Characterization of the muscarinic receptor subtype(s) mediating contraction of the guinea-pig lung strip and inhibition of acetylcholine release in the guinea-pig trachea with the selective muscarinic receptor antagonist tripitramine

1. The muscarinic receptor subtypes mediating contraction of the guinea-pig lung strip and inhibition of the release of acetylcholine from cholinergic vagus nerve endings in the guinea-pig trachea in vitro have previously been characterized as M₂-like, i.e. having antagonist affinity profiles that are qualitatively similar but quantitatively dissimilar compared to cardiac M₂ receptors. The present study sought to establish definitely the identity of these receptor subtypes by using the selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, tripitramine. Guinea-pig atria and guinea-pig trachea (postjunctional contractile response) were included for reference.
2. It was found that tripitramine antagonized methacholine-induced contractions of the guinea-pig lung strip with a pK_B value of 8.76±0.05. Both the parallel shifts of the concentration-response curves and the slope of the Schild plot being not significantly different from unity (when antagonist preincubation was for 2 h) indicated the involvement of a single population of receptors in the contractile response. From the pK_B values obtained with tripitramine and a range of other selective muscarinic receptor antagonists (cf. Roffel et al., 1993), this single population of receptors can only be classified as M₂-like.
3. Tripitramine antagonized methacholine-induced negative chronotropic and inotropic responses in guinea-pig right and left atria with apparent pK_B values of 9.4–9.6. However, such values were only obtained when antagonist preincubation was relatively long and/or antagonist concentration relatively high (e.g. with 1 h at 100 or 300 nM but 3 h at 30 nM). It thus appears that low concentrations of tripitramine do not readily equilibrate with M₂ receptors in guinea-pig atria nor with M₂-like receptors in the guinea-pig lung strip.
4. Tripitramine increased electrical field stimulation-induced cholinergic twitch contractions in guinea-pig trachea in concentrations of 0.3–100 nM, by blocking prejunctional muscarinic inhibitory autoreceptors; with higher concentrations, twitch contractions were progressively diminished, as a result of blocking postjunctional M₃ receptors (apparent pK_B value 6.07±0.15). The pEC₂₀ value (−log concentration that increases twitch by 20% of maximum) was 8.29±0.08, which would suggest that M₄ receptors are involved in this response.
5. Oxotremorine-induced inhibition of the release of prelabelled [³H]-acetylcholine from guinea-pig trachea, under conditions where there is no auto-feedback, was blocked by tripitramine (2 h preincubation) with a pK_B value of 8.56±0.06. The slope of the corresponding Schild plot was not significantly different from unity, which together with the parallel shifts of the concentration-response curves indicated the involvement of a single muscarinic receptor subtype.
6. Since the pK_B value for tripitramine at prejunctional receptors in guinea-pig trachea is in between the affinities towards M₂ and M₄ receptors, correlation plots were constructed to compare the pK_B values obtained with tripitramine and a range of other selective muscarinic receptor antagonists (cf. Kilbinger et al., 1995) to reported affinities at M₁–M₄ receptors. This showed rather similar distribution patterns of the data points around the line of equality in the case of M₂ and M₄ receptor subtypes. However, the correlation coefficient was markedly better for M₂ (0.9667) than for M₄ (0.5976). Since recent evidence suggests that M₄ receptors are not expressed in cholinergic nerves from guinea-pig trachea, it is concluded that prejunctional muscarinic autoinhibitory receptors in this tissue exhibit an atypical M₂ type character, with a pharmacological profile distinct from cardiac M₂ receptors.

     

Characterization of the Ca2+ responses evoked by ATP and other nucleotides in mammalian brain astrocytes

1. This study was aimed at characterizing ATP-induced rises in cytosolic free calcium ion, [Ca²⁺]_i, in a population of rat striatal astrocytes loaded with the fluorescent Ca²⁺ probe Fura2, by means of fluorescence spectrometry.
2. ATP triggered a fast and transient elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i in a concentration-dependent manner. The responses of the purine analogues 2-methylthio-ATP (2-meSATP), adenosine-5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADPβS), as well as uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP) resembled that of ATP, while α,β-methylene-ATP (α,β-meATP) and β,γ-methylene-ATP (β,γ-meATP) were totally ineffective.
3. Suramin (50 μM) had only a minor effect on the ATP response, whereas pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid (PPADS) (5 μM) significantly depressed the maximum response.
4. Extracellular Ca²⁺ did not contribute to the observed [Ca²⁺]_i rise: removing calcium from the extracellular medium (with 1 mM EGTA) or blocking its influx by means of either Ni²⁺ (1 mM) or Mn²⁺ (1 mM) did not modify the nucleotide responses.
5. Furthermore, after preincubation with 10 μM thapsigargin, the nucleotide-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i increments were completely abolished. In contrast, 10 mM caffeine did not affect the responses, suggesting that thapsigargin-, but not caffeine/ryanodine-sensitive stores are involved.
6. Both application of the G-protein blocker guanosine-5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDPβS) (1 mM) and preincubation with pertussis toxin (PTx) (350 ng ml⁻¹) partially inhibited the nucleotide-mediated responses. Moreover, the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U-73122, but not its inactive stereoisomer U-73343 (5 μM), significantly reduced the ATP-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rise.
7. In conclusion, our results suggest that, in rat striatal astrocytes, ATP-elicited elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i is due solely to release from intracellular stores and is mediated by a G-protein-linked P2Y receptor, partially sensitive to PTx and coupled to PLC.

     

Selective antagonism of the GABAA receptor by ciprofloxacin and biphenylacetic acid

1. Previous studies have shown that ciprofloxacin and biphenylacetic acid (BPAA) synergistically inhibit γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptors. In the present study, we have investigated the actions of these two drugs on other neuronal ligand-gated ion channels.
2. Agonist-evoked depolarizations were recorded from rat vagus and optic nerves in vitro by use of an extracellular recording technique.
3. GABA (50 μM)-evoked responses, in the vagus nerve in vitro, were inhibited by bicuculline (0.3–10 μM) and picrotoxin (0.3–10 μM), with IC₅₀ values and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 1.2 μM (1.1–1.4) and 3.6 μM (3.0–4.3), respectively, and were potentiated by sodium pentobarbitone (30 μM) and diazepam (1 μM) to (mean±s.e.mean) 168±18% and 117±4% of control, respectively. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 0.5 μM)-evoked responses were inhibited by MDL 72222 (1 μM) to 10±4% of control; DMPP (10 μM)-evoked responses were inhibited by hexamethonium (100 μM) to 12±5% of control, and αbMeATP (30 μM)-evoked responses were inhibited by PPADS (10 μM) to 21±5% of control. Together, these data are consistent with activation of GABA_A, 5-HT₃, nicotinic ACh and P2_X receptors, respectively.
4. Ciprofloxacin (10–3000 μM) inhibited GABA_A-mediated responses in the vagus nerve with an IC₅₀ (and 95% CI) of 202 μM (148–275). BPAA (1–1000 μM) had little or no effect on the GABA_A-mediated response but concentration-dependently potentiated the effects of ciprofloxacin by up to 33,000 times.
5. Responses mediated by 5-HT₃, nicotinic ACh and P2_X receptors in the vagus nerve and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in the optic nerve were little or unaffected by ciprofloxacin (100 μM), BPAA (100 μM) or the combination of these drugs (both at 100 μM).
6. GABA (1 mM)-evoked responses in the optic nerve were inhibited by bicuculline with an IC₅₀ of 3.6 μM (2.8–4.5), a value not significantly different from that determined in the vagus nerve. Ciprofloxacin also inhibited the GABA-evoked response with an IC₅₀ of 334 μM (256–437) and BPAA (100 μM) potentiated these antagonist effects. However, the magnitude of the synergy was 48 times less than that seen in the vagus nerve.
7. These data indicate that ciprofloxacin and BPAA are selective antagonists of GABA_A receptors, an action that may contribute to their excitatory effects in vivo. Additionally, our data suggest that the molecular properties of GABA_A receptors in different regions of the CNS influence the extent to which these drugs synergistically inhibit the GABA_A receptor.

     

Presynaptic inhibition of synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampus by activation of muscarinic receptors: involvement of presynaptic calcium influx

1. Modulation of presynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) by muscarinic receptors at the CA3–CA1 synapse of rat hippocampal slices was investigated by using the calcium indicator fura-2. Stimulation-evoked presynaptic calcium transients ([Ca_pre]_t) and field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fe.p.s.ps) were simultaneously recorded. The relationship between presynaptic calcium influx and synaptic transmission was studied.
2. Activation of muscarinic receptors inhibited [Ca_pre]_t, thereby reducing synaptic transmission. Carbachol (CCh, 10 μM) inhibited [Ca_pre]_t by 35% and reduced fe.p.s.p. by 85%. The inhibition was completely antagonized by 1 μM atropine. An approximate 4^th power relationship was found between presynaptic calcium influx and postsynaptic responses.
3. Application of the N-type VDCC-blocking peptide toxin ω-conotoxin GVIA (ω-CTx GVIA, 1 μM) inhibited [Ca_pre]_t and fe.p.s.ps by 21% and 49%, respectively, while the P/Q-type VDCC blocker ω-agatoxin IVA (ω-Aga IVA, 1 μM) reduced [Ca_pre]_t and fe.p.s.ps by 35% and 85%, respectively.
4. Muscarinic receptor activation differentially inhibited distinct presynaptic VDCCs. ω-CTx GVIA-sensitive calcium channels were inhibited by muscarinic receptors, while ω-Aga IVA-sensitive channels were not. The percentage inhibition of ω-CTx GVIA-sensitive [Ca_pre]_t was about 63%.
5. Muscarinic receptors inhibited presynaptic VDCCs in a way similar to adenosine (Ad) receptors. The percentage inhibition of ω-CTx GVIA-sensitive [Ca_pre]_t by Ad (100 μM) was about 59%. There was no significant inhibition of ω-Aga IVA-sensitive channels by Ad. The inhibitions of [Ca_pre]_t by CCh and Ad were mutually occlusive.
6. These results indicate that inhibition of synaptic transmission by muscarinic receptors is mainly the consequence of a reduction of the [Ca_pre]_t due to inhibition of presynaptic VDCCs.

     

Renal effects of intrathecally injected tachykinins in the conscious saline-loaded rat: receptor and mechanism of action

1. The effects of intrathecally (i.t.) injected substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), [β-Ala⁸]NKA (4–10) and [MePhe⁷]neurokinin B (NKB) at T₁₃ thoracic spinal cord level were investigated on renal excretion of water, sodium and potassium in the conscious saline-loaded rat. Antagonists selective for NK₁ (RP 67580), NK₂ (SR 48968) and NK₃ (R 820; 3-indolylcarbonyl-Hyp-Phg-N(Me)-Bzl) receptors were used to characterize the spinal effect of SP on renal function.
2. Saline gavage (4.5% of the body weight) enhanced renal excretion of water, sodium and potassium over the subsequent hour of measurement. Whereas these renal responses were not affected by 0.65 nmol SP, the dose of 6.5 nmol SP blocked the natriuretic response (aCSF value 3.9±0.8; SP value 0.7±0.3 μmol min⁻¹, P<0.01) as well as the renal excretion of water (aCSF value 48.9±5.8; SP value 14.5±4.0 μl min⁻¹, P<0.01) and potassium (aCSF value 4.8±0.6; SP value 1.5±0.6 μmol min⁻¹, P<0.01) at 30 min post-injection. SP had no significant effect on urinary osmolality. The SP-induced renal inhibitory effects during the first 30 min were abolished in rats subjected to bilateral renal denervation 1 week earlier or in rats injected i.t. 5 min earlier with 6.5 nmol RP 67580. In contrast, the co-injection of SR 48968 and R 820 (6.5 nmol each) did not affect the inhibitory responses to SP. On their own, these antagonists had no direct effect on renal excretion function. Since SP induced only transient changes in mean arterial blood pressure (−18.8±3.8 mmHg at 1 min and +6.3±2.4 mmHg at 5 min post-injection), it is unlikely that the renal effects of SP are due to systemic haemodynamic changes.
3. NKA (6.5 nmol but not 0.65 nmol) produced a transient drop in renal excretion of water (aCSF value 31.2±5.1; NKA value 11.3±4.2 μl min⁻¹, P<0.05), sodium (aCSF value 1.7±0.8; NKA value 0.4±0.2 μmol min⁻¹, P<0.05) and potassium (aCSF value 4.1±0.7; NKA value 1.5±0.4 μmol min⁻¹, P<0.05) at 15 min post-injection. However, the same doses (6.5 nmol) of selective agonists for tachykinin NK₂ ([β-Ala⁸]NKA(4-10)) and NK₃ ([MePhe⁷]NKB) receptors were devoid of renal effects.
4. This study provided functional evidence that tachykinins may be involved in the renal control of water and electrolyte excretion at the level of the rat spinal cord through the activation of NK₁ receptors and the sympathetic renal nerve.

     

Spatial heterogeneity of the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the microvasculature of ligaments in the rabbit knee joint

1. Experiments were performed in anaesthetized rabbits to examine the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and the CGRP antagonist CGRP_8–37 on blood flow to the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint.
2. Topical application of CGRP (10⁻¹³ to 10⁻⁹  mol) to the exposed external surface of eight knee joints resulted in dose-dependent dilatation of vessels in both the ligament and the joint capsule. The magnitude of this response varied significantly in different regions of the medial collateral ligament, with the 10⁻⁹  mol dose of CGRP giving the maximum response (101.5±25.3% increase) at the femoral insertion site of the medial collateral ligament and lowest (23.1±8.8%) at the tibial insertion site.
3. Topical application of CGRP_8–37 (0.1, 1 and 10  nmol) produced dose-dependent constriction of vessels in the ligament and the joint capsule in five knees, with a trend towards the greatest effect occurring at the femoral insertion site (45.8±8.1% reduction in blood flow). With the 10  nmol dose, the vasoconstrictor response at the femoral insertion site differed significantly (P<0.05) from the responses obtained at the tibial insertion and joint capsule sites.
4. Topical application of CGRP_8–37 (0.1, 1 and 10  nmol) to four chronically denervated knees produced substantially smaller vasoconstrictor responses at all sites. At the femoral insertion site, where 10  nmol CGRP_8–37 normally produces a 45.8±8.1% reduction in blood flow (n=8), ten days following denervation this response was reduced to 6.5±6.1%, this difference being significant (P=0.01).
5. Adrenaline was applied topically to augment blood vessel tone, in order to establish how effectively co-administration of CGRP would offset this increase in tone. Adrenaline (10⁻¹⁰  mol) produced vasoconstriction at all sites (n=6). In the capsule this vasoconstriction was virtually abolished when CGRP (10⁻⁹  mol) was co-administered with adrenaline but in the ligament vasodilatation occurred at all sites. This vasodilatation was significantly greater at the femoral insertion site compared to the tibial insertion and mid ligament sites (P<0.05 for both) and the capsule (P<0.01).
6. Topical application of substance P (10⁻¹⁰ or 10⁻⁹  mol) failed to elicit dilatation of ligament blood vessels.
7. These results suggest that endogenous CGRP may play an important role in regulating blood flow to different structures in and around the knee joint.

     

The inflammatory lesion of T cell line transferred experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis of the Lewis rat: distinct nature of parenchymal and perivascular infiltrates

We have investigated the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in the inflammatory infiltrates of T line-transferred experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) of the Lewis rats. Using a panel of TCR V-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and immunocytochemistry, we studied the nature of the T cells entering the central nervous system (CNS) after transfer of either myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive, or MBP-reactive but non-encephalitogenic T cell lines. All the MBP-specific T cell lines predominantely used the V8.2 TCR chain. T cell lines specific for the tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD), using TCR V genes different from V8.2, served as controls. We first studied the time course of T cells entering the CNS. In all recipient rats, small, but significant numbers of -TCR-expressing infiltrate cells appeared in the CNS within the first 24 h after T cell transfer. In animals injected with either type of MBP-reactive T cells, the early infiltrate cells were preferentially located within the parenchyma of the spinal cord, while in PPD T lineinjected rats, the lymphocytes were mostly found in the meninges. TCR V gene usage was examined on the peak of clinical disease. Six days after T cell transfer, the TCR repertoire used by infiltrating lymphocytes in general seemed to be highly diverse. None of the V isotypes examined (i.e. V8.2, V8.5 or V10) was used by a major population of the -TCR-positive T cells. A more detailed, quantitative analysis of individual infiltrate compartments revealed, however, a preferential accumulation of V8.2-positive T cells within the parenchyma. In contrast, perivascular infiltrating cells used V genes randomly. Our results confirm first that activated T lymphocytes enter the brain rapidly irrespective of their antigen specificity. Second, the data show that most of the perivascular infiltrate T cells in the acute EAE lesion are host-derived, recruited presumably from the recirculating T cell pool, while the encephalitogenic, V8.2-positive T cells preferentially persist within the parenchyma.Abbreviations EAE experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis - MBP myelin basic protein - TCL T cell line Supported by the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq)     

Presynaptic opioid receptors on dopaminergic nerves in the rabbit caudate nucleus: coupling to pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins and interaction with D2 autoreceptors?

Slices of the rabbit caudate nucleus, preincubated with [³H]dopamine and subjected to electrical field stimulation, were used (1) to investigate the involvement of G-proteins in the signal transduction of presynaptic D₂ (auto)receptors and -opioid receptors on dopaminergic axon terminals in this tissue and (2) to study a possible mutual interaction of these two presynaptic receptors. Pretreatment of the slices with either pertussis toxin (8 g/ml; 18 h), or N-ethylmaleimide (30 M, 30 min) significantly reduced the inhibitory effects of both the D₂ agonist quinpirole and the -opioid receptor agonist U-50488H on the [³H]overflow evoked by 36 pulses (2 ms, 24 mA, 0.3 Hz), suggesting the coupling of both receptors to G-proteins.Experiments designed to study possible interactions of these two presynaptic receptors were carried out under stimulation conditions (only 1 pulse), which strongly diminish interference of endogenous transmitters released in the tissue with modulatory effects of exogenous drugs. For instance, due to the presence of endogenous dopamine, quinpirole was much less potent during 36-pulse-than during 1-pulse field stimulation, whereas the D₂ antagonist domperidone was almost without effect in the latter case. Using the 1-pulse stimulation paradigm, the concentration/response curve of quinpirole was unaffected in the presence of the halfmaximal inhibitory concentration of U-50,488 H (0.1 M). On the other hand, also quinpirole at its halfmaximal inhibitory concentration (0.1 M), hardly affected the concentration/response curve of U-50,488 H: only high concentrations of U-50,488 H (above 1 M) seemed to be slightly less effective in the presence than in the absence of the D₂ agonist. U-50,488 H, at these high concentrations, was also less potent under 36-pulse than under 1-pulse stimulation conditions. From these findings, we conclude that there is only a limited interaction between presynaptic D₂ autoreceptors and -opioid receptors on dopaminergic axon terminals in the rabbit caudate nucleus, despite they are both coupled to PTX/NEM-sensitive G-proteins. Correspondence to: R. Jackisch at the above address     

Receptor binding assays in analysing the bioavailability and pharmacodynamic bioequivalence of active drug moieties

The bioavailability and pharmacodynamic bioequivalence of a conventional and an experimental sustained-release formulation of 100 mg metoprolol tartrate were studied in a randomised cross-over study in seven healthy volunteers by assessing over 24 h the plasma kinetics of R,S-metoprolol, its ₁-adrenoceptor binding component, and by determining the extent to which the active drug moiety in plasma occupied rabbit lung ₁-and rat reticulocyte ₂-adrenoceptors.The formulations differed markedly in their kinetic characteristics: the peak plasma concentration (C_max) of R,S-metoprolol after administration of the conventional formulation was 140 ng·ml^–1, (n=7) and it was approximately one-third of that after the sustained-release formulation, 49 ng·ml^–1, (n=6); the AUC_{0–24 h}-values for the formulations were 700 and 310 ng·h·ml^–1, respectively. The C_max for the ₁-adrenoceptor binding component of metoprolol was 180 ng·ml^–1 (n=7) after administration of the conventional, and 74 ng·ml^–1 after administration of the sustained-release formulation. The corresponding AUC_{0–24 h}-values for the receptor binding component were 920 and 470 ng·h·ml^–1 (n=7).Thus, the kinetic differences between R,S-metoprolol and the ₁-receptor binding component were considerable and they were affected by the type of formulation. In general, after administration of the sustained-release formulation, the percentage ₁- and ₂-adrenoceptor occupancy of metoprolol in plasma was 5–15% less than after administration of the conventional formulation. At 0.5–1.5 h after drug intake the average ₁-adrenoceptor occupancy of the conventional formulation varied between 80–90% and that of the sustained release formulation between 20–76%. At these times the differences in receptor occupancy were significant; at 0.5–2 h after drug intake the average ₂-adrenoceptor occupancy of the conventional formulation varied from 20–30%, and that of the sustained-release formulation was 2–17%. At other times the difference in receptor occupancy between the formulations was not significant.The results demonstrate that plasma concentration-kinetics were more discriminating than -adrenoceptor-binding in analysing bioequivalence. It was possible to determine the bioavailability of the active ingredient of metoprolol and to study pharmacodynamic bioequivalence by using receptor binding assays.     

Effects of acute selective 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 receptor andα 2 adrenoceptor blockade on naloxone-induced antinociception

Several studies have demonstrated a paradoxical form of antinociception induced by the repeated administration of opioid antagonists accompanied by exposure to a painful stimulus. The underlying mechanism of this naloxone-induced antinociception (NIA) is still unknown, but the results of several studies suggest that it is a non-opioid response. This study was designed to investigate serotonergic and noradrenergic involvement in NIA. Rats were treated daily with systemic injections of 5 mg/kg naloxone, followed by a 45-s hot plate test of nociception (temperature=51.5 ± 0.5°C). After rats reached plateau levels of NIA, they received a test trial in which they were treated with various doses of different selective 5-HT or ₂ adrenoceptor antagonists in addition to naloxone before the hot plate test. Rats treated with 0.16, 0.32 and 0.63 mg/kg pirenperone or 2.5 mg/kg ritanserin showed significant reductions in paw lick latency with respect to rats treated with vehicle. In addition, high doses of yohimbine (7.5–10 mg/kg) also effectively reversed NIA. In contrast, NIA was not affected by acute blockade of 5-HT₁ or 5-HT₃ receptors by methiothepin or MDL 72222, respectively, or by the ₂ adrenoceptor blocker idazoxan. None of the 5-HT or ₂ adrenoceptor antagonists had any effect on the paw lick latencies of saline-treated rats. A possible role of 5-HT₂ receptors in the antinociception induced by opioid receptor blockade is discussed.