Selective inhibition by amezinium of intraneuronal monoamine oxidase

Summary Intra- and extraneuronal compartments of rat hearts were selectively labelled by perfusion with ³H-noradrenaline in the presence of corticosterone 87 M or cocaine 30 M, respectively. The subsequent outflow of ³H-compounds was examined. As little as 1 nM amezinium diminished the outflow of intraneuronally formed ³H-DOPEG. This effect was antagonized by cocaine. Amezinium 1 M was necessary to diminish the outflow of extraneuronally formed ³H-DOPEG. This effect was not counteracted by corticosterone. The results indicate that amezinium is both a potent and, at low concentrations, selective inhibitor of intraneuronal MAO.Abbreviations used DOMA 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol - MAO monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4) - NA noradrenaline - NMN normetanephrine - OMDA O-methylated deaminated metabolites     

Uptake and metabolism of 3H-adrenaline and 3H-noradrenaline by isolated hepatocytes and liver slices of the rat

Summary Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with 0.05 mol/l or 0.2 mol/l ³H-(–)-noradrenaline or 0.05 mol/l ³H-(–)-adrenaline for 15 min and the content of amines as well as the formation of metabolites was measured.The removal Of both amines from the incubation medium was quantitatively similar, and mainly due to metabolism (which represented 96% of the removal of ³H-adrenaline and 98% of the removal of ³H-noradrenaline). O-methylation predominated for ³H-adrenaline: O-methylated and deaminated metabolites (³H-OMDA) and ³H-metanephrine (³H-MN) were the most abundant metabolites, accounting for 63% and 34% of total metabolite formation, respectively. Deamination predominated for ³H-noradrenaline: ³H-OMDA and ³H-dihydroxymandelic acid (³H-DOMA) were the most abundant metabolites, representing respectively 56% and 36% of total metabolite formation. The following activities of monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase were determined for ³H-noradrenaline: k_COMT 0.70±0.15 min^–1 and k_MAO 2.27±0.14 min^–1 In experiments with ³H-noradrenaline, inhibition of monoamine oxidase reduced the formation of ³H-OMDA and deaminated metabolites [³H-dihydroxyphenylglycol (³H-DOPEG) and ³H-DOMA] and increased the formation of ³H-normetanephrine (³H-NMN). Inhibition of catechol-O-methyl transferase, On the Other hand, decreased ³H-NMN and increased ³H-DOPEG formation. When both enzymes were inhibited, the formation of all metabolites was strongly reduced but surprisingly there was no accumulation of ³H-amines in the cells, as the cell: medium ratio for ³H-noradrenaline or ³H-adrenaline was about unity. In experiments with either ³H-noradrenaline or ³H-adrenaline, specific inhibitors of either uptake, or uptake₂ produced discrete effects, slightly decreasing the formation of ³H-OMDA and ³H-NMN or ³H-MN, and having no effect on ³H-amine content of the cells. Additional experiments were carried Out with rat liver slices incubated for 15 min with ³H-noradrenaline 0.2 mol/l. The pattern of metabolism of ³H-noradrenaline (³H-OMDA and ³H-DOMA were the most abundant metabolites) as well as the degree of metabolism of the amine removed from the incubation medium (91% of the removal) were similar to those of the isolated cells. Likewise, there was no accumulation of intact ³H-noradrenaline in the tissue. Moreover, the results obtained with enzyme inhibitors as wells as with uptake inhibitors were similar to those obtained with hepatocytes.In conclusion, isolated hepatocytes remove and metabolize catecholamines very efficiently, being one of the most active systems studied in this respect. Uptake₁ and uptake₂ are responsible for part of the removal of catecholamines by hepatocytes; the system(s) involved in the remaining removal seem(s) to be active, but possess(es) characteristics that do not allow us to characterize it (them) either as uptake₁ or uptake₂.Abbreviations COMT catechol-O-methyl transferase - DOMA 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol - HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid - MAO monoamine oxidase - MN metanephrine - NMN normetanephrine - OMDA O-methylated and deaminated metabolites (i.e., MOPEG = 4hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol and VMA = 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid) Supported by Programa STRIDE (STRDA/P/SAU/259/92)PhD student with a grant from JNICT (Programa Ciência) Correspondence to: F. Martel at the above address     

Prejunctional effects of a purified toxin from the scorpion Tityus serrulatus

Summary The effects of a purified fraction of the venom of the Brazilian scorpion, Tityus serrulatus, were studied in isolated guinea-pig atria previously labelled with ³H-noradrenaline. Exposure to 0.3 and 1.0 /ml of the scorpion toxin resulted in a long lasting positive chronotropic effect which was concentration-dependent. The increase in atrial rate coincided with an enhancement in spontaneous outflow of radioactivity. The increase in outflow of radioactive products elicited by exposure to 1.0 g/ml of the scorpion toxin was approximately 3-fold. ³H-noradrenaline accounted for 60% of the total increase in outflow of radioactivity elicited by the scorpion toxin and the ³H-deaminated glycol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol) represented the main metabolite formed, accounting for approximately 35% of the total release. 20 min after exposure to 1.0 g/ml of the scorpion toxin the overflow of the labelled transmitter elicited by accelerans nerve stimulation (4 Hz, during 60 sec, supramaximal voltage) was increased 8-fold. This effect of the scorpion toxin appears to be unrelated to inhibition of neuronal uptake, block of -adrenoceptors or stimulation of -adrenoceptors. Consequently, in addition to releasing noradrenaline, the scorpion toxin enhances transmitter overflow elicited by nerve stimulation through a prejunctional effect which appears to reflect a nove mechanism of action.     

Evidence for uptake2-mediated O-methylation of noradrenaline in the human amnion FL cell-line

Summary The uptake and metabolism of ³H-noradrenaline has been examined in the FL cell-line derived originally from human amnion. Cell cultures metabolised ³H-noradrenaline (1.0 mol/l) to ³H-normetanephrine and, to a lesser extent, to metabolites (not distinguished) of the O-methylated deaminated fraction; primary deaminated metabolites were not detected. ³(H-normetanephrine formation a) was not saturable in the noradrenaline concentration range 0.2–150 mol/l, b was decreased to 20%–30% of control levels by uptake₂ inhibitors (O-methylisoprenaline, 20 and 100 mol/l; cimetidine, 10 mol/l; hydrocortisone, 200 mol/l) and c, was almost insensitive to uptake₁ inhibitors (cocaine, 30 mol/l; desipramine, 3 mol/l).Uptake of noradrenaline was manifested after 30 minutes as a 6-fold increase in the cell content of the amine following inhibition of catechol-O-methyl transferase, either alone or in conjunction with inhibition of monoamine oxidase. Uptake was decreased maximally to 40% of control levels by O-methylisoprenaline. IC₅₀ values for inhibition of the O-methylisoprenaline-sensitive component of uptake were (in mol/l): corticosterone (0.3), papaverine (1.1), O-methylisoprenaline (3.0), cimetidine (6.0), (–)noradrenaline (460), and tetraethylammonium (2230). Except for the last agent, for which a comparative value is not available, the IC₅₀'s are in good agreement with those for inhibition of uptake₂ in the Caki-1 cell-line reported by other investigators.The component of uptake resistant to O-methylisoprenaline was depressed by papaverine (a 50% decrease at 50 mol/l), but was not affected by the other uptake₂ inhibitors or by cocaine (30 mol/l).It is concluded that the FL cell possesses an extraneuronal metabolising system very similar to the system in tissues such as heart and smooth muscle where transport of noradrenaline into the cell by uptake₂ is followed by rapid O-methylation via catechol-O-methyl transferase. The only difference appears to be the absence of saturation of ³H-normetanephrine formation in the FL cell at low micromolar concentrations of ³H-noradrenaline. The presence of a second uptake process is suggested by the inhibitory effect of papaverine on uptake resistant to O-methylisoprenaline; lack of effect of cocaine implies that this second process is not uptake,.Abbreviations COMT catechol-O-methyl transferase - DOMA dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol - MAO monoamine oxidase - NMN normetanephrine - OMDA O-methylated and deaminated metabolite fraction - OMI 3-O-methylisoprenaline - TEA tetraethylammonium Correspondence to I. S. de la Lande at the above address     

Evidence for the presynaptic location of the alpha-adrenoceptors which regulate noradrenaline release in the rat submaxillary gland

Summary Fifteen days after duct ligation, the wet weight of the rat submaxillary gland was reduced to 40% of the contralateral control. Under these experimental conditions, the noradrenaline (NA) content expressed as g/g was 1.2±0.1 in the control glands and 1.9±0.2 in the atrophied glands.The accumulation of ³H-NA in the tissue expressed as Ci/gland, did not differ when the atrophied glands were compared with the corresponding controls. Consequently, the uptake and retention of ³H-NA was not modified by the atrophy of the secretory cells of the gland.The spontaneous efflux of radioactivity from normal and atrophied submaxillary glands prelabelled with ³H-NA was similar. The analysis of the metabolic pattern in both experimental groups revealed that in the spontaneous outflow and also during potassium-induced depolarization, the formation of the O-methylated metabolite, ³H-normetanephrine (NMN) was reduced by more than 50% in the atrophied glands. During depolarization induced by K⁺, a 2-fold increase in the outflow of the deaminated glycol ³H-3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) was observed.The effect of phentolamine on the release of radioactivity induced by 60 mM K⁺ in normal and in atrophied submaxillary gland slices prelabelled with ³H-NA was also investigated. In both experimental groups, the fractional release of total radioactivity induced by K⁺ was similar. Phentolamine, 3.1 M, produced a 3-fold increase in the fractional release of radioactivity both in the control and the atrophied glands. These results indicate that the increase of K⁺-induced release of ³H-NA induced by phentolamine was independent of the presence or absence of the postsynaptic structures. It is concluded that phentolamine increases transmitter release by blocking alpha-adrenoceptors located in the noradrenergic nerve endings of the rat submaxillary gland.     

Selective inhibition by hydrocortisone of 3H-normetanephrine formation during 3H-transmitter release elicited by nerve stimulation in the isolated nerve-muscle preparation of the cat nictitating membrane

Summary The metabolism of ³H-noradrenaline released by nerve stimulation in the isolated nerve-muscle preparation of the cat nictitating membrane was determined under control conditions and in the presence of hydrocortisone, 28 M, a concentration which inhibits the high affinity extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline in this tissue. in the controls the main fraction in the overflow elicited by stimulation at 10 Hz during 2 min was the deaminated glycol, ³H-DOPEG (3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol), which accounted for 45.2±2.96% of the total radioactivity. Under these conditions, ³H-noradrenaline represented 30.8±1.92%, while ³H-normetanephrine accounted for 14.5±0.94% of the total overflow of radioactivity. During exposure to hydrocortisone there was a selective inhibition in ³H-normetanephrine formation from ³H-noradrenaline released by stimulation while the other fractions were not affected significantly. In contrast to these results, there were no changes in the spontaneous outflow of ³H-normetanephrine during exposure to hydrocortisone. The results obtained support the view that ³H-normetanephrine in sponteneous release originates from the activity of prejunctional catechol-O-methyltransferase. On the other hand, ³H-normetanephrine formed during transmitter release elicited by nerve stimulation is due to the activity of extraneuronal catechol-O-methyltransferase. Access of ³H-noradrenaline released by nerve stimulation to extraneuronal catechol-O-methyltransferase is mediated through the high-affinity, hydrocortisone-sensitive extraneuronal uptake mechanism.     

Characteristics of the cocaine-sensitive accumulation and O-methylation of 3H-(−)-noradrenaline by rabbit endometrium

Summary 1. The extraneuronal uptake and O-methylation of 2,5,6 ³H-(–)-noradrenaline was studied in segments of uterine endometrium from rabbits pretreated with 17-oestradiol and progesterone. 2. The uptake of ³H-noradrenaline was measured in MAO- and COMT-inhibited tissues and obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent K _m of 78 mol/1 and a V _max of 5.4 nmol/g min. Uptake was inhibited by low Na⁺ and by potential substrates in the order dopamine > (–)adrenaline > (–)isoprenaline = 5-hydroxytryptamine. 3. Following uptake at 1.2 mol/1, efflux of ³H-noradrenaline was slow and appeared to be from two compartments, of which the first (I) had a t1/2 of 53 min and a capacity of 1.8 nmol/g. The presence of the second compartment (II) was inferred from the tissue content of ³H after 60 min of efflux, which was 3–4 times greater than predicted if the ³H was present in compartment I only. Following incubation with ³H-noradrenaline in the presence of cocaine 30 mol/1 the ³H efflux was rapid and the combined capacities of compartments I and II were greatly decreased. 4. ³H-NMN formation, measured in MAO-inhibited tissues, obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a half-saturating outside concentration of 12 mol/1 and a V _max of 0.9 nmol/g · min. The formation was inhibited by the neuronal uptake inhibitors, desipramine 3 mol/1 and metaraminol 100 mol/1 (each by 80%), but was unaffected by the extraneuronal uptake inhibitor, NMN 100 mol/1, and by oxytetracycline 100 mol/1 and methoxamine 10 mol/1. 5. ³H-NMN formation was inhibited to a small extent (by 30%) by hydrocortisone in a concentration which inhibited ³H-NMN formation in the myometrium by 84%. 6. It is concluded that the extraneuronal uptake of exogenous noradrenaline in the endometrium (a) resembles uptake in sympathetic nerves in its sensitivities to sodium ions and uptake inhibitors, and (b) resembles corticosteroid-sensitive extraneuronal uptake in that it has a low affinity for noradrenaline, but is linked with O-methylation in a fashion which renders uptake and O-methylation a relatively high-affinity, low-capacity system for removing noradrenaline.Abbreviations DOMA 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol - COMT catechol-O-methyl transferase - MAO monoamine oxidase - NMN normetanephrine - U-0521 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methyl propiophenone Send offprint requests to J. A. Kennedy at the above address     

Accumulation of 3H-(±)-noradrenaline by isolated rat liver cells

Summary Using hepatocytes isolated by collagenase perfusion, we studied the accumulation of ³-noradrenaline. Cells incubated during 15 min in the presence of 0.4 mol/l ³H-noradrenaline (without inhibition of noradrenaline metabolism) accumulated 8.32 ± 1.77 pmol/10⁶ cells (n = 3). The accumulation of ³H-noradrenaline in isolated parenchymal liver cells was sensitive to 10 mol/l cocaine (inhibition 36.6 ± 7.9%, n = 3) and 1 mol/l desipramine (inhibition 27.2 ± 6.9, n = 3). Accumulation of ³H-noradrenaline was temperature and sodium dependent (inhibition 33.2 ± 9.4%, n = 9, when Na⁺ was replaced by Tris⁺) and was influenced by the inhibition of the membrane Na⁺-K⁺-adenosine triphosphatase (Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase) by 150 mol/l ouabain (34.7 ± 6.9% inhibition, n = 3). Accumulation of 3H-noradrenaline in the hepatocytes was not affected by the presence of uptake₂ inhibitors, normetanephrine (30 mol/l) and corticosterone (30 mol/l), but was reduced by 30 mol/l isoprenaline (76.3 ± 5.0% inhibition, n = 6). Thus, the system that takes up and accumulates noradrenaline in the isolated rat liver cells possesses some characteristics of both, uptake₁ and uptake₂ systems and appears to be different from other extraneuronal cocaine-sensitive systems, such as the one reported for pulmonary endothelial cells. Send offprint request to M. I. Masana at the above address     

Early intraneuronal mobilization and deamination of noradrenaline during global ischemia in the isolated perfused rat heart

Summary Isolated rat hearts were perfused according to the Langendorff technique and both extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline and COMT were inhibited. The noradrenergic neurones were first prelabelled with ³H-(–)-noradrenaline (13 nmol/1). Thereafter the hearts were submitted to global ischemia (perfusion rate reduced from 5 up to 0.5 ml/min) for 60 min and subsequently reperfused for 5 min. The coronary effluent was continuously collected and analyzed for the appearance of ³H-noradrenaline and its metabolites. 1. Global ischemia was associated with an early release of ³H-noradrenaline. At reperfusion a brisk increase in the FRL of ³H-noradrenaline was observed which may indicate that, on severe restriction in coronary flow, perfusion of the tissue became heterogenous and thus partially masked the amount of ³H-noradrenaline released from the noradrenergic nerve terminals. Gradual reduction in coronary flow also progressively reduced (but did not abolish) the total formation of ³H-DOPEG. 2. The maximal efflux of ³H-noradrenaline was observed during the 1st min of reperfusion whereafter the efflux declined rapidly, indicating a wash-out of transmitter trapped in the extracellular space. The efflux of the lipophilic metabolite ³H-DOPEG, on the other hand, continuously increased during the reperfusion. This was due to both new formation and wash-out of ³H-DOPEG retained and/or distributed into the tissue during the period of restricted flow. 3. Neither a reduction of the extracellular calcium concentration (from 2.6 mmol/l to 0.1 mmol/1) nor the presence of the calcium entry blocker verapamil (250 nmol/l) reduced the efflux of ³H-noradrenaline seen during ischemia and reperfusion. 4. Desipramine (100 nmol/l) markedly reduced the ischemia-induced release of ³H-noradrenaline and simultaneously attenuated the formation of ³H-DOPEG. 5. A moderate reduction in the ischemia-induced mobilization of ³H-noradrenaline was seen in hearts perfused with 1ol/l reserpine, whereas the formation of ³H-DOPEG from such hearts was markedly higher than in corresponding controls. Only minor deviations from this pattern was observed when desipramine was present in addition to reserpine. It is concluded that a severe restriction in myocardial perfusion rate is associated with an enhanced net leakage of vesicular noradrenaline. This results in a rise of the free axoplasmic noradrenaline concentration which, in combination with an altered transmembrane sodium gradient, induces an increased local release of noradrenaline partly mediated by a calcium-independent, carrier-mediated outward transport. Desipramine, which inhibits this transport mechanism, may have, in addition to its effect on the membrane carrier, an additional effect in reducing the net leakage of transmitter from storage vesicles. Furthermore, despite severe restriction in coronary flow, and thus oxygen delivery, DOPEG is still formed, possibly as a consequence of the elevated axoplasmic noradrenaline concentration which may in part compensate for a reduced monoamineoxidase activity.Abbreviations DOPEG dihydroxyphenylglycol - DOMA dihydroxymandelic acid - MAO monoamineoxidase - COMT catechol-O-methyltransferase - OMI 3-O-methoxy-(±)-isoprenaline - FRL fractional rate of loss This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Gr 490/5-1) and AB Hässle, Mölndal, Sweden     

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     

Possible physiological significance of the initial step in the catabolism of noradrenaline in the central nervous system of the rat

Summary The hypothalamus, the cerebral cortex and the cerebellar cortex of the rat were labelled in vitro with ³H-noradrenaline (³H-NA) and the metabolism of the tritiated transmitter was studied during spontaneous outflow and under conditions of release elicited by exposure to 20 mM K⁺.In the three areas of the central nervous system of the rat, ³H-NA accounted for approximately 40% of the total radioactivity in spontaneous outflow while the ³H-O-methylated deaminated fraction (³H-OMDA) and ³H-3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (³H-DOPEG) were the main metabolites. Exposure to the reserpine-like agent, Ro 4-1284 induced a selective increase in the spontaneous outflow of ³H-DOPEG, while the contribution of the ³H-OMDA metabolites to the release induced by Ro 4-1284 was very small.During ³H-transmitter release elicited by exposure to 20 mM K⁺, approximately 80% of the radioactivity was collected as unmetabolized ³H-NA, while ³H-DOPEG was the main metabolite formed under these experimental conditions. Exposure to cocaine prevented ³H-DOPEG formation from ³H-NA released by K⁺, indicating that ³H-DOPEG was formed after neuronal reuptake of the transmitter released by K⁺.After in vitro labelling with ³H-NA, the unmetabolized transmitter represented approximately 70% of the total radioactivity retained in the tissue. However, when ³H-NA was administered in vivo, by intraventricular injection, only 30% of the total radioactivity retained by the tissue was accounted for by ³H-NA, and 60% of the radioactivity corresponded to the ³H-OMDA fraction, most of which was retained as ³H-MOPEG sulfate.When the rats were pretreated with pyrogallol, free ³H-DOPEG accounted for nearly 50% of the radioactivity retained in the three areas of the central nervous system after in vivo labelling with ³H-NA. When monoamine oxidase was inhibited by pargyline and ³H-NA was administered by intraventricular injection, ³H-NMN accounted for approximately 50% of the total radioactivity retained in the three areas of the central nervous system of the rat.The results obtained are compatible with the view that formation of the deamined glycol is the first step in the metabolism of ³H-NA in the rat central nervous system. In addition, it is concluded that the determination of the levels of some NA metabolites retained in the central nervous system does not necessarily represent an accurate reflection of the degree of central noradrenergic activity or of selective metabolic pathways. Consequently, in studies on the metabolism of NA it is important to take into account not only the transmitter and its metabolites in the tissue but also in the outflow from the structures studied either under in vivo or in vitro conditions.     

Noradrenaline release from rat sympathetic neurons evoked by P2-purinoceptor activation

The effects of ATP and analogues on the release of previously incorporated ³H-noradrenaline were studied in cultured sympathetic neurons derived from superior cervical ganglia of neonatal rats. Electrical field stimulation (40 mA at 3 Hz) of the neurons for 10 s markedly enhanced the outflow of tritium. ATP applied for 5 s to 2 min at concentrations of 0.01 to 1 mmol/l caused a time- and concentration-dependent overflow with half maximal effects at about 10 s and 100 mol/l, respectively. 2-Methylthio-ATP was equipotent to ATP in inducing ³H-overflow. ADP (100 mol/l), when applied for 2 min, also caused a small ³H-overflow, but , -methylene-ATP (100 mol/l), AMP (100 mol/l), R(–)N⁶-(2-phenylsiopropyl)-adenosine (R(–)-PIA; 10 mol/l) and 5-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA; 1 mol/l) did not. The ³H-overflow induced by 10 s applications of 100 mol/l ATP was abolished by suramin (100 mol/l) and reduced by about 70% by reactive blue 2 (3 mol/l). Electrically evoked overflow, in contrast, was slightly enhanced by suramin, but not modified by reactive blue 2. Xanthine amine congener (10 mol/l) and hexamethonium (10 mol/l) did not alter ATP-evoked release. Removal of extracellular Ca²⁺ from the medium reduced ATP- and electrically induced overflow by about 95%. Tetrodotoxin (1 mol/l) abolished electrically evoked ³H-overflow but inhibited ATP-induced overflow by only 70%. The ₂-adrenoceptor agonist UK 14,304 at a concentration of 1 mol/l diminished both electrically and ATP-evoked tritium overflow by approximately 70%. These results indicate that activation of P₂-purinoceptors stimulates noradrenaline release from rat sympathetic neurons. The release resembles electrically induced transmitter release, but additional mechanisms may contribute. Correspondence to: S. Boehm at the above address     

Metabolism of endogenous and exogenous noradrenaline in the rabbit perfused heart

Summary The outflow of noradrenaline, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) and 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DOMA) from rabbit perfused hearts was studied by chromatography on alumina followed by high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. In the absence of drugs and without nerve stimulation, the outflow of endogenous noradrenaline over a period of 108 min averaged 0.17 pmol×g^–1×min^–1 and the outflow of DOPEG 2.1 pmol×g^–1×min^–1. The outflow of DOMA was below the detection limit (<0.13 pmol×g^–1×min^–1). The effect of perfusion with (–)-noradrenaline 0.1, 1 or 10 mol/l for 18 min was then investigated. As the concentration of noradrenaline increased so did the outflow of DOPEG. Moreover, DOMA was found in the venous effluent during and after perfusion with noradrenaline 1 or 10 mol/l. The increase in the outflow of DOPEG and DOMA was almost abolished when cocaine 10 mol/l was present during the perfusion with noradrenaline 1 mol/l. The release of endogenous noradrenaline by sympathetic nerve stimulation or tyramine 10 mol/l, but not the release evoked by nicotine 30 mol/l, was accompanied by an increase in the outflow of DOPEG; an outflow of DOMA was not observed.It is concluded that, in the rabbit perfused heart, DOPEG is an important metabolite of endogenous noradrenaline. DOMA is at best a minor product, either when the neurones are at rest or when noradrenaline is released by sympathetic nerve stimulation, nicotine or tyramine. DOMA is formed in detectable amounts when the tissue is exposed to a high concentration of exogenous noradrenaline. Like DOPEG, it is formed intraneuronally. The results confirm and extend those obtained previously on guinea-pig incubated atria. They make it unlikely that, in these tissues at least, DOMA formation is one of the physiological pathways of noradrenaline catabolism.     

Influence of N-allyl-normetazocine on acetylcholine release from brain slices: involvement of muscarinic receptors

Summary The effects of (±)N-allyl-normetazocine on the release of acetylcholine from different areas of guinea-pig and rat brain were investigated. 1. The drug did not modify the electrically (2 Hz) evoked tritium efflux from guinea-pig cerebral cortex, thalamus and caudate nucleus slices, preloaded with ³H-choline 0.1 mol/l and superfused with Krebs solution containing hemicholinium-3 10 mol/l. 2. (±)N-allyl-normetazocine 10 mol/l. enhanced the evoked ³H efflux from guinea-pig brain slices superfused with Krebs solution containing physostigmine 30 mol/l or oxotremorine 0.3 -1 gmol/l; the effect was naloxone-insensitive and was abolished by atropine 0.15 mol/l, but not by pirenzepine 1 mol/l. 3. (±)N-allyl-normetazocine 5 mol/l enhanced the electrically evoked release of endogenous acetylcholine as well, in a naloxone-insensitive way. 4. Both (±) and (+)N-allyl-normetazocine were without effect on ³H efflux from rat caudate nucleus slices electrically stimulated at 0.2 Hz frequency, after preloading with ³H-choline and during superfusion with hemicholinium-3. 5. The results are discussed in view of the antimuscarinic properties of the drug. Send offprint requests to A. Siniscalchi     

Release and disposition of 3H-noradrenaline in the saphenous vein of neonate and adult dogs

Summary Release of ³H-noradrenaline and formation of ³H-metabolites were studied in the saphenous vein of newborn (mean age, 18 h) and adult dogs. Vein strips were incubated with 0.23 mol/l of ³H-noradrenaline during 1 h and washed out for 110 min; thereafter, the perifusion fluid was collected in 5-min samples. Electrical stimulation was applied at 120 min (1 Hz, 2 ms, 100 V, for 5 min). In some experiments the tissues were preincubated with 1 mmol/l pargyline (to inhibit monoamine oxidase). In these experiments, 12 mol/l cocaine (to inhibit uptake₁), 41 mol/l hydrocortisone (to reduce uptake₂) and 50 mol/l U-0521 (to inhibit COMT) were present during the perifusion. ³H-noradrenaline, ³H-DOPEG, ³H-NMN, ³H-DOMA and ³H-OMDA were separated by column chromatography. The noradrenaline content of the tissue was estimated by HPLC followed by electrochemical detection. A morphological study was also carried out by light and electron microscopy.The endogenous noradrenaline content of the saphenous vein was 4.3 times higher in adults than in neonates. The number of varicosities was similar in adults and newborns but the number of vesicles per varicosity profile was 5 times higher in adults. Hence, the endogenous noradrenaline content per vesicle was about the same in adults and newborns. The accumulation of ³H-noradrenaline per vesicle was about 5 times higher in newborns than in adults. On the other hand, the vein wall media of neonates was about 3 times thinner than that of adults. The evoked fractional release of tritium was about 10 times higher in neonates than in adults, whether the inactivation pathways were blocked or not. This difference in the evoked fractional release therefore cannot be ascribed to any difference in the efficacy of the inactivation pathways between neonates and adults. On the other hand, the difference also cannot be ascribed to a different alpha₂-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of ³H-noradrenaline release since, as previously shown, this mechanism is as effective in newborns as in adults.It is concluded that the evoked fractional release of ³H-noradrenaline is higher in neonates than in adults because in neonates the majority of varicosities (and vesicles) is situated closer to the surface of the tissue such that both uptake from the surrounding media into the stores and release from the stores into the surrounding media become easier in the neonates.Abbreviations COMT catechol-O-methyl transferase - DOMA 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography - MAO monoamine oxidase - NMN normetanephrine - OMDA 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MOPEG) plus 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (VMA) - U-0521 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methyl propiophenone Correspondence to D. Moura at the above address     

β-Endorphin-(1-27) is a naturally occurring antagonist of the reinforcing effects of opioids

Summary The influence of inhibitors of metabolism and uptake of noradrenaline on the ³H-noradrenaline removal from the perfusion fluid by the isolated rat liver was studied. Livers were perfused with 3 nmol/l ³H-noradrenaline and ³H-noradrenaline and ³H-metabolites were determined in effluent, liver and bile. After the perfusion with 14,900 ±920 dpm · g^–1 · min^–1 during 90 min, cumulative removal of tritium was 323,574 ± 63,103 dpm/g. ³H-metabolites recovered from the liver after 90 min perfusion represented 71.1 ± 9.0% of total metabolite formation. Only the OMDA-fraction appeared in the perfusate; its approach to steady state of efflux was slow. The inhibition either of MAO or COMT changed neither the total removal of tritium nor the ³H-metabolites recovered from the liver. Cocaine (10 mol/l) reduced the accumulation of ³H-noradrenaline in the liver. The uptake₂ inhibitor corticosterone (30 mol/l) diminished total removal of tritium and the ³H-metabolites recovered from the liver without changing the accumulation of ³H-noradrenaline. The hypothesis of two different compartments, one responsible for the metabolism and the other for the accumulation of the amine is discussed.Abbreviations NA noradrenaline - NMN normetanephrine - OMDA O-methylated deaminated metabolites - MAO monoamine oxidase - COMT catechol-O-methyl transferase Send offprint requests to M. C. Rubio     

Nicotine receptors do not modulate the 3H-Noradrenaline release from the isolated rat heart evoked by sympathetic nerve stimulation

Summary Isolated rat hearts with the right sympathetic nerves attached were perfused at a constant flow rate of 7 ml/min with Tyrode's solution. (-)-³H-Noradrenaline (final concentration 10–13.9 nM) was infused for 10 min to label the noradrenaline stores. After wash-out the sympathetic nerves were stimulated electrically (3 Hz, 180 impulses, 1 ms, 20–30 mA) three times (S1–S3) at intervals of 15 min. ³H-Noradrenaline and its metabolites were determined by liquid scintillation counting according to Graefe et al. (1973).Both, nicotine 50 M and p-aminophenethyltrimethylammonium (PAPETA) 30 M, enhanced the ³H-noradrenaline overflow in the absence of nerve stimulation. The effect of PAPETA was biphasic and was still observed in the presence of N-methylatropine 0.1 M. Hexamethonium 10 M abolished the first phase only, but cocaine 10 M antagonized both phases.The decline of the stimulation-evoked overflow of ³H-noradrenaline from the first to the third stimulation period was similar in the absence and in the presence of cocaine 10 M starting before S1 and perfused throughout. Cocaine 10 M added before S2, however, enhanced the evoked overflow by 77%.PAPETA 30 M increased the stimulation-evoked overflow by 67% in the absence, and by 73% of the respective control in the presence, of hexamethonium 10 M. PAPETA 30 M failed to enhance the evoked overflow in the presence of cocaine. Hexamethonium (added before S2) did not modify the effectiveness of nerve stimulation.Nicotine, neither when perfused from 6 min before S2, nor when added to the perfusion fluid simultaneously with the onset of nerve stimulation, caused changes in the ³H-noradrenaline output upon S2.Upon stimulation a rather discrete increase in ³H-DOPEG overflow was observed. This increase was abolished by cocaine and/or PAPETA.It is concluded that nicotine and PAPETA stimulate the output of ³H-noradrenaline from the rat heart sympathetic nerves by activation of nicotine receptors. However, the amount of transmitter released is small. Neither drug appeared to modulate the output of ³H-noradrenaline upon electrical nerve stimulation via nicotine receptors.PAPETA, like cocaine, appears to block the reuptake of released transmittsrs thereby enhancing the ³H-noradrenaline overflow and reducing the overflow of ³H-DOPEG (formed intraneuronally from recaptured noradrenaline after nerve stimulation).Abbreviations used DOMA 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol - MOPEG 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol - NA noradrenaline - NMN normetanephrine - OMDA O-methylated deaminated metabolites (sum of MOPEG and VMA) - PAPETA p-aminophenethyltrimethylammonium - VMA 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid     

Interactions of methylenedioxymethamphetamine with monoamine transmitter release mechanisms in rat brain slices

Summary This study investigates the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and amphetamine on monoamine release from rat superfused brain slices in both the presence and absence of vesicular stores of transmitter. MDMA caused the release of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine, [³H]noradrenaline or [³H]dopamine with EC₅₀ values of 1.9 mol/l (95% confidence limits 1.5–2.3 mol/l), 4.5 mol/l (2.3–8.7 mol/l), and greater than 30 mol/l, respectively. In contrast, amphetamine (0.1–300 mol/l) was more effective in releasing radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]dopamine than [³H]noradrenaline or [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine. When Ca²⁺ was excluded from the superfusion fluid, the MDMA induced release of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]dopamine was unaltered, but that from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline or [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine was enhanced. MDMA (10 mol/l) facilitated the stimulation-induced (5 Hz, 1 min) outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline or [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine to 7.5-fold and 2.1-fold of control values, respectively, but had no effect on that from slices incubated with [³H]dopamine. Amphetamine (1 mol/l) increased the stimulation-induced outflow from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline, but not that from slices incubated with [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [³H]dopamine.Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by a 30-min incubation with pargyline (100 mol/l) enhanced the releasing action of MDMA on all three monoamines. Pargyline (100 mol/l) also enhanced the facilitation caused by MDMA, of the stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline, [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [³H]dopamine.In some experiments, slices were obtained from reserpinised rats (2.5 mg/kg s.c. 24 h prior) and pre-exposed for 30 min to the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline (100 mol/l). Under these conditions, electrical stimulation evoked a small residual stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline, and failed to evoke an outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine or [³H]dopamine. However, a Ca²⁺-dependent stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity was evoked in the presence of either MDMA (10 mol/l) or amphetamine (1 mol/l) from slices incubated with either [³H]dopamine or [³H]noradrenaline, but not from slices incubated with [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine. The stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline was enhanced in the presence of desipramine (1 mol/l), however this enhancement was less than that caused by 10 mol/l MDMA or 1 mol/l amphetamine. The Ca²⁺-dependent response to electrical stimulation in the presence of MDMA from slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline was greatly reduced when rats were pretreated with a higher dose of reserpine (10 mg/kg s.c.).This study demonstrates that MDMA and amphetamine release radioactivity from brain slices incubated with [³H]noradrenaline, [³H]dopamine and [³H]5-hydroxytryptamine, but their order or potency as releasers of brain monoamines differs. The results also suggest that MDMA and amphetamine have significant effects on the exocytotic release of monoamines and may interact with both vesicular and cytoplasmic monoamines. Correspondence to J. J. Reid at the above address     

Evidence for M1 muscarinic cholinoceptors mediating facilitation of noradrenaline release in guinea-pig carotid artery

Summary The muscarinic agonists acetylcholine (150 mol/l), carbachol (1–10 mol/l) and McN-A-343 (1–50 mol/l, selective for M₁ receptors) increased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the electrically-evoked tritium overflow from guinea-pig carotid arteries preincubated with [³H]-noradrenaline. The increase caused by acetylcholine was not modified by hexamethonium (300 mol/l) but was reduced by the muscarinic receptor antagonists methylatropinium (0.5 and 1 nmol/l, nonselective), pirenzepine (1 and 5 mol/l, M₁-selective), methoctramine (1 and 5 mol/l, M₂-selective) and pfluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol (0.1–1 mol/l, M₃-selective). The order of potencies (expressed as negative logarithms of concentrations that reduced by 50% the facilitatory effect of acetylcholine) was: methylatropinium (9.93) > pirenzepine (8.83) > p-fluoro-hexahydro-siladifenidol (6.81) methoctramine (6.20). These results demonstrate the existence of facilitatory M₁ receptors modulating noradrenaline release in blood vessels. Correspondence to M. Salaices at the above address     

Inhibition by dopamine of 3H-noradrenaline release elicited by nerve stimulation in the isolated cat's nictitating membrane

Summary After loading the isolated nerve-muscle preparation of the cat nictitating membrane with ³H-(±)-noradrenaline the effects of exogenous dopamine and (-)-noradrenaline were determined on ³H-transmitter overflow elicited by nerve stimulation in the presence of cocaine, 29 M. Dopamine, 0.20 M, and (-)-noradrenaline, 0.18 M, inhibited ³H-noradrenaline release elicited by nerve stimulation at 4 or 10 Hz. Similar results were obtained with apomorphine 0.03 or 0.1 M. Chlorpromazine, 1 M, or pimozide, 1 M, antagonized selectively the reduction in ³H-noradrenaline release obtained with dopamine or apomorphine, without affecting the inhibition obtained with (-)-noradrenaline. Phentolamine, 1 M, antagonized more effectively the inhibitory effects of (-)-noradrenaline than those of dopamine. Phenoxybenzamine, 0.29 M, prevented the inhibition of ³H-transmitter overflow obtained with (-)-noradrenaline, dopamine or apomorphine. In the absence of cocaine neither chlorpromazine nor pimozide were able to increase ³H-transmitter overflow during nerve stimulation. In contrast to these results, block of -adrenoceptors by phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine resulted in an increase ³H-transmitter overflow during nerve stimulation. Inhibition by dopamine of ³H-transmitter overflow appears to be mediated through dopamine receptors probably located in the outer surface of adrenergic nerve endings. These dopamine receptors differ from the prejunctional -adrenoceptors that mediate the negative feed-back regulatory mechanism for noradrenaline release by nerve stimulation. The prejunctional inhibitory dopamine receptors are not involved in an endogenously mediated regulatory mechanism for noradrenaline release by nerve stimulation under normal conditions. The possibility that these dopamine receptors are involved in the hypotension commonly observed in patients with chronic l-Dopa treatment is discussed.