Receptor Antagonist Radioligand Research Articles

Effects of an orally active vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist.

1. This paper reports on the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of a non-peptide vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist 1-(1-[4-(3-acetylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]-4-piperidyl)-3,4-dihydro-2( 1H)- quinolinone (OPC-21268). 2. OPC-21268 caused a concentration-dependent displacement of the selective V1 receptor antagonist radioligand, [125I]-[d(CH2)5, sarcosine7]AVP from vasopressin V1 receptors in rat liver and kidney membranes, inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC50) 4 x 10(-8), 0.3 mol/L liver and 1.5 x 10(-8), 0.2 mol/L kidney. OPC-21268 had little effect on the selective V2 antagonist radioligand [3H]desGly-NH2(9)-d(CH2)5[D-Ileu2, Ileu4]AVP binding to V2 receptors in renal membranes (IC50 > 10(-4) mol/L). 3. After oral administration to rats, OPC-21268 was an effective V1 antagonist to both liver and kidney V1 receptors, in a dose-dependent manner. 4. These studies confirm that OPC-21268 is a potent non-peptide, orally effective V1 vasopressin receptor antagonist.

Increased [3H] raclopride binding sites in postmortem brains from schizophrenic violent suicide victims.

The specific binding of the D2-dopamine receptor antagonist radioligand [3H] raclopride was quantitated in the postmortem caudate and frontal cortex from schizophrenic suicide victims and control subjects. In schizophrenic suicides the density of binding sites (Bmax) was higher (40%, P < 0.05) in the caudate, whereas it did not change in the cortex as compared to those in controls. The apparent dissociation constants (KD) were also found increased both in caudate (24%) and cortex (75%) from schizophrenics, but these apparent decreases in receptor affinity did not reach statistical significance. The mean Bmax value in drug-free schizophrenic suicides (n = 3) did not differ from the Bmax value in neuroleptic drug-treated schizophrenics (n = 7) but it was found increased in respect to control subjects (n = 9). No differences in [3H] raclopride binding were observed between non-schizophrenic suicide victims (n = 4) and matched controls (n = 4), suggesting that the modifications of D2-dopamine receptors in schizophrenia are not related to suicide.

3H]DuP 753, a highly potent and specific radioligand for the angiotensin II-1 receptor subtype

[ 3H]DuP 753, a nonpeptide angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonist radioligand, was used to characterize a subtype of AII receptors in rat adrenal cortical microsomes. By Scatchard analysis, a single class of DuP 753 binding sites was found with an affinity of 6.4 nM and a Bmax of 1.3 pmol/mg protein. These sites were saturable and readily reversible. Angiotensin (I, II, III) expressed the same affinities and order of potency for these binding sites as those labeled by [ 3H]AII for the AII-1 sites. The affinities expressed by nonpeptide AII antagonists were commensurate with their inhibitory potencies on AII-1 receptors. PD123177, an AII-2 specific ligand, and other non-AII peptides showed no inhibitory action. These data together with the differential tissue distribution strongly support our conclusion that [ 3H]DuP 753 is a potent and highly specific radioligand for the AII-1 receptors.

Multiple components of the A1 adenosine receptor-adenylate cyclase system are regulated in rat cerebral cortex by chronic caffeine ingestion.

The effects of chronic caffeine on the A1 adenosine receptor-adenylate cyclase system of rat cerebral cortical membranes were studied. Caffeine treatment significantly increased the number of A1 adenosine receptors as determined with the A1 adenosine receptor antagonist radioligand [3H]xanthine amine congener (XAC). R-PIA (agonist) competition curves constructed with [3H]XAC were most appropriately described by a two affinity state model in control membranes with a KH of 2.1 +/- 0.8 and a KL of 404 +/- 330 nM with 50 +/- 4% of receptors in the high affinity state (%RH). In contrast, in membranes from treated animals, there was a marked shift towards the high affinity state. In three of seven animals all of the receptors were shifted to a unique high affinity state which was indistinguishable from the KH observed in membranes from control animals. In four of seven animals the %RH increased from 50 to 69% with KH and KL indistinguishable from the control values. Thus, the agonist specific high affinity form of the receptor was enhanced following caffeine treatment. Maximal inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in cerebral cortical membranes by R-PIA (1 microM) was significantly increased by 28% following caffeine treatment, consistent with an increased coupling of receptor-Gi protein with adenylate cyclase. Importantly, the quantity of Gi (alpha i) in rat cerebral cortex, determined by pertussis toxin-mediated labeling, was also increased to 133% of control values by this treatment. Thus, multiple components and interactions of the A1 adenosine receptor-adenylate cyclase complex are regulated by caffeine. These changes are likely compensatory measures to offset blockade of A1 receptors in vivo by caffeine and lead to a sensitization of this inhibitory receptor system.

Evidence for a fast receptor turnover of D 1 dopamine receptors in various forebrain regions of the rat

The time course for recovery of binding of the D 1 dopamine receptor antagonist radioligand [ 3H]SCH 23390, after administration of the irreversible antagonist N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), was studied in the neostriatum, nucleus accumbens, tuberculum olfactorium and claustrum of the rat by means of quantitative receptor autoradiography. The results showed that the receptor degradation rate constant ( k) ranged from 0.0163 to 0.0315 h −1 and that the receptor production rate ( r) ranged from 8.52 to 24.96 fmol/mg protein/h. These results indicate that the D 1 receptor has a considerably faster turnover than the D 2 receptor, which suggests that the D 1 receptor may require a dynamic regulation including also changes in receptor production and degradation rates.

Effects of Na+ on the Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptor of Rat Ventricular Myocytes

The effects of Na+ on alpha 2-adrenergic receptors coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase have been well studied. Effects of Na+ on other receptor types also linked to adenylate cyclase inhibition are not clear. We therefore studied the effects of Na+ on the muscarinic cholinergic receptor of rat ventricular myocardium. Intact ventricular myocytes bound the muscarinic receptor antagonist radioligand [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate with high affinity (Kd 72 +/- 18 pM) to a large number of sites (138,000 +/- 25,000/cell). In ventricular membranes, Na+ (100 mM) increased receptor affinity for radioligand two-fold and decreased receptor affinity for agonist (carbachol) twofold. Sodium was not required for and did not alter the pattern of cholinergic inhibition of adenylate cyclase in ventricular membranes. We conclude that Na+ has minimal effects on both binding and function of cardiac cholinergic receptors in rat. Our results suggest that monovalent cations are not important regulators of agonist binding and function of cardiac muscarinic cholinergic receptors.