Ethanol-induced elevation of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one does not modulate motor incoordination in rats

BACKGROUND: Ethanol administration elevates the levels of GABAergic neuroactive steroids in brain and contributes to some of its behavioral actions. In the present study, we investigated whether such elevation of GABAergic neuroactive steroids contributes to the motor incoordinating effects of ethanol. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ethanol (2 g/kg intraperitoneally) or saline, and the level of 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) was measured across time in cerebral cortex and in various brain regions at the peak time by radioimmunoassay. To study whether increases in GABAergic neuroactive steroids are responsible for the motor incoordinating actions of ethanol, rats were subjected to chemical (5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride) and surgical (adrenalectomy) manipulations before receiving ethanol (2 g/kg intraperitoneally) injections. The rats were then subjected to different paradigms to evaluate motor impairment including the Majchrowicz motor intoxication rating scale, Rotarod test, and aerial righting reflex task at different time points. RESULTS: The radioimmunoassay of 3alpha,5alpha-THP in different brain regions showed that ethanol increases 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels by 3- and 9-fold in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, respectively. There was no change in 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels in cerebellum and midbrain. The time course of 3alpha,5alpha-THP elevations in the cerebral cortex showed significant increases 20-min after ethanol injection with a peak at 60 min. In contrast, motor toxicity peaked between 5 and 10 min after ethanol injections and gradually decreased over time. Furthermore, adrenalectomy or pretreatment with finasteride (2 x 50 mg/kg, subcutaneously) did not reduce motor incoordinating effects of ethanol as assessed by the Majchrowicz intoxication rating score, Rotarod test, or aerial righting reflex task. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol increases GABAergic neuroactive steroids in a time- and brain region-selective manner. The role of neuroactive steroids in alcohol action is specific for certain behaviors. Alcohol-induced deficits in motor coordination are not mediated by elevated neuroactive steroid biosynthesis.     

Role of acetaldehyde in ethanol-induced elevation of the neuroactive steroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one in rats

Background: Systemic ethanol administration increases neuroactive steroid levels that increase ethanol sensitivity. Acetaldehyde is a biologically active compound that may contribute to behavioral and rewarding effects of ethanol. We investigated the role of acetaldehyde in ethanol‐induced elevations of 3α‐hydroxy‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one (3α,5α‐THP) levels in cerebral cortex. Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were administered ethanol, and plasma acetaldehyde concentrations were measured by gas chromatography to determine relevant concentrations. Rats were then administered acetaldehyde directly, acetaldehyde plus cyanamide to block its degradation, or ethanol in the presence of inhibitors of ethanol metabolism, to determine effects on 3α,5α‐THP levels in cerebral cortex. Results: Ethanol administration (2 g/kg) to rats results in a peak acetaldehyde concentration of 6‐7 μM at 10 minutes that remains stable for the duration of the time points tested. Direct administration of acetaldehyde eliciting this plasma concentration does not increase cerebral cortical 3α,5α‐THP levels, and inhibition of ethanol‐metabolizing enzymes to modify acetaldehyde formation does not alter ethanol‐induced 3α,5α‐THP levels. However, higher doses of acetaldehyde (75 and 100 mg/kg), in the presence of cyanamide to prevent its metabolism, are capable of increasing cortical 3α,5α‐THP levels. Conclusions: Physiological concentrations of acetaldehyde are not responsible for ethanol‐induced increases in 3α,5α‐THP, but a synergistic role for acetaldehyde with ethanol may contribute to increases in 3α,5α‐THP levels and ethanol sensitivity.     

Catecholamines mediate nicotine-induced adrenocorticotropin secretion via alpha-adrenergic receptors

Previous studies determined that iv nicotine stimulates ACTH secretion by acting on sites accessible from the fourth ventricle (IV), rather than directly on CRF-containing neurons in the hypothalamus. Brainstem catecholaminergic cell groups, which are accessible from the IV, project to the hypothalamus and stimulate the secretion of CRF and ACTH. Therefore, these studies investigated the role of catecholamines in nicotine-stimulated ACTH secretion. Experiments with the catecholaminergic neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine, demonstrate that the ACTH response to nicotine delivered iv (0.03 or 0.05 mg/kg body wt) or instilled into the IV (1 or 2.5 micrograms) was significantly reduced in lesioned animals (P less than 0.01). Selective inhibitors of epinephrine synthesis, SKF 64139 and 2,3-dichloro-alpha-methylbenzylamine (DCMB), significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) the ACTH response to 0.05 mg/kg body wt nicotine iv, without affecting median eminence CRF content. Because controversy exists about the effect of DCMB as an alpha 2 adrenoreceptor antagonist in vivo, this was examined by administering norepinephrine into the third ventricle after DCMB ip; DCMB significantly reduced the ACTH response to norepinephrine 0.2 micrograms (P less than 0.05) but not to 0.5 micrograms. To determine whether alpha 2 receptors are indeed involved in the ACTH response to nicotine, yohimbine, an alpha 2 antagonist, was injected into the third ventricle before nicotine injection into the IV. Yohimbine significantly reduced the ACTH response. Thus, the secretion of both hypothalamic epinephrine and, to some extent, norepinephrine is involved in the ACTH response to the activation of catecholaminergic neurons in the IV. Further investigation of the adrenergic receptor(s) involved compared the ACTH response to nicotine (1 microgram) instilled into the IV after prazocin (alpha 1 antagonist), or propranolol (beta antagonist) was injected into the third ventricle. Prazocin significantly reduced (P less than 0.05) the ACTH response, whereas propranolol was ineffective. Thus, both alpha 1 and alpha 2 receptors are involved in mediating the ACTH response to nicotine.     

Selective suppression of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in anterior pituitary cells by the gonadal steroid 3 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-20-one

The effect of 3 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-20-one (3HP), a Sertoli cell steroid, on the secretion of gonadotropins from rat anterior pituitary cells in culture was examined and subsequently compared with the action of other gonadal steroids and steroids structurally related to 3HP. Pituitary cells from randomly cycling, sexually mature female rats were isolated and maintained in culture 72 h before use. On the day of treatment, medium was changed, steroids (10(-16)-10(-4) M) and/or LHRH (10(-8) M) were added, and cells were allowed to incubate for a further 24 h. Medium was then examined for gonadotropin content by RIA. 3HP treatment of anterior pituitary cells resulted in a significant reduction of both basal and LHRH-induced FSH secretion, while LH secretion was unaffected. The lowest effective dose of 3HP (10(-16) M) significantly decreased basal FSH secretion to 65.6% of control levels. The lowest effective dose of 3HP that significantly inhibited (by 31%) LHRH-induced FSH secretion was 10(-14) M 3HP. Maximum suppression by 3HP of basal FSH secretion occurred between 10(-10)-10(-8) M, and maximum suppression of LHRH-induced secretion occurred at 10(-12) M. None of the other gonadal steroids tested (progesterone, testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 17 beta-estradiol, 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, and 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione) had a similar selective effect on FSH secretion; progesterone, testosterone, and 17 beta-estradiol actually resulted in increased FSH release, and 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione resulted in significant increase in basal LH. A number of metabolites and structural variations of 3HP were examined in this in vitro system at concentrations of 10(-12)-10(-6) M, and none exhibited a similar selective FSH-suppressing activity as 3HP. The data suggest that the selective FSH-suppressing effect of 3HP seen previously in vivo and here in vitro is due to 3HP itself and not the result of a metabolite of this molecule.     

Characterization of somatostatin receptors which mediate inhibition of insulin secretion in RINm5F insulinoma cells

Somatostatin (SRIF) is a neuropeptide which inhibits secretion from a variety of target cells including pancreatic beta-cells. In this study we have used the RINm5F rat insulinoma cell line to characterize high affinity receptors for SRIF. The binding of 0.03 nM [125I-Tyr11]SRIF to RINm5F cells reached a plateau level within 4 h at 37 C at which time 80% of the total binding could be displaced by 100 nM unlabeled SRIF. In contrast, 100 nM concentrations of eight structurally unrelated peptides did not inhibit [125I-Tyr11]SRIF binding. Scatchard analysis indicated that RINm5F cells contained a single class of noninteracting binding sites (910 +/- 190 sites per cell) with high affinity for [125I-Tyr11]SRIF [equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.04 +/- 0.01 nM]. Competition experiments with SRIF analogs showed that the binding affinity for [I-Tyr11]SRIF (Kd = 0.03 +/- 0.02 nM) was higher than that for either SRIF (0.24 +/- 0.04 nM) or [Tyr11]SRIF (0.27 +/- 0.04 nM) and that reduced SRIF analogs bound poorly (Kd greater than 50 nM). These results demonstrate that RINm5F cells possess specific, high affinity binding sites for SRIF. Insulin release stimulated by 20 mM leucine or 15 mM glyceraldehyde was inhibited as much as 80% by maximal concentrations (100 nM) of SRIF. The IC50 for SRIF inhibition of leucine-stimulated insulin secretion was 0.43 +/- 0.15 nM, in good agreement with the apparent Kd for binding. In fact, this close correlation between binding affinity and potency to inhibit insulin release was observed for six SRIF analogs, indicating that the characterized binding sites are the receptors which mediate the biological actions of SRIF in RINm5F cells.     

Formation of 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one in the ovaries of catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

Labeled pregnenolone was incubated with minced and homogenized tissue obtained from the ovaries and kidney or head kidney of two varieties of catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis and Ictalurus punctatus. No 21-hydroxylated steroids such as DOC were found as conversion products with ovarian tissue. The major ovarian steroid produced by H. fossilis was 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one. After extensive chromatography it was identified by recrystallization to constant specific activity. A second steroid was isolated and tentatively assigned the structure 5β-pregnane-3α-20α-diol based on chromatographic mobilities. In vivo pretreatment with salmon gonadotropin but not ACTH enhanced the conversion rate to 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one in ovarian tissue in H. fossilis. No conversion products were identified in the ovarian tissue of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Extensive conversion of precursor to corticosteroid products was observed with interranal tissue in both species. In vivo pretreatment with ACTH enhanced the formation of adrenocorticosteroid products by interrenal tissue.     

M3 muscarinic receptors mediate pepsinogen secretion via polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in guinea pig gastric chief cells.

The muscarinic receptor system involved in pepsinogen secretion from isolated guinea pig gastric chief cells was investigated by evaluating the effect of muscarinic receptor antagonists on carbamylcholine (CCh)-stimulated chief cell responses. CCh stimulated the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositide in chief cells at the same concentrations as it stimulated pepsinogen secretion. Each of five different muscarinic receptor antagonists, atropine, pirenzepine, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP), AF-DX116 and scopolamine, inhibited both pepsinogen secretion and inositol phosphate accumulation stimulated by graded concentrations of CCh. The pA2 values of the antagonists calculated from data on inositol phosphate accumulation and pepsinogen secretion (atropine = scopolamine = 4-DAMP greater than pirenzepine greater than AF-DX116) suggest that the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in gastric chief cells is the M3 subtype. On the other hand, CCh did not affect the adenylate cyclase/cAMP signaling pathway in gastric chief cells. All pA2 values of the antagonists were also in agreement with the Ki values determined by [3H]NMS binding to chief cells. Furthermore, GTP gamma S reduced [3H]acetylcholine binding to chief cell membranes in a concentration-dependent manner. The present study, therefore, suggests that muscarinic M3 receptors, which may be coupled to a G protein, mediate pepsinogen secretion, probably by activation of the polyphosphoinositide second messenger system in guinea pig gastric chief cells.     

5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptor subtypes mediate cholera toxin-induced intestinal fluid secretion in the rat

The mechanisms of diarrhea in Asiatic cholera have been studied extensively. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), prostaglandins, and the function of neuronal structures have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cholera. To elucidate the action of 5-HT in mediating cholera secretion, in vivo experiments were performed in the rat jejunum. The inhibitory effects of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin and the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ICS 205-930 were studied in cholera toxin- and 5-HT-induced fluid secretion. Both ketanserin and ICS 205-930 dose-dependently but only partially reduced the secretory effect of cholera toxin. The combination of the two blockers totally abolished cholera toxin-induced secretion without any influence on cholera toxin-induced increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Prostaglandin E2- and bisacodyl-induced secretion was not affected by the combined administration of 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 antagonists. The present results provide evidence for an important role of 5-HT in cholera toxin-induced secretion. The data suggest a model in which cholera toxin may initiate the release of 5-HT from enterochromaffin cells. 5-Hydroxytryptamine may then cause prostaglandin E2 formation via 5-HT2 receptors and activation of neuronal structures via 5-HT3 receptors. These two effects may finally lead to the profuse fluid secretion which can be totally blocked by the combination of a 5-HT2 blocker and a 5-HT3 blocker.     

Neurokinin 1 and 2 receptors mediate cholera toxin secretion in rat jejunum

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Substance P, a member of the tachykinin family, is a prosecretory neuropeptide distributed widely throughout the enteric nervous system. Implicated in inflammatory states, its role in enterotoxigenic water and electrolyte secretion is unclear. We assessed the effect of substance P antagonists and neurokinin receptor antagonists on cholera toxin-, Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT)-, and heat-stable enterotoxin (STa)-induced water secretion in an in vivo rat jejunal perfusion model. METHODS: Anesthetized adult male Wistar rats were pretreated with substance P antagonists (D-Pro(2), D-Trp(79), substance P, 0.1-3.0 mg/kg; or CP 96,345/4, 0.3-3 mg/kg) or neurokinin (NK)-1 (sendide, 1.0 mg/kg), NK-2 (GR83074, 1.0 mg/kg), or NK-3 ([Trp(7),betaAla(8)]NKA(4-10), 1.0 mg/kg) receptor antagonists. In a subgroup, extrinsic sensory afferents were ablated by pretreatment with capsaicin. Jejunal perfusion, with a plasma electrolyte solution containing a nonabsorbable marker, was undertaken after exposure to cholera toxin (25 microg), LT (25 microg), STa (200 microg/L), or saline. Results: Cholera toxin-induced water and electrolyte secretion was inhibited by the substance P antagonists and the NK-1 and NK-2 receptor antagonists, but not by the NK-3 receptor antagonist or by pretreatment with capsaicin. Neither LT- nor STa-induced secretions were affected by the pretreatments. CONCLUSIONS: Prosecretory pathways involving NK-1 and NK-2 receptors specifically mediate the actions of cholera toxin in the small intestine.     

Role of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptors in the control of prolactin, growth hormone and gonadotropin secretion in prepubertal rats.

Excitatory amino acids, such as glutamate, constitute a major transmitter system in the control of hypothalamic-pituitary secretion. Different subtypes of glutamate receptors, such as NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartic acid) and KA (kainate) receptors, are involved in the control of anterior pituitary secretion. Other receptor subtypes, such as AMPA (activated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid) and metabotropic receptors, have been identified, although their role in the control of neuroendocrine function remains largely unknown. Recent reports have demonstrated the involvement of AMPA receptors in the control of the steroid-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in female and growth hormone (GH) secretion in male rats. The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of AMPA receptors in the control of GH, prolactin (PRL), LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in prepubertal 23-day-old rats. To this end, prepubertal female rats were injected with AMPA (2.5 or 5 mg/kg i.p.) or the antagonist of AMPA receptors 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2, 3-dioxo-benzo (f) quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide (NBQX; 0.25 or 0.50 mg/kg i.p.). Serum LH and FSH concentrations and hypothalamic LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) content remained unchanged after AMPA or NBQX administration. In contrast, serum PRL levels significantly decreased 15, 30 and 60 min after i.p. administration of AMPA and increased 120 min after NBQX treatment, whereas serum GH levels increased after AMPA treatment and decreased after NBQX administration. Considering that AMPA has been shown to activate a subset of kainate receptors, its effects were compared with those elicited by 2.5 mg/kg KA in prepubertal female rats. At this age, however, KA was unable to reproduce the effects of AMPA on PRL and GH secretion, thus suggesting that the actions observed after AMPA administration were carried out specifically through AMPA receptors. In addition, as the effects of AMPA on LH secretion in adult females have been proved to be steroid-dependent, the effects of AMPA (2.5 mg/kg) and NBQX (0.5 mg/kg) were tested in prepubertal animals with different gonadal backgrounds, i.e. intact males, and intact and ovariectomized (OVX) females. The effects of AMPA in prepubertal females appeared to be modulated by ovarian secretion, as the inhibition of PRL secretion disappeared and LH secretion was partially suppressed by AMPA in OVX animals whereas the stimulatory effect on GH release was enhanced by ovariectomy. Furthermore, in male rats, AMPA administration significantly decreased PRL secretion and increased serum GH levels, the amplitude of the GH response being higher than in prepubertal females. To ascertain the pituitary component for the reported actions of AMPA, hemi-pituitaries of male rats were incubated in the presence of AMPA (10(-8)-10(-6) M). The results obtained showed no effect of AMPA on PRL, GH and gonadotropin secretion in vitro. Finally, we investigated the involvement of the dopaminergic (DA) system in the inhibitory action of AMPA on PRL secretion. Pre-treatment of prepubertal female rats with a dopamine receptor antagonist (domperidone: 1 mg/kg) resulted in the blockage of AMPA-mediated inhibition of PRL secretion, thus suggesting that this action is probably mediated by an increase in DA activity. In conclusion, we provide evidence for the physiological role of AMPA receptors in the control of PRL and GH secretion in prepubertal rats. In contrast, our data cast doubts on the involvement of AMPA receptors in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion at this age. The effects of AMPA reported herein were not mediated through activation of kainate receptors and were probably exerted at the hypothalamic or suprahypothalamic levels. In addition, we show that ovarian secretion actively modulates the effects of AMPA receptor activation on anterior pituitary secretion in prepubertal female rats.     

5-HT7 receptors mediate dilation of rat cremaster muscle arterioles in vivo

Objective

Serotonin (5-HT) infusion in vivo causes hypotension and a fall in total peripheral resistance. However, the vascular segment and the receptors that mediate this response remain in question. We hypothesized that 5-HT₇ receptors mediate arteriolar dilation to 5-HT in skeletal muscle microcirculation.

Methods

Cremaster muscles of isoflurane-anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared for in vivo microscopy of third- and fourth-order arterioles and superfused with physiological salt solution at 34°C. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was applied to pooled samples of first- to third-order cremaster arterioles (2–4 rats/sample) to evaluate 5-HT₇ receptor expression.

Results

Topical 5-HT (1–10 nmols) or the 5-HT_1/7 receptor agonist, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (10–30 nM), dilated third- and fourth-order arterioles, responses that were abolished by 1 μM SB269970, a selective 5-HT₇ receptor antagonist. In contrast, dilation induced by the muscarinic agonist, methacholine (100 nmols) was not inhibited by SB269970. Serotonin (10 nmols) failed to dilate cremaster arterioles in 5-HT₇ receptor knockout rats whereas arterioles in wild-type litter mates dilated to 1 nmol 5-HT, a response blocked by 1 μM SB269970. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that cremaster arterioles expressed mRNA for 5-HT₇ receptors.

Conclusions

5-HT₇ receptors mediate dilation of small arterioles in skeletal muscle and likely contribute to 5-HT-induced hypotension, in vivo.     

Characteristics of the receptors which mediate the stimulation of ACTH secretion by vasopressin in conscious dogs

In order to characterize the receptors which mediate the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response to vasopressin in conscious animals, plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteroid concentration was measured in conscious dogs during the infusion of vasopressin or structural analogs of vasopressin which exhibit selective antidiuretic or vasoconstrictor activity. Vasopressin (1.0 ng/kg/min for 60 min) increased mean arterial pressure, decreased heart rate and increased plasma corticosteroid concentration from 1.0 +/- 0.2 to 2.2 +/- 0.2 micrograms/dl (p less than 0.001). A specific antagonist of the vasoconstrictor activity of vasopressin, d(CH2)5MeTyrAVP (10 micrograms/kg), completely blocked the cardiovascular and corticosteroid responses to vasopressin. A selective vasoconstrictor (V1) agonist, PheOrnOT (1.0 ng/kg/min), which produced the same cardiovascular responses as vasopressin, increased plasma corticosteroid concentration from 1.1 +/- 0.1 to 2.9 +/- 0.9 micrograms/dl (p less than 0.005). In marked contrast, a selective antidiuretic (V2) agonist, dDAVP (1.0 ng/kg/min) had no effect on blood pressure, heart rate or plasma corticosteroid concentration. These results indicate that the stimulation of ACTH release by vasopressin in conscious dogs is mediated by receptors which resemble vasoconstrictor-type (V1) receptors rather than antidiuretic-type (V2) receptors.