Ketamine interacts with the noradrenaline transporter at a site partly overlapping the desipramine binding site

Effects of the intravenous anaesthetic ketamine on the desipramine-sensitive noradrenaline transporter (NAT) were examined in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells and in transfected Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the bovine NAT (bNAT). Incubation (1–3 h) of adrenal medullary cells with ketamine (10–300 μM) caused an increase in appearance of catecholamines in culture medium. Ketamine (10–1000 μM) inhibited desipramine-sensitive uptake of [³H] _{noradrenaline} (NA) (IC₅₀=97 μM). Saturation analysis showed that ketamine reduced V _max of [³H]NA uptake without changing K _m, indicating a non-competitive inhibition. Other inhibitors of NAT, namely cocaine and desipramine, showed a competitive inhibition of [³H]NA uptake while a derivative of ketamine, phencyclidine, showed a mixed type of inhibition. Ketamine (10–1000 μM) also inhibited the specific binding of [³H]desipramine to plasma membranes isolated from bovine adrenal medulla. Scatchard analysis of [³H]desipramine binding revealed that ketamine increased K _d without altering B _max, indicating a competitive inhibition. In transfected Xenopus oocytes expressing the bNAT, ketamine attenuated [³H]NA uptake with a kinetic characteristic similar to that of cultured adrenal medullary cells. These findings are compatible with the idea that ketamine non-competitively inhibits the transport of NA by interacting with a site which partly overlaps the desipramine binding site on the NAT. Received: 18 December 1997 / Accepted: 17 June 1998     

Labelling of recombinant human and native rat serotonin 5-HT1A receptors by a novel, selective radioligand, [3H]-S 15535: Definition of its binding profile using agonists, antagonists and inverse agonists

The novel benzodioxopiperazine, 5-HT_1A receptor weak partial agonist, S 15535 (4-(benzodioxan-5-yl)1-(indan-2-yl)piperazine) bound with high affinity and selectivity to membranes of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells stably expressing the human (h) 5-HT_1A receptor (K_i = 0.6 nM versus [³H]-8-hydroxy-dipropylamino-tetralin, [³H]-8-OH-DPAT): its affinity at h5-HT_1A receptors was more than 70-fold higher than its affinity at > 50 other binding sites. S 15535 was tritiated to high specific activity (50 Ci/mmol) and its binding profile characterised. At 22° C, [³H]-S 15535 associated and dissociated from h5-HT_1A receptors with half-times of 2.9 and 5.0 min, respectively, yielding a K_d estimate of 3.6 nM. In saturation binding experiments, [³H]-S 15535 displayed a B_max value for h5-HT_1A receptors (1630 fmol/mg), higher than that obtained with the agonist [³H]-8-OH-DPAT (1023 pmol/mg). Guanylyl imidodiphosphate (GppNHp, 100 μM) reduced the binding of [³H]-S 15535 by only 25% compared with 79% for [³H]-8-OH-DPAT at h5-HT_1A receptors. [³H]-S 15535 also showed high affinity, saturable binding to rat hippocampal membranes (B_max = 820 fmol/mg versus 647 fmol/mg for [³H]-8-OH-DPAT). For both h5-HT_1A and rat 5-HT_1A receptors, the K_i values for competition binding of 15 serotonergic ligands with [³H]-S 15535 was highly correlated with that of [³H]-8-OH-DPAT. However, important differences were also observed. The agonist, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), displayed biphasic competition curves with [³H]-S 15535 but not with [³H]-8-OH-DPAT at h5-HT_1A receptors. Similarly, the ‘antagonists’, spiperone, methiothepin and (+)butaclamol, showed biphasic competition isotherms versus [³H]-S 15535 but not [³H]-8-OH-DPAT. When [³H]-S 15535 competition binding experiments were carried out in the presence of GppNHp (100 μM) the 5-HT and 8-OH-DPAT competition curves shifted to the right, whereas the spiperone and methiothepin competition curves shifted to the left. In contrast, in the presence of GppNHp, the competition isotherms for N-{2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY 100,635) were not altered. Taken together, these data show that (i) [³H]-S 15535 is a highly selective 5-HT_1A receptor ligand which labels both G-protein-coupled and uncoupled 5-HT_1A receptors, (ii) antagonists, such as WAY 100,635, which yield monophasic isotherms in competition with both [³H]-agonists and [³H]-antagonists, are not sensitive to the G-protein coupling state of the receptor, but (iii) spiperone and methiothepin behaved as inverse agonists, their competition isotherms with [³H]-S 15535 being modulated in an opposite manner to those of agonists. Received: 12 September 1997 / Accepted: 1 December 1997     

Inhibitory effects of clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs on noradrenaline transporter in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells

The effects of clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs on noradrenaline (NA) transport were examined in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells and in transfected Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the bovine NA transporter. Incubation of adrenal medullary cells with clozapine (30–1000 ng/ml) inhibited desipramine (DMI)-sensitive uptake of [³H]NA in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀=110 ng/ml or 336 nM). Other antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and risperidone also decreased [³H]NA uptake (IC₅₀= 144, 220, and 210 ng/ml or 383, 690, and 512 nM, respectively). Eadie-Hofstee analysis showed that clozapine reduced V_max of uptake of [³H]NA and increased K_m. Furthermore, clozapine inhibited specific binding of [³H]DMI to plasma membranes isolated from bovine adrenal medulla (IC₅₀=48 ng/ml or 146 nM). Scatchard plot analysis of [³H]DMI binding revealed that clozapine decreased both B_max and K_d. Other antipsychotic drugs, including haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and risperidone, also reduced [³H]DMI binding to the membranes. In transfected Xenopus oocytes expressing the bovine NA transporter, clozapine inhibited [³H]NA uptake in a concentration-dependent manner similar to that observed in adrenal medullary cells. These results suggest that clozapine and haloperidol directly inhibit transport of NA by acting on the site of an NA transporter that influences both substrate transport and binding of tricyclic antidepressants. Received: 13 April 1999 / Final version: 2 November 1999     

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     

Studies on the binding of [3H]flumazenil and [3H]sarmazenil in post-mortem human brain

Two benzodiazepine analogues, [³H]flumazenil and [³H]sarmazenil, were used to study the GABA_A/benzodiazepine receptor complex in human post-mortem brain using in vitro receptor assays on homogenates and whole hemisphere autoradiography. Both radioligands bound in a saturable manner to single binding sites in the tissue preparations from any brain region. The highest levels of binding were found in the cortical regions and in cortex cerebelli. Both [³H]flumazenil and [³H]sarmazenil were excellent radioligands for autoradiography with high binding in cerebral and cerebellar cortex with no or very low binding in areas with white matter. The addition of a high concentration of flumazenil or clonazepam did not inhibit the binding of [³H]sarmazenil to granule cells in the cerebellum while the binding of [³H]flumazenil was abolished completely in all regions. The results show that with the two different radioligands, one an antagonist and one a partial inverse agonist, the binding pattern to GABA_A/benzodiazepine receptor complex is approximately similar in most brain regions. The additional binding seen in the cerebellum with [³H]sarmazenil is suggested to be due to binding to an α₆-containing complex.     

Automated synthesis of 18F‐labelled analogs of metomidate,vorozole and harmine using commercial platform

Three ¹⁸F‐labelled PET tracers, 2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl 1‐[(1R)‐1‐phenylethyl]‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylate ([¹⁸F]FETO), 6‐[(S)‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐(1H)‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1‐(2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)‐1H‐benzotriazole ([¹⁸F]FVOZ) and 7‐[2‐(2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethoxy)ethoxy]‐1‐9H‐ β ‐carboline ([¹⁸F]FHAR) were synthesized by a one‐step nucleophilic fluorination using the automated commercial platform TRACERLab FX_FN. The labelled products were obtained with 16–20% isolated decay corrected radiochemical yields after 70–75 min synthesis time. The radiochemical and chemical purities were more than 98% in all cases. The synthesis using commercial platform may make these tracers more accessible for clinical research. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Automated synthesis and purification of [18F]fluoro‐[di‐deutero]methyl tosylate

Automated synthetic procedures of [¹⁸F]fluoro‐[di‐deutero]methyl tosylate on a GE TRACERlab FX F‐N module and a non‐commercial synthesis module have been developed. The syntheses included azeotropic drying of the [¹⁸F]fluoride, nucleophilic ¹⁸F‐fluorination of bis(tosyloxy)‐[di‐deutero]methane, HPLC purification and subsequent formulation of the synthesized [¹⁸F]fluoro‐[di‐deutero]methyl tosylate (d₂‐[¹⁸F]FMT) in organic solvents. Automation shortened the total synthesis time to 50 min, resulting in an average radiochemical yield of about 50% and high radiochemical purity (>98%). The possible application of this procedure to commercially available synthesis modules might be of significance for the production of deuterated ¹⁸F‐fluoromethylated imaging probes in the future. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Autoradiographic localisation of D3-dopamine receptors in the human brain using the selective D3-dopamine receptor agonist (+)-[3H]PD 128907

The selective D₃-dopamine receptor agonist 4aR,10bR-(+)-trans-3,4,4a,10b-tetrahydro-4-[N-propyl-2,3-³H]-2H,5H-[1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]-1,4-oxazin-9-ol ([³H]PD 128907) was used to visualise D₃-dopamine receptors in whole hemisphere cryosections from post-mortem human brain. [³H]PD 128907 has an 18- to 40-fold selectivity for D₃- over D₂-dopamine receptors as compared to a 7- to 24-fold selectivity of the more commonly used ligand [³H]7-OH-DPAT. [³H]PD 128907 accumulated markedly in the nucleus accumbens and in the ventral parts of caudate nucleus and putamen, with a slightly heterogeneous (patch-matrix like) distribution. The binding in the lateral parts of caudate nucleus and putamen was much less dense. No binding was obtained in any other regions. A very high proportion of [³H]PD 128907 was specifically bound, as judged from the low binding remaining in the presence of the D₂/D₃-dopamine receptor antagonist raclopride. This gives the ligand a potential for the detection of low density D₃-dopamine receptors in the human brain. The binding obtained with [³H]PD 128907 was qualitatively similar to that using [³H]7-OH-DPAT in the presence of GTP. However, [³H]7-OH-DPAT labelled, in contrast to [³H]PD 128907, also D₃-dopamine receptors in neocortex. The new compound [³H]PD 128907 appears to be a suitable radioligand for autoradiographic examination of the D₃-dopamine receptor localisation in the human brain, and should also be useful for pharmacological studies of this receptor subtype. Received: 20 November 1995/Final version: 2 May 1996     

Synthesis of C‐14 and C‐13, H‐2‐labeled IKK inhibitor: [14C] and [13C4,D3]‐N‐(6‐chloro‐7‐methoxy‐9H‐pyrido[3,4‐b]indol‐8‐yl)‐2‐methyl‐3‐pyridinecarboxamide

[¹⁴C]‐N‐(6‐Chloro‐7‐methoxy‐9H‐pyrido [3,4‐b]indol‐8‐yl)‐2‐methyl‐3‐pyridinecarboxamide (5B ), an IKK inhibitor, was synthesized from [¹⁴C]‐barium carbonate in two steps in an overall radiochemical yield of 41%. The intermediate, [carboxyl‐¹⁴C]‐2‐methylnicotinic acid, was prepared by the lithiation and carbonation of 3‐bromo‐2‐methylpyridine. [¹³C₄,D₃]‐N‐(6‐chloro‐7‐methoxy‐9H‐pyrido [3,4‐b]indol‐8‐yl)‐2‐methyl‐3‐pyridinecarboxamide (5C ) was synthesized from [1,2,3,4‐¹³C₄]‐ethyl acetoacetate and [D₄]‐methanol in six steps in an overall yield of 2%. [¹³C₄]‐2‐methylnicotic acid, was prepared by condensation of [¹³C₄]‐ethyl 3‐aminocrotonate and acrolein, followed by hydrolysis with lithium hydroxide. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of [1,2‐3H]ethylamine hydrochloride and [3H]‐labeled apadenoson for a human ADME study

Tritium‐labeled [1,2‐³H]ethylamine hydrochloride was prepared through a multiple‐step sequence in high radioactive specificity. The labeled amine was isolated in high purity following cartridge filtration and used subsequently in the synthesis of [N‐ethyl‐1,2‐³H]apadenoson, an adenosine A_2a receptor agonist. The overall yield for this transformation was 56% and the radiochemical purity of the final product was greater than 99%. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of a 11C‐labelled taxane derivative by [1‐11C]acetylation

The ¹¹C‐labelling of the taxane derivative BAY 59‐8862 ( 1 ), a potent anticancer drug, was carried out as a module‐assisted automated multi‐step synthesis procedure. The radiotracer [¹¹C]1 was synthesized by reacting [1‐¹¹C]acetyl chloride ( 6 ) with the lithium salt of the secondary hydroxy group of precursor 3 followed by deprotection. After HPLC purification of the final product [¹¹C]1 , its solid‐phase extraction, formulation and sterile filtration, the decay‐corrected radiochemical yield of [¹¹C]1 was in the range between 12 and 23% (related to [¹¹C]CO₂; n=10). The total synthesis time was about 54 min after EOB. The radiochemical purity of [¹¹C]1 was greater than 96% and the chemical purity exceeded 80%. The specific radioactivity was 16.8±4.7 GBq/µmol (n=10) at EOS starting from 80 GBq of [¹¹C]CO₂. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dopamine D2 receptors selectively labeled by a benzamide neuroleptic: [3H]-YM-09151-2

Summary In order to label dopamine D₂ receptors selectively we tritiated the potent benzamide neuroleptic, YM-09151-2 (26.7 Ci/mmol). The binding of [³H]-YM-09151-2 to canine striatal membranes was saturable and specific with a K _D of 57 pmol/l and B _max of 36 pmol/g tissue as determined by Scatchard analysis. The K _D, but not the B _max, of [³H]-YM-09151-2 increased 6-fold in the absence of sodium chloride. [³H]-YM-09151-2 labeled 40% more sites than [³H]-spiperone in the same tissue homogenate. [³H]-YM-09151-2 binding was inhibited by dopaminergic drugs in a concentration and stereoselective manner with the appropriate dopamine D₂ receptor profile. Thus, dopamine agonists inhibited [³H]-YM-09151-2 binding to canine striatal membranes with the following rank order of potency: (–)-N-n-propylnorapomorphine > apomorphine > (±)-6,7-dihydroxy-2-aminotetralin > (+)-N-n-propylnorapomorphine > dopamine > (–)-noradrenaline > serotonin > (–)-isoprenaline. Dopaminergic antagonists competed for [³H]-YM-09151-2 binding with the following order of potency: spiperone > (+)-butaclamol > haloperidol > clebopride > (–)-sulpiride > SCH-23390 > (–)-butaclamol. Furthermore, dopamine agonists recognized 2 states of the receptor labeled by [³H]-YM-09151-2, D ₂ ^high and D ₂ ^low . The D ₂ ^high state of the receptor could be converted to D ₂ ^low by guanine nucleotides and sodium ions as is the case for [³H]-spiperone binding to D₂ receptors. [³H]-YM-09151-2 appears to be a more selective ligand for dopamine D₂ receptors than [³H]-spiperone, since YM-09151-2 displays approximately 9-fold lower affinity than spiperone for cortical serotonergic (S₂) receptors. [³H]-YM-09151-2 may become a useful tool for the selective characterization of dopamine D₂ receptors.Abbreviations used (±)ADTN (±)-2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene - NPA N-n-propylnorapomorphine - Gpp(NH)p 5-guanylylimidodiphosphate     

Synthesis of [3′‐14C] coenzyme Q10

Radio‐labelled coenzyme Q₁₀, labelled at the 3′‐position with ¹⁴C, was synthesized starting from natural solanesol and ethyl [3‐¹⁴C] acetoacetate. The radiochemical yield was 8.0% from ethyl [3‐¹⁴C] acetoacetate. The specific radioactivity of the product was 44.8 μCi, 1.66 MBq/mg. The specific radioactivity and radiochemical purity are sufficiently high to enable us to use this labelled form of coenzyme Q₁₀ in metabolic studies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of 3-PPP,a putative dopamine autoreceptor agonist,on [3H]ligand binding to dopamine receptors of calf and rat striatum

3-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propyliperidine (3-PPP) is most effective in inhibiting [³H]apomorphine binding in rat striatal membranes, with Ki values of 63 nM. 3-PPP was six to 27 times less effective when it competed with the binding of [³H]dopamine or [³H]spiperone in calf and rat striatal membranes. At concentrations up to 10 μM, 3-PPP failed to substitute for dopamine in the activation of adenylate cyclase in rat striatal membranes. 3-PPP at 4.8-5 μM caused 50% inhibition of catecholamine uptake in synaptosomes of corpus striatum and hypothalamus, therefore appearing to be a relatively weak uptake inhibitor. The higher affinity of 3-PPP for [³H]apomorphine binding sites is consistent with its binding to a subset of dopamine receptors which are characterized by a high affinity for both the agonist and antagonist of dopamine.     

Platelet 5-HT uptake sites in depression: three concurrent measures using [3H] imipramine and [3H] paroxetine

Platelet 5-HT uptake sites were measured in 40 depressed patients and 40 controls using [³H] imipramine binding, defined with desmethylimipramine (DMI) and Na⁺ dependence, and [³H] paroxetine binding. In control subjects the B_max of DMI defined [³H] imipramine binding was significantly higher than both Na⁺ dependent [³H] imipramine (by 30%) and [³H] paroxetine binding (by 22%). The B_max of Na⁺ dependent [³H] imipramine and [³H] paroxetine binding did not differ significantly. The K_d of Na⁺ dependent [³H] imipramine binding was significantly lower than the K_d of DMI defined [³H] imipramine binding. The binding of DMI defined and Na⁺ dependent [³H] imipramine and [³H] paroxetine did not differ significantly between depressed patients and controls in the total group, in those depressed patients who had never taken antidepressants or in those depressed patients who had been recently with-drawn from antidepressants. This study provides no support for the view that the number of platelet 5-HT uptake sites are reduced in depression.     

四氢巴马汀等异喹啉生物碱对突触体及囊泡摄取[3H]多巴胺的影响

本文报道四氢巴马汀(THP)等异喹啉生物碱对[³H]DA摄取的作用。突触体对[³H]DA的亲和力常数Km为0.23μmol。最大摄取速率Vmax为1.2 nmol/g(5 min)。d-THP,1-SPD和1-THP对突触体摄取[³H]DA均有抑制作用,其IC₅₀分别为0.44,2.24和18.5μmol。d-THP的作用比1-THP约强20倍。nomifensine,苯丙胺和氟哌啶醇亦能有效地抑制[³H]DA摄取(IC₍₅₀₎分别为0.05,0.27和3.18μmol)。动力学研究表明,d-THP和nomifensine为DA摄取的竞争性抑制剂。用低渗溶液处理溶胀的方法研究药物对递质贮存的作用发现,与利血平相似,d-THP显著降低贮存囊泡[³H]DA含量并使囊泡与突触体[³H]DA含量之比明显减小。实验结果表明,THP等能抑制突触体摄取,并直接作用于贮存囊泡抑制[³H]DA贮存,因此具有利血平样排空作用。     

Enhancement of benzodiazepine binding by progabide (SL 76002) and SL 75102

The new GABA derivatives, progabide (SL 76002) and SL 75102 (the corresponding carboxylic acid), enhanced [³H]diazepam binding to rat cortical membranes. SL 75102 was as effective as GABA, and both were less active than muscimol. Similar to other GABA agonists, progabide and SL 75102 enhanced binding in vitro by an increase in affinity. The elevation of [³H]diazepam binding in the presence of SL 75102 was antagonized by bicuculline. In ex vivo experiments, brain membrane preparations of mice pretreated with progabide were found to bind a greater amount of [³H]diazepam. This increased binding was characterized by an elevation in B_max, while K_D was unaffected. [³H]Flunitrazepam binding to brain in vivo was also enhanced in mice pretreated with progabide. Other GABA agonists (muscimol, THIP, isoguvacine) and GABAergic agents (sodium valproate) elicited an increase in [³H]flunitrazepam binding in vivo. Binding of intravenous [³H]flunitrazepam in vivo may be useful for discovering enhancers of benzodiazepine binding.     

Cholinergic modulation of [3H]dopamine release from dendrosomes of rat substantia nigra

Summary Dendrosomes prepared from substantia nigra are able to take up and release [³H]dopamine in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. The V_max values of [³H]dopamine uptake in substantia nigra dendrosomes was about 5 times lower than that in caudate putamen synaptosomes. The pattern of the K⁺-dependency of the [³H]dopamine release in substantia nigra dendrosomes was significantly different from that found in caudate putamen synaptosomes. The release of [³H]dopamine evoked by 15 mmol/l KCl from superfused dendrosomes was increased in a concentration-dependent manner by acetylcholine. The maximal potentiation produced by acetylcholine was about 40%. The potentiation of [³H]dopamine release by 10 µmol/l acetylcholine was insensitive to mecamylamine but antagonized by atropine and by pirenzepine. The effects of acetylcholine on the release of [³H]acetylcholine from substantia nigra nerve endings was also studied. Exogenous acetylcholine added to the superfusion medium decreased in a concentration-dependent manner the release of acetylcholine. This effect was not antagonized by mecamylamine or pirenzepine but fully antagonized by atropine. The data suggest the existence, in the substantia nigra of the rat, of two distinct muscarinic receptor subtypes regulating respectively dopamine release from dopamine dendrites and acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerve terminals.Part of this work was presented at a satellite meeting of the 11th International Congress of Pharmacology: Dopamine '90 held in Como, Italy (July 1990) Send offprint requests to M. Raiteri at the above address     

Labelling of I2B-imidazoline receptors by [3H]2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline (2-BFI) in rat brain and liver: characterization, regulation and relation to monoamine oxidase enzymes

The novel selective imidazoline radioligand [3H]2-(2-benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline (2-BFI) was used to characterize and assess further the nature of I₂-imidazoline receptors in rat brain and liver. In the cerebral cortex, 2-BFI displayed high affinity (K _i= 9.8 nM) for a single class of [³H]2-BFI binding sites. Other imidazoline/guanidine compounds (e.g. aganodine, cirazoline and idazoxan) displayed biphasic competition curves, indicating the existence of high (K _iH= 2.9-78 nM; R _H= 61-83%) and low (K _iL= 4.7-158 μM) affinity sites. The pharmacological profile for [³H]2-BFI binding (aganodine > cirazoline > 2-BFI >> clonidine > amiloride >> efaroxan) was typical of that for I₂-sites. This profile was almost identical to that obtained against [³H]idazoxan (correlation between pK _i values, r = 0.97) which indicated that the sites characterized with [³H]2-BFI in brain corresponded to I₂-imidazoline receptors. The low affinity of amiloride against [³H]2-BFI (K _i= 900 nM) further indicated that these brain I₂-sites belong to the I_2B-subtype. [³H]2-BFI binding sites (B _max= 72 fmol/mg protein) in brain were differentially modulated by treatment (7 days) with cirazoline (up-regulation: 25%) and the MAO inhibitor phenelzine (down-regulation: 31%), indicating that these I₂-sites are regulated in vivo, as is the case for those labelled by [³H]idazoxan. Chronic treatment with 2-phenylethylamine, a phenelzine metabolite and endogenous amine, did not alter the density of brain of I₂-imidazoline receptors labelled by [³H]idazoxan. Preincubation of liver membranes with the MAO inhibitor clorgyline (10^-7 M) abolished the binding of [³H]Ro 41-1049 (N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-(m-fluorophenyl)-4-thiazole carboxamide) to MAO-A, but it did not alter the binding of [³H]Ro 19-6327 (N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-chloro-2-pyridine carboxamide) to MAO-B or that of [³H]2-BFI to I₂-sites. At 10^-4 M it also abolished MAO-B sites, but a substantial proportion of I₂-sites (40%) remained intact. Preincubation of liver membranes at 60 °C also abolished MAO-A/B sites, whereas still 22% of I₂-sites remained. The results indicate that [³H]2-BFI is a good tool for the identification of I₂-imidazoline receptors and suggest further that certain I₂-sites and MAO are different proteins. Received: 10 January 1997 / Accepted: 6 March 1997     

Binding studies with [3H]cis-methyldioxolane in different tissues

Summary Special conditions - tricine buffer containing Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, 22°C (TCM) — allow to label a much higher proportion of muscarinic receptors by [³H]cis-methyldioxolane (CD) than hitherto described (Vickroy et al. 1984 a). Taking the maximum number of binding sites, B _max, of [³H]QNB as 100%, B _max of [³H]CD amounts to 83% in the rat heart instead of the reported 17%, 33% in the cerebral cortex instead of 6%, 20% in hippocampus and 55% in pons/medulla. In the salivary glands specific binding was negligible. The affinities of a number of muscarinic agonists and antagonists to [³H]CD and [³H]QNB binding sites in different tissues of the rat are compared. Apparent affinities of agonists are much higher in the [³H]CD system, affinities of antagonists are slightly higher in the [³H]QNB system. In both assay systems receptors of heart and pons/ medulla membranes seem to have similar drug specificity. They differ somewhat from those in the cortex. Receptors in the salivary glands, however, seem to be completely different from those in the other three tissues. In the heart [³H]CD binding can be abolished almost completely by GppNHp. In the cortex about half of the [³H]CD binding is susceptible to GppNHp. The reduction of binding in the cortex is due to a change in B _max and not in the dissociation constant K _D. Competition of unlabelled pirenzepine with [³H]CD: In heart and pons/medulla only low affinity sites for pirenzepine (M₂-receptors) are labelled by [³H]CD. In regions rich in M₁ receptors like hippocampus (80% M₁ receptors) or cortex (65–70% M₁ receptors) the proportion of M₁ receptors labelled by [³H]CD is smaller than expected considering the concentration of M₁ receptors present in these tissues. Thus [³H]CD, under the conditions described in this paper, seems to label preferentially but not exclusively M₂ receptors in their agonist high affinity form. Send offprint requests to A. Closse at the above address