Effects of halothane on high affinity agonist binding and guanine nucleotide sensitivity of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors from brainstem of rat

The influence of halothane on muscarinic receptors with a high affinity for agonists was studied using [3H]oxotremorine-M. [3H]Oxotremorine-M bound with high affinity (KD = 2.8 nM) to a subpopulation of muscarinic receptors in the brainstem of rat, representing 32% of the total receptor pool. Agonist affinity for binding sites for [3H]oxotremorine-M was not affected by a guanine nucleotide (5'-guanylylimidodidiphosphate; Gpp(NH)p), although the level of binding was decreased, presumably due to the conversion of receptors to lower affinity conformations. However, only 58% of 3 nM binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M was sensitive to Gpp(NH)p. Halothane had two effects on the binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M: halothane (1) decreased the level of binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M without affecting agonist affinity for the surviving sites, and (2) lowered the sensitivity of the binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M to Gpp(NH)p by a factor of 120. The decrease in binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M binding was nonselective with regard to the sensitivity of the receptors to the guanine nucleotide, insofar as Gpp(NH)p inhibited the binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M to the same extent in the presence and absence of halothane. These results suggest that halothane (1) converts both G protein-coupled and -uncoupled muscarinic receptors to states of lower agonist affinity and (2) lowers the affinity of receptor-G protein complexes for guanine nucleotides.     

Heterogeneity of binding sites on cardiac muscarinic receptors induced by the neuromuscular blocking agents gallamine and pancuronium

The binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) to cardiac muscarinic receptors was inhibited not only by classical muscarinic antagonists but also by nicotinic blocking agents and inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. Gallamine, pancuronium, ambenonium, and decamethonium were the most potent of these agents examined. All of the nicotinic antagonists with significant muscarinic receptor activity had two or three quaternary nitrogens, and the potency of a series of these compounds was a function of the distance between quaternary nitrogens. The effects of gallamine and pancuronium were studied in detail because these neuromuscular blocking agents showed heterogeneity in their binding to cardiac muscarinic receptors, whereas classical muscarinic antagonists such as QNB and atropine did not. Gallamine did not compete for all of the [3H]QNB binding sites on atrial membranes, but left at least 20% of [3H]QNB binding unaffected. Curves of pancuronium competition for [3H]QNB binding were shallow, consistent with two binding sites for pancuronium, with approximately 20% having low affinity. Additionally, in the presence of gallamine or pancuronium, [3H]QNB binding sites were no longer homogeneous, and Scatchard plots became nonlinear. Guanine nucleotides did not alter the effect of gallamine or pancuronium on [3H]QNB binding. Gallamine and pancuronium showed no agonist activity but, like atropine, completely antagonized muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP formation. However, differences in the behavior of gallamine and atropine suggested that gallamine was not a purely competitive antagonist. Gallamine did not protect against receptor alkylation by propylbenzilylcholine mustard, and [3H]QNB dissociation was apparently slowed by gallamine. We interpret our data to suggest that gallamine not only competes for [3H]QNB binding sites, but also binds at a secondary site on the receptor, forming a ternary complex with [3H]QNB. Heterogeneity in ligand binding is proposed to result from the dual actions of gallamine and pancuronium as ligands at both primary and secondary sites on the cardiac muscarinic receptor.     

Regulation of muscarinic receptor subtypes and their responsiveness in rat brain following chronic atropine administration

Chronic administration of l-atropine to rats caused a dose-dependent increase (30%) in the density of muscarinic receptors, as measured with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB], in cortex (CTX), dorsal hippocampus (DH), and heart but not the corpus striatum. Serum concentrations of l-atropine reached 80 to 160 nM within 6 hr, whereas densities of binding sites for [3H]QNB did not show a significant increase until after the second day of infusion and receptor densities did not reach new steady state levels until after the fourth day of infusion. The density of binding sites for the M1-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, [3H]pirenzepine ([3H]PZ) was also measured. As noted previously, the density of binding sites for [3H]PZ (defined as M1) was lower than the density of binding sites for [3H]QNB (defined as M1 plus M2). When the densities of binding sites for [3H]QNB and [3H]PZ in CTX plus DH were determined after 14 days of treatment, [3H]QNB binding sites showed a 28% increase, whereas [3H]PZ binding sites did not show any increase. The difference between the densities of binding sites for [3H]QNB and [3H]PZ, an estimate of the density of M2 sites, doubled. The density of binding sites for [3H]QNB appeared to be stable for at least 64 hr after the withdrawal of the drug. The increase in the density of binding sites for [3H]QNB was not reflected in the binding of [3H]oxotremorine-M ([3H]OXO-M), a muscarinic agonist, which was unchanged by l-atropine administration. Because the binding of [3H]OXO-M is sensitive to GTP, this observation suggests that the "induced" receptors may not be coupled to a guanine nucleotide-binding protein. In spite of the fact that there was a doubling of the density of M2 sites, no significant differences in dose-response curves for carbachol-induced inhibition of [3H]cAMP accumulation were observed in slices of CTX plus DH from control and l-atropine-treated rats. Similarity, acetylcholine-stimulated accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates in slices of CTX plus DH showed no significant differences between the tissues from control and treated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Novel alkoxy-oxazolyl-tetrahydropyridine muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonists

The purpose of the present studies was to compare a novel series of alkoxy-oxazolyl-tetrahydropyridines (A-OXTPs) as muscarinic receptor antagonists. The affinity of these compounds for muscarinic receptors was determined by inhibition of [³H]pirenzepine to M1 receptors in hippocampus, [³H]QNB to M2 receptors in brainstem, and [³H]oxotremorine-M to high affinity muscarinic agonist binding sites in cortex. All of the compounds had higher affinity for [³H]pirenzepine than for [³H]QNB or [³H]oxotremorine-M labeled receptors, consistent with an interpretation that they are relatively selective M1 receptor antagonists, although none were as selective as pirenzepine. In addition, dose-response curves were determined for antagonism of oxotremorine-induced salivation (mediated by M3 receptors) and tremor (mediated by non-M1 receptors) in mice. In general, the A-OXTPs were equipotent and equieffective in antagonizing both salivation and tremor, although there were modest differences for some compounds. Dose-response curves also were determined on behavior maintained under a spatial-alternation schedule of food presentation in rats as a measure of effects on working memory. The A-OXTPs produced dose-related decreases in percent correct responding at doses three- to ten-fold lower than those which decreased rates of responding. However, only one compound, MB-OXTP, produced effects on percent correct responding consistent with a selective effect on memory as opposed to non-memory variables. The present results provide evidence that these alkoxy-oxazolyltetrahydropyridines are a novel series of modestly M1-selective muscarinic receptor antagonists, and that one member of the series, MB-OXTP, appears to be more selective in its effects on memory than previously studied muscarinic antagonists.     

MgCl2和Gpp（NH）p对腺苷A1受体激动剂和拮抗剂结合的作用比较

AIM: To investigate modulation of antagonist and agonist binding to adenosine A1 receptors by MgCI2 and 5'-guanylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) using rat brain membranes and the A1 antagonist [^3H]-8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine ([^3H]DPCPX) and the A1 agonist [^3H]-2-chloro-N^6-cyclopentyladenosine ([^3H]CCPA). METHODS:Parallel saturation and inhibition studies were performed using well-characterised radioligand binding assays and aBrandel Cell Harvester. RESULTS: MgCI2 produced a concentration-dependent decrease (44%), whereasGpp(NH)p increased [^3H]DPCPX binding (19%). In [^3H]DPCPX competition studies, agonist affinity was 1.5-14.6-fold higher and 4.6-10-fold lower in the presence of l0 mmol/L MgCl2 and l0μmol/L Gpp(NH)p respectively;antagonist affinity was unaffected. The decrease in agonist affinity with increasing Gpp(NH)p concentrations was due to a reduction in the proportion of binding to the high affinity receptor state. In contrast to [^3H]DPCPX, MgCl2produced a concentration-dependent increase (72%) and Gpp(NH)p a decrease (85%) in [^3H]CCPA binding.Using [^3H]CCPA, agonist affinities were 5-17-fold higher than those for [^3H]DPCPX, consistent with binding onlyto the high affinity receptor state. Agonist affinity was 1.3-10.5-fold higher and 2.4-4.7-fold lower on addingMgCl2 or Gpp(NH)p respectively; antagonist affinities were as for [^3H]DPCPX. CONCLUSION: The inconsistencies surrounding the effects of MgCl2 and guanine nucleotides on radioligand binding to adenosine A1 receptorswere systematically examined. The effects of MgCl2 and Gpp(NH)p on agonist binding to A1 receptors are consistent with their roles in stimulating GTP-hydrolysis at the G-protein α-subunit and in blocking formation of the highaffinity agonist-receptor-G protein complex.     

Alterations in muscarinic receptors of ventricular muscle in carbachol-induced short-term desensitization

The inhibitory action of a muscarinic agonist on the contractile response of cardiac muscle is transient due to short-term desensitization of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Studies were made on the binding of the muscarinic antagonist L-[3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) to the muscarinic receptor in the membrane fraction of ventricular muscle of guinea pigs desensitized by perfusion with carbachol for 10 min. Desensitization did not change the maximum binding or equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of [3H]QNB, but shifted the inhibition curves of [3H]QNB binding by carbachol to the right both in the presence and absence of 5-guanylyl imidodiphosphate (GppNHp). Analysis of these inhibition curves with a multiple site model suggested that superhigh and high affinity agonist binding sites were converted to low affinity sites in the desensitized state. GppNHp has additive effects to the prior exposure to carbachol, suggesting a different site of action from short-term exposure of agonist. We conclude that agonist-induced short-term desensitization of the muscarinic receptor of ventricular muscle is caused by reduction in the affinity of the receptor for agonist without reduction in its amount or affinity for antagonist.     

Muscarinic receptors in slice cultures of rat brain

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in organotypic slice cultures of hippocampus of the rat, have been examined using the tritiated muscarinic antagonist quinuclidinylbenzilate [( 3H]QNB) as a as a marker. Maximum specific binding of [3H]QNB in mature explants of hippocampus amounted to 316 fmol/mg protein and a dissociation constant (KD) of 185 pM was determined. Scatchard analysis suggested binding to one single binding site. In younger cultures smaller KDs were registered. This decrease in ligand affinity in maturer cultures possibly reflects a decrease in the turnover of acetylcholine. Muscarinic antagonists inhibited the total binding of [3H]QNB significantly, whereas muscarinic agonist, nicotinic antagonists and cholinesterase inhibitors had no influence whatsoever on the total binding of [3H]QNB. The content of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors varied between cultures with explants from different brain areas: hippocampus greater than striatum greater than septum greater than spinal cord greater than cerebellum. These in vitro results are generally in good agreement with results obtained in situ by other investigators and suggest that the binding of [3H]QNB observed in these cultures is indeed correlated to specific muscarinic receptor sites.     

Muscarinic cholinergic agonists and antagonists of the 3-(3-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine type. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships

A series of 3-(3-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyr idines (2a-q) were synthesized and tested for central muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding affinity by using [3H]oxotremorine-M and [3H]QNB as ligands and in a functional assay using guinea pig ileum. The analogues with unbranched C1-8-alkyl substituents (2a-g) were agonists, whereas the compounds with branched or cyclic substituents (2h-m) were antagonists. The alkyl ether analogues (2o-q) were also agonists but had lower receptor binding affinity than the corresponding alkyl analogues. The 3-(5-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridi ne analogues had only ver low affinity for the central muscarinic receptors and were weak antagonists in the ileum assay. A few 3-(3-butyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyr idines substituted with methyl or hydrogen in the 1-, 5-, or 6-position were synthesized and tested. N-Desmethyl analogue 7 was a potent muscarinic agonist, whereas N-desmethyl-5-methyl analogue 11 and N-methyl-6-methyl analogue 13 both were antagonists with lower muscarinic receptor affinity. The 3-(3-butyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)quinuclidine (17) and tropane (15) analogues were both very potent antagonists with high affinity for central muscarinic receptors. The ratio [IC50(QNB)/IC50(Oxo-M)] x 0.162 proved to be a good indicator of the efficacy of the compounds in the guinea pig ileum assay.     

Effect of pertussis toxin on the heart acetylcholine muscarinic receptor affinity

The effect of pertussis toxin on the affinity for agonists and antagonists of the heart muscarine acetylcholine receptor was studied using the radiolabeled antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate ([3H]QNB). In cardiac membranes from control rats the displacement of [3H]QNB by carbachol was consistent with two classes of binding sites, kDH 25 +/- 10 nM and kDL 3,006 +/- 869 nM. The proportion of sites in the high and low affinity state for agonists was 55 and 45% respectively. In the presence of 100 microM guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), only the low affinity state for agonists was observed (kDL 3,804 +/- 759 nM). In cardiac membranes from pertussis toxin-treated rats, two classes of binding sites with affinities similar to those seen in the controls were also observed in the absence of guanine nucleotide (kDs 39 +/- 12 and 3,315 +/- 845 nM) but the proportion of sites were 20 and 80% for high and low affinity respectively. Gpp(NH)p shifted the remaining 20% of sites from the high affinity to the low affinity state (KD 4,093 +/- 744 nM). The receptor KD for antagonists was decreased by pretreatment with pertussis toxin from 83 +/- 7 to 56 +/- 5 pM (P less than 0.01); Gpp(NH)p induced a further change in the affinity for the antagonist in membranes from both control and pertussis toxin-treated rats. The change suggested positive cooperativity. The total number of sites was not modified significantly by either pertussis toxin treatment or guanine nucleotides. These results are consistent with a possible reciprocal modulation of the affinity for agonists and antagonists of the cardiac muscarine receptor.     

Two distinct, divalent cation-sensitive, antagonist binding states of heart muscarinic receptors: differential modulation by guanine nucleotide

1. The binding of [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate (QNB), a muscarinic antagonist, to cardiac muscarinic receptors was investigated in two subcellular fractions (washed particles and microsomes) isolated from rat heart atria and ventricles. 2. 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p, 0.1 mM), increased (2-3-fold) the binding to washed particles, but not to microsomes, whereas Mg2+ (1-20 mM) increased (up to 5-fold) the binding to microsomes, but not to washed particles. Gpp(NH)p modestly increased the affinity while Mg2+ decreased the affinity towards the radiolabelled antagonist. 3. Treatment with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM, 2 mM) increased the antagonist binding to either fraction. The stimulatory effect of Gpp(NH)p was not evident while that of Mg2+ survived in the NEM-treated fractions. 4. The treatment of fractions with divalent cations chelators (EDTA, EGTA; 10 mM) augmented the stimulatory effect of Mg2+ on [3H]QNB binding to microsomes while that of Gpp(NH)p on the washed particle [3H]QNB binding was decreased. Such treatment further revealed an inhibitory action (about 40%) of Mg2+ on the washed particle binding.     

3H]N-methylscopolamine binding to muscarinic receptors in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: characterization, localization on T-lymphocyte subsets and age-dependent changes

The properties of the binding of the muscarinic receptor ligands, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) and [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) in human mononuclear cells were compared. The binding of [3H]QNB showed a high, non-specific component and lack of saturability in both intact mononuclear cells and preparations of lysed mononuclear cell membranes. Conversely the specific binding of [3H]NMS had a high affinity and was saturable at concentrations greater than 30 nM in both intact and broken cells. Classical muscarinic receptor antagonists displaced specific binding of [3H]NMS binding according to the law of mass action, while displacement curves for pirenzepine and muscarinic agonists were very shallow (nH less than 1), suggesting the presence of more than one subtype of muscarinic receptor on mononuclear cell membranes. Binding studies with [3H]NMS to purified mononuclear cell subpopulations demonstrated that muscarinic binding sites were mainly localized on thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes and large granule lymphocytes. Moreover evidence is presented of an age-dependent increase of the density of muscarinic binding sites on T-lymphocytes. The results are discussed in terms of the usefulness of the binding of [3H]NMS in studying the physiological function of muscarinic receptors on human T-lymphocytes and their possible changes in patients with neurological diseases.     

Sialic acid residues as catalysts for M2-muscarinic agonist-receptor interactions.

The role of sialic acid residues in the interactions of muscarinic agonists with the cardiac M2 muscarinic receptor was investigated by competitive binding experiments using the lipophilic radioligand (-)-[benzilic-4,4-3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) and the hydrophilic ligand [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine methyl chloride ([3H]NMS). Direct labeling of the agonist binding sites was performed with the radiolabeled agonist [methyl-3H]oxotremorine M acetate ([3H]oxo-M). Neuraminidase decreased the affinity of the M2-selective agonist carbamylcholine in competitive binding experiments performed with [3H]QNB and [3H]NMS. The binding of the M1-selective agonist (4hydroxy-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium chloride m-chlorocarbanilate (McN-A-343), of the M1-selective antagonist pirenzepine, and of the M2-selective antagonist 11-([2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1 piperidinyl]acetyl)-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido(2,3b)(1,4)benzodiazepin -6-on (AF-DX-116) were not affected by neuraminidase. Neuraminidase did not modify the binding parameters of 3H-antagonists but reduced the number of agonist binding sites revealed by [3H]oxo-M. The removal of sialic acid decreased the half-life of the receptor-agonist complex. The present results suggest that removal of sialic acid reduces the formation of super-high affinity agonist-receptor complexes. Sialic acid may catalyze macroscopic binding by enhancing accumulation of the agonist at the membrane surface.     

Muscarinic receptors in canine colonic circular smooth muscle. I. Coexistence of M2 and M3 subtypes.

The parasympathetic neurotransmitter acetylcholine, acting postsynaptically at the smooth muscle muscarinic receptor, is a principle determinant of colonic motility. In order to elucidate the receptor signal-transduction events responsible for muscarinic receptor-induced contraction of colonic circular smooth muscle, we present here and in the accompanying work studies designed to characterize the muscarinic receptors present in colon and to determine their biochemical coupling. Muscarinic receptor subtypes in canine colonic circular smooth muscle were characterized using radioligand binding techniques. The nonselective muscarinic receptor antagonist radioligand [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binds rapidly and reversibly to a single class of saturable sites in colon circular smooth muscle membranes, with an affinity (KD) for the antagonist radioligand of 79.8 +/- 12.6 pM and a density of 123.3 +/- 18.7 fmol/mg of protein. Experiments using membranes prepared from isolated cells purified from the circular smooth muscle layer of canine colon (KD = 102.4 +/- 13.5 pM) confirm the smooth muscle origin of the binding and yield a receptor density of 124,340 receptors/cell. The order of potencies of selective muscarinic receptor antagonists in competition with [3H]QNB for binding to colonic receptors is 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methobromide greater than methoctramine greater than AF-DX 116 greater than pirenzepine. Unlike other antagonists tested, pirenzepine competition of [3H]QNB binding is biphasic. The high and low affinities deduced from nonlinear fit of the binding data in colon correlate very well with affinities determined for pirenzepine in mixtures of both submandibular gland (M3) and atrium (M2), indicating the presence of two muscarinic receptor subtypes (82% M2, 18% M3) in colon circular smooth muscle. The muscarinic agonist carbachol binds to both high and low affinity sites in colon, and addition of guanine nucleotide (100 microM GTP gamma S) shifts the agonist competition curve to the right, without eliminating high affinity binding sites. Agonist competition studies with a known ratio of M2 and M3 receptors, obtained by mixing pure M2 and M3 populations, predict the result obtained in colon. cDNA probes specific for each of the muscarinic receptors m1 through m4 were hybridized to colon RNA in a Northern blot analysis. Only m2 and m3 probes hybridized to colon RNA, suggesting the presence of both M2 and M3 receptors. Our data demonstrate that the colon circular smooth muscle contains muscarinic receptors of both the M2 and M3 subtypes, which may be coupled to disparate signal transduction pathways important in the physiological actions of acetylcholine in this tissue.     

Synthesis, molecular modeling studies, and muscarinic receptor activity of azaprophen analogues

Synthesis, radioligand binding, and pharmacologic activities of a series of muscarinic receptor ligands including and related to azaprophen (6-methyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3 alpha-ol 2,2-diphenylpropionate, 1) have been measured to determine activity and selectivity for muscarinic receptor subtypes. Pharmacologic affinities of antagonists were determined as pA2 values for antagonism of methacholine-induced tension responses in guinea pig ileum. Binding affinities were measured by competition against [3H]QNB binding in guinea pig ileum, rat heart and brain, and m1- or m3-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The efficacies of muscarinic agonists in brain were determined by the ratio of binding affinities against [3H]QNB or [3H]NMS and [3H]oxotremorine-M ([3H]Oxo-M). Nine muscarinic antagonists, including azaprophen, did not discriminate significantly between the subtypes of muscarinic receptors. KI values for receptor binding for azaprophen (1) were between 8.81 x 10(-11) and 4.72 x 10(-10) M in ileum, heart, brain, and m1- or m3-transfected CHO cells. The alpha- and beta-benzilate esters 5 and 6 are as potent as azaprophen, and diphenylacetate esters 3 and 4 and N-(6)-benzyl alpha-isomer 7 are less potent than azaprophen. Significant stereoselectivity was exhibited with (+)-azaprophen being approximately 200 times more potent than the (-)-enantiomers and the 3 beta-ol isomer 2 being ca. 50 times less potent than azaprophen in all systems. A molecular modeling-molecular mechanics study was conducted to account for the difference. Putative muscarinic agonists (analogues and isomers of 6-methyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol acetate) did not discriminate muscarinic receptor subtypes with KI values between 2.77 x 10(-6) and 4.33 x 10(-5) M without significant stereoselectivity in the systems examined. The most active analogue was (1R,3R,5S)-6-[1(R)-phenylethyl]-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3 alpha-ol acetate. However, efficacies of these putative agonists were in general very low.     

Differential distribution of muscarinic receptor subtypes and their regulation by G-protein in rat brain

1. [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) binding in rat cerebral and cerebellar synaptosomes had different Bmax values, but similar Kd values. 2. These bindings could be displaced by classic muscarinic agents: pilocarpine (partial agonist), and atropine (antagonist), which both had similar binding affinities in rat cerebral and cerebellar synaptosomes. 3. The new muscarinic M1 selective agents: McN-A-343 (agonist), pirenzepine and trihexyphenidyl (antagonists) and higher affinities for receptor sites in the cerebrum than in the cerebellum. 4. The muscarinic M2 selective agents: carbachol, oxotremorine (agonists), and AF-DX-116 (antagonist) had higher affinities for receptor sites in the cerebellum than in the cerebrum. 5. GPP(NH)p (40 microM) decreased the binding affinities of carbachol and oxotremorine in the cerebellum, but not in the cerebrum. However, it did not decrease the binding affinities of all the antagonists studied in both brain regions. 6. These results reveal that more muscarinic M1 sites are present in the cerebrum than in the cerebellum, while the opposite is true for M2 sites. Furthermore, the regulatory role of G-protein on these muscarinic receptor subtypes in the brain is different.     

Muscarinic receptors of the vascular bed: radioligand binding studies on bovine splenic veins

Despite an obvious lack of parasympathetic innervation to the spleen, pharmacological evidence suggests the presence of cholinergic receptors in isolated bovine splenic veins. We therefore studied muscarinic cholinergic binding sites in a bovine splenic vein preparation by direct radioligand binding techniques using [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) as radioactive probe. Saturation experiments indicated one homogeneous class of high-affinity binding sites, with a KD of 0.11 nM and a binding site density Bmax of 55 fmol/mg protein. The rate constants at 37 degrees C for formation and dissociation of the [3H]QNB receptor complex were 2.7 X 10(9) M-1 h-1 and 0.38 h-1, respectively, yielding a KD of 0.14 nM. The binding sites showed a high stereospecificity, which was evident from competition experiments with dexetimide (KI = 1.3 nM) and levetimide (KI = 4.6 microM). In competition experiments with muscarinic and nicotinic antagonists and some antidepressants, only one binding site was found, whereas with muscarinic agonists, two binding sites were detected. In the presence of 0.1 mM guanyl-imido-diphosphate, only one binding site could be identified with the muscarinic agonist carbamylcholine. The affinity of [3H]QNB, on the other hand, was slightly decreased, and Bmax values were unchanged. It is concluded that specific, saturable, high-affinity muscarinic binding sites in the bovine splenic vein have been identified and characterized that exhibit properties similar to cholinergic receptors of brain and peripheral tissues and probably mediate acetylcholine-induced relaxation of splenic veins.     

Modulation of agonist binding by guanine nucleotides in CHO cells expressing muscarinic m1 – m5 receptors

In membranes prepared from CHO-m2 cells, inhibition of [³H]-N-methylscopolamine ([³H]NMS) binding by several muscarinic agonists resulted in competition curves with Hill slopes significantly different from unity. Addition of 5-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) led to an increase in the IC₅₀ value of the agonists with significant steepening of the inhibition curves. The shift in potency induced by Gpp(NH)p differed among the agonists with a rank order of oxotremorine-M = carbachol > oxotremorine > McN-A-343 = pilocarpine. In CHO-m4 membranes, Gpp(NH)p was less efficacious than in CHO-m2 membranes whereas no effect of the guanine nucleotide was found in membranes prepared from CHO-m1, -m3, and-m5 cells. No major differences in the effect of Gpp(NH)p among agonists were found in CHO-m4 cells. Atropine binding was not affected by the guanine nucleotide. Together, these results indicate that coupling of G-proteins to muscarinic receptors linked to inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) (m2 and m4) but not of those linked to phosphoinositol turnover (m1, m3 and m5) can be perturbed by Gpp(NH)p. The differential effects observed with Gpp(NH)p between agonist binding to m2 and m4 receptors appear to be receptor-specific and may reflect differences in the G proteins activated by these receptors in CHO cells.     

Beta-adrenergic responsiveness and cardiac autonomic receptors after implantation of the MtTW15 pituitary adenoma in the rat

The effects of chronic MtTW15 pituitary adenoma implantation on beta-adrenergic responsiveness, cardiac beta-adrenoreceptors, and muscarinic receptors were studied in the rat. Five weeks after s.c. administration of tissue fragments of the MtTW15 adenoma, there was a 51 and 20% increase in the heart weight and body weight, respectively, and a 49-fold increase in the serum prolactin level as compared to the controls. At this time there was also an attenuation in the adenoma-bearing group of the ability of isoproterenol to produce a dipsogenic response and to increase the heart rate. In contrast, isoproterenol stimulated cardiac ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity 4.2-fold in both the control and adenoma-bearing groups. There was no change between the two groups in the cardiac ventricular beta-adrenoreceptor or muscarinic receptor concentration as measured by specific (-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol (CYP) and (-)-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) respectively. In addition, the concentrations of isoproterenol and carbachol required to inhibit by 50% (IC50) [125I]CYP and [3H]QNB binding, respectively, in the absence of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) were not different between the two groups. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p, the isoproterenol IC50 value was not different between the two groups, whereas the carbachol IC50 value was increased slightly in the adenoma-bearing group. The data indicate that chronic MtTW15 adenoma implantation attenuated beta-mediated dipsogenic and heart rate responses but had little or no effect on cardiac ODC activity or cardiac autonomic receptor concentrations and agonist binding properties.     

Parallel maturation of the pancreatic secretory response to cholinergic stimulation and the muscarinic receptor population.

1 The appearance of pancreatic muscarinic receptors during development has been measured by use of the specific ligand [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-QNB). 2 QNB binding sites are present in foetal pancreas; their maximal concentration is attained at the age of 30 days and a significant decrease is observed in one year old animals. 3 Affinity of [3H]-QNB for the muscarinic receptor does not change with age. 4 An evaluation of the pancreatic secretory response to a cholinoceptor agonist as a function of age indicates that the development of this response parallels that of the receptor population. 5 It is suggested that, at all ages from 3 days after birth onwards, the maximal secretory response of the exocrine pancreas to a cholinoceptor agonist mobilizes the same proportion of the total population of QNB binding sites.     

Irreversible binding of acetylethylcholine mustard to cardiac cholinergic muscarinic receptors

The interaction of acetylethylcholine mustard (Aech-M) with cardiac muscarinic receptors was studied with radioligand binding techniques and with isolated beating atria. Aech-M and acetylcholine competed about equally for (-)-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB)-binding sites and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate reduced the ability of both compounds to compete by 30-fold. Pretreatment of cardiac membranes with 0.25 microM Aech-M, followed by washing, reduced the [3H]QNB binding capacity by 60% without changing the ligand affinity of the receptors left. In the same membranes, a similar fraction of receptors was lost as measured by [3H]N-methyoscopolamine, but a greater fraction was lost when measured by [3H]oxotremorine-M. The loss of [3H]QNB binding capacity was dose, time, and temperature dependent, blocked by atropine and carbachol, and modulated by several guanine nucleotides but not affected by membrane pretreatment with several group-selective reagents. Superfusion of spontaneously beating atria with Aech-M (100 microM) initially reduced the beating rate which returned to control values by 17 min. Atropine blocked the initial reduction in beating rate. In contrast, both carbachol and acetylcholine produced sustained decreases in the beating rate. After pretreatment of atria for 30 min with 100 microM Aech-M alone or 10 microM Aech-M plus 10 microM edrophonium followed by washing, the EC50 value for carbachol inhibition of the beating rate was increased 15.8- and 10.3-fold, respectively, with no change in the ability of isoproterenol to increase the spontaneous beating rate. In addition, there was a 46-47% and a 37-41% reduction in the binding capacity of both [3H]QNB and [3H]oxotremorinel-M in the 100 and 10 microM Aech-M-pretreated atria, respectively. The data indicated that Aech-M is a muscarinic agonist which appears to irreversibly bind to the muscarinic receptor.