3H-DOB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine) labels a guanyl nucleotide-sensitive state of cortical 5-HT2 receptors

3H-(+/-)-4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine (3H-DOB), a putative agonist radioligand, was synthesized and used to label 5-HT2 receptors in a particulate fraction prepared from rat frontal cortex tissue homogenates. The specific binding (defined by the difference in 3H-DOB binding in the presence and absence of 10(-6) M cinanserin, a potent and specific 5-HT2 antagonist) displayed high affinity (KD = 4.1 X 10(-10) M) and saturability with a Bmax of 17.9 fmol/mg of protein. The distribution of specific 3H-DOB binding in nine brain regions correlated closely with the distribution of 3H-ketanserin (an antagonist radioligand)-labeled 5-HT2 receptors. Competition studies in frontal cortex homogenates using a variety of compounds revealed a distinct 5-HT2 receptor pharmacology. A series of 5-HT2 antagonists exhibited high affinities in competition studies for specific 3H-DOB binding. The absolute potencies of these antagonists as well as their order of potencies closely correlated with their potencies in competing for 3H-ketanserin-labeled brain 5-HT2 receptors. A series of 5-HT2 agonists also exhibited high affinities in competition studies for specific 3H-DOB binding. Although the order of potencies of these agonists was similar to their order in competing for 3H-ketanserin-labeled brain 5-HT2 receptors, the agonists displayed 10-100-fold higher affinities for the 3H-DOB-labeled sites than for the 3H-ketanserin-labeled sites. The level of specific 3H-DOB binding in the frontal cortex homogenates was approximately 5% of the levels of 3H-ketanserin-labeled 5-HT2 receptors (358 fmol/mg of protein). Taken together, these results indicate that 3H-DOB labels a subset of brain 5-HT2 receptors that has high affinity for agonists as well as antagonists); 3H-ketanserin appears to label both subsets of brain 5-HT2 receptors. Antagonists apparently do not discriminate between these two subsets of 5-HT2 receptors. 3H-DOB specific binding to 5-HT2 receptors was potently inhibited by guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (nonhydrolyzable derivatives of GTP) with IC50 values of 42 and 21 nM, respectively, whereas adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (nonhydrolyzable derivatives of ATP) had no effect. In summary, 3H-DOB specific binding displays the pharmacological characteristics of a 5-HT2 receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Beta-oxygenated analogues of the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonist 1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane

Activation of 5-HT(2A) serotonin receptors represents a novel approach to lowering intraocular pressure. Because 5-HT(2A) serotonin receptor agonists might also produce undesirable central effects should sufficient quantities enter the brain, attempts were made to identify 5-HT(2) serotonin receptor agonists with reduced propensity to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. 1-(4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropan-1-ol (6), an analogue of the 5-HT(2) serotonin receptor agonist 1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOB; 1a) bearing a benzylic hydroxyl group, was identified as a candidate structure. Of the four optical isomers of 6, the 1R,2R-isomer (6d; K(i) = 0.5 nM) was found to bind at 5-HT(2A) receptors with an affinity similar to that of R(-)DOB (K(i) = 0.2 nM). Like R(-)DOB, 6d behaved as a partial agonist (efficacy ca. 50%) in a 5-HT(2)-mediated calcium mobilization assay. However, in an in vivo test of central action (i.e., stimulus generalization with rats as subjects), 6d was >15 times less potent than R(-)DOB. O-Methylation of 6d (i.e., 7d; 5-HT(2A) K(i) = 0.3 nM) resulted in an agent that behaved as a full (93% efficacy) agonist. Intraocular administration of 300 microg of 6d and 7d to ocular hypertensive monkeys was shown to reduce intraocular pressure by 20-27%. Given the route of administration (i.e., topical), and concentrations necessary to reduce intraocular pressure, compounds such as 6d should demonstrate minimal central effects at potentially useful therapeutic doses and offer useful leads for further development.     

3H]-DOB(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine) and [3H] ketanserin label two affinity states of the cloned human 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptor

The binding properties of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) receptor have been the subject of much interest and debate in recent years. The hallucinogenic amphetamine derivative 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine (DOB) has been shown to bind to a small number of binding sites with properties very similar to [3H]ketanserin-labeled 5-HT2 receptors, but with much higher agonist affinities. Some researchers have interpreted this as evidence for the existence of a new subtype of 5-HT2 receptor (termed 5-HT2A), whereas others have interpreted these data as indicative of agonist high affinity and agonist low affinity states for the 5-HT2 receptor. In this investigation, a cDNA clone encoding the serotonin 5-HT2 receptor was transiently transfected into monkey kidney Cos-7 cells and stably transfected into mouse fibroblast L-M(TK-) cells. In both systems, expression of this single serotonin receptor cDNA led to the appearance of both [3H]DOB and [3H]ketanserin binding sites with properties that matched their binding characteristics in mammalian brain homogenates. Addition of guanosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido) triphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] to this system caused a rightward shift and steepening of agonist competition curves for [3H] ketanserin binding, converting a two-site binding curve to a single low affinity binding state. Gpp(NH)p addition also caused a 50% decrease in the number of high affinity [3H]DOB binding sites, with no change in the dissociation constant of the remaining high affinity states. These data on a single human 5-HT2 receptor cDNA expressed in two different transfection host cells indicate that [3H]DOB and [3H]ketanserin binding reside on the same gene product, apparently interacting with agonist and antagonist conformations of a single human 5-HT2 receptor protein. These observations are consistent with the classical view of interconvertible agonist affinity states of GTP-binding protein-coupled receptors and strongly support the "two state" over the "two receptor" model for DOB binding to the 5-HT2 receptor.     

[3H]-F13640, a novel, selective and high-efficacy serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist radioligand

F13640 is a selective and high-efficacy serotonin 5-HT_1A receptor agonist that demonstrates outstanding analgesic potential in different animal models. Here, we use the radiolabelled compound to further characterise its binding properties at 5-HT_1A receptors. F13640 was tritium-labelled to 47 and 64 Ci/mmol specific activity and used as radioligand at membrane preparations of CHO cells expressing human (h) 5-HT_1A receptors. The K _d of [³H]-F13640 was 1.8 nM at h5-HT_1A receptors as determined from saturation binding experiments. In association time-course experiments, k _obs of [³H]-F13640 was 0.06 min^?1. Dissociation experiments performed in the presence of unlabelled F13640 as competing ligand yielded a k _off value of 0.05 min^?1, resulting in a calculated K _d of 1.4 nM. In comparison, [³H]-8-OH-DPAT had a k _obs of 0.50 min^?1, a k _off of 0.25 min^?1 and a calculated K _d of 0.37 nM. Surprisingly, [³H]-F13640 dissociation kinetics were distinctly slower in the presence of WAY-100635 and spiperone as competing ligands when compared with the agonist competitors, F13640 and (+)8-OH-DPAT. The competitive binding profile of [³H]-F13640 with eight chemically diverse 5-HT_1A receptor agonists and antagonists correlated highly (r?=?0.996) with that of [³H]-8-OH-DPAT. In conclusion, [³H]-F13640 is a potent agonist radioligand at 5-HT_1A receptors and may be a useful tool in pharmacological studies at native and recombinant 5-HT_1A receptors. In addition, [³H]-F13640 dissociates more slowly from h5-HT_1A receptors than [³H]-8-OH-DPAT, a kinetic property that might be related to its powerful analgesic effects as observed in vivo.     

N-methyl derivatives of the 5-HT2 agonist 1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane

1-(4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOB) is a serotonin (5-HT) agonist that displays a high affinity and selectivity for a certain population of central 5-HT binding sites (i.e., 5-HT2 sites). In the present study, (a) an enantiomeric potency comparison was made for the optical isomers of DOB and (b) the activity of N-monomethyl-,N,N-dimethyl-, and N,N,N-trimethyl-DOB was examined. (R)-(-)-DOB (Ki = 0.39 nM) was found to have 6 times greater affinity than its S-(+) enantiomer at [3H]DOB-labeled (rat cortical homogenates) 5-HT2 sites; N-methylation of racemic DOB resulted in a decrease in affinity that was at least 1 order of magnitude per methyl group. Similar results were obtained in an in vivo drug discrimination paradigm with rats as subjects and (R)-(-)-DOB (0.2 mg/kg) as the training drug. Thus, the R-(-) isomer of DOB is more active than its S-(+) enantiomer and than any of the possible N-methyl derivatives of DOB, both with respect to affinity at central 5-HT2 binding sites and with respect to potency in the behavioral (i.e., stimulus generalization) studies.     

R(−)-2,5-Dimethoxy-4-77bromoamphetamine [77Br-R(−)DOB]: a novel radioligand which labels a 5-HT binding site subtype

R(–)-2,5-Dimethoxy-4-⁷⁷Br-amphetamine [⁷⁷Br-R(–)DOB], a radioligand of high specific activity (1500±200 Ci/mmol), was used to label membrane-associated recognition sites in rat brain. ⁷⁷Br-R(–)DOB sites were of high affinity (K _D=0.19 nM) but low density (B _max=0.32 pmol/g tissue) in rat brain preparations. Competition experiments show that both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT₂ antagonists display nanomolar potency for these sites. We conclude that ⁷⁷Br-R(–)DOB labels 5-HT recognition sites in rat brain which do not fit into current classifications of 5-HT binding subtypes. This finding may be of aid in deciphering the mechanism of action of hallucinogens in man.     

Molecular pharmacology of 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 recognition sites in rat and pig brain membranes: radioligand binding studies with [3H]5-HT, [3H]8-OH-DPAT, (-)[125I]iodocyanopindolol, [3H]mesulergine and [3H]ketanserin

The pharmacological characteristics of the binding of [3H]8-OH-DPAT ([3H]8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, [125I]CYP ((-)[125I]iodocyanopindolol) (in the presence of 30 microM (-)isoprenaline) and [3H]mesulergine to 5-HT1 recognition sites were studied in rat and pig brain membranes. [3H]8-OH-DPAT bound in rat and pig cortex to the 5-HT1A recognition site characterized by high affinity for 5-CT (5-carboxamido-tryptamine), 8-OH-DPAT, 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine, serotonin) and low affinity for pirenperone, ketanserin and mesulergine. [125I]CYP bound in rat but not in pig cortex to the 5-HT1B site which shows high affinity for (-)21-009 (4[3-ter-butyl-amino-2-hydroxy-propoxy]indol-2-carbonic acid isopropyl ester), (+/-)ICYP (3-I-cyanopindolol), 5-HT, RU 24969 (5-methoxy-3-[1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridon-4-yl]1H-indole) and low affinity for 8-OH-DPAT, mesulergine and pirenperone. [3H]Mesulergine bound in pig choroid plexus and in rat cortex (besides binding to 5-HT2 sites in rat cortex) to the 5-HT1C recognition site characterized by high affinity for metergoline, mesulergine, 5-HT and methergine and low affinity for (-)21-009, ICYP, 8-OH-DPAT and spiroperidol. The pharmacological profile of 5-HT1A sites in rat and pig cortex appears to be identical; 5-HT1C sites in pig choroid plexus and rat cortex show no differences. In contrast, it was not possible to label 5-HT1B sites with [125I]CYP in pig brain membranes indicating that like 5-HT2 receptors, 5-HT1 recognition sites show species differences. The pharmacological profiles of the three 5-HT1 recognition sites are clearly different from one another. Furthermore, the pharmacological profile of each individual 5-HT1 recognition site is also different from that of the 5-HT2 receptors labelled with [3H]ketanserin in rat cortex membranes although some similarities exist between 5-HT2 and 5-HT1C sites. Finally, the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (-)21-009 which has different affinities for 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B and 5-HT1C recognition sites, yielded triphasic competition curves for [3H]5-HT binding in rat cortex membranes providing evidence that [3H]5-HT labels three distinct 5-HT1 sites in these membranes.     

3H] A-369508 ([2-[4-(2-cyanophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]-N-(3-methylphenyl) acetamide): an agonist radioligand selective for the dopamine D4 receptor

Tritiation of the dopamine D(4) receptor selective agonist A-369508 ([2-[4-(2-cyanophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]-N-(3-methylphenyl) acetamide) has provided a radioligand for the characterization of dopamine D(4) receptors. [(3)H] A-369508 binds with high affinity to the major human dopamine D(4) receptor variants D(4.2), D(4.4) and D(4.7) (K(d)=1.7, 4, and 1.2 nM, respectively). It also binds to the rat dopamine D(4) receptor, (K(d)=4.4 nM), implying similar binding affinity across human and rat receptors. A-369508 shows >400-fold selectivity over D(2L), >350-fold selectivity over 5-HT(1A) and >700-1,000-fold selectivity over all other receptors tested. Agonist activity determined by inhibition of forskolin-induced cAMP in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the human dopamine D(4.4) receptor (EC(50)=7.5 nM, intrinsic activity=0.71) indicates that A-369508 is a potent agonist at the human dopamine D(4) receptor. Similar data was observed in other functional assays. [(3)H] A-369508 binds to a single, high affinity site on membranes containing the human dopamine D(4.4) receptor. When compared to the D(2)-like antagonist [(3)H] spiperone, competition binding for agonists like dopamine and apomorphine were 2-10-fold more potent with [(3)H] A-369508, while the antagonists clozapine, haloperidol and L-745870 bind with similar affinity to both ligands. Binding to rat brain regions demonstrated that the most abundant area was cerebral cortex (51.2 fmol/mg protein) followed by hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum. [(3)H] A-369508 is a useful tool to define the localization and physiological role of dopamine D(4) receptors in central nervous system and can facilitate measuring accurate affinities (K(i)) for structure/activity relationship studies designed to identify dopamine D(4) receptor selective agonists.     

Selective visualization of rat brain 5-HT2A receptors by autoradiography with [3H]MDL 100,907

The recently developed 5-HT_2A receptor selective antagonist [³H]MDL100,907 ((+/–)2,3-dimethoxyphenyl-1-[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol]) has been characterized as a radioligand for the autoradiographic visualization of these receptors. [³H]MDL100,907 binding to rat brain tissue sections was saturable, had sub-nanomolar affinity (Kd=0.2–0.3nM), and presented a pharmacological profile consistent with its binding to 5-HT_2A receptors (rank order of affinity for [³H]MDL100,907-labelled receptors: MDL100,907 > spiperone > ketanserin > mesulergine). The distribution of receptors labelled by [³H]MDL100,907 was compared to the autoradiographical patterns obtained with [³H]Ketanserin, [³H]Mesulergine, and [³H]RP62203 (N-[3-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-piperazin-1-y1]propyl]-1,8-naphtalenesultam) and to the distribution of 5-HT_2A receptor mRNA as determined by in situ hybridization. As opposed to the other radioligands, [³H]MDL100,907 labelled a single population of sites (5-HT_2A receptors) and presented extremely low levels of non-specific binding. The close similarity of the distributions of [³H]MDL100,907-labelled receptors and 5-HT_2A mRNA further supports the selectivity of this radioligand for 5-HT_2A receptors and suggests a predominant somatodendritic localization of these receptors. The present results point to [³H]MDL100,907 as the ligand of choice for the autoradiographic visualization of 5-HT_2A receptors. Received: 7 April / Accepted: 18 May 1997     

[3H]-RS-45041-190: a selective high-affinity radioligand for I2 imidazoline receptors.

1. RS-45041-190 (4-chloro-2-(imidazolin-2-yl)isoindoline) is an I2 imidazoline receptor ligand with the highest affinity and selectivity so far described; [3H]-RS-45041-190 has a tritium atom attached to the 7-position on the isoindoline ring. 2. [3H]-RS-45041-190 binding to rat kidney membranes was saturable (Bmax = 223.1 +/- 18.4 fmol mg-1 protein) and of high affinity (Kd = 2.71 +/- 0.59 nM). Kinetic studies revealed that the binding was rapid and reversible, with [3H]-RS-45041-190 interacting with two sites or two affinity states. 3. Competition studies showed that 60-70% of [3H]-RS-45041-190 binding (1 nM) was specifically to imidazoline binding sites of the I2 subtype, characterized by high affinity for idazoxan (pIC50 7.85 +/- 0.03) and cirazoline (pIC50 8.16 +/- 0.05). The remaining 30-40% was displaced specifically by the monoamine oxidase A inhibitors, clorgyline and pargyline. 4. alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor, I1 imidazoline, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine or dopamine receptor ligands had low affinity suggesting that [3H]-RS-45041-190 did not label receptors of these classes. 5. In autoradiography studies, [3H]-RS-45041-190 labelled discrete regions of rat brain corresponding to the distribution of I2 subtypes, notably the subfornical organ, arcuate nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, medial habenular nucleus and lateral mammillary nucleus, and additional sites in the locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. 6. [3H]-RS-45041-190 therefore labels I2 receptors with high affinity, and an additional site which has high affinity for some monoamine oxidase inhibitors.     

Effect of fluvoxamine on platelet 5-HT2A receptors as studied by [3H]lysergic acid diethylamide ([3H]LSD) binding in healthy volunteers

Alterations in platelet 5-HT_2A receptor characteristics have been reported in major depression as well as in other psychiatric diseases, and some effort has been made to utilize platelet 5-HT_2A receptor status as a biological correlate to antidepressant drug response. In order to investigate whether treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor affects platelet 5-HT_2A receptors, we have studied platelet [³H]lysergic acid diethylamide ([³H]LSD) binding in healthy subjects treated with fluvoxamine in increasing dosage once weekly for 4 weeks. After 1 week of fluvoxamine treatment (25 mg/day), both B_max and K_d were significantly lower than before the start of the treatment (19.9 versus 25.5 fmol/mg protein, P = 0.005 for B_max; 0.45 versus 0.93 nM, P = 0.006 for K_d). B_max returned to baseline during week 2, whereas K_d was lower than the baseline value throughout the treatment period. After discontinuation of fluvoxamine treatment, there was a significant increase in K_d (0.50 nM before discontinuation vs. 1.14 nM after discontinuation; P = 0.001), but not in B_max. The study demonstrates that fluvoxamine affects platelet 5-HT_2A receptor status irrespective of underlying psychiatric disease, and that this effect is evident already after 1 week at a subtherapeutic fluvoxamine dose. Received: 11 October 1996/Final version: 12 March 1997     

[3H]Ketanserin labels 5-HT2 receptors and α1-adrenoceptors in human and pig brain membranes

The binding characteristics of [3H]ketanserin (a reported selective radioligand for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors) and [125I]BE 2254 (which labels selectively alpha 1-adrenoceptors) were characterized in brain frontal cortex membranes of pig and man. Saturation experiments indicated that both radioligands label apparently a homogeneous class of binding sites in human and pig fontal cortex membranes. Competition experiments with [125I]BE 2254 using 17 agonists and antagonists showed monophasic and steep curves in human and pig frontal cortex membranes. The pharmacological profile of these sites is typical of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. In competition experiments with [3H]ketanserin, most of the tested compounds displayed shallow or biphasic curves. In particular, alpha 1-adrenoceptor-selective antagonists (prazosin, WB 4101, BE 2254...) displaced with nanomolar affinity about 15 and 40% of the specific [3H]ketanserin binding in human and pig frontal cortex membranes, respectively. The minor component of [3H]ketanserin binding correlated highly significantly with [125I]BE 2254 binding in both membrane preparations. The major component of [3H]ketanserin binding to pig and human frontal cortex membranes correlated significantly with [3H]ketanserin binding in rat brain cortex membranes (which is essentially to 5-HT2 receptors). The present data demonstrate that [3H]ketanserin in nanomolar concentrations binds significantly to alpha 1-adrenoceptors in human and pig frontal cortex membranes; this suggests a rather limited degree of selectivity of ketanserin for 5-HT2 receptors in pig and human tissues.     

Binding studies with the 5-HT1B receptor agonist [3H]CP-96,501 in brain tissues

Binding studies in rat brain membranes have shown that [³H]CP-96,501 is a selective, high affinity radioligand for 5-HT_1B receptors. Additional studies with [³H]CP-96,501 in brain tissues of several other species were undertaken to investigate its utility in detecting this receptor subtype. The presence of 5-HT_1B receptors in brain membranes of the hamster and gerbil was demonstrated with [³H]CP-96,501. This finding was confirmed by [³H]5-HT binding experiments that also indicated the presence of other 5-HT₁ subtypes (possibly 5-HT_1D, 5-HT_1E) in these species as well as the rat. Negligible specific binding of [³H]CP-96,501 was found in membranes of guinea pig brain, dog hypothalamus, bovine caudate, pig choroid plexus, and several human brain tissues, consistent with the reported absence of the 5-HT_1B receptor subtype in these species. Autoradiographic examination of rat brain sections labeled by [³H]CP-96,501 showed a dense localization in areas known to be enriched in 5-HT_1B receptors (e.g., globus pallidus, substantia nigra, superior colliculus, subiculum). On the other hand, brain sections of dog and guinea pig appeared to show no specific binding of [³H]CP-96,501 by autoradiography, in agreement with the lack of brain 5-HT_1B receptors in these tissues. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

3H]A-804598 ([3H]2-cyano-1-[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]-3-quinolin-5-ylguanidine) is a novel, potent, and selective antagonist radioligand for P2X7 receptors

ATP-sensitive P2X7 receptors are localized on cells of immunological origin including peripheral macrophages and glial cells in the CNS. Activation of P2X7 receptors leads to rapid changes in intracellular calcium concentrations, release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, and following prolonged agonist exposure, the formation of cytolytic pores in plasma membranes. Data from gene knockout studies and recently described selective antagonists indicate a role for P2X7 receptor activation in inflammation and pain. While several species selective P2X7 antagonists exist, A-804598 represents a structurally novel, competitive, and selective antagonist that has equivalent high affinity at rat (IC₅₀ = 10 nM), mouse (IC₅₀ = 9 nM) and human (IC₅₀ = 11 nM) P2X7 receptors. A-804598 also potently blocked agonist stimulated release of IL-1β and Yo-Pro uptake from differentiated THP-1 cells that natively express human P2X7 receptors. A-804598 was tritiated ([³H]A-804598; 8.1 Ci/mmol) and utilized to study recombinant rat P2X7 receptors expressed in 1321N1 cells. [³H]A-804598 labeled a single class of high affinity binding sites (K_d = 2.4 nM and apparent B_max = 0.56 pmol/mg). No specific binding was observed in untransfected 1321N1 cells. The pharmacological profile for P2X antagonists to inhibit [³H]A-804598 binding correlated with their ability to block functional activation of P2X7 receptors (r = 0.95, P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that A-804598 is one of the most potent and selective antagonists for mammalian P2X7 receptors described to date and [³H]A-804598 is a high affinity antagonist radioligand that specifically labels rat P2X7 receptors.