Cardiovascular effects in rats of alpha1 and alpha2 adrenergic agents injected into the nucleus tractus solitarii

Summary The cardiovascular effects of selective alpha₁ and alpha₂ agonists and antagonists injected into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) were studied in urethane-anesthetized rats. Methoxamine (0.3–3 g) injected bilaterally into the NTS caused a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Phenylephrine (6 g) and an imidazolidine derivative St 587 (3 g) similarly injected also produced an increase in blood pressure, whereas a-methylnoradrenaline and an azepine derivative B-HT 920 (1 and 3 g) caused a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate. The pressor response to methoxamine (1 g) was markedly inhibited by prazosin (0.3 pg) injected into the same sites or hexamethionum (25 mg/kg, i. v.). Prazosin (0.3 g) alone injected bilaterally into the NTS did not affect the blood pressure, while yohimbine (0.1 g) similarly injected increased the pressure. These results suggest that in the rat NTS there exist alpha₁ adrenoceptors responsible for an increase in arterial pressure. The NTS alpha2 adrenoceptors seem to be involved in the tonic regulation of arterial pressure. Send offprint requests to T. Kubo at the above address     

Muscarine receptor types mediating autoinhibition of acetylcholine release and sphincter contraction in the guinea-pig iris

Summary The potencies of several muscarine receptor antagonists in blocking either the autoinhibition of acetylcholine release or the muscarinic contraction of the sphincter muscle upon acetylcholine release were investigated in the guinea-pig iris. The agonist at pre- or postjunctional muscarine receptors was acetylcholine released upon field stimulation (5.5 Hz, 2 min) of the irides preloaded with ¹⁴C-choline. The stimulation-evoked ¹⁴C-overflow was doubled in the presence of atropine 0.1 mol/l but unaffected by the agonist (±)-methacholine (50 mol/l). Thus, under the present stimulation conditions, the autoinhibition of acetylcholine release on the guinea-pig iris cholinergic nerves was nearly maximally activated. Isotonic contractions of the irides upon field stimulation consisted of a rapid, atropine (0.1 mol/l). peak phase followed by a sustained contraction which involved a cholinergic and a non-cholinergic stimulation of the sphincter muscle. The M₂-selective antagonists methoctramine (10 mol/l) and gallamine (100 µmol/l). increased both the ¹⁴Goverflow and the peak contractions evoked by field stimulation. In contrast, the M₃-selective antagonist hexahydrosiladifenidol (0.1–10 mol/l) failed to affect the evoked ¹⁴C-release but concentration-dependently (1–10 mol/l) reduced the iris contractions. Pirenzepine (10 mol/l) enhanced the evoked ¹⁴C-overflow and inhibited the peak contractions (0.1–10 mol/l; maximal effect at 10 mol/l). The low potency of the antagonist at both receptor sites indicates that an M₁ muscarine receptor is not involved. The results are consistent with the idea of M₂ muscarine receptors mediating autoinhibition of acetylcholine release in the guinea-pig iris and M₃-like receptors inducing the contraction of the sphincter muscle. Send offprint requests to I. T. Bognar at the above address     

ATP and endogenous agonists inhibit evoked [3H]-noradrenaline release in rat iris via A1 and P2y-like purinoceptors

Summary Effects of ATP, adenosine and purinoceptor antagonists on field stimulation-evoked (3 Hz, 2 min) [³H]-noradrenaline overflow were investigated in the rat isolated iris.ATP and adenosine inhibited the evoked overflow of [³H]-noradrenaline. 1,3-Dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) shifted the concentration-response curve of ATP to the right in a concentration-dependent manner, but with a potency (–log K_B = 7.88) much lower than expected for an A1 adenosine receptor. In the continuous presence of DPCPX, the ATP-induced prejunctional inhibition was unaffected by suramin (100 mol/l) and DIDS (4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid, 50 mol/l) but was antagonized by the P_2Y-receptor antagonist cibacron blue ( = reactive blue 2;30 and 100 mol/l, –log K_B = 4.7)and ,-methylene-ATP (10 mol/l). Whereas the evoked [³H]-noradrenaline overflow was unaffected by suramin and DIDS, cibacron blue and ,-methylene-ATP caused a small and transient increase. Cibacron blue at 30 mol/l failed to antagonize the inhibition of evoked [³H]-noradrenaline overflow that adenosine produced in the absence of DPCPX. Basal [³H]-noradrenaline overflow was enhanced by cibacron blue, not changed by ,-methylene-ATP and DIDS, and decreased by suramin.The results show that exogenous ATP inhibits sympathetic neurotransmission in the rat iris via A₁ and P_2Y-like purinoceptors. The latter have a low apparent affinity for cibacron blue and probably are blocked by ,-methylene-ATP. Under the present conditions, endogenous purines exert a tonic inhibition not only via A₁- but also via these P_2Y-receptors. Correspondence to: H. Fuder at the above address     

Effects of intracerebroventricular administration of prostaglandin D2 on behaviour,blood pressure and body temperature as compared to prostaglandins E2 and F2α

The present work examined some central nervous actions of prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂), which is the most prevalent prostaglandin in rodentorain. The effects of PGD₂ were compared with those of PGE₂ and PGF₂. The prostaglandins were administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) to conscious rats using the method of Herman (1970). All three prostaglandins studied produced depressive behavioral effects, causing obvious sedation at doses of 2.0 g and 20.0 g ICV. PGD₂ and PGE₂ significantly reduced spontaneous motor activity at doses of 2.0 g and 20.0 g ICV. PGF₂ was less effective; only 20.0 g significantly inhibited motor activity. At a dose of 20.0 g ICV all three compounds were shown to block convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol. PGD₂, the most effective prostaglandin in this respect, was still slightly anticonvulsive at a dose of 2.0 g ICV. PGF₂ hat the weakest anticonvulsive potency. PGE₂ and PGF₂ (2.0 g and 20.0 g ICV) caused a marked hypertensive effect, whereas PGD₂ at the same dose levels only produced a small increase in blood pressure. PGE₂ and PGF₂ (2.0 g and 20.0 g) also exerted marked pyrogenic actions. The effects of PGD₂ on body temperature were variable. When given at a dose of 20.0 g ICV, it caused slight hyperthermia whereas a lower dose (2.0 g ICV) induced a moderate fall in body temperature. These findings suggest a relationship between the actions of the different prostaglandins on blood pressure and body temperature.A preliminary report was given at the Spring Meeting of the Deutsche Pharmakologische Gesellschaft, March 1983 (Förstermann and Heldt, 1983)     

Differential modulation by muscimol and baclofen on antinociception induced by morphine, β-endorphin,d-Pen2,5-enkephalin and U50,488H administered intracerebroventricularly in the mouse

The present study was designed to investigate the modulatory effects of stimulation of GABA_A and GABA_B receptors at supraspinal sites on antinociception induced by supraspinally administered -, -, -, and -opioid receptor agonists. The effects of the GABA_A and GABA_B receptor agonists, muscimol and baclofen respectively, on the antinociception induced by morphine (a -receptor agonist), -endorphin (an -receptor agonist), D-Pen^2,5-enkephalin (DPDPE, a -receptor agonist) and U50,488H ({trans-3,4-di-chloroN-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl] benzeocetamide}; a -receptor agonist) injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) were studied. The anti-nociception was assayed using the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. Muscimol at doses of 25–200 ng, administered i.c.v. alone did not affect the latencies of tail-flick and hot-plate thresholds, but attenuated dose-dependently the inhibition of the tail-flick and hot-plate responses induced by i.c.v. administered morphine (2 g), -endorphin (1 g), DPDPE (10 g), and U50,488H (60 g). Baclofen (1.25–10 ng) administered i.c.v. alone did not affect the latencies of the tail-flick and hot-plate responses, but attenuated dose-dependently the inhibition of the tail-flick and hot-plate responses induced by -endorphin and U50,488H, without affecting morphine-or DPDPE-induced responses. Our results indicate that activation of GABA_A receptors at the supraspinal sites by i.c.v. injection of muscimol antagonizes antinociception induced by supraspinally administered -, -, -, and -opioid receptor agonists. On the other hand, activation of GABA_B receptors at supraspinal sites by i.c.v. baclofen antagonizes antinociception induced by i.c.v. administered - and -opioid agonists, but not - or -opioid agonists.     

Blockade of α2-adrenoceptors increases opioid μ-receptor-mediated inhibition of the firing rate of rat locus coeruleus neurones

Summary In pontine slices of the rat brain, the frequency of spontaneous action potentials of locus coeruleus (LC) neurones was recorded extracellularly. Noradrenaline 0.1–100 mol/l, UK 14,304 0.01–100 nmol/l, [Met⁵]-enkephalin 1–10,000 nmol/l and [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵]enkephalin 0.1–1,000 nmol/l, all depressed the firing rate. Rauwolscine 1 mol/l antagonized the effects of both noradrenaline and UK 14,304, but potentiated the effects of [Met']enkephalin and [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵]enkephalin. Idazoxan 1 mol/l acted in a similar manner. Prazosin 1 mol/l did not change the effects of either noradrenaline or [Met⁵]enkephalin. Naloxone 0.1 mol/l antagonized both [Met']enkephalin and [D-Ala², D-Leu⁵]enkephalin, but failed to alter the effects of either noradrenaline or UK 14,304. Rauwolscine, idazoxan and prazosin, all 1 mol/l, as well as naloxone 0.1 mol/l, did not influence the firing rate when given alone. Desipramine 1 mol/l inhibited the discharge of action potentials in a rauwolscine-antagonizable manner. Noradrenaline 10 mol/l produced the same depression of firing, both in the presence of noradrenaline 1 mol/l and [Met⁵]enkephalin 0.03 mol/l. Likewise, the effect of [Met⁵]enkephalin 0.3 mol/l was the same, irrespective of whether it was added to a medium containing [Met⁵]enkephalin 0.03 mol/l or noradrenaline 1 mol/l. The spontaneous activity of LC neurones is inhibited by somatic ₂-adrenoceptors and opioid -receptors. We suggest that the two receptors interact with each other at a site located between themselves and not in the subsequent common signal transduction system.Send offprint requests to: P. Illes at the above address     

Presynaptic dopamine DA2-receptors in rabbit jejunal arteries

Summary Excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by nerve stimulation with 15 pulses at 1 Hz were recorded from muscle cells of rabbit isolated jejunal arteries. LY 171555 1 mol/l, SKF 38393 10 mol/l, dopamine 10 ol/l and clonidine 0.1 mol/l depressed all e j.ps in the train. The percentage inhibition was inversely related to the number of pulses. S- and R-sulpiride, 10 mol/l, domperidone 1 mol/l, SCH 23390 1 mol/l and rauwolscine 1 mol/l did not change, or even depressed the first e j.ps. Of these compounds only S- and R-sulpiride, 10 mol/l and rauwolscine 1 mol/l facilitated the late e.j.ps. The percentage facilitation increased with the number of pulses until a maximum was reached; rauwolscine 1 ol/l had the largest effect. S- and R-sulpiride, 10 mol/l, as well as domperidone 1 ol/l antagonized the action of LY 171555 1 mol/l. S-Sulpiride was more potent than its R-isomer. SCH 23390 1 mol/l and rauwolscine 1 mol/l blunted the effect of SKF 38393 10 mol/l. Rauwolscine 1 mol/l slightly reduced the inhibition by dopamine 10 mol/l; S-sulpiride 10 mol/l was antagonistic only in the presence of rauwolscine 1 mol/l. When rauwolscine 1 mol/l, prazosin 0.1 mol/l, propranolol 1 mol/l and cocaine 10 mol/l was added to the medium, dopamine 10 mol/l continued to produce the same depression of e j.ps, as in the absence of these compounds. Under such conditions S-sulpiride 10 mol/l also counteracted dopamine 10 gmol/l. Rauwolscine 1 mol/l prevented the effect of clonidine 0.1 mol/l. The antagonists were not absolutely selective against only one type of agonist. We suggest that both presynaptic DA₂- and postsynaptic DA₁-receptors are present in rabbit jejunal arteries. The activation of either receptor-type may depress the e j.ps. Dopamine interferes with neuroeffector transmission due to ₂-adrenoceptor agonist properties; its DA₂-effect is unmasked only after ₂-adrenoceptor blockade. There was no evidence for a co-transmitter function of dopamine. Send offprint requests to P. Illes at the above address     

The involvement of central cholinergic system in the pressor effect of intracerebroventricularly injected U-46619, a thromboxane A2 analog, in conscious normotensive rats

The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of the central cholinergic system in the rise in blood pressure evoked by the thromboxane A2 (TxA2) analog, U-46619, given centrally. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of U-46619 (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g) caused dose- and time-related increases in blood pressure and decreased heart rate in awake rats. U-46619 (1 g; i.c.v.) also produced an approximately 65% increase in posterior hypothalamic extracellular acetylcholine and choline levels. Pretreatment with SQ-29548 (8 g; i.c.v.), selective TxA2 receptor antagonist, completely inhibited both the cardiovascular responses and the increase in acetylcholine and choline levels to subsequent injection of U-46619 (1 g; i.c.v.). Atropine (10 g; i.c.v.), nonselective muscarinic receptor antagonist, pretreatment did not affect the cardiovascular responses observed after U-46619 (1 g; i.c.v.). Pretreatment with the nonselective nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (50 g; i.c.v.) attenuated the pressor effect of U-46619 (1 g; i.c.v.). Higher doses of mecamylamine (75 and 100 g; i.c.v.) pretreatments did not change the magnitude of the blockade of pressor response to U-46619; however, they abolished the bradycardic effect of U-46619 dose-dependently. Interestingly, pretreatment of rats with methyllycaconitine (10 g; i.c.v.) or -bungarotoxin (10 g; i.c.v.), selective antagonists of 7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (7nAChRs), partially abolished the pressor response to i.c.v. injection of U-46619 (1 g). Similar to the mecamylamine data, the use of higher doses of methyllycaconitine (25 and 50 g; i.c.v.) produced the same magnitude of blockade that was observed after the 10 g methyllycaconitine pretreatment, but it completely abolished the bradycardic effect of U-46619 (1 g; i.c.v.) at the dose of 25 g. The present results show that central administration of U-46619 produces pressor and bradycardic effect and increase in hypothalamic acetylcholine and choline levels by activating central TxA2 receptors. The activation of central nicotinic receptors, predominantly 7nAChRs, partially mediates the cardiovascular responses to i.c.v. injection of U-46619.     

Influence of N-allyl-normetazocine on acetylcholine release from brain slices: involvement of muscarinic receptors

Summary The effects of (±)N-allyl-normetazocine on the release of acetylcholine from different areas of guinea-pig and rat brain were investigated. 1. The drug did not modify the electrically (2 Hz) evoked tritium efflux from guinea-pig cerebral cortex, thalamus and caudate nucleus slices, preloaded with ³H-choline 0.1 mol/l and superfused with Krebs solution containing hemicholinium-3 10 mol/l. 2. (±)N-allyl-normetazocine 10 mol/l. enhanced the evoked ³H efflux from guinea-pig brain slices superfused with Krebs solution containing physostigmine 30 mol/l or oxotremorine 0.3 -1 gmol/l; the effect was naloxone-insensitive and was abolished by atropine 0.15 mol/l, but not by pirenzepine 1 mol/l. 3. (±)N-allyl-normetazocine 5 mol/l enhanced the electrically evoked release of endogenous acetylcholine as well, in a naloxone-insensitive way. 4. Both (±) and (+)N-allyl-normetazocine were without effect on ³H efflux from rat caudate nucleus slices electrically stimulated at 0.2 Hz frequency, after preloading with ³H-choline and during superfusion with hemicholinium-3. 5. The results are discussed in view of the antimuscarinic properties of the drug. Send offprint requests to A. Siniscalchi     

Lead and cadmium in breast milk higher levels in urban vs rural mothers during the first 3 months of lactation

Breast milk from 10 women each from the city of Hamburg and from a rural area was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for contamination with lead and cadmium. Samples were examined at regular intervals for 3 months after birth. On day 5 a diurnal profile was analyzed; on the other days milk was taken before and after the morning feed.Daily permissable intake (DPI) for lead is 5 g/kg/day for children; the DPI for cadmium has as yet been determined only for adults as 400–500 g/week, equivalent to about 1 g/kg/day (WHO 1972). For breast milk as the main source of nutrition in infants, this study shows values of 9.1±2.5 (SD) g/l for lead in the rural population, with a tendency to decrease towards the end of lactation. Urban mothers had 13.3±5.5 (SD) g/l, with a tendency to increase. This difference was significant only on day 45. Mean cadmium content in rural mothers was 17.3±4.9 g/l, with much higher values in the colostrum and a decrease after 15 days. Urban mothers had 24.6±7.3 g/l, again with high colostrum values and a subsequent decrease. These latter values are not significantly different.Calculated daily intake according to these values is presented, based on 840 ml breast milk for a 5.5 kg infant per day. Rural infants ingested 0.9–1.3 g/kg/day of lead, and in the city 1.5–2.3 g/kg/day. Cadmium intake in rural infants amounted from 1.2–1.8 g/kg/day; in Hamburg it was 1.6–2.2 g/kg/day. Thus the daily ingestion of lead was just below the DPI, cadmium ingestion was higher than the DPI for adults. The rural population had lower values in breast milk for both heavy metals than the urban population, although not statistically significant. Compared to earlier reports there was a slight increase in lead concentration and a more significant increase for cadmium. This study shows that the increase in cadmium may have taken place during very recent years, possibly due to the increase in the pH of soil. Therefore, it is suggested that both levels be monitored in a continuous program to prevent any nutritional hazard.     

The sympathetic axons innervating the sinus node of the rabbit possess presynaptic opioid к- but not μ- or δ-receptors

Summary The postganglionic sympathic nerves of rabbit isolated hearts were stimulated with pulses delivered at 5 Hz and train durations of 1–5 s. Ethylketocyclazone 0.01–1 mol/l and fentanyl 1 and 10 mol/l but not morphine 1 and 10 mol/l, Met-enkephalin 1 and 4 mol/l or d-Ala², d-Leu⁵-enkephalin 0.5 and 5 mol/l diminished the stimulation-evoked increase in heart rate. The effect of ethylketocyclazocine 0.1 mol/l was antagonized by naloxone 1 and 10 mol/l. In contrast, the effect of fentanyl was not changed by naloxone 10 mol/l. Ethylketocyclazocine 0.03 and 1 mol/l did not reduce the tachycardia elicited by exogenous noradrenaline. The results suggest that, under in vitro conditions, only presynaptic opioid - but not - or -receptors inhibit the release of noradrenaline from the sympathetic neurones innervating the sinus node.     

The effects of capsaicin upon electrogenic ion transport in rat descending colon

Summary Preparations of rat descending colon mucosa have been used to record changes in short circuit current (SCC) under voltage clamp conditions. When added to the basolateral compartment capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide, 0.1-3 M) caused an initial transient increase in SCC, followed by a more prolonged reduction in SCC, that lasted for 20–30 min.Repeated applications of 3 M capsaicin caused desensitisation of the initial secretory response. The antisecretory effects (i. e. reduction in SCC from the original baseline) remained, although they were significantly reduced. In some preparations described as non-responders, 3 M capsaicin did not elicit a secretory response. No desensitisation of the remaining antisecretory responses was observed in these tissues; in fact these reductions in SCC were consistently larger than those from tissues which responded with a secretory response.Tetrodotoxin (100 nM), hexamethonium (10 M), and yohimbine (50 M) had no significant effect upon either secretory or antisecretory responses. Ruthenium red (10 M) abolished the secretory response to 3 M capsaicin, but had no effect upon the antisecretory responses. Pretreatment of the tissues with 1 M substance P(SP) resulted in significant desensitisation to the peptide and abolished the secretory response to 3 M capsaicin. The antisecretory responses remained, and were significantly larger compared with responses from control tissues. Send offprint requests to H. M. Cox at present address     

Effects on atrio-ventricular conduction of calcium-antagonistic coronary vasodilators,local anaesthetics and quinidine injected into the posterior and the anterior septal artery of the atrio-ventricular node preparation of the dog

Summary The effects on atrio-ventricular (A-V) conduction and blood flow of calcium-antagonists (verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem), local anaesthetics (procaine and lidocaine) and quinidine were investigated in the isolated, cross-circulated A-V node preparation of the dog. The drugs were injected individually into the posterior septal artery (PSA) through which the upper part of the A-V node is mainly perfused or into the anterior septal artery (ASA) through which the lower part of the node and the more distal conduction system are perfused. Single injections into the PSA of nifedipine (0.3–10 g), verapamil (1–30 g), diltiazem (1–30 g), quinidine (30–300 g), lidocaine (100 g–1 mg) and procaine (300 g–3 mg) produced a dose-related increase in the A-V conduction time and with higher doses of these drugs a second or third degree block of A-V conduction occurred. Nifedipine (0.3–30 g) and verapamil (1–100 g) injected into the ASA scarcely affected A-V conduction. Quinidine (30 g–1 mg) and lidocaine (100 g–3 mg) injected into the ASA prolonged the A-V conduction time in a dose-related manner, although the effects were less prominent than those produced upon injection into the PSA. High doses of quinidine (3 mg) and lidocaine (3–10 mg) injected into the ASA altered the shape of ventricular bipolar electrograms and prolonged the time interval between an electrogram of the right bundle branch and that of the ventricle. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that in excitation of A-V nodal cells a slow calcium current rather than a fast sodium current plays an important role and that in the His-Purkinje-ventricular system the fast sodium current is predominant. Single injections of the 6 drugs into the PSA produced a doserelated increase in blood flow through the PSA. All drugs but nifedipine increased the blood flow in almost the same dose range that caused impairment of A-V conduction. Nifedipine was 10 times more potent in increasing the blood flow than in impairing A-V conduction.     

Release of noradrenaline proposed as a mechanism for the positive inotropic action of dipyridamole

Summary In the arterially blood-perfused canine papillary muscle, i.a. injections of dipyridamole (10–300 g) produced a dose-dependent increase in developed tension amounting to about 45% of the basal developed tension at 300 g. The positive inotropic response to dipyridamole was greatly reduced by a prior i.a. injection of propranolol (10 g) or by pretreatment with reserpine (0.2 mg/kg s.c. for 3 consecutive days) but not affected by a prior i.a. injection of tetrodotoxin (1 g) or desmethylimipramine (3–10 g). The positive inotropic response to dipyridamole reduced by pretreatment with reserpine was restored by i.a. infusion of noradrenaline (0.03 g/min). Dipyridamole did not modify the positive inotropic responses to noradrenaline and tyramine. These results suggest that the positive inotropic response to dipyridamole is largely due to noradrenaline released from adrenergic nerve endings by a mechanism that differs from those operative in the action of tyramine or in liberation of noradrenaline upon excitation.     

Intrathecal substance P depresses the tail-flick response — Antagonism by naloxone

Summary Substance P injected into the lumbar subarachnoid space of rats depressed the tail-flick response to radiant heat in a dose-dependent way. The effective doses ranged from 0.1 g to 100 g per rat (ED 50: 1.5 g/rat). The maximum of the effect was reached 20 min after intrathecal injection and the effect lasted for about 30 min. An antinociceptive effect was also observed after intrathecal injection of substance P 1 g to spinal rats. The depression of the tail-flick response produced by intrathecal administration of substance P was abolished by intrathecal (5 g/rat) or i.p. (0.5 mg/kg) injections of naloxone.Supported by the Sonderforschungsbereich 38 Membranforschung     

8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) acts as a muscarinic receptor antagonist in the epithelial cell line HT29

8-(N, N-diethyl amino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) is a widely used pharmacological tool to investigate the involvement of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores in cellular responses. In this study we investigate the effect of TMB-8 as a putative inhibitor of Ca²⁺ signalling in single fura-2 loaded HT₂₉ coIonic epithelial cells stimulated by ATP, carbachol (CCH) and neurotensin (NT). TMB-8 effectively inhibited the CCH-induced (100 mol/l intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) transient with an IC₅₀ of 20 mol/l. However, [Ca²⁺]_i transients induced by other phospholipase C coupled agonists ATP (10 mol/l, n = 4) and NT (10 nmol/l, n = 4) remained unaffected by TMB-8 (50 mol/l). The agonist-induced [Ca²⁺]_i transients remained equally unaffected by 100 mol/l TMB-8 when the stimulatory concentration was reduced to 0.5 mol/I for ATP (n = 4) or 1 nmol/l for NT (n = 4). The competitive nature of the TMB-8-induced inhibition of the CCH-induced [Ca²⁺]_i transient was demonstrated by examining the agonist at various concentrations in absence and presence of the antagonist. High TMB-8 concentrations (100 mol/l) alone induced a small [Ca²⁺]_i increase ([Ca²⁺]_i: 40 ± 5 nmol/l, n = 7). We assume that this increase is a consequence of a TMB-8 induced intracellular alkalinization ( pH: 0.1 ± 0.02, n = 7) occurring simultaneously with the increase in [Ca ⁺]_i. From these results we draw the following conclusions: (1) In sharp contrast to a large number of other studies, but in agreement with studies in other types of cells, these results substantially challenge the value of the tool TMB-8 as an intracellular Ca²⁺ antagonist; (2) TMB-8 acts a muscarinic receptor antagonist at the M₃ receptor; (3) TMB-8 does not influence the release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores when IP₃ signal transduction is activated by ATP or NT; (4) TMB-8 as a weak organic base alkalinizes the cytosol at high concentrations; and (5) TMB-8 induces small [Ca²⁺]_i transients at higher concentrations.     

β-methyl-digoxin

Summary The tissue/plasma ratio of -methyl-digoxin for cardiac muscle in cats was about the same 24 h after a single dose of 30 g/kg as after a loading dose of 30 g/kg followed by 3 maintenance doses of 7.5 g/kg at 24 h intervals. The ratio for the brain increased 2-fold during that time.After the i.v. injection of a toxic loading dose of 70 g/kg -methyl-digoxin or digoxin, maintenance doses of as little as 15 g/kg at 48 h intervals sufficed to maintain the minimum plasma glycoside concentrations determined by RIA at about 3 ng/ml. There was no difference in the plasma concentrations or in the severity of intoxication produced by both glycosides.Cats vomited within 3 h after i.v. injection of 100 g/kg -methyl-digoxin, whereas a loading dose of 30 g/kg followed by 3 injections of 7.5 g/kg at 24 h intervals were well tolerated. The concentration of radioactivity in the brain 3 h after 100 g/kg was less than 24 h after the last injection of 7.5 g/kg in the experiments with repeated dosage.Cerebral side-effects such as vomiting, loss of appetite and weight were better correlated with the glycoside concentrations in the plasma than with those in the brain.     

Identification of the neuroeffector transmitter in jejunal branches of the rabbit mesenteric artery

Summary Vasoconstriction or excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by nerve stimulation (15 field pulses at 2 Hz every 3 min) were recorded in rabbit isolated jejunal arteries. The resting diameter of the arteries and its decrease in response to stimulation was measured by a photoelectric method. Vasoconstriction was insensitive to prazosin 0.1 or 1 mol/l. Yohimbine 1 mol/l considerably enhanced, whereas ,-methylene ATP (,-meATP) 1 mol/l abolished the contractile response. In order to test the effect of exogenously applied transmitter candidates, noradrenaline (0.1–1 mol/l) and ATP (10–30 mol/l) were added in concentrations which evoked a vasoconstriction comparable to that induced by electrical stimulation. The action of noradrenaline was prevented by prazosin 0.1 mol/l, but was unaffected by both yohimbine 1 mol/l and ,-meATP 1 mol/l. ,-meATP 1 mol/l depressed the effect of ATP. The e.j.ps evoked by a train of 15 pulses showed facilitation up to the third response and thereafter depression; a partial summation was also observed. Prazosin 0.1 mol/l did not change the e j.p. amplitudes. By contrast, when yohimbine 0.1 or 1 mol/l was added to the prazosin-containing medium, both the late e j.ps in the train and the summation were enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. ,-meATP 1 mol/l almost abolished the e.j.ps. In conclusion, in rabbit jejunal arteries, stimulation of postganglionic sympathetic nerves may release noradrenaline together with ATP which is probably the sole neuroeffector transmitter under our conditions. Transmitter release seems to be modulated by the activation of presynaptic ₂-adrenoceptors. Under the stimulation conditions of the present experiments the released transmitter does not activate postsynaptic ₁-adrenoceptors. Send offprint requests to P. Illes     

Irreversible agonist and antagonist properties of isothiocyanatobenzyl imidazoline in albino rabbit iris muscles

The alkylating agent isothiocyanatobenzyl imidazoline (IBI) was synthesized to investigate the unique receptor interacting properties of imidazolines. On the isolated rabbit iris sphincter, IBI produced concentration-dependent responses with an EC₅₀ of 18 mol/l, and at the highest concentration tested the maximum contraction of the tissue was 50% of the carbachol maximum. At equiactive concentrations with the similar washing procedure, the total duration of responses to IBI and carbachol was 24 and 3 min, respectively. After repeated washing, the sphincter relaxes to the control baseline of tone but, after reexposure to IBI for 6 h, failed to contract, indicating that desensitization or irreversible block has developed. Unlike with carbachol, the sphincter contraction to IBI was not affected by atropine I mol/l, indomethacin 1 mol/l, verapamil 10 mol/l, or nifedipine 10 mol/l. At a higher concentration of nifedipine and papaverine 100 mol/l, the response to IBI was blocked. Furthermore, the contractile response to IBI was abolished by Ca⁺⁺ removal from the medium. Under similar conditions, 26 ± 8% of the maximum response to carbachol was preserved. Thus influx of extracellular as well as rise in intracelluar Ca⁺⁺ appears vital for the contractile response to IBI.IBI did not contract the iris dilator, but shifted the concentration-response curve to the -adrenoceptor activator, phenylephrine, to the right with a reduction in the maximum response. The tissue failed to regain the sensitivity to phenylephrine after 6 h of repeated washing. Phentolamine and nifedipine provided a small but significant protection of the response to phenylephrine against the irreversible block by IBI. Based on chemical and pharmacological properties of IBI, it is concluded that the molecule acts in the rabbit as an irreversible agonist on unidentified receptors of the iris sphincter and an irreversible antagonist of multiple receptors on the iris dilator. These molecular properties of IBI are clearly different from that of the parent imidazoline molecule tolazoline.     

The effect of some antidepressants on prejunctional muscarinic receptors on the sympathetic nerves of the isolated rabbit ear artery

Summary The antimuscarinic activity of amitriptyline, desipramine, iprindole, mianserin and viloxazine on prejunctional sympathetic nerve endings were compared in the isolated rabbit ear artery. In the presence of cocaine (10 M) and yohimbine (1 M), amitriptyline (0.5–1 M), desipramine (1–3 M) and iprindole (5–10 M), desipramine (1–3 M) and iprindole (5–10 M) produced parallel rightward shifts of the concentration-response curve for the inhibitory effect of carbachol (CCh) on responses to electrical stimulation of the preparation at 3 Hz. Mianserin (3 M) produced some inhibition but altered the slope of the concentration-responses curve to CCh while viloxazine (10 M) produced no inhibition.The depression of tritium efflux by CCh from arteries preincubated in ³H-noradrenaline was inhibited significantly (P<0.05) by amitriptyline (0.1 M) and desipramine (1 M) and not by iprindole (17 M), mianserin (3 M) or viloxazine (10 M). Amitriptyline was 10-fold more active than desipramine and at least 30-fold more active than the other antidepressants as a muscarine receptor blocking drug in this preparation.Thus, mianserin, viloxazine and iprindole exhibit much weaker antimuscarinic activity relative to amitriptyline on prejunctional muscarine receptors on sympathetic nerve endings compared with that observed by others for excitatory muscarine receptors in sympathetic ganglia. The findings support an earlier suggestion that these receptors differ.