Rank Order Of Agonist Potency Research Articles

Mediation of 5-HT-induced external carotid vasodilatation in GR 127935-pretreated vagosympathectomized dogs by the putative 5-HT7 receptor.

1. The vasodilator effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the external carotid bed of anaesthetized dogs with intact sympathetic tone are mediated by prejunctional sympatho-inhibitory 5-HT1B/1D receptors and postjunctional 5-HT receptors. The prejunctional vasodilator mechanism is abolished after vagosympathectomy which results in the reversal of the vasodilator effect to vasoconstriction. The blockade of this vasoconstrictor effect of 5-HT with the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist, GR 127935, unmasks a dose-dependent vasodilator effect of 5-HT, but not of sumatriptan. Therefore, the present study set out to analyse the pharmacological profile of this postjunctional vasodilator 5-HT receptor in the external carotid bed of vagosympathectomized dogs pretreated with GR 127935 (20 micrograms kg-1, i.v.). 2. One-minute intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-HT (0.3-30 micrograms min-1), 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 0.01-0.3 microgram min-1), 5-methoxytryptamine (1-100 micrograms min-1) and lisuride (3-1000 micrograms min-1) resulted in dose-dependent increases in external carotid blood flow (without changes in blood pressure or heart rate) with a rank order of agonist potency of 5-CT > > 5-HT > or = 5-methoxytryptamine > lisuride, whereas cisapride (100-1000 micrograms min-1, i.c.) was practically inactive. Interestingly, lisuride (mean dose of 85 +/- 7 micrograms kg-1, i.c.), but not cisapride (mean dose of 67 +/- 7 micrograms kg-1, i.c.), specifically abolished the responses induced by 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-methoxytryptamine, suggesting that a common site of action may be involved. In contrast, 1 min i.c. infusions of 8-OH-DPAT (3-3000 micrograms min-1) produced dose-dependent decreases, not increases, in external carotid blood flow and failed to antagonize (mean dose of 200 +/- 33 micrograms kg-1, i.c.) the agonist-induced vasodilator responses. 3. The external carotid vasodilator responses to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-methoxytryptamine were not modified by intravenous (i.v.) pretreatment with either saline, (+/-)-pindolol (4 mg kg-1) or ritanserin (100 micrograms kg-1) plus granisetron (300 micrograms kg-1), but were dose-dependently blocked by i.v. administration of methiothepin (10 and 30 micrograms kg-1, given after ritanserin plus granisetron), mesulergine (10 and 30 micrograms kg-1), metergoline (1 and 3 mg kg-1), methysergide (1 and 3 mg kg-1) or clozapine (0.3 and 1 mg kg-1). Nevertheless, the blockade of the above responses, not significant after treatment with the lower of the two doses of metergoline and mesulergine, was nonspecific after administration of the higher of the two doses of methysergide and clozapine. 4. Based upon the above rank order of agonist potencies and the antagonism produced by a series of drugs showing high affinity for the cloned 5-ht7 receptor, our results indicate that the 5-HT receptor mediating external carotid vasodilatation in GR 127935-pretreated vagosympathectomized dogs is operationally similar to the putative 5-HT7 receptor mediating relaxation of vascular and non-vascular smooth muscles (e.g. rabbit femoral vein, canine coronary artery, rat systemic vasculature and guinea-pig ileum) as well as tachycardia in the cat.

Cloning, Distribution and Functional Expression of the Human mGlu 6 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor

The cDNA encoding the human metabotropic glutamate receptor type 6 (hmGlu 6) was isolated from a human retinal cDNA library. The deduced primary sequence (877 amino acids) of the hmGlu 6 receptor was 93.5% identical to its rat counterpart and shared 69.8% sequence identity with the related hmGlu 4 receptor clone (912 amino acids), isolated in parallel from a human brain cDNA library. In situ hybridization revealed that the hmGlu 6 mRNA is highly expressed in cells located in the inner nuclear layer of the human retina, presumably bipolar neurons. Neither PCR analysis nor in situ hybridization could detect hmGlu 6 mRNA in human brain. When stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) the hmGlu 6 receptor inhibited adenylate cyclase through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein, and reduced forskolin-elevated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in response to agonists. The rank order of agonist potency was l(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid ( l-AP4) > l-serine-O-phosphate > l-glutamate > quisqualate = (1 S,3 R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid ((1 S,3 R)-ACPD). (2 S,3 S,4 S)-α-(carboxycyclopropyl)-glycine ( l-CCG-1) was a partial agonist at the hmGlu 6 receptor, with a potency approaching that of l-serine- O-phosphate. © 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Novel Splice Variant of a Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor, Human mGluR7b

Two splice variants of the human metabotropic glutamate receptor 7, named hmGluR7a and hmGluR7b, were isolated from a human brain cDNA library. The isoforms differ by an out-of-frame insertion of 92 nucleotides close to the C-terminus of the hmGluR7 coding region. hmGluR7a has a length of 915 amino acids and represents the human homolog of the recently cloned rat mGluR7. hmGluR7b is seven amino acids longer and exhibits a novel C-terminus of 23 amino acids in length. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the existence of mGluR7b transcripts in wild-type mouse brain and its absence in mGluR7 knockout mice. Northern blot analyses indicate that mGluR7 expression is developmentally regulated. It is expressed at high levels in human fetal brain and at a lower level in many regions of adult human brain. Stimulation of hmGluR7b with l-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate ( l-AP4), l-serine-O-phosphate ( l-SOP) or l-glutamate in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells depressed forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, whereas (1 S,3 R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid ((1 S,3 R)-ACPD) and quisqualate (both at 1 mM) had no significant effects. As described for rat mGluR7, the rank order of agonist potencies is: l-SOP, l-AP4 > l-glutamate > (1 S,3 R)-ACPD, quisqualate. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Beta-adrenoceptor subtype expression and function in rat white adipocytes.

1. The pharmacological features of rat white adipocyte beta-adrenoceptor subtypes were investigated by saturation and beta-agonist competition studies with [3H]-CGP 12177 and by lipolysis induced by beta-agonists as well as their inhibition by CGP 20712A (selective beta 1-antagonist) and ICI 118551 (selective beta 2-antagonist) in an attempt to establish a relationship between the functionality and binding capacity of beta-adrenoceptor subtypes. 2. Two populations of binding sites were identified on adipocyte membranes, one with high affinity (0.22 +/- 0.07 nM) and the other with low affinity (23 +/- 7 nM). The low affinity binding sites constituted 90% of the total binding sites. 3. The competition curves, with 15 nM [3H]-CGP 12177, for the beta-agonists, isoprenaline (Iso), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (Ad), and the selective beta 3-agonist, BRL 37344 (BRL), were clearly biphasic (P < 0.001). The rank orders of agonist potency (pKi) in competing for [3H]-CGP 12177 high affinity and low affinity binding sites, respectively, were Iso (9.28 +/- 0.24) > NA (8.90 +/- 0.12) > Ad (8.65 +/- 0.12) > > BRL (4.53 +/- 0.17) and BRL (7.38 +/- 0.19) > > Iso (2.96 +/- 0.26) > or = NA (2.80 +/- 0.17) > Ad (2.10 +/- 0.11) indicating the expression of beta 1- and beta 3-adrenoceptor subtypes on rat white adipocytes, respectively. Inversely, competition studies with the selective beta 1-agonist, xamoterol (Xam), provided evidence for a single homogeneous population of binding sites with low density (81 +/- 9 fmol mg-1) and high pKi value (7.23 +/- 0.26) confirming the presence of beta 1-adrenoceptors. 4. To assess a possible contribution of the beta 2-subtype, procaterol (Proc), a selective beta 2-agonist, was used to compete with 2 nM [3H]-CGP 12177. A single low affinity (4.61 +/- 0.07) population of binding sites was identified. The density of these sites (71 +/- 12 fmol mg-1) was similar to the one obtained with Xam, suggesting that Proc displaced [3H]-CGP 12177 from the beta 1-subtype. 5. The functional potency (pD2) order with BRL (9.07 +/- 0.20) and catecholamines (Iso: 7.26 +/- 0.06, NA: 6.89 +/- 0.02 and Ad: 6.32 +/- 0.07) was the same as that found for the low affinity binding sites in competition studies. Xam induced lipolysis with greater potency than dobutamine (Dob), 6.31 +/- 0.06 and 5.66 +/- 0.10, respectively. Proc stimulated lipolysis with a low potency (5.59 +/- 0.21). 6. The lipolytic response to 0.001 microM BRL was inhibited by both, selective beta 1- and beta 2-antagonist, in a monophasic manner with low potencies (CGP 20712A pKi: < 4.5 and ICI 118551 pKi: 5.57 +/- 0.13). Similar monophasic profiles were obtained for inhibition of Xam- and Dob-induced lipolysis. In this case, CGP 20712A was more potent (> 10 times) than ICI 118551. The monophasic inhibition was also observed with ICI 118551 in the presence of 0.05 microM Iso or 0.13 microM NA. In contrast, two populations of sites were identified with CGP 20712A in the presence of Iso as well as NA. The pKi values for the first sites were 8.41 +/- 0.09 and 8.58 +/- 0.17, respectively, and for the second population of sites 4.73 +/- 0.22 and 4.27 +/- 0.27, respectively. The proportion of the first sites was low: 19 +/- 4 and 22 +/- 5%, respectively. Biphasic curves were obtained with both antagonists using 2.5 microM Proc (CGP 20712A: pKi1: 8.17 +/- 0.08, site1: 23 +/- 6%, pKi2: 4.77 +/- 0.14; ICI 118551: pKi1: 7.78 +/- 0.03, site1: 37 +/- 2%, pKi2: 5.35 +/- 0.25). 7. Our results show that the radioligand [3H]-CGP 12177 allows the characterization of beta 1- and beta 3-adrenoceptor subtypes on rat white adipocytes. Lipolysis is highly dependent on beta 1- and beta 3-adrenoceptors. Finally, binding and functional studies confirm that lipolysis is mainly driven by the beta 3-subtype.

Substance P suppresses GABAA receptor function via protein kinase C in primary sensory neurones of bullfrogs.

1. The effects of substance P (SP) and related tachykinins on the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors were examined in acutely dissociated neurones of bullfrog dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by using whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. 2. Application of SP (10 nM to 1 microM) depressed inward currents produced by GABAA receptor activation (IGABA). Neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) also depressed IGABA; the rank order of agonist potency was SP > NKA > NKB. Spantide ([D-Arg1, D-Trp7,9,Leu11]SP) and L-703,606, NK1 receptor antagonists, blocked the SP-induced depression of IGABA. 3. SP irreversibly depressed IGABA, when neurones were intracellularly dialysed with GTP gamma S. Intracellular application of GDP beta S prevented the SP-induced depression of IGABA. Pertussis toxin (PTX) did not block the inhibitory effect of SP on IGABA. 4. The depression of IGABA produced by SP was inhibited by H-7 and PKC(19-36), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, but not by H-9 and HA-1004, protein kinase A inhibitors. IGABA was suppressed by application of sn-1,2-dioctanoyl glycerol (DOG), a PKC activator. 5. It is concluded that activation of neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors downregulates the function of the GABAA receptor of primary sensory neurones through a PTX-insensitive G-protein. PKC may be involved in the transduction pathway of the tachykinin-induced inhibition of the GABAA receptor.

The role of the 5-HT 4 receptor in Cl − secretion in human jejunal mucosa

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a mediator of chloride ion (Cl −) secretion in the intestine which can be seen as a rise in short circuit current ( I SC) in the Ussing chamber model. We investigated the 5-HT receptor mediating 5-HT-induced Cl − secretion in the human jejunum in vitro. Jejunal segments obtained from patients having gastric bypass surgery for obesity, were stripped of muscularis and mounted in Ussing chambers and short-circuited. The 5-HT receptor agonist-induced change (Δ) in I SC was recorded in the presence and absence of 5-HT receptor antagonists. The rank order of agonist potency was: 5-HT > 5-methoxytryptamine > renzapride (BRL 24924) > α-methyl-5-HT > > 2-methyl-5-HT. In the presence of Cl −-free media or 100 μM furosemide, 5-HT-induced Δ I SC was significantly reduced. It was also antagonized by ≥ 1 μM tropisetron (a 5-HT 3/5-HT 4 receptor antagonist) and ≥ 10 nM GR 113808 (a selective 5-HT 4 receptor antagonist) with pA 2 values of 6.5 and 7.9, respectively. Another 5-HT 4 receptor antagonist, SC 53606 (0.1 μM), antagonized the 5-HT-induced response with a pA 2 of 7.3. 5-HT 1-like/5-HT 2 (methysergide), 5-HT 1P [N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl 5-hydroxytryptophan amide (5-HTP-DP)], 5-HT 2A (ketanserin) and 5-HT 3 (ondansetron) receptor antagonists and tetrodotoxin, had no significant effect on the EC 50 for 5-HT. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that in the human muscle-stripped jejunum in vitro, 5-HT induced change in short circuit current is mediated by a 5-HT 4 receptor via a non-neural pathway.

Characterization of alpha-adrenoceptor subtype(s) mediating vasoconstriction in the perfused rabbit ovarian vascular bed.

1. alpha 1-Adrenoceptor agonists, noradrenaline, phenylephrine, methoxamine, oxymetazoline and SDZ NVI 085 but not alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, UK 14304, tizanidine or clonidine evoked dose-dependent vasoconstriction of the isolated perfused rabbit ovarian vascular bed. The rank order of agonist potency was noradenaline > oxymetazoline > phenylephrine > SDZ NVI 085 > methoxamine. 2. Prazosin (10(-8) M - 10(-5) M) displaced agonist dose-response curves to the right. The pA2/pKB values ranged between 7.27 and 7.66 against noradrenaline, phenylephrine, methoxamine and SDZ NVI 085 and were not significantly different from each other. Prazosin was however significantly less potent against oxymetazoline (pA2 6.38). Yohimbine (10(-6) M - 10(-5) M) was not very effective against any of the agonists. 3. WB 4101 (10(-8) M - 10(-5) M) displaced agonist dose-response curves to the right. The pA2/ pKB values ranged between 7.08 and 7.93 against noradrenaline, phenylephrine, methoxamine and SDZ NVI 085. WB 4101 was significantly less potent against oxymetazoline (pKB 6.85). 4. SZL-49 (5 x 10(-6) M) but not chloroethylclonidine (3 x 10(-5) M) significantly reduced vasoconstrictor responses to all the agonists. 5. Electrical field stimulation of the ovarian bed produced frequency-dependent vasoconstrictor effects which were abolished by 6-OHDA. The responses were also antagonized in a concentration-dependent by prazosin (10(-7) M - 10(-5) M) and WB 4101 (3 x 10(-8) M - 3 x 10(-7) M). Yohimbine reduced the response to electrical stimulation by 20% at 10(-5) M. The vasoconstrictor effect was also inhibited by SZL-49 but not by chloroethylclonidine. 6. These results would suggest that the vasoconstrictor responses of the ovarian vascular bed to adrenergic agonists and to electrical stimulation are mediated via the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor subtype.

The CXC Chemokines Growth-regulated Oncogene (GRO) α, GROβ, GROγ, Neutrophil-activating Peptide-2, and Epithelial Cell-derived Neutrophil-activating Peptide-78 Are Potent Agonists for the Type B, but Not the Type A, Human Interleukin-8 Receptor

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), growth-related oncogene (GRO) alpha, GRObeta, GROgamma, neutrophil-activating peptide-2 (NAP-2), epithelial cell-derived neutrophil activating peptide- 78 (ENA-78), and granulocyte chemoattractant protein-2 are potent neutrophil chemoattractants 40-90% identical in amino acid sequence that comprise a subgroup of human CXC chemokines defined by the conserved sequence motif glutamic acid-leucine-arginine (ELR). Two human chemotactic receptor subtypes for IL-8, named IL-8 receptors (IL8R) A and B, have been cloned. They are 78% identical in amino acid sequence, coexpressed in neutrophils, and distinguished by their different selectivities for GROalpha and NAP-2. Their selectivity for other ELR+ CXC chemokines has not been previously reported. By measuring calcium flux in human embryonic kidney 293 cells transfected with plasmids encoding IL8RA or IL8RB, we have now defined receptor selectivity for GRObeta, GROgamma, and ENA-78. The rank order of agonist potency, based on inspection of the mean effective concentration values (EC50), for IL8RB was GROgamma (1 nM) > IL-8 (4 nM) approximately GROalpha (5 nM) approximately GRObeta (4 nM) approximately NAP-2 (7 nM) > ENA-78 (11 nM), and for IL8RA was IL-8 (4 nM) >>> ENA-78 (40 nM) approximately NAP-2 (45 nM) > GROalpha (63 nM) approximately GROgamma (65 nM) >> GRObeta. The maximal response of IL8RA to IL-8 was at least 2-fold greater than the other five chemokines. All six agonists for IL8RB competed for high affinity 125I-IL-8, -GROalpha, -NAP-2, and -ENA-78 binding sites at IL8RB. GROalpha, GRObeta, GROgamma, NAP-2, and ENA-78 competed weakly for the high affinity IL-8 binding site at IL8RA. Thus, IL8RA and IL8RB are both highly selective for IL-8 and have similar sequences but differ dramatically in their selectivity for all other ELR+ CXC chemokines tested. These findings have important implications for developing novel neutrophil-specific anti-inflammatory drugs directed against the CXC chemokine signaling system.

Pharmacological characterizations of recombinant human 5-HT1D alpha and 5-HT1D beta receptor subtypes coupled to adenylate cyclase inhibition in clonal cell lines: apparent differences in drug intrinsic efficacies between human 5-HT1D subtypes.

Recombinant human 5-HT1D alpha and 5-HT1D beta receptor subtypes were stably expressed in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts (1D alpha cell line) and Y-1 adrenocortical tumor cells (1D beta cell line), respectively, for pharmacological evaluations of serotonergic compounds to inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation (FSCA). [3H]LSD saturation studies indicated that 5-HT1D receptor expression levels were slightly higher in the 1D beta cell line (Bmax = 1334 +/- 134 fmol/mg protein) than in the 1D alpha cell line (Bmax = 900 +/- 218 fmol/mg protein). 5-HT inhibited FSCA with similar potencies (EC50 approximately 2 nM) in both assay systems. The rank order of agonist potencies in both clonal cell lines matched their pharmacological profiles previously determined in binding studies: dihydroergotamine > or = 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) > LSD > or = 5-HT > sumatriptan > 1-naphthylpiperazine (1-NP) > yohimbine > 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH DPAT) > 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), with Ki/EC50 ratios greater than unity. Methiothepin acted as a silent antagonist at both human 5-HT1D alpha and 5-HT1D beta receptors with apparent dissociation constants (Kb values) of 12 +/- 1 nM and 3 +/- 1 nM, respectively. Whereas GR 127,935, metergoline, DOI, and quipazine acted as full agonists in the 1D alpha cell line, these compounds behaved as partial agonists in the 1D beta cell line. To determine whether high levels of receptor reserve might mask partial agonist activity in the two second messenger assay systems, studies were performed using the irreversible receptor alkylating agent N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ). The relationships between receptor occupancy and inhibition of FSCA were determined for 5-HT, sumatriptan, and 1-NP in both clonal cell lines after partial receptor inactivation using Furchgott analysis. Hyperbolic relationships between receptor occupancy and second messenger response were determined for 5-HT in both transfected cell lines. Steep hyperbolic relationships were also found for sumatriptan and 1-NP in the 1D beta cell line whereas nearly linear relationships were observed for these two compounds in the 1D alpha cell line. Moreover, KA/EC50 ratios of these compounds were significantly larger in the 1D beta (10-32) as compared to the 1D alpha (0.9-2.5) cell line. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the two heterologous expression systems contain a differential amount of receptor reserve. Despite the presence of an apparently larger-receptor reserve in the 1D beta cell line, GR 127,935, metergoline, DOI, and quipazine behaved as partial agonists. Although the potencies (EC50 values) of compounds matched their respective affinity constants (Ki values) for the closely-related 5-HT1D subtypes, differences in intrinsic activities were observed for a few compounds between the two 5-HT1D receptor expression systems. Since receptor reserve is dependent on the properties of both the assay system and drug, the observed variations in intrinsic activity, although influenced by the variable amounts of receptor reserve in the two transfected cell lines, reflect primarily system-independent differences in the intrinsic efficacy of the tested compounds at the two human 5-HT1D receptors. Higher intrinsic efficacies of compounds at the human 5-HT1D alpha receptor relative to the human 5-HT1D beta subtype may be responsible for the higher intrinsic activities observed in the 1D alpha cell line, even though receptor reserve is apparently lower in this system.

Pharmacological characterization of alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype mediating regulation of arterial pressure and urethral perfusion pressure in the anaesthetized rat.

1. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating the regulation of arterial pressure (AP) and urethral perfusion pressure (UP) in the anaesthetized rat were characterized by using selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. 2. Intravenous administration of selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists elicited a dose-dependent increase in AP and UP. The rank order of agonist potency: oxymetazoline (ED50, 6.2 and 8.2 nmol kg-1 > phenylephrine (ED50, 32 and 27 nmol kg-1 > methoxamine (ED50, 300 and 296 nmol kg-1 was the same for AP and UP, respectively. 3. The effects of phenylephrine on AP and UP were antagonized, in a dose related-manner, by pretreatment with alfuzosin, BMY 7378, 5-methyl-urapidil, phentolamine, prazosin, spiperone and WB 4101.5-methyl-urapidil was the only alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist more potent on UP than on AP. 4. The potency of the different alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested on AP and UP was significantly correlated with their binding affinity for the expressed recombinant alpha 1a-, but not alpha 1b- or alpha 1d-, adrenoceptor subtype. 5. The results suggest that in the anaesthetized rat (1) both AP and UP are regulated by the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor subtype; and (2) the urogenital selectivity of 5-methyl-urapidil may be due to the existence of multiple forms of the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor.

The C‐Terminal Domain of the mGluR1 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Affects Sensitivity to Agonists

The metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtype 1 exists as at least three variants (-1a, -1b, and -1c) generated by alternative splicing at the C-terminal domain. Fluorometric Ca2+ measurements were used to compare the concentration dependency of agonist-induced rises in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in human embryonic HEK 293 cells transiently expressing rat mGluR1a, mGluR1b, or mGluR1c. The rank order of agonist potencies was quisqualate >> (2S,1'S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (L-CCG-I) > (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid [(1S,3R)-ACPD] and did not differ among the splice variants. However, agonists were consistently more potent at mGluR1a than at mGluR1c and mGluR1b. In the same system, we characterized the agonist pharmacology of two chimeric rat mGluR3/1 receptors where the first and/or the second intracellular loop(s) and the C-terminal domain were exchanged with the corresponding mGluR1a or mGluR1c sequences and that were previously shown to mediate elevations in [Ca2+]i in response to agonists. The potency of agonists was higher at the chimera having the C-terminus of mGluR1a as compared with those having the mGluR1c C-terminus. Both chimeric mGluR3/1 receptors had the same rank order of agonist potencies: L-CCG-I >> (1S,3R)-ACPD approximately quisqualate. These data support the hypothesis that the C-terminal domain of mGluRs plays a role in determining the potency of agonists for inducing mGluR-mediated functional responses.

The relaxant 5‐HT receptor in the dog coronary artery smooth muscle: pharmacological resemblance to the cloned 5‐ht7 receptor subtype

1. The relaxant effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the dog isolated coronary artery deprived of endothelium is mediated by a receptor unrelated to the 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 or 5-HT4 types. Based upon the pharmacological characteristics of this relaxant 5-HT receptor and those reported for the new members of the 5-HT receptor family, the present study explored the possibility that the relaxant 5-HT receptor referred to above, corresponds to the cloned 5-ht7 subtype. Thus, the relaxing and/or blocking effects of several 5-HT receptor drugs as well as some typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs with high affinity for the cloned 5-ht7 receptor in precontracted ring segments were analyzed. 2. 5-HT, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) and 5-methoxytryptamine, but not 8-OH-DPAT or sumatriptan, produced concentration-dependent relaxations in endothelium-denuded canine coronary artery rings precontracted with prostaglandin F2a (2 microM). Clozapine (1 microM) produced in some cases a small relaxing effect and antagonized 5-HT- and 5-CT-induced relaxation suggesting a partial agonist effect. In the presence of the 5-HT1D receptor antagonist, GR127935 (100 nM), the rank order of agonist potency was 5-CT > 5-HT > clozapine > or = 5-methoxytryptamine. 8-OH-DPAT and sumatriptan remained inactive as agonists. 3. In GR127935-treated preparations, methiothepin (3 nM) and mianserin (1 microM), as well as the antipsychotics, clozapine (1 microM), pimozide (300 nM), risperidone (3 nM) and spiperone (1 microM), failed to induce a significant relaxation in prostaglandin F2x-precontracted vessels, but produced significant rightward displacements of the concentration-response curves to 5-HT and 5-CT without significantly reducing the Emax. In a final set of experiments with 5-CT, metergoline (100 nM) and mesulergine (300 nM) behaved as competitive antagonists. In contrast, lisuride (3 nM) noncompetitively antagonized 5-CT-induced relaxation. The estimated affinity (apparent pKa values) of the above antagonist drugs for the relaxant 5-HT receptor significantly correlated with their reported affinity at the cloned 5-ht7 receptor. 4. Taken together, the above pharmacological data may suggest that the relaxant 5-HT receptor in the smooth muscle of the canine coronary artery is similar to the cloned 5-ht7 receptor subtype.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1a activates adenylate cyclase when expressed in baby hamster kidney cells

1. 1. The coupling of subtype mGluR1a of the metabotropic glutamate receptor family to phosphoinositide hydrolysis, cAMP-formaaon and arachidonic acid release was characterized when the receptor was expressed in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. 2. 2. When measuring cAMP-formation in BHK cells expressing mGluR1a, the rank order of agonist potency as well as the efficacy of mGluR1a antagonists was comparable to what has been observed when measuring mGluR 1a-mediated phosphoinositide (PI)-hydrolysis. 3. 3. However, while the presence of extracellular calcium increased the efficacy of quisqualate to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis no significant effects were observed when measuring quisqualate-induced cAMP-formation. 4. 4. Pretreatment of mGluR 1a-expressing cells with pertussis toxin increased quisqualate-induced cAMP-formation in contrast to the observed partial inhibition of PI-hydrolysis by pertussis toxin. Cholera toxin increased cAMP-formadon in BHK cells but showed no effects on PI-hydrolysis. 5. 5. While quisqualate also stimulated [ 3H]-arachidonic acid release from BHK cells expressing mGluR1a this effect may be secondary to activation of phospholipase C. 6. 6. These data further suggest that mGluR1a is coupled to PI-hydrolysis as well as cAMP-formation via different G-proteins which can be discriminated by their sensitivity to pertussis toxin.

P2 purinoceptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+ transients in human sural nerve.

Segments of biopsied human sural nerve were stained with the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dyes Calcium Green-1 and Fura Red. The emission ratio was used to follow changes in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Application of ATP and analogues in concentrations between 0.3 and 300 microM via the bathing solution resulted in a transient rise in [Ca2+]i. The rank order of agonist potency, 2-methylthioATP > ATP > UTP, and the failure of adenosine, alpha,beta-MeATP and beta,gamma-MeATP to evoke rises in [Ca2+]i indicate the presence of P2Y/U subtypes of purinoceptors in this preparation. ATP-induced Ca2+ transients in biopsied human nerve preparations might serve as a diagnostic tool in neuropathies.

Functional characterization of adenosine receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius mediating hypotensive responses in the rat.

1. The aim of this study was to characterize adenosine receptors located in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) that mediate decreases in blood pressure in the anaesthetized rat. To determine the adenosine receptor subtype involved, a range of selective agonists and antagonists were studied and their relative potencies evaluated. 2. The rank order of agonist potency in inducing decreases in diastolic blood pressure was N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) > N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) > N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine (NECA) > or = 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV1808) > 2-p-(carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5' N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) > N6-(2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyl)-adenosine (APNEA). 3. The hypotensive action of CPA following microinjection into the NTS was antagonized by i.v. infusions (50 micrograms kg-1 min-1) of adenosine receptor antagonists, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3 dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT), and 1,3-dipropyl-8-N-(2-diethylamino)ethyl)-N methyl-4-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-2,6-dioxo) benzenesulphonamidexanthine (PD 115199). The antagonist potency order was DPCPX > PD115199 > or = 8-PT. Intravenous infusion of 8-SPT had no effect on blood pressure responses to microinjection of CPA into the NTS. 4. The results suggest that adenosine A1 receptors in the NTS mediate hypotensive responses in the anaesthetized rat preparation.

809 A specific marker of oxidative protein modifications, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, labels the neurofibrillary pathology of Alzheimer disease

A cDNA encoding the human metabotropic glutamate receptor type 4 (hmGluR4) was isolated from human brain cDNA libraries by cross-hybridization with rat mGluR4 probes. The deduced amino acid sequence of human mGluR4 consists of 912 residues and shows a sequence identity of 96% to the amino acid sequence of rat mGluR4. Northern blot analyses indicate that hmGluR4 is strongly expressed in the cerebellum of the adult human brain but also at low levels in hippocampus, hypothalamus and thalamus.Stimulation of hmGluR4 with L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (l-AP4), l-serine-O-phosphate (l-SOP), l-glutamate or (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclo-pentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid ((1S,3R)-ACPD) in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells depressed forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, whereas quisqualate (0.5 mM) was ineffective. The rank order of agonist potencies is: l-AP4>l-SOP>l-glutamate > (1S,3R)-ACPD> > quisqualate. (A,S)-α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (1 mM), a reported antagonist at some mGluR subtypes, did not reduce the depression of forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation by L-AP4.

The agonist selectivity of a class III metabotropic glutamate receptor, human mGluR4a, is determined by the N-terminal extracellular domain

To test the hypothesis that the determinants for agonist selectivity of class III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are localized in the N-terminal extracellular domain, a chimaeric cDNA was constructed where 519 amino acids of the N-terminal extracellular domain of human mGluR1b were exchanged with the corresponding region of human mGluR4. The pharmacological profile of the chimaera, designated hmGlu(R4)1-519/1b, was analysed by recordings of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in transiently transfected HEK 293 cells and compared with that of human mGluR1b and human mGluR4a stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Application of 100 microM L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-AP4), a class III mGluR-specific agonist, induced a rise in [Ca2+]i in hmGlu(R4)1-519/1b but not in hmGluR1b expressing cells. In contrast, application of quisqualate (100 microM) induced a rise in [Ca2+]i at hmGluR1b but not at hmGlu(R4)1-519/1b. Dose-response analysis with L-AP4 and L-glutamate at hmGlu(R4)1-519/1b revealed a half-maximal effect (EC50) of 16.0 microM and 196 microM, respectively. The EC50 values for quisqualate, glutamate and (1S,3R)-ACPD at hmGluR1b were 10.25 microM, 225 microM and 3060 microM, respectively. The rank order of agonist potency of hmGlu(R4)1-519/1b corresponds to that of hmGluR4 (L-AP4 > L-glutamate > (1S,3R)-ACPD > quisqualate) but is different from that of hmGluR1b (quisqualate > glutamate >> (1S,3R)-ACPD).

Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of a Novel P2 Nucleotide Receptor

The cDNA encoding a novel P2 receptor was isolated from rat aortic smooth muscle cell library and functionally characterized. The cloned P2 receptor exhibits structural features characteristic of the G protein-coupled receptor family and shows 44 and 38% amino acid identity with previously cloned rat P2U and chicken P2Y receptors, respectively. The cloned P2 receptor is functionally coupled to phospholipase C but not to adenylate cyclase in C6 rat glioma cells transfected with the cloned P2 expression vector. The rank order of agonist potency as judged by intracellular Ca2+ mobilization responses is UTP > ADP = 2-methylthioATP > ADP beta S > ATP = ATP gamma S, which is not compatible with any of the previously characterized P2 receptor subtypes. The nonselective P2 antagonists, suramin and reactive blue-2, inhibit nucleotide-induced phospholipase C activation in cells expressing the cloned P2 receptor. The cloned P2 receptor mRNA is abundantly expressed in various rat tissues including lung, stomach, intestine, spleen, mesentery, heart, and, most prominently, aorta. The results indicate that the novel metabotropic P2 receptor has pharmacological characteristics distinct from any of P2 receptor subtypes thus far identified and suggest the existence of a novel regulatory system by extracellular nucleotides of potential significance.

Failure of the putative neuropeptide Y antagonists, benextramine and PYX-2, to inhibit Y2 receptors in rat isolated prostatic vas deferens.

1. The pharmacological activity of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and some analogues in inhibiting the twitch contractions induced by electrical stimulation (single pulses at 25 V, 0.15 Hz, 1 ms) in the prostatic portion of the rat isolated vas deferens was investigated. The rank order of agonist potency was: PYY > NPY2-36 > NPY >> NPY13-36 >> NPY18-36 >> [Leu31,Pro34]NPY = hPP, which is consistent with the activation of a Y2 receptor. 2. The putative Y1 and Y2 antagonist, benextramine (BXT), incubated at 100 microM for 10 or 60 min, was ineffective against PYY-induced inhibition of the twitch response, suggesting that the prejunctional Y2 receptor in this tissue is different from the postjunctional one reported in the literature to be sensitive to BXT blockade. 3. The putative NPY antagonist, PYX-2, incubated at 1 microM for 20 min, was completely ineffective in antagonizing PYY-induced inhibition of twitches. 4. The twitch response was totally inhibited by suramin (100 microM) but was little affected by prazosin (1 microM). Furthermore, NPY was without effect on the dose-response curve to ATP in resting conditions. Taken together, these results suggest that in our paradigm, NPY inhibits the release of a purinergic neurotransmitter which mediates contraction of the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens.

Somatostatin receptors mediating inhibition of basal and stimulated electrogenic ion transport in rat isolated distal colonic mucosa

The aim of this study was to examine the potencies of several recently identified selective somatostatin (SRIF)-receptor ligands as inhibitors of electrogenic ion transport in the rat distal colonic mucosa with the view to identifying the SRIF receptor type involved. Under basal conditions, cumulative administration of SRIF and SRIF28 decreased short circuit current (SCC), a measure of electrogenic ion transport, with EC50 values of 4 nM and 9 nM respectively. The peptidase inhibitors, phosphoramidon (1 microM) and amastatin (10 microM), has no effect on the potencies of either SRIF or SRIF28. The inhibitory action of SRIF on basal SCC was suppressed by piretanide and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, compatible with the assumption that the Na+K+2Cl- co-transporter and Cl- channels, respectively, may be involved in this antisecretory action of SRIF. Tetrodotoxin (1 microM) had no effect on the antisecretory action of SRIF, suggesting that the process was not neuronally mediated. All of the SRIF analogues examined, with the exception of BIM-23056, maximally inhibited basal SCC to a similar extent as SRIF. Seglitide and octreotide were both more potent antisecretory agents than SRIF (respective EC50 values, 0.4 nM and 1.5 nM) suggesting that this effect was mediated by a receptor belonging to the SRIF1 receptor group. The most distinguishing feature of the rank order of agonist potencies was the high potency of the selective sst2 receptor ligand, BIM-23027 (EC50 value 0.32 nM), the weaker potency exhibited by the selective sst5 receptor ligand, L-362855 (EC50 value 21 nM), and the lack of agonist activity displayed by the selective sst3 receptor ligand, BIM-23056 (EC50 value > 1000 nM). This profile is comparable with that observed in binding studies on the recombinant sst2 receptor. Forskolin-stimulated secretion was suppressed by SRIF analogues with the rank order of agonist potencies BIM-23027 > SRIF > L-362855 >> BIM-23056 which resembled that exhibited under basal conditions. However, the absolute potencies of these agonists were lower (respective EC50 values 2 nM, 14 nM< 38 nM and > 1000 nM) whilst the magnitude of inhibition was about three fold greater. BIM-23027 and SRIF (both 30 nM) also inhibited carbachol-stimulated increases in basal SCC by 60-70%, while a similar concentration of L-362855 inhibited these responses by 11%. BIM-23056 (1 microM) had no effect on carbachol-simulated secretion. Radioligand binding studies on rat colonic mucosal membranes using [125I]-Tyr11-SRIF suggested heterogeneity of SRIF binding sites. Thus, SRIF and SRIF28 competed for binding (IC50 values, 0.32 and 0.63 nM, respectively) with Hill slopes less than unity; while seglitide and BIM-23027 both maximally displaced only 30-40% of specific binding with apparent high affinity (respective pIC50 values, 10.1 nM and 10.0). In conclusion, SRIF decreases basal as well as both cAMP and Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- secretion in rat colonic mucosa. The rank order of agonist potencies suggests that receptors resembling the recombinant sst2 receptor mediate inhibition of basal and forskolin-stimulated secretion. Radioligand binding studies suggest that BIM-23027 interacts with a sub-population of [125I]Tyr11-SRIF binding sites in rat colonic mucosal membranes which probably corresponds to the receptors mediating the antisecretory effects described here.