M1 Muscarinic Receptor Antagonist Research Articles

Reversal of haemorrhagic shock in rats by cholinomimetic drugs.

1. In an experimental model of haemorrhagic shock resulting in the death of all rats within 20-30 min, the intravenous (i.v.) injection of the tertiary amine cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine (17-70 micrograms kg-1) induced a prompt, sustained and dose-dependent improvement of cardiovascular and respiratory function, with marked increase in the volume of circulating blood and survival of all treated animals, at least for the 2 h of observation. 2. Similar results were obtained with the i.v. injection of the cholinoceptor agonist oxotremorine (5-25 micrograms kg-1), while neostigmine (54 or 70 micrograms kg-1), a quaternary cholinesterase inhibitor which cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, had negligible effects. 3. The anti-shock activities of oxotremorine and physostigmine were blocked by the intracerebroventricular injection of either of the combined nicotinic and M2-muscarinic receptor antagonists gallamine and pancuronium, or of the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine. They were also blocked by intraperitoneal injection of the adrenergic neurone blocking agent guanethidine, but they were not antagonized by either the combined M1- and M2-muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine, the M1-muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine, or the M2-muscarinic receptor 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methobromide. 4. It is concluded that cholinomimetic drugs can reverse hypovolaemic shock through central activation (seemingly mediated by nicotinic receptors) of sympathetic tone, with mobilization and redistribution of the residual blood.

Systemic injection of pirenzepine induces a deficit in passive avoidance learning in rats

When injected IP, the M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine dose-dependently induced a deficit in passive avoidance learning in rats. This activity was optimal at 75 mg/kg injected 1 h before the acquisition session. The deficit induced by pirenzepine was antagonized by oxotremorine (0.03-0.3 mg/kg SC) and physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg SC), but not neostigmine. By comparison, under the same experimental conditions, physostigmine and oxotremorine also antagonized the deficit induced by an equipotent dose of scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg IP), although the activity of physostigmine appeared stronger against scopolamine than against pirenzepine. These results suggest that pirenzepine could produce a centrally-mediated behavioural disruption when injected systemically.

Cholinergic regulation of PP release is mediated through muscarinic M1-receptors.

The effects of the selective muscarinic M1-receptor antagonist pirenzepine and the nonselective muscarinic antagonist atropine on bombesin- and peptone-stimulated release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) were studied in healthy subjects. To exclude any effect of changes in intraduodenal pH continuous intragastric titration was performed during all tests. Both pirenzepine (i.v. bolus 0.6 mg/kg) and atropine (i.v. bolus 15 micrograms/kg, followed by an infusion of 5 micrograms/kg.h) significantly reduced peptone-induced integrated mean rise of plasma PP from 28 +/- 5 to 8 +/- 4 and -2 +/- 5 pmol/l, respectively (n = 4). Both drugs also reduced bombesin-induced rise of plasma PP in all 4 subjects, from 27 +/- 12 to 6 +/- 4 and 7 +/- 1 pmol/l (0.05 less than p less than 0.1). It is concluded that cholinergic regulation of PP release is mediated mainly through muscarinic M1-receptors.

Effects of of 545 on different ulcer models in rats

The new pirenzepine analogue DF 545 has been tested for its muscarinic M1 and M3 receptor antagonist properties in guinea-pig longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations. McN-A-343-induced inhibition of twitch contractions was taken as a parameter for muscarinic M1 receptor activation while electrical and acetylcholine-induced contractions were considered as a model for muscarinic M3 receptor stimulation. An unexpected contractile effect evoked by McN-A-343 was also investigated. In contrast to pirenzepine, DF 545 only weakly counteracted the M1-mediated McN-A-343 inhibitory effect but blocked M3-related twitch- or acetycholine-stimulated responses with a 2-fold higher affinity than pirenzepine. Therefore, in this preparation, our findings suggest that DF 545 does not share the selectivity profile exhibited by pirenzepine at ileal muscarinic receptors. Studies on the McN-A-343 contractile effect provide evidence that this agonist may interact with ileal muscarinic effector sites in a different way from other cholinergic agents.

Muscarinic Receptor Subtypes Mediating Myocardial Blood Flow Redistribution

Selective M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor antagonists pirenzepine and AF-DX 116, respectively, were administered to open-chest, pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs to determine the muscarinic receptor subtype responsible for the preferential vasodilation of subendocardial blood vessels during intracoronary methacholine infusion. There were no changes in systemic hemodynamics responsible for the myocardial blood flow redistribution produced by methacholine. Selective M1 receptor blockade with pirenzepine attenuated increases in transmural perfusion and prevented the redistribution of blood flow favoring the subendocardium during methacholine infusion. M2 receptor blockade with AF-DX 116 also attenuated the increase in transmural perfusion produced by methacholine but did not selectively block increases in subendocardial blood flow. These results support the hypothesis that M1 muscarinic coronary receptors are responsible for the redistribution of blood flow to the subendocardium (increased endo/epi) during cholinergic coronary vasodilation, whereas M2 receptors mediate an increase in total coronary blood flow. In additional experiments in isolated rabbit aorta, AF-DX 116 was 0.38 times less potent than pirenzepine with respect to endothelium-dependent muscarinic vasodilation but 1.47 times more potent with respect to endothelium-independent muscarinic vasoconstriction. This suggests that differences exist in the receptors found on the vascular smooth muscle and endothelium and that the preferential distribution of blood flow to the subendocardium may be due to stimulation of M1 receptors located on the vascular endothelium.

Blockade of brain M2 muscarinic receptors lowers blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Injections of the M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP; 1.5-40 micrograms) into the cerebral ventricles of urethane-anesthetized rats caused a dose-related inhibition of the pressor response to intravenously injected physostigmine. A similar reduction was obtained with 1/80th the dose of methylatropine, but not with the selective M1 antagonist pirenzepine. Intraventricular injection of 4-DAMP (6.25-25 micrograms) caused a dose-related reduction in blood pressure in unanesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but not in normotensive controls. Systolic pressure fell 42 +/- 6 mm Hg at the 25-micrograms dose. Pirenzepine did not lower blood pressure in SHR and inhibited the antihypertensive effect of 4-DAMP.

Blockade of spatial learning by the M1 muscarinic antagonist pirenzepine.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine on place navigation in a water maze. In the first experiment rats were required to learn the location of a hidden platform following intracerebroventricular injections of equimolar doses of pirenzepine or scopolamine methylbromide. Both drugs dose-dependently impaired spatial learning according to both escape latency data and transfer test analysis. Pirenzepine was approximately 3 times less potent than scopolamine, a potency ratio which suggests M1 receptor mediation of the impairment. In the second experiment pirenzepine (1 approximately 92.3 micrograms/rat ICV) was injected prior to training on a simultaneous place discrimination task in the water maze. Impairments of choice accuracy were found with a dose of 20 micrograms/rat in the absence of any marked increases in either errors of omission or choice latency. These data suggest that M1 receptor blockade impairs processes which are involved in spatial learning.

Central muscarinic control of the pattern of small intestinal motility in rats

The effects of central and peripheral administration of muscarinic agonists and antagonists on small intestinal motility were examined in conscious rats chronically fitted with electrodes implanted in the duodeno-jejunal wall and a cannula in a cerebral lateral ventricle. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of either atropine or pirenzepine at doses from 1 to 10 ug, 15 min before a 3 and 6 g lab chow meal significantly reduced the duration of the postprandial disruption of the migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC). The reduction was significantly greater for atropine, a mixed M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist, than for pirenzepine, an antagonist with a high affinity for M1 receptors. At a higher dose (10 μg) intra peritoneal (i.p.) administration of atropine or pirenzepine did not modify the postprandial disruption of MMC. Oxotremorine (10 ng) a M2 agonist, but not McNeil A343 (5 μg), a selective M1 agonist, given i.c.v. in fasted rats disrupted for 1.5 h the MMC pattern. At the same doses given i.p. oxotremorine and Mc Neil A343 disrupted the MMC for 15 and 45 min respectively. We conclude that the postprandial changes in the small intestinal motility involve muscarinic receptors, mainly of M2 subtype, at the level of the central nervous system.

The effect of selective and non-selective cholinergic blockade on bombesin- and peptone-stimulated gastrin release.

We have studied the effects of the selective muscarinic M1-receptor antagonist pirenzepine and the non-selective muscarinic antagonist atropine on bombesin- and peptone-stimulated gastrin release in healthy subjects. Pirenzepine (i. v. bolus 0.6 mg/kg) and atropine (i. v. bolus 15 micrograms/kg, followed by an infusion of 5 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) were given in doses equipotent in terms of reduction of gastric acid secretion. Neither affected bombesin- or peptone-stimulated gastrin release. These findings do not support the involvement of M1-receptors in the cholinergic regulation of gastrin release and suggest that the reduction in acid secretion caused by pirenzepine is not mediated by inhibition of gastrin release.

Muscarinic receptor subtypes on rat pancreatic acini: secretion and binding studies

Characterization of muscarinic receptor subtypes on rat pancreatic acinar cells was examined by using specific muscarinic receptor antagonists to study amylase secretion and binding of [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine ([3H]NMS). Rat pancreatic acini were dispersed in HEPES-Ringer buffer and incubated with acetylcholine +/- 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperadine-methiodide (4-DAMP, a specific M2 muscarinic receptor antagonist) or +/- pirenzepine (a specific M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist). 4-DAMP (10(-9) to 10(-6) M) caused a progressive parallel rightward shift in the acetylcholine dose-response curve without a change in maximal amylase release. Only high concentrations of pirenzepine (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) caused a rightward shift in the dose-response curve to acetylcholine. Schild analysis of the data indicated an inhibitory constant (Ki) of 200 pM for 4-DAMP and 183 nM for pirenzepine. The slope of the Schild regression lines was not different from unity, suggesting competitive inhibition. Binding of 50 pM [3H]NMS was specific, rapid, and saturable. [3H]NMS binding was displaced by increasing concentrations of 4-DAMP or pirenzepine with apparent Ki's of 102 pM and 330 nM, respectively, and similar maximal binding levels of 60 fmol/mg prot. We have demonstrated that 4-DAMP has an approximately 1,000-fold greater potency than pirenzepine to inhibit amylase release and binding, indicating that cholinergic-stimulated amylase release from pancreatic acini is mediated by M2 muscarinic receptors.

The action of acetylcholine and L-glutamic acid on rat caudate neurons

Acetylcholine plays a crucial role in the regulation of neural functions, including dopamine release, synaptic activity, and intrinsic electrophysiological properties of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell. Although the effects of acetylcholine on the action potential properties of NAc medium spiny (MS) neurons have been reported, how intrinsic acetylcholine released from NAc cholinergic interneurons regulates the neural activity of MS neurons is still an open issue. To explore the cholinergic effects on the subthreshold responses and action potential properties of MS neurons in the NAc shell, we first tested the effects of carbachol, a non-selective cholinergic agonist, on MS neuronal activity. Then, we tested the effects of the activation of cholinergic interneurons on the electrophysiological properties of MS neurons via multiple whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Bath application of carbachol induced resting membrane potential depolarization accompanied by an increase in the voltage response to negative current injection. These increases were blocked by the pre-application of pirenzepine, an M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist. In spite of the facilitative effect on voltage responses of negative current injection, carbachol diminished the characteristic slowly-depolarizing ramp potentials, which respond to positive current pulse injection. Thus, carbachol increased the rheobase and shifted the frequency–current curve toward the right. Repetitive spike firing of a cholinergic interneuron following positive current injection induced a similar increase in the rheobase, which delayed the action potential initiation in 38.9% MS neurons. In contrast to the bath application of carbachol, cholinergic interneuronal stimulation had little effect on the resting membrane potential in MS neurons. These results suggest that the acetylcholine released from a cholinergic interneuron is sufficient to suppress the repetitive spike firing of the adjacent MS neurons, although the depolarization of the resting membrane potential may require simultaneous activation of multiple cholinergic interneurons.