Cocaine displaces [3H]WIN 35,428 binding to dopamine uptake sites in vivo more rapidly than mazindol or GBR 12909

Previous studies have shown that [3H] WIN 35,428 binds preferentially to striatal cocaine receptors at the dopamine transporter after in vivo injection. In vivo binding competition studies were carried out to assess the relative rates of entry and occupancy of cocaine receptors by (-)-cocaine, mazindol and GBR 12909. After i.v. injection, (-)-cocaine occupied receptors relatively more rapidly than GBR 12,909 while mazindol was the slowest.     

3H]cocaine binding and inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake is similar in both the rat striatum and nucleus accumbens

Cocaine binds with high affinity to the dopamine transporter in both the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. We examined Na(+)-dependent [3H]cocaine binding, mazindol inhibition of [3H]cocaine binding and cocaine inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake in both rat brain areas. The striatum and nucleus accumbens demonstrated Na(+)-dependent [3H]cocaine binding with similar densities. Mazindol inhibited [3H]cocaine binding with a similar IC50 in both the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Likewise, cocaine inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake in both brain regions with equivalent efficacy. From these data we conclude that the dopamine transporter is similar in both the striatum and nucleus accumbens.     

3H]GBR 12935 binding to dopamine uptake sites: subcellular localization and reduction in Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy

[3H]GBR 12935 bound with high affinity to dopamine uptake sites in rat striatum where a close parallelism was observed between the subcellular localization profiles for [3H]dopamine uptake and [3H]GBR 12935 specific binding. Using the same ligand, we characterized the dopamine uptake sites in human striatum: the mean KD value was 3.2 nM and the specific binding was inhibited by several dopamine uptake blockers but with slightly lower affinities than those observed in the rat. The subcellular localization profile revealed a synaptosomal enrichment of the specific binding in human striatum. [3H]GBR 12935 binding was decreased in the putamen and caudate nucleus of subjects with Parkinson's disease (33 and 46% of control values, respectively) and progressive supranuclear palsy (38 and 57% of control values, respectively). It is very unlikely that the remaining binding sites in both diseases correspond to piperazine acceptor sites that are not involved in dopamine uptake. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that some of these remaining dopamine transporter sites are not functional, since the reduction in [3H]GBR 12935 specific binding was less marked than the decrease in the dopamine content of the same areas.     

In vivo labelling of the neuronal dopamine uptake complex in the mouse striatum by [3H]GBR 12783.

Various characteristics of the in vivo striatal binding of [3H]GBR 12783 (1-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)-ethyl]-4-(3-phenyl-1[3H]-2-propenyl)pipera zine), a specific ligand of the neuronal dopamine uptake complex, were determined in mice. Increasing doses of the ligand revealed the saturability of the binding at a single site with half-maximal saturation at a dose of approximately 7 mumol/kg and an apparent maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) of 12.8 pmol/mg protein in striatum. Specific binding was prevented by various dopamine uptake blockers, pyrovalerone, GBR 13069, GBR 12783, N-[1-2-benzo(b)thiophenyl)cyclohexyl] piperidine, cocaine, methylphenidate and was inhibited in a stereoselective manner by the enantiomers of nomifensine. Other drugs which are not dopamine uptake blockers either did not modify [3H]GBR 12783 binding (the diphenylbutylpiperazine derivative flupenthixol) or increased it (the diphenylpiperazine derivative flunarizine or the chemically unrelated compounds fenfluramine and SKF 525A). A close correlation was found between occupancy of the striatal [3H]GBR 12783 binding site and the stimulant locomotor effect of the drug. A similar specific striatal binding of [3H]GBR 12783 was evidenced in both NMRI and CD1 strains. It was concluded that [3H]GBR 12783 administered in vivo provides a measure of the density of dopamine uptake sites in mouse striatum.     

Behavioral properties of GBR 12909, GBR 13069 and GBR 13098: specific inhibitors of dopamine uptake

Two aryl 1,4-dialkylpiperazines (GBR 12909 and GBR 13098) and one aryl 1,4-dialkenylpiperazine (GBR 13069) were very potent inhibitors of [3H]dopamine uptake in vitro in tissue slices obtained from rat neostriatum (IC50 values between 40 and 51 nM). Each compound was considerably weaker as an inhibitor of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in tissue slices obtained from rat occipital cortex (IC50 values between 560 and 2600 nM). These compounds thus are relatively specific inhibitors of [3H]dopamine uptake in vitro. The three compounds caused ipsilateral circling in rats with unilateral lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway as well as increased locomotor activity in naive mice, both of which could be greatly attenuated by pretreatment of the rodents with the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol. It thus follows that the compounds have dopaminergic activity in vivo. Ex vivo experiments with GBR 13069 (drug administration in vivo, uptake in vitro) suggested that these compounds may have the same relative specificity as dopamine uptake blockers in vivo. These compounds should prove to be useful pharmacological agents.     

High-affinity [3H]GBR 12783 binding to a specific site associated with the neuronal dopamine uptake complex in the central nervous system

We labelled the neuronal dopamine uptake system by using the potent dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12783 in its tritiated form (18.3 Ci/mmol). The binding of [3H]GBR 12783 to rat striatal membranes was saturable and specific with a Kd of 1.6 nM and a Bmax of 10.3 pmol X mg protein-1 as determined by Scatchard analysis. [3H]GBR 12783 binding to rat striatal membranes was inhibited by dopamine uptake inhibitors with IC50 highly correlated with their IC50 for inhibiting [3H]dopamine uptake by a rat striatal synaptosomal preparation. The rank order of potency was the following: GBR 12783 greater than amfonelic acid greater than mazindol greater than pyrovalerone greater than nomifensine greater than benztropine greater than amineptine greater than methylphenidate greater than cocaine. Substrates of dopamine uptake competed with [3H]GBR 12783 binding at concentrations higher than those at which they inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake. In rats with a unilateral section of the medial forebrain bundle, the decrease in [3H]GBR 12783 binding to membranes prepared from the ipsilateral striatum was equal to the decrease in [3H]dopamine uptake by a synaptosomal preparation obtained from the same striatum. [3H]GBR 12783 bound in a sodium-dependent manner to membranes prepared from striatum, nucleus accumbens and tuberculum olfactorium. GBR 12783 displayed an approximately 150-fold lower affinity for the cortical norepinephrine uptake system labelled with [3H]desipramine than for the dopamine transport complex labelled with [3H]GBR 12783. [3H]GBR 12783 appears an attractive tool for the selective characterization of the dopamine uptake system in vitro.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the dopamine reuptake carrier protein with 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935

A high affinity tritiated azido-diphenylpiperazine derivative, 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935, was synthesized as a potential photoaffinity probe of the dopamine transporter. Initially, the reversible binding of 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935 to crude synaptosomal membranes from the rat striatum was characterized. Specific binding was sodium dependent and inhibited by a variety of drugs that are known to potently inhibit dopamine uptake. Other neurotransmitter uptake inhibitors, as well as cis-flupenthixol, a potent inhibitor of [3H]GBR-12935 binding to piperazine binding sites, failed to inhibit specific binding at concentrations of less than or equal to 10 microM. A good correlation was observed between the relative potencies of these drugs in inhibiting dopamine uptake into synaptosomes and in inhibiting specific 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935 binding to rat striatal membranes (r = 0.95, p less than 0.01). These data suggest that 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935, like other diphenylpiperazines such as [3H]GBR-12935 and [3H]GBR-12909, binds primarily to the dopamine transporter under defined assay conditions. After UV photolysis of crude synaptosomal membranes preincubated with 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935 (1-2 nM), a single radiolabeled polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 80 kDa was observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Photoincorporation of 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935 into this polypeptide was inhibited selectively by compounds that inhibit the uptake of dopamine (but not other biogenic amines) and was completely dependent on the presence of Na+. No photolabeled proteins were observed when cerebellar membranes were substituted for striatal membranes. Essentially complete adsorption of the radiolabeled 80-kDa polypeptide to wheat germ agglutinin and elution with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine strongly suggest that the dopamine transporter polypeptide photolabeled by 3-azido[3H]GBR-12935 is glycosylated.     

Unaltered [3H]GBR-12935 binding after chronic treatment with dopamine active drugs

Rats were injected intraperitoneally with haloperidol 0.5 mg/kg, raclopride 1 mg/kg, bromocriptine 2.5 mg/kg,d-amphetamine 2.5 mg/kg, or cocaine 10 mg/kg twice daily for 21 days. The animals were sacrificed 72 h after last injection. Control rats were injected with saline, following the same schedule. The radioligand [³H]GBR-12935 was used as a presynaptic marker for dopamine neurites. There were no significant differences in [³H]GBR-12935 binding to striatum between drug-treated rats and controls.     

Withdrawal of repeated cocaine decreases autoradiographic [3H]mazindol-labelling of dopamine transporter in rat nucleus accumbens.

The in vitro autoradiographic distribution of desipramine-insensitive specific [3H]mazindol binding sites (labelling the dopamine transporter) was determined in brain sections from rats receiving repeated i.v. infusions of saline or cocaine (1 mg/kg, every 12 min for 2 h/day), for 10 days. Brains were removed either within 15 min of or 10 days after the last treatment. A marked dorsal-to-ventral gradient in [3H]mazindol binding appeared in the striatum with the dorsal caudate putamen showing the greatest binding and the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens the least. Cocaine-associated changes in [3H]mazindol-labelled dopamine uptake sites occurred only in the nucleus accumbens (57 and 66% decrease in the lateral core and medial shell, respectively), of animals 10 days after the last treatment. Down-regulation of the dopamine transporter in the nucleus accumbens by withdrawal of chronic cocaine may be one of the mechanisms involved in cocaine's long-term abstinence effects.     

Effects of chronic nicotine pretreatment on (+)-amphetamine and nicotine-induced synthesis and release of [3H]dopamine from [3H]tyrosine in rat nucleus accumbens

The effects of chronic (14 day) administration of nicotine (1.5 mg kg-1 day-1) on the rat nucleus accumbens have been examined. Pretreatment of animals with nicotine increased the endogenous level of dopamine. The ability of (+)-amphetamine to stimulate formation and release of [3H]dopamine from [3H]tyrosine was greatly potentiated in tissue slices from the nucleus accumbens of rats pretreated with nicotine. Furthermore, nicotine was effective in stimulating the formation and release of from [3H]dopamine from [3H]tyrosine in tissue slices from chronic nicotine-treated animals.     

Opposite effects of inhibitory and excitatory neurosteroids on [3H]dopamine release from rat nucleus accumbens.

Neurosteroids with GABAA receptor antagonistic properties increase K(+)-evoked [3H]dopamine release from rat nucleus accumbens slices, whereas neurosteroid positive modulators of GABAA exert an opposite effect.     

Interaction of two sulfhydryl reagents with a cation recognition site on the neuronal dopamine carrier evidences small differences between [3H]GBR 12783 and [3H]cocaine binding sites

We have compared the effect of treating rat striatal cell membranes with ionic hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagents on the specific bindings of [³H]cocaine and of [³H]GBR 12783 (1-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]4-(3-phenyl-2-[1-³H]propenyl)-piperazine) to the neuronal transporter of dopamine. Treatment with 1 mmol/1 5,5-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) resulted in similar time-and concentration-dependent reductions of the specific binding of both radioligands. None of the uptake blockers tested afforded any protection against 1 mmol/1 DTNB. Addition of (sub)millimolar concentrations of CaCl₂ or MgCl₂, or 250 mmol/1 KCl to a treatment medium containing 10 mmol/l Na + significantly increased the DTNB-induced reduction of the specific binding of both radioligands. Cations were likely to be responsible for this effect since ions in combination with DTNB induced similar reductions in binding when either 1 mmol/l CaCl₂ or 50–250 mmol/l NaCl were added. Effects of cations on the DTNB-induced inhibition of binding were generally more marked on [³H]GBR 12783 than on [³H]cocaine binding. When added to a medium containing 10 mmol/1 Na⁺ 1 mmol/1 DTNB induced a reduction in the B_max of the specific binding of both radioligands. Addition of 1 mmol/l Ca²⁺ maintained or increased this B_max reduction and elicited a decrease in affinity which was significant for [³H]GBR 12783 binding.Treatment of membranes with the sodium salt of p-hydroxymercurybenzenesulfonate (pHMBS) induced time-and concentration-dependent decreases in [³H]GBR 12783 binding which were significantly greater than decreases in [³H]cocaine binding. However, 50mol/lpHMBS produced a similar decrease in the B_max of the specific binding of both radioligands. The pHMBS-induced reduction of [³H]GBR 12783 binding was not reversed by drugs whose action is purely that of uptake inhibition or by substrates of the dopamine carrier. Some of these drugs (100 mol/l dopamine, 1 mol/l mazindol or 100 mol/l cocaine) protected the specific binding of [³H]cocaine against the effects of pHMBS, whereas 1 mmol/1 p-tyramine, 10 mol/l nomifensine and 10 nmol/l GBR 12783 were ineffective. Addition of 120 mmol/l Na⁺, 1 mmol/l Ca²⁺ or 10 mmol/l Mg²⁺ to a treatment medium containing 10 mmol/l Na⁺ significantly reduced the effects of pHMBS on the specific binding of both radioligands. When striatal cell membranes were treated in a medium containing 130 mmol/1 Na⁺, there was a general decrease in the effects of ions on the reductions of specific binding produced by DTNB or pHMBS. Cation concentrations which interfered with the actions of DTNB and pHMBS were approximately those which blocked the specific binding of [³H]GBR 12783 when they were present during association of the radioligand (K⁺, Ca ²⁺, Mg²⁺), or, in the case of Na⁺, which are effective in reducing this blockade (Bonnet et al. 1988).The present data are consistent with the existence of mutually exclusive binding sites for [³H]GBR and [³H]cocaine on the neuronal dopamine transporter. The hypothesis of a cation recognition site which could gate admission of uptake inhibitors or carrier substrates to their binding domain on the transporter is discussed.     

Inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake by flunarizine.

The effect of different calcium channel blockers was studied on basal and cocaine-inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake in rat striatal synaptosomes. Isradipine (dihydropyridine calcium antagonist) and diltiazem (L-type calcium antagonist) were devoid of effect on [3H]dopamine uptake, while flunarizine (T-type calcium antagonist) inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake. Flunarizine inhibition was competitive and the inhibitory curve was biphasic with a Hill coefficient of 2.1. The high Hill number suggested a mechanism of positive cooperativity between two sites. Flunarizine inhibition showed a complex interaction with cocaine inhibition. While flunarizine at low concentrations interacts with a distinct site, at higher concentrations it interacts with the same site as cocaine. The relevance of this finding for the potentiation by flunarizine of cocaine-induced dopamine release in vivo is discussed.     

Differential interaction of GBR 12909, a dopamine uptake inhibitor, with cocaine and methamphetamine in rats discriminating cocaine

RATIONALE: Inhibitors of neuronal dopamine uptake, such as GBR 12909, decrease IV cocaine self-administration by laboratory animals and have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents for abuse of psychomotor stimulant drugs. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine how GBR 12909 alters the discriminative stimulus effects of methamphetamine and cocaine. METHODS: Rats were trained to discriminate between IP injections of 10 mg/kg cocaine and saline and were tested for stimulus generalization to cocaine, GBR 12909, and methamphetamine. Based upon the ED50 of the individual drugs, combinations of GBR 12909 and either cocaine or methamphetamine were tested that comprised a) 1 part GBR 12909 and 2 parts cocaine or methamphetamine, or b) 2 parts GBR 12909 and 1 part cocaine or methamphetamine. RESULTS: GBR 12909 and cocaine were equipotent and 30-fold less potent than methamphetamine in producing cocaine-like discriminative effects. GBR 12909 and cocaine produced cocaine-like discriminative effects synergistically in the ratio of 1 part GBR 12909:2 parts cocaine (0.16+0.32 to 1.92+ 3.87 mg/kg) and nearly synergistically in the ratio of 2 parts GBR 12909:1 part cocaine (0.32+0.16 to 3.92+ 1.91 mg/kg). GBR 12909 and methamphetamine (0.32+0.02 to 3.20+0.22 mg/kg or 0.65+0.01 to 6.53+0.1 mg/kg) were simply additive in both sets of fixed-ratio dose combinations. CONCLUSIONS: The synergy of GBR 12909 and cocaine and the additivity of GBR 12909 and methamphetamine run counter to the presumed mechanisms of action of these drugs at dopamine nerve terminals, which might have implications for the use of GBR 12909 in the treatment of addiction to cocaine or amphetamines.     

A tolerance study of single and multiple dosing of the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 in healthy subjects

GBR 12909 selectively blocks dopamine uptake and its biochemical and pharmacological profiles suggest that it may possess antidepressant activity and be of value in treatment of Parkinson's disease. The tolerance, pharmacokinetics and influence on psychomotor performance of GBR 12909 were investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. Four healthy subjects were administered oral single doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg GBR 12909 and placebo, and four other healthy subjects received, 50, 100 and 150 mg GBR 12909 and placebo once daily for 7 days. The intermediate and highest doses resulted in mild to moderate side-effects such as difficulties in concentrating, asthenia, feeling of drug influence and palpitations. No changes were observed in haematological and clinico-chemical parameters. A dose-related effect on ECG was observed with a slight reduction of the T-wave amplitude. No signs of arrhythmia or decompensation during exercise until exhaustion were observed. Psychomotor performance indicated dose-related sedation in the single-dose study. Only minor deviations from first order kinetics were observed. Elimination half-life was estimated at 1-2 days. Steady-state serum concentrations of GBR 12909 appeared to be attained within 1 week. Based on the results of this study, the estimated therapeutic doses are expected to be well-tolerated in patients.     

Influence of mercury on uptake of [3H]dopamine and [3H]norepinephrine by rat brain synaptosomes

Mercuric compounds have been shown to alter several membrane-bound enzymes and associated receptor activities. The present studies were initiated to investigate the in vitro effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and methylmercury chloride (CH3HgCl) on the uptake of [3H]dopamine (3HDA), [3H]norepinephrine (3HNE), and Na+, K+-ATPase in rat brain synaptosomes. Brain synaptosomes were prepared by the ficoll-sucrose gradient method from normal, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing approx. 200 g. The effect of mercury on Na+, K+-ATPase was determined by using a coupled enzymatic method. Uptake of DA and NE by brain synaptosomes was determined by filtration in the presence and absence of 0-30 microM HgCl2 and 0-100 microM CH3HgCl. A parallel inhibition in the synaptosomal uptake of 3HDA and 3HNE, and the activity of the synaptosomal membrane Na+, K+-ATPase, was observed in both mercuric chloride and methylmercury treatments. The mercury compounds also significantly inhibited the mitochondrial ATPase (Mg2+-oligomycin-sensitive ATPase). The inhibitory influences of the toxins were concentration-dependent. The results suggest that the mercury compound mediated decrease in DA and NE uptake in brain synaptosomes may be related to the inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase by the same toxins.     

3H]GBR 12935 binding in vivo in mouse brain: labelling of a piperazine acceptor site

The binding of the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor [3H]GBR 12935 was studied in vivo in mouse brain. The binding was reversible with t1/2 = 80 min. The localisation of [3H]GBR 12935 binding and of dopaminergic receptors did not overlap. The binding of [3H]GBR 12935 was distributed almost uniformly throughout the brain. Also, the in vitro inhibition of dopamine uptake and the inhibition of in vivo [3H]GBR 12935 binding did not correlate when a series of relevant reference compounds was used. The potencies of various dopamine uptake inhibitors to induce stereotyped behavior did not correspond to the inhibitory potencies in the [3H]GBR 12935 binding assay. In conclusion, [3H]GBR 12935 labels in vivo a site which is different from the dopamine uptake complex. We have recently obtained results for the in vitro binding of [3H]GBR 12935 that indicate that this site could be a piperazine acceptor site.