes. They reduced the height of the first twitch in the train by about one half and also reduced its width in a manner indicating that only the second, slow phase remained, but reduced much more markedly the following twitches in which now a small second, slow phase also became detectable. Idazoxan 0.1 mol/1 or yohimbine 0.1 mol/l, when added in the presence of a, -methylene-ATP or suramin, further decreased the first twitch but enhanced twitches No. 2 to 10. These responses were then almost abolished by prazosin 0.1 mol/l. Successive addition of prazosin 0.1 mol/l and idazoxan 0.1 mol/1 to previously untreated vasa deferentia depressed the response to the first pulse by about one half in a manner indicating that only the first, rapid phase remained, but had comparatively little effect on the responses to the subsequent pulses. Suramin 100 mol/l almost abolished the contractions remaining in the presence of prazosin and idazoxan. The results indicate that the first, rapid phase of the neurogenic contractions elicited by single or low frequency pulses is mediated by ATP which substantially contributes to all responses in a train. The second, slow phase is mediated by noradrenaline which substantially contributes to the response to the first pulse only. The adrenergic contribution seems to be mediated by postjunctional ₁- as well as a ₂-adrenoceptors. Prejunctional ₂-adrenergic autoinhibition depresses the release of both ATP and noradrenaline. Send offprint request to I. v. Kügelgen at the above address     

Phentolamine blocks presynaptic serotonin autoreceptors in rabbit and rat brain cortex

Summary Possible antagonist effects of phentolamine at presynaptic serotonin autoreceptors were studied in slices of the occipito-parietal cortices of the rabbit and the rat. The slices were preincubated with ³H-serotonin and then superfused and stimulated electrically with single pulses or pulse trains. Nitroquipazine 1 mol/l, a compound that inhibits the high affinity neuronal uptake of serotonin, was present in the superfusion medium in all one pulse-experiments as well as in experiments in which the effect of unlabelled serotonin was examined.In rabbit cortical slices, unlabelled serotonin reduced the single pulse-evoked overflow of tritium. Its concentrationresponse curve was not changed by the selective ₂-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan 1 mol/l but was shifted to the right by phentolamine 1 and 10 mol/l. Phentolamine 10 mol/l also shifted to the right the concentration-inhibition curve of the selective 5-HT₁-receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine. When the slices were stimulated by trains of 30 pulses at 3 Hz, phentolamine 1 and 10 mol/l but not 0.1 mol/l increased the evoked overflow of tritium, the maximal increase amounting to 178%; its effect was enhanced in the presence of nitroquipazine 1 mol/l plus idazoxan 10 mol/l (a drug combination that, when given alone, slightly increased the evoked overflow of tritium). The serotonin receptor antagonist metitepin at concentrations of 0.01–1 mol/l also increased the overflow of tritium elicited by 30 pulses/3 Hz, the maximal increase amounting to 280%; its effect was potentiated in the presence of nitroquipazine 1 mol/l plus idazoxan 10 mol/l but was abolished or almost abolished in the presence of nitroquipazine 1 mol/l plus phentolamine 10 mol/l (a drug combination that, given alone, greatly increased the evoked overflow of tritium). When slices were stimulated by trains of 360 pulses at 3 Hz, there was no apparent antagonism of phentolamine 10 mol/l against the inhibitory effect of unlabelled serotonin. In rat brain cortex slices, unlabelled serotonin reduced the overflow of tritium elicited by 4 pulses delivered at 100 Hz. Again, phentolamine 10 mol/l shifted the concentration-response curve to the right.It is concluded that phentolamine blocks presynaptic serotonin autoreceptors in rabbit and rat brain cortex with pA₂ values of 6.44 and 5.95, respectively. Previous failures to detect the antagonistic effect against exogenous agonists were probably due to stimulation conditions that led to marked endogenous autoinhibition of serotonin release. At least the major part of the increase by phentolamine of the release of serotonin is due to autoreceptor blockade rather than blockade of the presynaptic a2-adrenoceptors at the cortical serotoninergic axons.Send offprint requests to N. Limberger at the above address     

α-Bungarotoxin, κ-bungarotoxin, α-cobratoxin and erabutoxin-b do not affect [3H]acetylcholine release from the rat isolated left hemidiaphragm

Endplate preparations of the rat left hemidiaphragm were incubated with [³H]choline to label neuronal transmitter stores. Nerve evoked release of newly-synthesized [³H]acetylcholine was measured in the absence of cholinesterase inhibitors to investigate whether snake venom neurotoxins by blocking presynaptic nicotinic autoreceptors affect evoked transmitter release. Contractions of the indirectly stimulated hemidiaphragm were recorded to characterize the blocking effect of -neurotoxins at the postsynaptic nicotinic receptors.Neither the long chain neurotoxins -cobratoxin (1 g ml^–1) and -bungarotoxin (5 g ml^–1) nor the short chain neurotoxin erabutoxin-b (0.1, 1 and 10 gml^–1) affected the nerve-evoked release of [³H]acetylcholine. -Bungarotoxin (1 and 5 g ml^–1), a toxin preferentially blocking neuronal nicotinic receptors, did also not affect evoked [³H]acetylcholine release, whereas (+)-tubocurarine (1 M) under identical conditions reduced the release by about 50%. -Bungarotoxin, -cobratoxin and erabutoxin-b concentration-dependently (0.01–0.6 g ml^–1)inhibited nerve-evoked contractions of the hemidiaphragm. All neurotoxins except erabutoxin-b enhanced the basal tritium efflux immediately when applied to the endplate preparation or to a non-innervated muscle strip labelled with [³H]choline. This effect was attributed to an enhanced efflux of [³H]phosphorylcholine, whereas the efflux of [³H]choline and [³H]acetylcholine was not affected.It is concluded that the -neurotoxins and -bungarotoxin do not block presynaptic nicotinic receptors of motor nerves. These nicotinic autoreceptors differ from nicotinic receptors localized at the muscle membrane and at autonomic ganglia.     

Differential effects of α-β-methylene ATP on responses to nerve stimulation in SHR and WKY tail arteries

Summary The effects of ,-methylene-adenosine triphosphate, (,-methylene ATP, a P₂-receptor desensitising agent) have been evaluated on vasoconstrictor responses elicited by exogenous agonists or electrical field stimulation in isolated perfused SHR or WKY tail arteries and on tritium release elicited by electrical field stimulation in SHR-tail arteries pre-labeled with ³H-noradrenaline.Exposure to ,-methylene ATP (0.1 mol/l) significantly inhibited vasoconstrictor responses to electrical field stimulation in SHR tail arteries. These inhibitory effects were not further increased at a higher concentration of ,-methylene ATP (1 mol/l). In WKY tail arteries, ,-methylene ATP (1 mol/l) failed to significantly inhibit vasoconstrictor responses to electrical stimulation.In SHR tail arteries prelabelled with ³H-noradrenaline, ,-methyleneATP (1 mol/l) did not inhibit the stimulation evoked release of tritium. However, at this concentration, ,-methylene ATP significantly antagonized the vasoconstrictor responses of SHR tail arteries induced by exogenous ATP (1 mol/l), ,-methylene ATP (30 mol/l), a stable agonist at P₂-receptors, or 60 mmol/l KCl. These effects of ,-methylene ATP on contractile responses to KCl were not observed in WKY-tail arteries.In tail arteries obtained from reserpine pretreated SHR, despite a 85–95% decrease in endogenous noradrenaline tissue content, the vasoconstrictor responses induced by periarterial field stimulation were greatly diminished, but not abolished. These residual responses to periarterial field stimulation were not antagonized by prazosin (0.1 mol/l), but were practically abolished by the addition of ,-methylene ATP (1 mol/l).In tail arteries from WKY rats pretreated with reserpine, exposure to prazosin (0.1 mol/l) further reduced the residual responses elicited by electrical field stimulation. In these WKY-tail arteries, addition of ,-methylene ATP (1 mol/l) did not further inhibit the remaining vasoconstrictor response obtained in the presence of prazosin.While our results suggest a significantly greater cotransmitter role for ATP with noradrenaline in tail arteries of SHR compared with control normotensive WKY rats, additional effects of ,-methylene ATP not involving P₂ receptors cannot be entirely excluded.     

Evidence for a vasoconstriction-mediating receptor for UTP,distinct from the P2 purinoceptor,in rabbit ear artery

Summary 1. The mechanism of uridine 5-triphosphate-(UTP-)induced vasoconstriction was studied in the rabbit ear artery. The arteries were incubated and perfused at a constant rate of flow. Vasoconstriction was measured as an increase in perfusion pressure. 2. Noradrenaline, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and UTP caused concentration-dependent vasoconstriction. ATP and UTP were approximately equipotent. 3. The vasoconstrictor effect of UTP 300 mol/l was enhanced by a mixture of atropine, diphenhydramine and methysergide (1 mol/l each) and not affected by indometacin 10 mol/l. 4. Prazosin (0.01 –1 mol/l) and phentolamine (1–10 mol/l) reduced the vasoconstrictor effect of UTP 300 mol/l by up to 34%. Prazosin 1 mol/l failed to diminish the vasoconstrictor effect of UTP 300 mol/l after the sympathetic nerves had been destroyed with 6-hydroxydopamine. 5. , -Methylene-ATP (10–50 ol/l) elicited transient vasoconstriction. Subsequently, vasoconstrictor responses to ATP 100 or 300 pmol/1 were reduced by 88%, whereas responses to UTP 100 gmol/1 were enhanced, responses to UTP 300 mol/l decreased by only 32% and responses to UTP 1000 gmol/1 reduced by 74%. After in vitro-denervation with 6-hydroxydopamine or in the presence of phentolamine 1 mol/l throughout, a, -methylene-ATP (10–50 mol/l) reduced the vasoconstrictor effect of UTP 300 mol/l by 44% and 43%, respectively. 6. We suggest that, in the rabbit ear artery, the non-adrenergic and , -methylene-ATP-resistant vasoconstrictor response to UTP is mediated by a separate receptor mechanism, distinct from the P₂ purinoceptor. Send offprint requests to K. Starke     

The antinociception induced by \-endorphin administered intrathecally is mediated by the activation of μ and κ-opioid receptors in the rat

The antinociception induced by -endorphin given supraspinally has been previously demonstrated to be mediated by the stimulation of -, but not -, - or -opioid receptors in rats and mice. The present study was designed to determine what types of opioid receptors in the spinal cord are involved in the antinociception induced by intrathecally (i.t.) administered -endorphin. Antinociception was assessed by the tailflick test in male Sprague-Dawley rats. CTOP (0.9–6.6 nmol), a selective -opioid receptor antagonist, or nor-BNI(13.6–95.3 nmol), a selective -opioid receptor antagonist, given i.t. dose-dependently reversed i.t. administered -endorphin-induced inhibition of the tail-flick response. On the other hand, naltrindole (6.6–44.4 nmol), a selective -opioid receptor antagonist, or -endorphin (1–27) (1–6.7 nmol), a selective -opioid receptor antagonist given i.t., did not antagonize the inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by i.t. administered -endorphin. The results are consistent with the previous study in mice [Tseng LF and Collins KA (1992) Eur J Pharmacol 214: 59–65] that the antinociception induced by -endorphin given i.t. is mediated by the stimulation of - and -, but not - and -opioid receptors.Abbreviations i.t. Intrathecal - CTOP D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Try-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH₂ - nor-BNI Norbinaltorphimine     

SK&F 104078, a post-functionally selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist in the human saphenous vein in vitro

Summary The present study investigated the effects of SK&F 104078 (6-chloro-9-[(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxy]-3methyl-1H,2,3,4,-tetrahydro-3-benzazapine) at pre- and post functional ₂-adrenoceptors in the human isolated saphenous vein. Noradrenaline (0.001–100 mol/l) produced concentration-dependent contractions of the human saphenous vein which were competitively antagonised by the ₁-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.01–1.0 mol/l) and the ₂-adrenoceptor antagonist, rauwolscine (0.01–1.0 mol/l), indicating the presence of both post functional ₁- and ₂-adrenoceptors in this preparation. The selective ₂-adrenoceptor agonist, UK-14,304 (0.01–100 mol/l) also produced concentration-dependent contractions of the human saphenous vein which were antagonised by both rauwolscine (0.1 mol/l) and prazosin (0.1 mol/l). In the presence of angiotensin II (0.05 mol/l), which itself produced a transient contraction, rauwolscine (0.1 mol/l) produced a rightward shift of the UK-14,304 concentration-response curve while prazosin (0.1 mol/l) had no effect. SK&F 104078 (10.0 mol/l) under these conditions also produced a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to UK-14,304, but was at least 100-fold less potent than rauwolscine. At pre functional ₂-adrenoceptors, exogenous noradrenaline (0.01 and 0.1 gmol/l) induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of stimulation-evoked [7-³H]-noradrenaline release from the human saphenous vein in vitro, which was antagonised by rauwolscine (0:1 mol/l) and tolazoline (10.0 mol/l) but not by SK&F 104078 (10.0 gmol/l).Rauwolscine (0.1 mol/l) produced a small increase in stimulation-evoked [7-³H]-noradrenaline release while both tolazoline and SK&F 104078 failed to produce any enhancement in release in the absence of exogenous agonist atconcentrationsupto10 gmol/l.Insummary, noradrenaline and UK-14,304 contracted the human isolated saphenous vein by an action at both postfunctional ₁- and ₂-adrenoceptors. These data demonstrate that SK&F 104078 discriminates between post- and pre-junctional ₂-adrenoceptors in the human isolated saphenous vein. Send offprint requests to M. V. Sennitt at the above address     

Effect of phorbol esters and polymyxin B on modulation of noradrenaline release in mouse atria

Summary Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 0.03, 0.1 and 1.0 mol/l), a protein kinase C activating phorbol ester, significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced (S-I) outflow of radioactivity at 5 Hz stimulation in mouse atria preincubated with [³H]-noradrenaline, whereas a phorbol ester which does not activate protein kinase C, phorbol 13-acetate (0.1 mol/l), had no effect. This suggests that protein kinase C may have a role in modulating sympathetic neurotransmission.Polymyxin B (7 and 21 mol/l), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, had no effect on the S-I outflow of radioactivity. However, it had a significant inhibitory effect in a concentration of 70 mol/l. Polymyxin B (21 mol/l) reduced the facilitation of the S-I outflow of radioactivity produced by PMA (0.03 mol/l), 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (90 mol/l), tetraethylammonium chloride (300 mol/l), and idazoxan (0.1 mol/l). Furthermore, when a higher frequency of stimulation was applied (10 Hz rather than 5 Hz), polymyxin B (21 pmol/1) by itself inhibited the S-I outflow of radioactivity.In the presence of a concentration of PMA (0.1 mol/l) that was maximally effective in enhancing the S-I outflow of radioactivity, both idazoxan (0.1 mol/l) and 8-bromocyclic AMP (90 mol/l) still enhanced the S-I outflow. This suggests that these agents are not operating through protein kinase C and further suggests that the inhibitory effect of polymyxin B on these agents cannot be due to inhibition of protein kinase C. The effects of clonidine on the S-I outflow were not affected by a maximally effective concentration of PMA (0.1 mol/l). These results suggest that protein kinase C is not involved in a ₂-adrenoceptor mediated modulation of noradrenaline release. Send offprint requests to I. F. Musgrave at the above address     

Inhibition by interleukin-1\ of noradrenaline release in rat spleen: involvement of lymphocytes,NO and opioid receptors

Effects of indomethacin, N-nitro-L-arginine (NNA) and naloxone, and of pretreatment with cyclophosphamide (CY), on the interleukin (IL)-I\ induced inhibition of exocytotic noradrenaline release were investigated in the isolated, vascularly perfused spleen of the rat. Neurotransmitter release was evoked by perivascular electrical stimulation (4 Hz) and the overflow of endogenous noradrenaline was determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection.Perfusion of the spleen with Tyrode's solution containing IL-1\ (100 pg/ml) for 90 min caused an inhibition of the stimulation-evoked noradrenaline overflow which persisted for at least 20 min after washout of the IL. The evoked overflow was reduced in the presence of NNA 30 mol/l, but remained unaffected by indomethacin 3 mol/l, naloxone 0.1 mol/l or treatment of the rats with CY (250 mg/kg). The opioid agonist etorphine 10 mol/1 inhibited the evoked overflow of noradrenaline and this effect was prevented by naloxone 0.1 mol/1. The inhibition of evoked overflow by IL-1\ was not affected by indomethacin but was reduced or even prevented in the presence of NNA or naloxone, or after lymphocyte depletion of spleens by CY.The results are compatible with the idea that in the rat spleen exocytotic noradrenaline release is accompanied by a concomitant secretion of a nitric oxide (NO)-like compound which, in turn, reinforces noradrenaline release, and that the release can be inhibited via prejunctional opioid receptors. The IL-1\ induced inhibition of evoked release appears to be a complex process which involves as one of many steps a decrease of the facilitatory NO-like compound and the release of endogenous opioids probably from spleen lymphocytes.     

Behavioural effects of selective μ-, κ-, and δ-opioid agonists in neonatal rats

The behavioural effects of selective -, - and -opioid agonists in 5-, 10- and 20-day-old rats were investigated by observational analysis. The predominant response to -agonists was behavioural depression. High doses (10 mg/kg IP) of morphine and DAGO (d-Ala², NMe-Phe⁴, Glyol⁵-enkephalin) produced overt sedation in all the age groups and also induced catalepsy which was particularly apparent in the 5- and 10-day-old animals. These compounds did not produce any signs of behavioural activation in the neonatal rats. In contrast, rat pups treated with the -agonists U50,488H and PD 117,302 (1,10 mg/kg IP) exhibited marked hyperactivity with increases in wall-climbing and locomotion. Sedative effects of the highest dose of the -agonists began to emerge, however, as the animals grew older, resulting in significant decreases in behaviours such as gnawing and grooming at 20 days of age. The -agonist (+)-tifluadom (0.1–10 mg/kg), but not its corresponding (-)-isomer, produced an increase in activity in 5-day-old rats, thus extending the observations made with U50,488H and PD 117,302 and establishing the stereoselective nature of the response. The involvement of -receptors in opioid-induced hyperactivity was further substantiated by using a variety of opioid antagonists. In this context, the increase in activity induced by U50,488H (10 mg/kg) in 5-day-old neonates was attenuated by naltrexone (1 mg/kg IP) but not by larger doses (10 mg/kg) of either M8008 (which has low affinity for -receptors) or the selective -receptor antagonist ICI 174,864. Finally, DPDPE (d-Pen², d-Pen⁵-enkephalin) which acts selectively at -opioid receptors, did not exert any behavioural effects in either the 5-, 10- or 20-day-old rat pups at doses of up to 10 mg/kg. These results demonstrate behavioural effects of - and -but not -agonists in neonatal rats. There is a clear differentiation between - and -receptor effects and both - and -mediated behaviours show dissimilarities from the adult profile.     

Evidence against a functional link between noradrenaline uptake mechanisms and presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors

Summary Slices prepared from rat cerebral cortex were labelled with ³H-noradrenaline and superfused. Electrical field stimulation was carried out 15 min (S₁) and 45 min (S₂) after the start of collection of 5-min samples using 4 pulses delivered at 100 Hz. Drugs acting at ₂-adrenoceptors were added 20 min before S₂, and their effects were evaluated using the S₂/S₁-ratio. The ₂-adrenoceptor antagonists idazoxan (1 mol/l) and rauwolscine (1 mol/l) failed to increase stimulation-evoked overflow of radioactivity in the absence or presence of the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor desipramine (1 gmol/l). This indicates that the duration of electrical stimulation was too short to allow development of ₂-adrenoceptor-mediated auto-inhibition by released noradrenaline. The effect of clonidine (3–1000 nmol/l) on stimulation-evoked overflow of radioactivity was tested in the absence and presence of three different reuptake inhibitors (desipramine, 1 ol/l; maprotiline, 1 ol/l; cocaine, 10 mol/l). The analysis yielded identical concentration-response curves under all conditions. These results argue against an action of inhibitors of neuronal reuptake of noradrenaline at the presynaptic ₂-adrenoceptor and against the concept of a functional link between uptake site and receptor. Send offprint requests to E. A. Singer     

Methoxamine inhibits noradrenaline release through activation of α1- and α2-adrenoceptors in rat isolated kidney: involvement of purines and prostaglandins

Summary The effects of the at-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine and the ₂-adrenoceptor agonist bromoxidine (UK 14034) on the stimulation induced (S-1) outflow of radioactivity at 100 Hz/6 pulses from rat isolated kidney preincubated with ³H-noradrenaline were investigated. Methoxamine (0.3 – 30 mol/l) inhibited S-1 outflow of radioactivity to a maximum of 83% with a pEC₅₀ of 5.85 (5.71–5.94). UK 14304 (0.0003-0.3 mol/l) inhibited S-I outflow of radioactivity to a maximum of 99% with a pEC₅₀ of 8.35 (8.26–8.47). a Adrenoceptor antagonist affinities (pK_D) against methoxamine and UK 14304 at prejunctional -adrenoceptors were determined. The concentration response curve of methoxamine was shifted to the right by the 1/_2B-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.1 mol/l) with a pK_D of 7.41 and that of UK 14304 by prazosin (0.3 mol/l) with a pK_D of 6.24. The ₂-adrenoceptor antagonist rauwolscine (0.1 mol/l) shifted the concentration response curve of UK 14304 potently to the right with a p_KD of 8.34. The concentration response curve of methoxamine was shifted also to the right by rauwolscine (0.1 mol/l) and the ₂-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan (0.1 mol/l), however, both antagonists suppressed the maximum response of methoxamine to 466% and 56%, respectively. A ten times lower concentration of rauwolscine (0.01 mol/l) did not shift the concentration response curve of methoxamine but the inhibitory effect of methoxamine still reached only a maximum of 59%. The concentration response curve of methoxamine obtained in the presence of rauwolscine (0.01 mol/l) was shifted to the right by further addition of prazosin (0.1 mol/l) with a pK_D of 8.80 but was also shifted to the right by either the purinoceptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl) theophylline (8-SPT; 100 mol/l) or the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin (20 mol/l). These results suggest that methoxamine inhibits S-1 outflow of radioactivity in rat isolated kidney probably through three different mechanisms. 1. Activation of postjunctional 1-adrenoceptors and prostaglandin mediated transjunctional inhibition. 2. Activation of postjunctional ₂-adrenoceptors and purine mediated transjunctional inhibition. 3. Activation of prejunctional inhibitory ₂-adrenoceptors at which methoxamine seems to be a partial agonist. Correspondence to L. C. Rump at the above address     

Dopaminergic modulation of hippocampal noradrenaline release

Summary ³H-Noradrenaline release in the rabbit hippocampus and its possible modulation via presynaptic dopamine receptors was studied. Hippocampal slices were preincubated with ³H-noradrenaline, continuously superfused in the presence of cocaine (30 mol/l) and subjected to electrical field stimulation. The electrically evoked tritium over-flow from the slices was reduced by 0.1 and 1 mol/l dopamine and apomorphine, but significantly enhanced by 10 mol/l apomorphine or by 0.1 and 1 mol/l bromocriptine. If the ₂-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (0.1 mol/l) was present throughout superfusion, the inhibitory effects of dopamine and apomorphine were more pronounced and even 10 mol/l apomorphine and 1 mol/l bromocriptine inhibited noradrenaline release. Qualitatively similar observations were made in the presence of another ₂-antagonist, idazoxane (0.1 mol/l). In the presence of the D2-receptor antagonist domperidone (0.1 mol/l) the inhibitory effects of dopamine were almost abolished, whereas both apomorphine (>1 mol/l) and bromocriptine (>0.01 mol/l) greatly facilitated noradrenaline release. The D2-receptor agonist LY 171555 (0.1 and 1 mol/l) significantly reduced the evoked noradrenaline release whereas the D1-selective agonist SK & F 38393 was ineffective at similar concentrations. The effects of LY 171555 were abolished in the presence of domperidone (0.1 mol/l) but remained unchanged in the presence of yohimbine or idazoxane (0.1 mol/l, each).At 1 mol/l the D2-receptor antagonists domperidone and (-)sulpiride significantly increased the evoked noradrenaline release by about 10%. However, at this concentration, domperidone (but not (-)sulpiride) affected also basal tritium outflow. Bulbocapnine and the preferential D1-receptor antagonists SCH 23390 enhanced the evoked noradrenaline release already at 0.1 mol/l. Their marked facilitatory effects (50 to 60% increase at 1 mol/l) were reduced in the presence of idazoxane (0.1 mol/l) and almost abolished in the presence of 0.1 mol/l yohimbine, whereas the increase due to 1 mol/l (-)sulpiride persisted under these conditions.The evoked tritium efflux from rabbit hippocampal slices preincubated with ³H-serotonin was not affected by dopamine receptor agonists.From our results we conclude that hippocampal noradrenaline, but not serotonin release, is modulated via D2-dopamine receptors. In addition, our results provide evidence for more or less pronounced ₂-adrenoceptor agonistic properties of dopamine and ₂-adrenoceptor antagonistic properties of apomorphine, bromocriptine, SCH 23390 and bulbocapnine in this noradrenaline release model from CNS tissue.     

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) contracts the guinea-pig isolated iliac artery via 5-HT1-like and 5-HT2 receptors

Summary The characterization of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors mediating contractions of the guinea-pig isolated iliac artery was studied when the basal tone was slightly increased by prostaglandin F₂ (PGF₂).In the presence of ketanserin (1 mol/l), 5-HT and several 5-HT receptor agonists induced contractile responses with the rank order of agonist potency: 5-HT = 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) = lysergol > ergometrine = methylergometrine > RU 24969 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT) > methysergide > sumatriptan > tryptamine. Concentration-effect curves to the ergot alkaloids, lysergol, ergometrine, methylergometrine and methysergide, were biphasic.In the presence of ketanserin (1 mol/l), contractile responses to 5-HT, 5-CT, RU 24969, 5-MeOT, sumatriptan and tryptamine were antagonized by methiothepin (30 nmol/l) and flesinoxan (3 mol/l) with approximate pK_B values of 8.5–9.0 and 6.0–6.3, respectively. The first phase of contraction produced by the ergot alkaloids, lysergol, ergometrine, methylergometrine and methysergide, were blocked by methiothepin (30 nmol/l) and flesinoxan (3 mol/l), respectively, with approximate pK_B values about 8.4–8.7 and 6.2–6.4, respectively. The mechanism underlying the second phase of contraction remains to be established.Maximum responses of the concentration-effect curves to 5-HT (1 nmol/l-1 mol/l) were concentration-dependently depressed by ketanserin (1 nmol/l-1 mol) and spiperone (30 nmol/l-0.3 mol/l) and reached approximately 60% of the 5-HT maximum response in the presence of ketanserin (1 mol/l) and spiperone (0.1 mol/l), respectively. Agonist potency of 5-HT was not affected by the antagonists. 5-HT (1 nmol/l-1 mmol) produced biphasic concentration-effect curves (first phase: 1 nmol/l-1 gmol/l; second phase: 1 mol/l-1 mmol/l) in the presence of ketanserin (100 and 300 nmol/l), spiperone (100 and 300 nmol/l), (R)--methylketanserin (3 mol/l) and (S)--methylketanserin (10 nmol/l). Contractions mediating the first phase of the effects of 5-HT accounted for approximately 60% of the 5-HT maximum response and were resistant to blockade by the antagonists. pK_B values at the receptor mediating the second phase of the effects of 5-HT were 9.2–9.3 for ketanserin, 9.2–9.6 for spiperone, 10.5 for (S)--methylketanserin and 7.2 for (R)--methylketanserin.It is concluded that 5-HT contracts the guinea-pig isolated iliac artery via a mixture of 5-HT₁-like receptors and 5-HT₂ receptors. At low concentrations contractions are mediated via 5-HT₁-like receptors which accounted for approximately 60% of the 5-HT maximum response. At higher concentrations 5-HT-induced contractions are mediated via 5-HT₂ receptors.     

Evans blue blocks P2X-purinoceptors in rat vas deferens

Summary In rat vas deferens, Evans blue 100 M increased contractions elicited by high K⁺ and by noradrenaline but markedly reduced contractions elicited by the P_2X-purinoceptor-selective agonist ,-methylene ATP (3 M). The concentration-response curve of ,-methylene ATP was shifted to the right by Evans blue 30 M and the maximal contraction was increased. In tissues incubated with nifedipine 10 M, Evans blue 100 M tended to increase the residual contraction elicited by noradrenaline and abolished the residual response to ,-methylene ATP (3 M). The concentration-response curve of ,-methylene ATP was progressively shifted to the right by increasing concentrations of Evans blue in the presence of nifedipine; maximal contractions were increased by Evans blue 10 and 30 but not 100 M. From the shifts to the right caused by Evans blue 30 M, apparent pK_B values of 5.9 (no nifedipine) and 6.0 (nifedipine present) were calculated. It is concluded that Evans blue blocks P_2X-purinoceptors in rat vas deferens and in addition causes a non-receptor-specific enhancement of contractions.Correspondence to: R. Bültmann at the above address     

A comparison of the effects of TMB-8 and nifedipine on pressor responses to α1- and α2-adrenoceptor agonists in pithed rats

TMB-8 has been characterized as an inhibitor of the release of Ca⁺ from intracellular pools. We have studied the modification of the pressor responses to selective _l-adrenoceptor agonists (methoxamine and phenylephrine), and to selective ₂-adrenoceptor agonists (B-HT 920 and B-HT 933) in pithed rats, produced by TMB-8. We have compared this modification with that produced by the calcium antagonist nifedipine. Nifedipine (100 g/kg, 300 g/kg, and 1000 g/kg) inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the pressor responses to the ₁- and ₂-adrenoceptor agonists, the dose-response curves to the ₂-adrenoceptor agonists being shifted further to the right. TMB-8 at a dose of 3000 g/kg did not modify the pressor effects of the _l-adrenoceptor agonists, and neither did it reinforce the inhibition of such responses produced by nifedipine. By contrast, TMB-8 pretreatment (0.03 g/kg, 0.3 g/kg, 3 g/kg, 30 g/kg, 300 g/kg and 3000 g/kg) inhibited the responses to both ₂-adrenoceptor agonists, the inhibition being more pronounced with B-HT 920. A similar effect was obtained with 0.03 g/kg TMB-8 and 0.3 g/kg TMB-8, particularly in the case of B-HT 920. It was stronger with higher doses, but similar for all doses over 3 g/kg. The inhibition of the pressor responses mediated by the stimulation of ₂-adrenoceptors by TMB-8 was less in rats treated with the Ca²⁺ entry promoter BAY K 8644 (300 g/kg), and could also be reduced by the continuous infusion of CaCl₂ (0.25 g/min). These results suggest that in pithed rats TMB-8 may also behave as an inhibitor of the Ca⁺ influx into vascular smooth muscle.     

Trifluoperazine and calmidazolium have multiple actions on the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves of mouse atria

The aim of this study was to determine whether the calmodulin inhibitors trifluoperazine (TFP) and calmidazolium (CMZ) could decrease the action-potential-evoked release of noradrenaline from mouse isolated atria incubated with [³H]-noradrenaline in support of the hypothesis that calmodulin is involved in neurotransmitter release.TFP (10 M and 30 M) significantly enhanced stimulation-induced (S-1) outflow of radioactivity from mouse atria but had no effect at 1.0 M or 70 M. TFP (70 M) also significantly increased the spontaneous outflow of radioactivity. The facilitatory effect of TFP (10 M) on S-I outflow of radioactivity persisted in either the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (100 M) or atropine (0.3 M) indicating that this effect of TFP was not mediated through either inhibition of phosphodiesterases or through interference with presynaptic muscarinic receptors, respectively. In the presence of phentolamine, the facilitatory effect of TFP (10 M) on S-I outflow was reduced but there was no effect on S-I outflow at 70 M. However, in the presence of a combination of both phentolamine (l.0 M) and the neuronal uptake blocker desipramine (1.0 M) a significant inhibitory effect of TFP (70 M) on the S-I outflow of radioactivity was observed, indicating that effects of TFP on presynaptic a-adrenoceptors and neuronal uptake had disguised an inhibitory effect on S-1 noradrenaline release. Another inhibitor of the Ca²⁺-calmodulin complex, calmidazolium (CMZ, 10 M) inhibited the S-1 outflow of radioactivity but had no effect at 1.0 M. However, CMZ (10 M) also induced a concomitant increase in the spontaneous outflow of radioactivity. In the presence of both phentolamine (1.0 M) and desipramine (1.0 M), CMZ (10 M) also decreased S-1 outflow of radioactivity. The spontaneous outflow of radioactivity by calmidazolium (10 M) was mainly attributable to a rise in unmetabolized noradrenaline.Since concentrations of both TFP and CMZ, which inhibited S-1 noradrenaline release, also caused an increase in the spontaneous outflow of radioactivity, it is possible that the inhibitory effects on S-1 noradrenaline release may be secondary to changes in spontaneous outflow. This suggests that these drugs have complex effects on transmitter release dynamics which are perhaps due to multiple roles for calmodulin within the sympathetic nerve terminal. Correspondence to: M. Barrington at the above address     

Opioid activities of human β-casomorphins

Summary Opioid activities of human -casomorphin-4,-5,-7 and -8 and, for comparison, of the corresponding bovine -casomorphins were studied in the guinea-pig ileum preparation. Binding parameters, i.e. K _d -values and binding site concentrations, for the interaction of human and bovine -casomorphins with opioid receptors in rat brain homogenates were determined in inhibition experiments, using [³H]-(d-Ala², MePhe⁴, Gly-ol⁵)enkephalin, [³H]-(d-Ala², d-Leu⁵)enkephalin and [³H]ethylketazocin as -, - and -opioid receptor ligands. Analysis of binding data was performed using a non-linear curve fitting program. All -casomorphins examined displayed opioid activity. The affinity was highest for -receptors, less so for -receptors and lowest for -receptors. It is suggested that human -casomorphins might play a role as food hormones.