Inhibitory Effect Of Oxotremorine Research Articles

LY2033298, a positive allosteric modulator at muscarinic M4 receptors, enhances inhibition by oxotremorine of light-induced phase shifts in hamster circadian activity rhythms

Entrainment of circadian rhythms to the light-dark cycle is essential for restorative sleep, and abnormal sleep timing is implicated in central nervous system (CNS) disorders like depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. Many transmitters, including acetylcholine, that exerts its actions via muscarinic receptors modulate the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the master pacemaker. Since positive allosteric modulators of muscarinic M(4) receptors are candidates for treatment of mood and cognitive deficits of CNS disorders, it is important to evaluate their circadian actions. The effects of intraperitoneally applied muscarinic agents on circadian wheel-running rhythms were measured employing hamsters, a model organism for studying activity rhythms. Systemic administration of the muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine (0.01-0.04 mg/kg) inhibited light-induced phase delays and advances of hamster circadian wheel-running rhythms. The M₄ positive allosteric modulator, LY2033298 (10-40 mg/kg), had no effect on light-induced phase shifts when administered alone, yet significantly enhanced (at 20 mg/kg) the inhibitory influence of oxotremorine on light-induced phase delays. In addition, the muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine, which was without effect on light-induced phase shifts when administered alone (0.001-0.1 mg/kg), antagonized (at 0.1 mg/kg) the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine and LY2033298 on light-induced phase delays. These results are the first to demonstrate that systemically applied muscarinic receptor agonists modulate circadian activity rhythms, and they also reveal a specific role for M₄ receptors. It will be of importance to evaluate circadian actions of psychotropic drugs acting via M₄ receptors, since they may display beneficial properties under pathological conditions.

Nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors coexist on GABAergic nerve endings in the mouse striatum and interact in modulating GABA release

Muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChRs) and nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) regulating GABA release from striatal nerve endings were studied by monitoring release of previously accumulated [ 3H]GABA or endogenous GABA from superfused mouse striatal synaptosomes. Oxotremorine inhibited the release of [ 3H]GABA elicited by depolarization with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), an effect antagonized by atropine. Agonists at nAChRs, including the α 4β 2 ∗ subunit-selective RJR2403, provoked the release of [ 3H]GABA as well as of the endogenous transmitter; these effects also were prevented by oxotremorine and pilocarpine suggesting coexpression of functional mAChRs and α 4β 2 ∗ nAChRs on GABAergic nerve endings. The inhibitory effects of oxotremorine on the release of [ 3H]GABA evoked by 4-AP or by RJR2403 were: (i) prevented by the M 2/M 4 mAChR antagonist himbacine; (ii) insensitive to the M2 antagonist AFDX116; (iii) blocked by the selective M 4 mAChR antagonists MT3, thus indicating the involvement of receptors of the M 4 subtype. In conclusion, in the corpus striatum, acetylcholine released from cholinergic interneurons can activate α 4β 2 ∗ nAChRs mediating release of GABA; this evoked release can be negatively modulated by M 4 mAChRs coexpressed on the same GABAergic terminals.

Agonist‐mediated regulation of presynaptic receptor function during development of rat septal neurons in culture

Presynaptic receptors modulating the release of acetylcholine (ACh) were studied in fetal septal neurons cultured in a growth medium to which various drugs were added from day 3 in vitro (DIV 3) to DIV 14. The influence of these drugs on the function of the presynaptic muscarinic (M-) autoreceptor was determined at DIV 14 by measuring the inhibitory effect of the M-agonist oxotremorine on the electrically-evoked release of [(3)H]ACh from cultures pre-incubated with [(3)H]choline. The presence of the M-agonists oxotremorine (100 micromol/L) or carbachol (100 micromol/L) from DIV 3 to DIV 14, or from DIV 13 to DIV 14, abolished M-autoreceptor function at DIV 14, whereas the presence of the M-antagonist atropine (10 micromol/L from DIV 3 to DIV 14) during growth left M-autoreceptor function unaltered. Inhibition of ACh esterase by donepezil (1 micromol/L from DIV 3 to DIV 14) weakly decreased M-autoreceptor function at DIV 14; inhibition of neuronal firing by 0.1 tetrodotoxin (0.1 micromol/L from DIV 3 to DIV 14) did not tend to affect M-autoreceptor function at DIV 14. Co-cultivation of fetal septal and raphe neurons for 2 weeks yielded cell cultures containing both vesicular ACh transporter- and tryptophan hydroxylase-immunopositive cells. From these cultures, the release of both [(3)H]ACh and [(3)H]5-HT could be induced by electrical field stimulation. In co-cultured neurons versus septal-only ones the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine on the evoked release of [(3)H]ACh appeared almost normal, whereas that of the selective 5-HT(1B) agonist 3-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrid-4-yl)pyrrollo[3,2-b]pyrid-5-one (CP-93,129) was completely abolished. The effects of CP-93,129 were also absent on DIV 14 in septal mono-cultures grown in the presence of CP-93,129 (10 micromol/L) from DIV 3 to DIV 14. It is therefore concluded that the regulation of presynaptic receptor function strongly depends on the concentrations of endogenous transmitters in the neuronal environment.

Volume overload cardiac hypertrophy exhibits decreased expression of g(s)alpha and not of g(i)alpha in heart.

We have recently reported enhanced levels of G(i)alpha proteins in genetic and other experimentally induced models of hypertension, whereas the levels of G(s)alpha were decreased in hypertensive rats expressing cardiac hypertrophy. The present studies were undertaken to investigate whether the decreased levels of G(s)alpha are associated with cardiac hypertrophy per se and used an aortocaval fistula (AV shunt; volume overload) rat model that exclusively expresses cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy in Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) was induced under anesthesia, and, after a period of 10 days, the hearts were used for adenylyl cyclase activity determination, protein quantification, and mRNA level determination. A temporal relationship between the expression of G(s)alpha proteins and cardiac hypertrophy was also examined on days 2, 3, 7, and 10 after induction of AV shunt in the rat. The heart-to-body-weight ratio (mg/g) was significantly increased in AV shunt rats after 3, 7, and 10 days of induction of AV shunt compared with sham-operated controls, whereas arterial blood pressure was not different between the two groups. Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in a concentration-dependent manner in heart membranes from both groups; however, the degree of stimulation was significantly decreased in AV shunt rats. In addition, the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol were also diminished in AV shunt rats compared with control rats, whereas glucagon-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was not different in the two groups. The inhibitory effects of oxotremorine (receptor-dependent G(i) functions) and low concentrations of GTPgammaS on forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity (receptor-independent G(i) functions) were not different in the two groups. In addition forskolin and NaF also stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity to a lesser degree in AV shunt rats compared with control rats. The levels of G(i)alpha-2 and G(i)alpha-3 proteins and mRNA, as determined by immunoblotting and Northern blotting, respectively, were not different in both groups; however, the levels of G(s)alpha(45) and G(s)alpha(47), and not of G(s)alpha(52), proteins were significantly decreased in AV shunt rats by days 7 and 10 compared with control rats, whereas no change was observed on days 2 and 3 after induction of AV shunt. These results suggest that the decreased expression of G(s)alpha proteins may not be the cause but the effect of hypertrophy and that the diminished responsiveness of adenylyl cyclase to GTPgammaS, isoproterenol, NaF, and forskolin in hearts from AV shunt rats may partly be due to the decreased expression of G(s)alpha. It can be concluded from these studies that the decreased expression of G(s)alpha may be associated with cardiac hypertrophy and not with arterial hypertension.

Reversal of defective G-proteins and adenylyl cyclase/cAMP signal transduction in diabetic rats by vanadyl sulphate therapy.

Vanadium salts exhibit a wide variety of insulinomimetic effects. In the present studies, we have examined the modulation of G-protein levels and adenylyl cyclase activity in the liver of streptozotocin-induced chronic diabetic rats (STZD) by vanadyl sulfate treatment and compared it with that of insulin. The basal enzyme activity, as well as the stimulatory effects of guanine nucleotides, glucagon, N-Ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA), isoproterenol, forskolin and sodium fluoride (NaF) on adenylyl cyclase were significantly increased in STZ-D rat liver as compared to control. In addition, the levels of stimulatory (Gs alpha) as well as inhibitory (Gi alpha-2 and Gi alpha-3) as determined by immunoblotting techniques were also significantly higher in the STZ-D rat liver, however, the inhibitory effects of oxotremorine and low concentrations of GTP gamma S on adenylyl cyclase were not different in the two groups. Vanadyl sulfate and insulin treatments restored the augmented basal enzyme activity, the stimulations exerted by stimulatory inputs on adenylyl cyclase and the G-protein levels to various degrees, however, vanadyl sulfate was more effective than insulin. In addition, unlike vanadyl sulfate, insulin was unable to improve the stimulation exerted by glucagon and isoproterenol on adenylyl cyclase activity in STZD rats. These results suggest that vanadyl sulfate mimics the effects of insulin to restore the defective levels of G-proteins and adenylyl cyclase activity. From these results it may be suggested that one of the mechanisms by which vanadyl sulfate improves the glucose homeostasis in STZ-D rats may be through its ability to modulate the levels of G-proteins and adenylyl cyclase signal transduction system.

Muscarinic inhibition of endogenous noradrenaline release from rabbit isolated trachea: receptor subtype and receptor reserve

The aim of the present study was to characterize putative muscarine receptors on sympathetic nerve terminals in the rabbit trachea. Release of endogenous noradrenaline from in vitro incubated rabbit trachea was evoked by electrical field stimulation (3 Hz, 540 pulses) and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The muscarine receptor agonist oxotremorine inhibited the evoked release of noradrenaline completely at 1 mumol/l (EC50: 64 nmol/l). The concentration response curve was very steep (Hill coefficient of 2.3). Scopolamine shifted the concentration response curve of oxotremorine to the right (-log KB 8.48) demonstrating specific, inhibitory muscarine receptors. Several subtype-preferring muscarine receptor antagonists also shifted the concentration response curve of oxotremorine to the right. The rank order of potency was (-log KB or pA2*): scopolamine (8.48) > AF-DX 384 (7.88*; slope of Schild plot 1.1) > (R)-trihexyphenidyl (7.87) > 4-DAMP (7.85) > AQ-RA 741 (7.77) >> methoctramine 6.18) > pirenzepine (6.0) > p-fluoro-hexahydrosiladifenidol (p-FHHSiD, 5.68). When these affinity constants were plotted against reported -log Ki values determined in binding studies on human cloned muscarine receptor subtypes (m1-m5), the best correlation was obtained for m2. Indomethacin (3 mumol/l), which on its own increased the evoked noradrenaline release by about 45%, affected neither the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine nor the antagonistic potency of methoctramine or p-FHHSiD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Presynaptic muscarinic receptors and the release of acetylcholine from cerebrocortical prisms: roles of Ca2+ and K+ concentrations

The mechanism by which presynaptic muscarinic autoreceptors inhibit the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from cerebrocortical cholinergic fibres has not been clarified. To test the view that muscarinic autoreceptors act by decreasing Ca2+ influx, we performed experiments in which rat cerebrocortical prisms were preloaded with (14C)choline, washed, depolarized with 14-65 mM K+ in the absence of Ca2+ and then exposed (still under depolarization) to various concentrations of Ca2+ to evoke the release of (14C)ACh. The muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine, used at a 100 microM concentration, inhibited the release of (14C)ACh by 59-86% in experiments with 14 and 26.5 mM K+ but had no significant effect at 65.5 mM K+. No systematic changes in the inhibitory effects of oxotremorine could be found at any of the K+ concentrations used when the concentration of Ca2+ was varied in the range of 0.25-4.0 mM. At 2 mM Ca2+ and K+ concentrations above 14 mM, the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine was inversely related to the concentration of K+. The inhibitory effect of oxotremorine on (14C)ACh release was not blocked by 100 microM 4-amino-pyridine. The fact that the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine could not be overcome by an increase in the concentration of Ca2+ suggests that, under the conditions used, a restriction of the influx of Ca2+ did not play a major role in the muscarinic inhibition of ACh release; rather, oxotremorine appeared to act by decreasing membrane depolarization.2+ of the Ca(2+)-voltage hypothesis of neurotransmitter release, supposing

Modulation of release of [3H]acetylcholine in the major pelvic ganglion of the rat

Cholinergic modulation of [3H]acetylcholine release evoked by electrical stimulation was studied in the rat major pelvic ganglion, which was prelabeled with [3H]choline. Acetylcholine (ACh) release was independent of the frequency of stimulation; 0.3 Hz produced the same volley output as 10 Hz. Tetrodotoxin (1 microM) or omission of Ca2+ from the medium abolished ACh release. The M1 receptor agonist (4-hydroxy-2-butynyl)-1-trimethylammonium m-chlorocarbanilate chloride (McN-A 343, 50 microM) increased release (by 136%), whereas the M2 muscarinic agonist oxotremorine (1 microM) decreased ACh release (by 22%). The muscarinic antagonists, atropine (1 microM) or pirenzepine (M1 selective, 1 microM), did not change ACh release. However, pirenzepine (1 microM) blocked the facilitatory effect of McN-A 343, and atropine (1 microM) blocked the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine. The cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine (1-5 microM), the nicotinic agonist 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP, 10 microM), and the nicotinic antagonist D-tubocurarine (50 microM) did not change ACh release. 4-Aminopyridine, a K+ channel blocker, significantly increased the release (by 146%). Seven days after decentralization of the major pelvic ganglion, the evoked release of ACh was abolished. It is concluded that release of ACh occurs from the preganglionic nerve terminals rather than from the cholinergic cell bodies and is not modulated by actions of endogenous ACh on either muscarinic or nicotinic autoreceptors. These data confirm and extend previous electrophysiological findings indicating that synapses in the major pelvic ganglion have primarily a relay function.

Ranitidine but not famotidine releases acetylcholine from the guinea pig myenteric plexus

The effects of the histamine H2-receptor antagonists ranitidine and famotidine on acetylcholine release have been studied in the guinea pig myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle preparation incubated with [3H]-choline. Ranitidine (3 x 10(-5)-3 x 10(-4) M) dose-dependently increased the resting release of acetylcholine and that evoked by electrical stimulation. The effect was present only in strips perfused with 10(-5) M physostigmine. The effect of ranitidine was inhibited by tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium. Famotidine (10(-5)-3 x 10(-4) M) was totally ineffective in modifying both the resting release and that evoked by field stimulation. Ranitidine did not antagonize the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine, which specifically activates negative feedback mechanisms via presynaptic muscarinic receptors.

Heterogeneity of presynaptic muscarinic receptors involved in modulation of transmitter release

In order to extend the characterization of muscarinic receptors at presynaptic sites their inhibitory effect on the stimulation-evoked release of [ 3H]noradrenaline and [ 3H]acetylcholine from different axon terminals was studied and the dissociation constants and potencies of different antagonists were estimated, in guinea-pig and rat. While oxotremorine reduced the release of [ 3H]acetylcholine and [ 3H]noradrenaline in a concentration-dependent manner from different release sites (Auerbach plexus, noradrenergic neurons in the right atrium, cerebral cortex), McN-A 343, an M 1 receptor agonist, enhanced their release evoked by field stimulation. When the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine on transmitter release was studied, pancuronium, pirenzepine and atropine were competitive antagonists of presynaptic muscarinic receptors located on the noradrenergic axon terminals of the atrium. While atropine and pirenzepine inhibited the muscarinic receptors of cholinergic axon terminals in the Auerbach plexus, pancuronium and gallamine had a very low affinity. Significant differences were found in the affinity constants of antagonists for muscarinic receptors located in the cholinergic axon terminals of Auerbach plexus and cerebral cortex, and noradrenergic axon terminals of the atrium. While atropine and pirenzepine exerted similar effects on these presynaptic sites, pancuronium, gallamine and (1 1-(2-((diethylamino)-methyl)-1-piperidinyl)acetyl)-5,11-dihydro-6(1-pyrido(2,3-b)(1,4)benzodiazepin-6-on) were much more effective on muscarinic receptors controlling acetylcholine release from the cerebral cortex and noradrenaline release from the heart. There was more than 100-fold (2.0 pA 2 units) difference in affinities of these antagonists. Therefore, existence of three different subtypes of presynaptic muscarinic receptors is suggested: M 1, which mediates increase of acetylcholine and noradrenaline release; M 2, which mediates inhibition of acetylcholine release from the Auerbach plexus; and M 3, which mediates inhibition of acetylcholine release from cerebral cortex and noradrenaline release from sympathetic axon terminals of the right atrium.

Role of vascular thermoreceptors in the mechanism of cold tremor inhibition by oxotremorine, diazepam, and phentolamine

Intravenous infusion of oxotremorine, seduxene, and phentolamine to cats not only decreased the cold-induced tremor, but also reduced the subcutaneous vein receptor impulses. Diminished activity of the vascular thermoreceptors served as an additional component in the mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of oxotremorine and seduxene on cold tremor. Reduction of the thermoreceptors activity after phentolamine administration is primary, and may be considered as the leading factor in the cold tremor inhibition.

Inhibition by oxotremorine of acetylcholine resting release from guinea pig-ileum longitudinal muscle strips.

1. Longitudinal muscle strips of the guinea-pig ileum were incubated in Tyrode solution containing either DFP or physostigmine as cholinesterase inhibitor. After a 90 min preincubation period the acetylcholine resting release into the medium was determined. Acetylcholine was estimated by gas chromatography. 2. The resting release was 0.39 nmol/g times min irrespective of the cholinesterase inhibitor used. In the presence of hexamethonium, or after omission of external calcium, the resting release fell by 50 and 55 per cent, respectively. 3. Oxotremorine (10-5 and 10-4M) significantly inhibited the resting release of acetylcholine by 25 and 33 per cent, respectively. The inhibitory effect of oxotremorine was completely reversed by atropine (3 times 10-7 M). Oxotremorine did not reduce the spontaneous release of acetylcholine that occurred either in the presence of hexamethonium or in the absence of external calcium. 4. The acetylcholine content of the muscle strips was approximately doubled during the preincubation with a cholinesterase inhibitor. The subsequent incubation with oxotremorine did not lead to a further increase in the endogenous acetylcholine content. However, incubation of the muscle strips with oxotremorine in the absence of a cholinesterase inhibitor led to a rise in the endogenous acetycholine concentration. In in vivo experiments, oxotremorine also caused an increase in the acetylcholine content of the muscle strips. The possibility is discussed that the rise in the acetylcholine concentration following the administration of oxotremorine is a consequence of the decreased release. 5. It is concluded that oxotremorine inhibits the resting release of acetylcholine by activation of neuronal muscarinic receptors. The inhibitory effect of exotremorine is linked to that fraction of the acetylcholine resting release that is calcium-dependent and that arises from propagated activity in cholinergic neurones. The results are consistent with the hypothesis of a feed-back control of acetylcholine release mediated by inhibitory muscarinic receptors.

Dopaminergic nature of apomorphine-induced pecking in pigeons

Apomorphine induces a pecking response in pigeons and the effects of various drugs on this pecking response were studied. The pecking induced by apomorphine (1.64 μmole/kg) has a rapid onset, and lasts for approximately 1 hr. Pecking induced by apomorphine can be blocked by dopaminergic receptor-blocking agents such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol, bulbocapnine and morphine, but not by α- or β-adrenergic receptor-blocking agents. Cholinergic agents have an inhibitory effect on pecking. The inhibitory effect of oxotremorine can be reversed by the prior administration of atropine. Apomorphine can induce both pecking and emesis while apomorphine methiodide causes only emesis. This ivestigation indicates that the pecking induced by apomorphine is caused by the stimulation of central dopaminergic receptors and that central cholinergic systems have a modulating effect on pecking. Serotonergic systems might also inhibit the pecking induced by apomorphine.