Binding of selective antagonists to four muscarinic receptors (M1 to M4) in rat forebrain

To compare the proportions of four muscarinic receptors in different rat brain regions, we used competition curves with four selective antagonists, at 1-[N-methyl-3H]scopolamine methyl chloride [( 3H]NMS) binding equilibrium and after allowing [3H]NMS dissociation for 35 min. Himbacine and methoctramine were shown to discriminate two muscarinic receptor subtypes having a high affinity for 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide and hexahydrosiladifenidol, intermediate affinity for pirenzepine, and low affinity for AF-DX 116. One M4 subtype had a high affinity for himbacine and methoctramine; it was found predominantly in homogenates from rat striatum (46% of total [3H]NMS receptors) and in lower proportion in cortex (33% of [3H]NMS receptors) and hippocampus (16% of [3H]NMS receptors). Its binding properties were identical to those of muscarinic receptors in the neuroblastoma x glioma NG 108-15 hybrid, suggesting that it was encoded by m4 mRNA. The M3 subtype (typically found in rat pancreas, a tissue expressing the m3 mRNA) had a low affinity for himbacine and methoctramine and represented about 10% of all [3H]NMS receptors in rat brain cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum. M1 and M2 receptors were identified in rat brain by their high affinity for pirenzepine and AF-DX 116, respectively.     

Muscarinic receptor heterogeneity in rat central nervous system. I. Binding of four selective antagonists to three muscarinic receptor subclasses: a comparison with M2 cardiac muscarinic receptors of the C type

We previously observed that [3H]NMS recognizes three types of muscarinic receptors in rat brain (one M1 subclass with high affinity for pirenzepine, and two M2 subclasses with low affinities for pirenzepine), based on distinct affinity and kinetic constants of [3H]NMS for these three subclasses. In this work, we investigated the binding of four selective antagonists to these three (the M1 and two M2) subclasses. We were able to demonstrate that cardiac-like M2 receptors with low affinity for pirenzepine and low affinity for N-methylscopolamine were present not only in cerebellum (as previously shown; see introduction) but also in cortex, striatum, and hippocampus, and the two M2 receptor subclasses were discriminated by dicyclomine, 4-DAMP, and gallamine, as well as by AF-DX 116 and [3H]NMS. Our findings also suggested that the biphasic association and dissociation kinetics of [3H]NMS observed in various brain regions reflect sequential binding to the different receptors.     

Muscarinic receptor heterogeneity in rat central nervous system. II. Brain receptors labeled by [3H]oxotremorine-M correspond to heterogeneous M2 receptors with very high affinity for agonists

We compared the binding characteristics of muscarinic receptors labeled by [3H]oxotremorine-M ([3H]oxo-M) in homogenates of brain cortex and heart from rat. In both tissues [3H]oxo-M bound, with the same KD (6.5 nM), to a fraction of the receptors labeled by [3H]-N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS). This [3H]oxo-M receptor population represented, respectively, 15-20% and 35-40% of the total number of [3H]NMS receptors in cortex and heart. The three unlabeled agonists oxotremorine, carbamylcholine, and pilocarpine, when tested in competition with [3H]oxo-M, displayed a homogeneous super high affinity toward [3H]oxo-M-labeled receptors, and were unable to discriminate between brain and heart receptors labeled by [3H]oxo-M. By contrast, selective muscarinic antagonists showed some selectivity for either brain or heart [3H]oxo-M-labeled receptors. We analyzed competition curves between [3H]oxo-M and secoverine, pirenzepine, AF-DX 116, dicyclomine, or gallamine, assuming the existence of one or two receptor subclasses. Heart muscarinic receptors labeled by [3H]oxo-M were homogeneous M2 receptors of the C type with very low affinity for pirenzepine (Ki = 400 nM). Brain [3H]oxo-M-labeled receptors were heterogeneous receptors, with 30% (the B type) having a higher affinity for dicyclomine and a lower affinity for AF-DX 116 and gallamine than cardiac receptors, whereas the remaining 70% (the C type) showed "cardiac-like" binding properties. Both [3H]oxo-M-labeled subtypes in cortex homogenates had a low affinity for pirenzepine, indicating that [3H]oxo-M labeled only B and C (M2) receptors in this tissue. GTP inhibited completely [3H]oxo-M binding in heart homogenates with an IC50 at 300 nM. In cortex homogenates, GTP showed the same potency, but its efficacy was much lower (with only 30% maximal inhibition). [3H]oxo-M dissociation kinetics were monophasic in heart homogenates and biphasic in cortex homogenates. [3H]oxo-M dissociation from both tissues was slowed by gallamine and d-tubocurarine and accelerated by GTP. We found no correlation between B versus C [3H]oxo-M receptors, GTP-sensitive versus GTP-insensitive receptors, and rapidly versus slowly dissociating receptors, suggesting that [3H] oxo-M labeled a large variety of muscarinic receptor-regulatory protein complexes, all having an SH affinity for agonists.     

Positive cooperativity in the binding of alcuronium and N-methylscopolamine to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

The effect of the neuromuscular blocker alcuronium on the binding of N-[3H]-methylscopolamine [( 3H]NMS) and l-[3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate ([3H]QNB) to muscarinic binding sites in rat heart atria, longitudinal smooth muscle of the ileum, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and submaxillary glands was measured using filtration techniques. In the presence of 10(-5) M alcuronium, the binding of [3H]NMS (which was present at a subsaturating concentration of 2 x 10(-10) M) was increased 5.3-fold in the atria and smooth muscle and 3-fold in the cerebellum; no increase was observed in the brain cortex and salivary glands. The binding of [3H]NMS was inhibited at 10(-3) M and higher concentrations of alcuronium. The rates of [3H]NMS association to and dissociation from muscarinic binding sites in the atria were diminished by 10(-5) M alcuronium. Scatchard plots of [3H]NMS binding data obtained with and without 10(-5) M alcuronium indicated that the maximum number of binding sites was not altered by the drug, whereas the apparent Kd for [3H]NMS was diminished. In contrast to [3H] NMS, the effects of alcuronium on the binding of [3H]QNB were only inhibitory. The concentration of alcuronium required to diminish the binding of [3H]QNB by 50% (IC50) was 4-7 microM in the atria, ileal smooth muscle, and the cerebellum, 140 microM in the brain cortex, and 1200 microM in the parotid gland. The results suggest that the binding of low concentrations of alcuronium to muscarinic receptors in the heart, ileal smooth muscle, and cerebellum allosterically increases the affinity of muscarinic receptors towards [3H]NMS, although not [3H]QNB. At high concentrations, alcuronium inhibits the binding of muscarinic ligands, presumably by competition for the classical muscarinic binding site. Positive cooperativity induced by alcuronium appears to be specific for the m2 (cardiac) subtype of muscarinic receptors.     

Effects of WEB 1881 FU, a novel nootropic, on cholinergic and adrenergic receptors in the rat brain: action on M1-muscarinic receptors

Effects of 4-aminomethyl-1-benzylpyrrolidin-2-one-hemifumarate (WEB 1881 FU), a novel pyrrolidinone nootropic, on acetylcholine (ACh) receptors and adrenoceptors were investigated using crude membranes of the rat brain. The affinity order of WEB 1881 FU was: M1-muscarinic (m) ACh receptor greater than M2-mACh receptor greater than alpha 2-adrenoceptor greater than beta-adrenoceptor greater than alpha 1-adrenoceptor greater than nicotinic ACh receptor. The WEB 1881 FU-competition curve for [3H]pirenzepine binding in hippocampal membranes was rightward-shifted by GTP gamma S; such behavior was also observed in the case of oxotremorine but not with scopolamine. The effects of long-term administration of WEB 1881 FU (30 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 21 days resulted in a significant decrease in the Bmax of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. In addition, the Bmax of [3H]pirenzepine binding to hippocampal and striatal membranes and that of [3H]AF-DX 116 binding to cerebellar membranes were significantly decreased as well. From these results, WEB 1881 FU seems to act on M1-mACh receptors, and its long-term administration probably induces the down-regulation of mACh receptors, mainly M1-mACh receptors in the hippocampus and striatum and M2-mACh receptors in the cerebellum.     

Characterization of cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the rabbit iris

The sphincter smooth muscle of the iris is innervated by excitatory parasympathetic nerve fibers, and the activation of these fibers results in the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate into its derived second messengers, myosin light chain phosphorylation and muscle contraction. The present study characterizes the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) of the rabbit iris employing [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) and L-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) as probes. Binding studies indicated that [3H]NMS and [3H]QNB bound to homogeneous populations of mAChRs with apparent Bmax values of 0.67 and 1.09 pmol/mg protein respectively. Binding of radioligands was rapid, saturable, stereospecific, reversible, and inhibited by specific muscarinic agonists and antagonists in a competitive manner. [3H]NMS displayed a lower amount of nonspecific binding and a faster association and dissociation rate than [3H]QNB. The relative potencies for displacement of both radioligands, based on their Ki values, were (-)QNB greater than atropine greater than (+)QNB greater than pirenzepine greater than pilocarpine. Antagonist displacement of the radioligands appeared to obey the law of mass action, indicating interaction with a single binding site. However, displacement of the radioligands by the agonists carbamylcholine and methacholine indicated interaction with both high and low affinity binding sites. Comparison of the displacement of [3H]NMS and [3H]QNB by pirenzepine in microsomal fractions from rabbit iris, ileal muscle and cerebral cortex revealed the presence of a single subtype of mAChR in the iris which had an affinity for PZ that was slightly higher than that of ileal M2 receptors, but lower than that of brain M1 receptors. This suggests that the mAChRs in the iris may represent a subclass of receptors within the M2 subtype, or they may constitute an entirely different subtype of mAChRs.     

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.     

On the interaction of gallamine with muscarinic receptor subtypes

The interaction of gallamine with muscarinic receptor subtypes was examined using radioligand binding studies. In competition studies using [3H]N-methylscopolamine [( 3H]NMS), gallamine displayed high affinity for the rat cardiac and guinea-pig uterine M2 muscarinic receptors and for the atypical muscarinic receptor present in chicken heart. Gallamine displayed low affinity for rat glandular and human 1321 N1 astrocytoma cell M3 receptors and also for the M4 receptors of NG108-15 and PC12 cells. The compound displayed intermediate affinity for M1 receptors of rat cortex labeled using [3H]pirenzepine. The interaction of gallamine with the M1 and M2 receptors appeared to be competitive at the low concentrations required to determine affinity estimates. Thus, gallamine inhibited the binding of [3H]pirenzepine to M1 receptors and [3H]NMS to M2 receptors at concentrations that were 263- and 23-fold lower, respectively, than those required to decrease radioligand dissociation kinetics. Furthermore, gallamine, at a concentration that inhibited between 63 and 71% of specific radioligand binding, had no effect on the observed rate of association of the radioligand with either the M1 or the M2 receptor. At the M3 glandular receptor, there was little separation between the concentrations of gallamine that produced inhibition of binding and those that decreased the association and dissociation rates of [3H]NMS. It is therefore difficult to determine if the inhibition of binding seen in competition studies on the M3 receptor was produced through a competitive or an allosteric mechanism. Despite its possible allosteric properties at the M3 receptor, gallamine can be used to detect heterogeneity of muscarinic receptor subtypes in several tissues and therefore represents a useful tool for defining muscarinic receptor subtypes.     

The binding of [3H]telenzepine to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in calf forebrain

Telenzepine binds to calf brain muscarinic receptors with a selectivity for M1 receptors that is comparable to that exhibited by pirenzepine. Telenzepine has a 10-fold higher affinity than pirenzepine at these receptors and is equipotent with atropine. Because of its potency, selectivity and hydrophilicity, [3H]telenzepine is an excellent radioligand for binding to and monitoring M1 receptor binding sites. The kinetics of [3H]telenzepine binding are extremely slow, even at 37 degrees C.     

On the involvement of multiple muscarinic receptor subtypes in the activation of phosphoinositide metabolism in rat cerebral cortex

We have examined the activation of phosphoinositide metabolism by muscarinic agonists in rat cerebral cortex, in an attempt to delineate the mechanisms by means of which some selective antagonists inhibit this response in a manner that deviates from simple mass action law. The accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates induced by the full agonist carbamylcholine in cell aggregates preparations was inhibited by muscarinic antagonists with the following order of potency: telenzepine greater than atropine greater than 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methbromide greater than pirenzepine greater than hexahydro-sila-difenidol greater than AF-DX 116. The same order of potency was found for the competition of these antagonists with [3H]telenzepine binding to M1 muscarinic receptors. The inhibition of the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates activated by acetylcholine, carbamylcholine, and oxotremorine-M by pirenzepine and telenzepine showed biphasic curves, with 62-73% of the response being inhibited with high affinity. Atropine, AF-DX 116, and pirenzepine shifted the concentration-response curves of oxotremorine-M to the right in a parallel manner. However, pirenzepine at micromolar concentrations showed deviation from linearity of the Schild regression. The blockade by high concentrations of pirenzepine and telenzepine showed less than additive dose ratios when assayed in the presence of atropine, suggesting deviation of their antagonism from simple competition. However, after alkylation with propylbenzilylcholine mustard in the presence of low concentrations of pirenzepine, the response to carbamylcholine and oxotremorine-M showed monophasic inhibition curves by pirenzepine and linear Schild regression for this antagonist. These results support the interpretation that the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates is activated by multiple muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat cerebral cortex. The profile of affinities of muscarinic antagonists indicates that a major component of the response is activated by an M1 receptor subtype and a minor component is probably mediated by M3 muscarinic receptors when acetylcholine, carbamylcholine, or oxotremorine-M are used to stimulate the response. Conversely, pirenzepine inhibited the response induced by methacholine and bethanechol in a monophasic manner with high affinity (Ki = 13 nM), suggesting that these agonists can selectively stimulate phosphoinositide metabolism through activation of M1 muscarinic receptors in rat cerebral cortex.     

Inhibition of phosphoinositide turnover by selective muscarinic antagonists in the rat striatum. Correlation with receptor occupancy

In the rat corpus striatum, receptor occupancy and the inhibition of phosphoinositide turnover by muscarinic antagonists have been examined under very similar conditions with respect to tissue preparation and buffer composition. The results suggest a good correlation between receptor occupancy and inhibition by muscarinic antagonists, of the carbachol-stimulated turnover of inositol phospholipids, measured by the accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates in the presence of 5 mM LiCl. In the presence of 10 mM carbachol (CCh), the accumulation of labeled inositol phosphates was increased 8-fold above basal levels (EC50 = 95 microM). Inclusion of antagonists resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the 0.1 mM CCh-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation, with a rank order of potency of atropine greater than trihexyphenidyl greater than pirenzepine greater than or equal to gallamine. Radioligand binding studies with [3H]-l-quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB) in a cell aggregate preparation revealed a single class of saturable, high affinity [3H]QNB binding sites exhibiting a Kd of 74 pM and a Bmax of 2.85 pmol/mg protein. The antagonists examined were able to inhibit the binding of [3H]QNB with the same rank order of potency as for the inhibition of carbachol-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover (atropine greater than trihexyphenidyl greater than pirenzepine greater than or equal to gallamine). Although the inhibition of phosphoinositide turnover and [3H]QNB binding by the nonselective antagonist atropine was best described by interaction at a single site, inhibition of phosphoinositide turnover and [3H]QNB binding by both pirenzepine, which is selective for M1 receptors, and gallamine, which is selective for M2 receptors, is complex. Pirenzepine was much more potent than gallamine for both binding to receptors and inhibiting phosphoinositide turnover. Nonlinear curve-fitting analysis indicated that slope factors for inhibition of phosphoinositide turnover (analogous to Hill coefficient for binding) by only subtype selective antagonists were significantly less than unity. The above-mentioned antagonist interactions together with the apparently multicomponent stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover by carbachol suggest that phosphoinositide turnover may be coupled to more than one muscarinic receptor subtype in the corpus striatum.     

Autoradiographic analyses of agonist binding to muscarinic receptor subtypes

The binding of four muscarinic receptor agonists to regions of rat brain was examined through quantitative autoradiographic techniques. Oxotremorine, arecoline, pilocarpine and bethanechol were chosen based on their different potencies and efficacies in muscarinic second messenger systems. Overall, the order of potency for inhibition of [3H]-l-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-l-QNB) binding to rat brain slices was oxotremorine greater than pilocarpine = arecoline much greater than bethanechol. Regional assays of agonist potency indicated that all agonists were more selective for brainstem and thalamic regions than for hippocampal and cortical regions. The high selectivity of agonists for areas such as the paraventricular thalamus and the superior colliculus, which also display low affinity for pirenzepine, suggests that muscarinic agonists bind with higher affinity to M2 receptors. Of the four agonists examined, pilocarpine displayed the lowest selectivity for M2 receptors in that IC50 values for pilocarpine were only 3-fold higher in the hippocampal and striatal regions (e.g. CA3: 40.6 +/- 9.4 microM) than in thalamic and brainstem regions (e.g. paraventricular thalamus: 14.9 +/- 6.2 microM). Oxotremorine was 8-fold more potent in the brainstem and thalamus, while arecoline and bethanechol were, respectively, 19- and 100-fold more selective for brainstem and thalamic receptors. Scatchard analyses revealed heterogeneous binding profiles for some agonists within single brain regions, suggesting that multiple agonist sites exist even within regions of predominantly M1 or M2 receptors. For example, arecoline displayed curved Scatchard plots within the external layers of the cerebral cortex, layer CA1 of the hippocampus (predominantly M1 subtype), and the paraventricular thalamus (predominantly M2 subtype). The ability of agonists to recognize multiple sites within a single region may reflect the ability to recognize receptors coupled or uncoupled to second messenger systems through G-proteins.     

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat pancreatic islets: binding and functional studies

Cholinergic agents are potent modulators of insulin release that act via muscarinic receptors. We now investigated the muscarinic receptor subtype present in rat pancreatic islets in binding and functional studies. Binding of 5 nM [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) was half maximal at 30 min. At 60 min, the maximal total binding was 1.29% and the non-specific binding (presence of 100 microM atropine) was 0.18% of the total radioactivity per 10 micrograms islet protein. Unlabelled atropine inhibited [3H]NMS binding with an IC50 of ca. 30 nM. The rank order of antagonist high-affinity binding was atropine greater than sila-hexocyclium methyl sulfate (SiHC; M1 greater than M3 greater than M2) greater than pirenzepine (M1 greater than M2 approximately M3) = methoctramine (M2 greater than M1 greater than M3). The high-affinity Kds were 8.5, 56, 1300 and 1300 nM, respectively. The high affinity Kd of the muscarinic receptor agonist, arecaidine propargyl ester (APE), was 8.1 nM. The EC50 for the biological effects of APE on insulin and glucagon secretion was 3.2 and 2.3 nM. The rank order for the high-affinity biological effects of antagonists (inhibition of APE-mediated insulin/glucagon release) was almost the same as for binding. The data indicate that rat pancreatic islets contain neither an M1 subtype (high-affinity for pirenzepine) nor an M2 subtype (high-affinity for methoctramine) receptor. However, the data evidence an M3 receptor subtype, since SiHC in the absence of the M1 receptor subtype shows a relatively high affinity to the receptors in rat pancreatic islets.     

Characterization of the muscarinic receptor subtype in isolated gastric fundic cells of the rabbit

The characteristics of the muscarinic receptor in isolated gastric fundic cells from rabbit were determined by radioligand binding techniques and functional tests. The dissociation constants (KDS) of selective (hexahydrosiladifenidol and pirenzepine) and non-selective (N-methylscopolamine and atropine) muscarinic receptor antagonists obtained in competition experiments vs [3H]-N-methylscopolamine were compared with the pA2 values of the drugs as inhibitors of carbachol-stimulated [14C]-aminopyrine accumulation (an index of acid secretion) in the gastric fundic cells. Good correlations were found between the ability of the drugs to inhibit acid secretion and their affinity for muscarinic receptors in the gastric fundic cells. The rank order of potency in both tests was N-methylscopolamine greater than atropine greater than hexahydrosiladifenidol greater than pirenzepine. The character of the muscarinic receptor subtype present on gastric fundic cells was established by comparing the affinity values of the compounds for this receptor with those for the receptors in other rabbit tissues. It was found that only pirenzepine and hexahydrosiladifenidol displayed tissue selectivity in their binding profiles. The KDS for pirenzepine were 13nM for the M1 receptor of the cerebral cortex and about 500 nM for the M2 receptors of the submandibular and gastric glands and heart. Differently from pirenzepine, hexahydrosiladifenidol showed about 10-fold discrimination between the M2 subtype of the gland (KD = 31 nM) and the M2 subtype of the heart (KD = 330 nM).     

Thiochrome enhances acetylcholine affinity at muscarinic M4 receptors: receptor subtype selectivity via cooperativity rather than affinity

Thiochrome (2,7-dimethyl-5H-thiachromine-8-ethanol), an oxidation product and metabolite of thiamine, has little effect on the equilibrium binding of l-[3H]N-methyl scopolamine ([3H]NMS) to the five human muscarinic receptor subtypes (M1-M5) at concentrations up to 0.3 mM. In contrast, it inhibits [3H]NMS dissociation from M1 to M4 receptors at submillimolar concentrations and from M5 receptors at 1 mM. These results suggest that thiochrome binds allosterically to muscarinic receptors and has approximately neutral cooperativity with [3H]NMS at M1 to M4 and possibly M5 receptors. Thiochrome increases the affinity of acetylcholine (ACh) 3- to 5-fold for inhibiting [3H]NMS binding to M4 receptors but has no effect on ACh affinity at M1 to M3 or M5 receptors. Thiochrome (0.1 mM) also increases the direct binding of [3H]ACh to M4 receptors but decreases it slightly at M2 receptors. In agreement with the binding data, thiochrome does not affect the potency of ACh for stimulating the binding of guanosine 5'-O-(3-[35S]thiotriphosphate) ([35S]GTPgammaS) to membranes containing M1 to M3 receptors, but it increases ACh potency 3.5-fold at M4 receptors. It also selectively reduces the release of [3H]ACh from potassium-stimulated slices of rat striatum, which contain autoinhibitory presynaptic M4 receptors, but not from hippocampal slices, which contain presynaptic M2 receptors. We conclude that thiochrome is a selective M4 muscarinic receptor enhancer of ACh affinity and has neutral cooperativity with ACh at M1 to M3 receptors; it therefore demonstrates a powerful new form of selectivity, "absolute subtype selectivity", which is derived from cooperativity rather than from affinity.     

Muscarinic receptor binding characteristics of a human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH and its clones SH-SY5Y and SH-EP1

The present study examines the muscarinic receptor binding characteristics of parent human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) and its neuroblast (SH-SY5Y) and epithelial-like (SH-EP1) clones using [3H]methylscopolamine [( 3H]NMS). Specific [3H]NMS binding to intact SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y cells was saturable with a Kd of 0.2 nM and Bmax of 100-150 fmol/mg protein. Specific [3H]NMS binding to whole cell preparations of SH-EP 1 could not be detected. Pharmacological analysis of the binding site both in whole cells and membranes of SK-N-SH are indicative of an homogeneous receptor population possessing low affinity for the M1-selective antagonist pirenzepine. The muscarinic receptors expressed by the neuroblast clone, SH-SY5Y were further characterized and shown to have the properties of an homogeneous M3 subtype with low affinity for the M1-selective antagonist pirenzepine and the M2-cardioselective AFDX-116 but high affinity for 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl piperidine methiodide (4-DAMP). In conclusion the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma should provide an important human neuronal cell model with which to define the regulation of post-receptor events driven by a single receptor population.     

Comparison of benzodiazepine receptor binding in membranes from human or rat brain

Specific high affinity binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to membranes from human brain was stimulated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), pentobarbital, 1-ethyl-4-(isopropylidene-hydrazino)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4b]pyridine-5-carboxy lic acid ethyl ester hydrochloride (SQ 20009) and avermectin B1a and was unaffected by 2 microM 4'-chlorodiazepam (Ro 5-4864) indicating that [3H]flunitrazepam in human brain as well as in rat brain predominantly binds to benzodiazepine receptors specific to brain, which was associated with a GABA receptor and several modulatory binding sites for drugs. The potency of several selective and non-selective ligands for benzodiazepine receptors for inhibition of the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam was compared in membranes from human or rat brain cerebellum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex. It was demonstrated that all these compounds, derived from different chemical structures, had a remarkably similar potency for inhibition of the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam in the corresponding regions of the human or rat brain. However, irreversible labelling of benzodiazepine binding sites with [3H]flunitrazepam and subsequent SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography revealed more photolabelled protein bands in human than in rat cerebellum and hippocampus. The results seem to indicate that, although the pharmacological properties of reversible binding of [3H]flunitrazepam are remarkably similar in membranes from rat or human brain, the molecular heterogeneity of benzodiazepine binding sites is even greater in human than in rat brain.     

In vivo [3H]spiperone binding to the rat hippocampal formation: Involvement of dopamine receptors

The existence of DA receptors in the rat hippocampus was demonstrated with an in vivo [³H]spiperone radio-receptor assay. Kinetic studies revealed that maximum binding of [³H]spiperone in hippocampus was much smaller than in striatum and frontal cortex but much higher than in cerebellum. In inhibition studies of [³H]spiperone binding, all neuroleptics tested were active in hippocampus as well as in striatum. In contrast, 5HT antagonists were definetely less potent in these two brain regions than in frontal cortex. Finally, even when 5HT receptors were blocked, dipropyl-ATN and haloperidol remained fully effective in hippocampus, striatum, but also in frontal cortex although to a lesser degree. From these results it was concluded that [³H]spiperone binds mainly to DA receptors in hippocampus as well as in striamtum, whereas both 5HT and DA receptors are present in frontal cortex.     

The binding of pirenzepine to digitonin-solubilized muscarinic acetylcholine receptors from the rat myocardium.

The binding of pirenzepine to digitonin-solubilized rat myocardial muscarinic acetylcholine receptors has been examined at 4 degrees C. Solubilization produced only small changes in the binding of N-methylscopolamine and atropine. In contrast to the low affinity binding of pirenzepine found to be present in in the membranes, high affinity binding was detected in the soluble preparation. In both preparations, pirenzepine binding was complex. High affinity pirenzepine binding (KD approximately 3 X 10(-8)M) to the soluble myocardial receptors could be monitored directly using [3H]-pirenzepine. [3H]-pirenzepine-labelled soluble myocardial receptors have a sedimentation coefficient of 11.1 s. This indicates that [3H]-pirenzepine binds predominantly to the uncoupled form of the receptor. However, [3H]-pirenzepine-agonist competition experiments indicated that the high affinity pirenzepine binding sites are capable of coupling with a guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein. Pirenzepine affinities for the soluble myocardial receptors were unaffected by their state of association with the GTP-binding proteins found in the heart. The equilibrium binding properties of the soluble cortical and myocardial receptors were very similar. However, the binding kinetics of the myocardial receptor were much slower. It appears that the membrane environment can affect the affinity of pirenzepine for the rat myocardial muscarinic receptor. Removal of the constraint by solubilization allows the expression of high affinity pirenzepine binding.     

Effect of the combination of the benzodiazepine tranquilizer medazepam and the nootropic agent meclofenoxate on the activity of rat brain muscarinic receptors

1. The effect of 7-day treatment with the benzodiazepine tranquilizer medazepam (5 mg/kg), the nootropic agent meclofenoxate (100 mg/kg) and their combination in the same doses on the binding activity of muscarinic receptors in four rat brain structures (cerebral cortex, striatum, hippocampus and hypothalamus) were studied using the antagonist [3H]-1-quinuclidinyl benzylate [( 3H]-QNB) as radio-ligand. 2. Medazepam treatment caused significant decrease of muscarinic receptor binding affinity (Kd) and of the receptor binding capacity (Bmax) in the brain structures studied. The number of muscarinic binding sites was unsignificantly decreased only in the hippocampus. 3. Meclofenoxate treatment caused an increase of muscarinic receptor affinity and a decrease of the binding capacity in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus and an increase of the binding affinity in the striatum and hippocampus. 4. The combination of medazepam and meclofenoxate caused no significant changes of both muscarinic receptor characteristics in the hippocampus and of the receptor affinity in the striatum and hypothalamus in comparison with control rats. The Bmax values were decreased in the cerebral cortex, striatum and hypothalamus when compared with control animals. The differences observed were slighter than those determined after the comparison of medazepam treated rats with control rats. 5. The results obtained afford an opportunity to suggest that the nootropic agent meclofenoxate acts to moderate the effect of the benzodiazepine tranquilizer medazepam on the activity of rat brain muscarinic receptors.