Stereoselective binding and activity of oxotremorine analogs at muscarinic receptors in rat brain.

The activities of the enantiomers of BM-5 were examined to measure muscarinic cholinergic selectivity in the central nervous system. Autoradiographic studies assessed the ability of each enantiomer to inhibit the binding of [3H]-(R)-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-(R)-QNB) to muscarinic receptors in the rat brain. (+)-(R)-BM-5 inhibited [3H]-(R)-QNB binding to rat brain sections at concentrations below 1.0 microM, while 100-fold higher concentrations of (-)-(S)-BM-5 were required for comparable levels of inhibition. Analysis of the autoradiograms indicated that both stereoisomers had a similar distribution of high affinity binding sites. Each enantiomer displayed higher affinity for muscarinic receptors in the superior colliculi and lower affinity for receptors in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. (+)-(R)-BM-5 and oxotremorine inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity in the cerebral cortex with efficacies comparable to that for acetylcholine. (+)-(R)-BM-5 was 26-fold more potent than (-)-(S)-BM-5 in inhibiting adenylyl cyclase. Oxotremorine-M and carbamylcholine stimulated phosphoinositide turnover in the cerebral cortex. Oxotremorine had lower activity and (+)-(R)-BM-5 was essentially inactive at comparable concentrations. The difference in activity of the two enantiomers indicates a remarkable stereochemical selectivity for muscarinic receptors. The stereoselectivity index is comparable for both the autoradiographic assays (48) and measures of adenylyl cyclase activity (26) in the cerebral cortex.     

An alkylating derivative of oxotremorine interacts irreversibly with the muscarinic receptor

A 2-chloroethylamine derivative of oxotremorine was studied in pharmacological experiments and muscarinic receptor binding assays. The compound, N-[4-(2-chloroethylmethylamino)-2-butynyl]-2-pyrrolidone (BM 123), forms an aziridinium ion in aqueous solution at neutral pH that stimulates contractions of the guinea pig ileum with a potency similar to that of oxotremorine. Following the initial stimulation, there is a long lasting period of lack of sensitivity of the guinea pig ileum to muscarinic agonists. BM 123 also produces muscarinic effects in vivo. When homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex were incubated with BM 123 and assayed subsequently in muscarinic receptor binding assays, a loss of binding capacity for the muscarinic antagonist, [3H]N-methylscopolamine ( [3H]NMS), was noted without a change in affinity. Similar observations were made in [3H]1-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate ( [3H]1-QNB) binding assays on the forebrains of mice that had been injected with BM 123 24 hr earlier. The loss in receptor capacity for both [3H]NMS and [3H]1-QNB was prevented by atropine treatment. Kinetic studies of the interaction of BM 123 with homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex in vitro showed that the half-time for the loss of [3H]1-QNB binding sites increased from 10 to 45 min as the concentration of BM 123 decreased from 10 to 1 microM. In contrast to the aziridinium ion, the parent 2-chloroethylamine compound and the alcoholic hydrolysis product were largely devoid of pharmacological and binding activity.     

Comparison of two radiolabeled quinuclidinyl benzilate ligands for the characterization of the human peripheral lung muscarinic receptor

Quinuclidinyl benzilate, a muscarinic antagonist, has previously been used in its tritiated form ([3H]-QNB) to study the lung muscarinic receptor. We investigated whether a newer iodinated form of QNB ([125I]-QNB) of higher specific activity would be an appropriate ligand to study the human peripheral lung muscarinic receptor. Both the tritiated and iodinated ligands bound specifically to human lung at 23 degrees C. At 37 degrees C the specific binding of [3H]-QNB increased slightly, but no specific binding of [125I]-QNB was found. The data from multiple equilibrium binding experiments covering a wide range of radiolabeled QNB concentrations were combined and analyzed using the computer modeling program, LIGAND. The tritiated QNB identified a single affinity human lung binding site with a Kd of 46 +/- 9 pM and a receptor concentration of 34 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein. The iodinated QNB identified a single higher affinity human lung binding site (Kd = 0.27 +/- 0.32 pM) of much smaller quantity (0.62 +/- 0.06 fmol/mg protein). Competition studies comparing the binding of unlabeled QNB relative to labeled QNB indicated that unlabeled QNB had the same Kd as that measured for [3H]-QNB, but a 5 log greater Kd than that measured for [125I]-QNB. Other muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists competed with [3H]-QNB, but not [125I]-QNB for binding to muscarinic receptors with the expected magnitude and rank order of potency. We conclude that of the 2 radiolabeled forms of QNB available, only the tritiated form should be used to study the human peripheral lung muscarinic receptor.     

Selective interaction of tricyclic antidepressants with a subclass of rat brain cholinergic muscarinic receptors

Experiments were undertaken to determine whether the anticholinergic actions of tricyclic antidepressants are mediated by a selective interaction with a subclass of muscarinic receptors. To this end, the potencies of these antidepressants to inhibit [3H]-QNB binding to rat brain cerebral cortical membranes was compared to their potencies as antagonists of carbachol-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in cerebral cortical slices and carbachol-induced inhibition of GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase in striatal membranes. Whereas amitriptyline was more potent than pirenzepine, a selective muscarinic M1 receptor antagonist, in competing for [3H]-QNB binding sites and as an antagonist of carbachol-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase, pirenzepine was substantially more active (ten-fold) than amitriptyline in blocking carbachol-stimulated phosphatidyl inositol turnover. Atropine was more potent than all other agents in these assays, failing to display any significant degree of selectivity. The results suggest that the tricyclic antidepressants, in particular amitriptyline, appear to be selective antagonists for muscarinic receptors associated with adenylate cyclase in striatal membranes. Given the current classification of cholinergic receptors, these findings indicate that the tricyclic antidepressants may be useful for defining the properties of M2 receptors in brain.     

3H]AF-DX 116 labels subsets of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in rat brain and heart

The in vitro binding properties of the novel muscarinic antagonist [3H]AF-DX 116 were studied using a rapid filtration technique. Association and dissociation rates of [3H]AF-DX 116 binding were rapid at 25 degrees C (2.74 and 2.70 X 10(7) min-1 M-1 for K+1; 0.87 and 0.93 min-1 for k-1) but 20-40 times slower at 0-4 degrees C (0.13 and 0.096 X 10(7) min-1 M-1 for k+1; 0.031 and 0.022 min-1 for k-1 in cerebral cortical and cardiac membranes, respectively). Kinetic dissociation constants (Kds) were estimated to be 31.8 nM and 30.9 nM at 25 degrees C; 23.1 nM and 0-4 degrees C for the cerebral cortex and heart, respectively. In saturation studies, [3H]AF-DX 116 labeled 29 percent of the total [3H](-)QNB binding sites in the cerebral cortical membranes and 87 percent in the cardiac membranes, with Kd values of 28.9 nM and 17.9 nM, respectively. Muscarinic antagonists inhibited [3H]AF-DX 116 binding in a rank order of potency of atropine greater than dexetimide greater than AF-DX 116 greater than PZ greater than levetimide in both tissues. Except for PZ/[3H]AF-DX 116 and AF-DX 116/[3H]AF-DX 116 in the cerebral cortex, all the antagonist competition curves had Hill coefficients close to one. Carbachol and oxotremorine produced shallow inhibition curves against [3H]AF-DX 116 binding in both tissues. Regional distribution studies with [3H](-)QNB, [3H]PZ and [3H]AF-DX 116 showed that most of the muscarinic receptors in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and corpus striatum are of the M1 subtype while those in the brainstem, cerebellum and other lower brain regions are of the M2 subtype. These results indicate that [3H]AF-DX 116 is a useful probe for the study of heterogeneity of muscarinic cholinergic receptors.     

Identification of three muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat lung using binding studies with selective antagonists

Heterogeneity of the muscarinic receptor population in the rat central and peripheral lung was found in competition binding experiments against [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB) using the selective antagonists pirenzepine, AF-DX 116 and hexahydrosiladifenidol (HHSiD). Pirenzepine displaced [3H]QNB with low affinity from preparations of central airways indicating the absence of M1 receptors in the trachea and bronchi. Muscarinic receptors in the central airways are comprised of both M2 and M3 receptors since AF-DX 116, an M2-selective antagonist, bound with high affinity to 70% of the available sites while HHSiD, an M3-selective antagonist bound with high affinity to the remaining binding sites. In the peripheral lung, pirenzepine bound with high affinity to 14% of the receptor population, AF-DX 116 bound with high affinity to 79% of the binding sites while HHSiD bound with high affinity to 18% of the binding sites. The presence of M1 receptors in the peripheral airways but not in the central airways was confirmed using [3H]telenzepine, an M1 receptor ligand. [3H]Telenzepine showed specific saturable binding to 8% of [3H]QNB labeled binding sites in homogenates of rat peripheral lung, while there was no detectable specific binding in homogenates of rat trachea or heart. The results presented here demonstrate that there are three muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat lungs, and that the distribution of the different subtypes varies within the lungs. Throughout the airways, the dominant muscarinic receptor subtype is M2. In the trachea and bronchi the remaining receptors are M3, while in the peripheral lungs, the remaining receptors are both M1 and M3.     

Intestinal epithelial cells and musculature contain different muscarinic binding sites

Muscarinic receptors on epithelial cells mediate intestinal secretion, while those in intestinal smooth muscle mediate motility. Experiments were carried out to determine whether the muscarinic receptors mediating each of these two functions in intestinal tissue might be associated with differences in the way agonist and antagonist drugs interact with the receptors. The inhibition constant (Kj) values for atropine, pirenzepine, and oxotremorine competition of specifically bound (3H)QNB were determined using membrane preparations from the muscular coat and from epithelial cells of rat jejunum, ileum, and colon. The Kj values of atropine were similar (1.2-10 nM) when comparing muscle layers and epithelial cells from any intestinal region. In contrast, the Kj values for pirenzepine were significantly higher in membranes from the musculature (400-1,200 nM) than in any of the epithelial cell membranes (20-100 nM). Kj values for pirenzepine in gut muscle were similar to those in heart (300 nM), whereas the Kj values in the cerebral cortex (39 nM) and the epithelial cell membranes closely approximated one another. The Kj values for oxotremorine competition of QNB binding in all intestinal muscular tissues (29-48 nM) and in heart (16 nM) were less than those of the intestinal epithelial cells (100-1,300 nM) or cerebral cortex (71 nM). Thus, pirenzepine and oxotremorine binding studies show that the nature of interactions between these agents and muscarinic sites is different when comparing epithelial cells and musculature of the gut.     

Muscarinic antagonist binding site heterogeneity as evidenced by autoradiography after direct labeling with [3H]-QNB and [3H]-pirenzepine

Saturable, high affinity binding of tritiated pirenzepine [( 3H]-PZ) was obtained in slide mounted tissue sections prior to performing autoradiographic localization of these binding sites. The binding in tissue sections of rostral rat forebrain gave a KD of 18nM and a Bmax of 51 fmoles/mg tissue. These binding characteristics are similar to those previously obtained in homogenate membrane preparations and indicate the binding is taking place in a similar manner. The distribution of the binding sites labeled with [3H]-PZ represented a subpopulation of those which could be labeled with tritiated quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]-QNB). Thus, [3H]-PZ and [3H]-QNB both label regions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum and dorsal horn of the spinal cord, while sites in the cerebellum, nucleus tractus solitarius, facial nucleus and ventral horn of the spinal cord are labeled with [3H]-QNB and not by [3H]-PZ. These observations indicate separate regions of the brain where antagonists bind to subtypes of muscarinic receptors.     

Identification of four brain areas each enriched in a unique muscarinic receptor subtype

The affinities of muscarinic agonists and antagonists were determined by autoradiography and image analysis in selected areas of the rat brain. IC50 values and Hill coefficients for the inhibition of the binding of 0.2 nM [3H]-QNB to dentate gyrus, superior colliculus, rhomboid thalamus and substantia nigra were measured in coronal sections. Pirenzepine displayed a high affinity for receptors in the dentate gyrus and AF-DX 116, the superior colliculus. Both pirenzepine and AF-DX 116 had high affinities for the substantia nigra and low affinities for the rhomboid thalamus. Gallamine displayed a 50-fold preference for superior colliculus over dentate gyrus receptors. Amitriptyline was less selective, showing a modest preference for substantia nigra receptors and 4-DAMP was essentially nonselective. Carbachol was the most selective agonist with a 4000-fold preference for superior colliculus over dentate gyrus receptors. Other agonists except RS 86 were also selective for superior colliculus receptors in the order carbachol much greater than arecoline greater than bethanechol greater than McN A343 = oxotremorine = pilocarpine.     

Antagonism by 8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetraline and other serotonin agonists of muscarinic M1-type receptors coupled to inositol phospholipid breakdown in human IMR-32 and SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells.

IMR-32 and SK-N-MC cells were found to contain [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate specific binding sites inhibited by pirenzepine in a manner suggesting the presence of both M1-type and M2-type muscarinic receptor recognition sites. Neither cell had detectable [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding sites. Carbachol stimulated the rate of inositol phospholipid breakdown in IMR-32 and SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells with an EC50 value of about 50 microM in both cases. Pirenzepine inhibited the carbachol (100 microM)-stimulated inositol phospholipid breakdown in both cells with Hill slopes of unity and IC50 values of 15 nM (IMR-32) and 12 nM (SK-N-MC). The 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT competitively inhibited carbachol-stimulated inositol phospholipid breakdown with pA2 values of 5.78 (IMR-32) and 5.61 (SK-N-MC). These values are consistent with the inhibitory potency of 8-OH-DPAT towards [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding in these cells. The 5-HT agonists 5-MeODMT and buspirone at micromolar concentrations inhibited carbachol-stimulated breakdown in IMR-32 cells. The inhibition by 8-OH-DPAT and 5-MeODMT was not affected by preincubation with (-)alprenolol. 5-HT (10-100 microM) was without effect on either basal or carbachol-stimulated breakdown. It is concluded that IMR-32 and SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells express muscarinic M1-type but not serotoninergic receptors coupled to phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. 8-OH-DPAT acts as a weak antagonist at these muscarinic receptors.     

Muscarinic receptors of rat lymphocytes--differences in young and old animals

Muscarinic receptors were studied on lymphocytes from young and old Wistar rats. Binding studies were performed by the use of [3H]-QNB, a specific muscarinic antagonist. Some differences between these two groups were observed. Maximal binding of [3H]-QNB and half time of the maximal binding is lower for lymphocytes of old rats [3H]-QNB receptor complexes could not be found in the supernatants derived from lymphocytes of old animals. Higher ability to loose or hide the muscarinic receptors was also observed in this group of rats. All these observations could reflect a more effective degradation, as well as a lower level of muscarinic receptors exposed on lymphocytes from old animals.     

Studies on Muscarinic Binding Sites in Human Brain Identified with [3H]Pirenzepine

Pirenzepine, a potent antimuscarinic agent with apparent selectivity for a subtype (M1) of muscarinic receptors, was used in tritiated form to characterize its binding to human brain tissue. Specific [3H]pirenzepine binding showed rapid association and dissociation. From kinetic and competitive binding experiments, its KD was 5.5 nM and 9 nM, respectively. Regional distribution of [3H]pirenzepine binding determined in parallel with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding, a nonselective muscarinic antagonist, indicated a significant correlation for the maximum number of binding sites for the two radioligands in 13 brain regions, with the highest amount of binding for each in the putamen and the least in the cerebellum. Binding for [3H]pirenzepine averaged 57% of that for [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, with a range of 20% (cerebellum) to 77% (frontal cortex). Most antidepressants and neuroleptics tested had affinities for [3H]pirenzepine binding sites that were not significantly different from their previously reported values obtained with the use of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate.     

MgCl2-sensitive and Gpp(NH)p-sensitive antagonist binding states of rat heart muscarinic receptors: preferential detection at ambient temperature assay and location in two subcellular fractions

Summary Some novel observations dealing with antagonist binding to cardiac particulate muscarinic receptors are described. Gpp(NH)p increased (2–3 fold) the specific binding of [³H]-QNB or [³H]-NMS, both potent muscarinic antagonists, to washed particles (WP), but not microsomes (MIC), when the binding was conducted at 30°C. Magnesium, on the other hand, increased (2–3 fold) the binding of these antagonists to MIC, but not to WP, under the same condition. The treatment of subcellular fractions with 0.2 mM N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a sulfhydryl reagent, failed to significantly modify the respective stimulatory actions of either Gpp(NH)p on WP binding or of magnesium on MIC binding of these antagonists; treatment with dithiothreitol (1 mM) was also ineffective in this regard. Gpp(NH)p decreased K_d (WP) while magnesium increased K_d (MIC) for [³H]-QNB. Repeated freezing/thawing of isolated subcellular fractions abolished the stimulatory effect of magnesium on onist binding to MIC but not of Gpp(NH)p on WP antagonist binding; the freeze/thaw procedure per se increased MIC binding but not WP binding of these antagonists. When the binding was conducted at 4°C (24 hr), the stimulatory effect of Gpp(NH)p on [³H]-QNB binding was enhanced (6-fold) in the case of WP and was detectable (80%) in the case of MIC. Under this condition, the stimulatory effect of magnesium on [³H]-QNB binding was also enhanced (5-fold) in the case of MIC and became evident (200%) in the case of WP. The results of this work support the following views: (a) antagonist-occupied cardiac muscarinic receptors are capable of interaction with guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G protein like G₁,G_o) and such interaction influences antagonist binding properties (e.g. increased affinity) of the cardiac membrane-associated muscarinic receptors (b) magnesium influences (decreased affinity) antagonist binding properties by interacting with multiple sites of which some are likely associated with components other than G proteins of the particulate fractions (c) a pool of NEM-sensitive sulfhydryls involved in the regulation of Gpp(NH)p-sensitive agonist binding to cardiac muscarinic receptors is not involved in the regulation by either Gpp(NH)p or magnesium of antagonist binding in these subcellular fractions and (d) membrane fluidity and microenvironment surrounding the receptor and G proteins contribute to the actions of Gpp(NH)p and magnesium on antagonist binding.     

Huntington's disease: regional alteration in muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in human brain.

Huntington's Disease, an autosomal dominant neurological disorder, is characterized by diffuse neuronal degeneration particularly in the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. The purpose of this study was to examine various discrete regions of choreic and control brains for alterations in muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding and choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) activity. Nine postmortem brains, three from patients with Huntington's Disease and six controls, were dissected into 17 discrete regions. Each regional homogenate was assayed for muscarinic receptor concentration by measuring specific membrane binding of [³H]-QNB, a potent muscarinic antagonist which selectively labels brain muscarinic receptors. Aliquots from each brain region were also assayed for ChAc activity. Of significance was the marked reduction in specific [³H]-QNB receptor binding in the caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus of choreic brain while no significant alterations were detected in other brain regions. Significant decreases in ChAc activity were found in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus with no alterations in ChAc activity in the rest of the brain regions examined. The tissues were chosen such that protein levels were similar in both choreic and normal brain samples. The apparent reduction in the number of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the choreic brains suggests that treatment with cholinomimetic drugs might be beneficial in Huntington's Disease.     

In vitro interaction of premazepam with benzodiazepine receptors in rat brain regions

Premazepam (PRZ) in vitro competitively displaced 3H-diazepam (DIA), 3H-flunitrazepam (FLU) and 3H-RO 15-1788 from their binding sites on rat brain synaptosomes, with a potency intermediate to other benzodiazepines (BDZs), and Hill coefficients near 1 in different brain regions. Incubation at 37 degrees C reduced premazepam's affinity for BDZ receptors to a lower extent than other benzodiazepines and had no effect on the Hill coefficient. The IC50 of PRZ on 3H-RO 15-1788 and 3H-FLU binding was markedly reduced by GABA in rat cortex, like those of reference classical BDZs, but was GABA-independent in the cerebellum. The IC50 of the BDZ antagonist, RO 15-1788 was unaffected by GABA in both brain areas. The possibility that PRZ behaves as a partial agonist in the cortex and as an antagonist in the cerebellum is discussed.     

Evidence for Multiple Muscarinic Receptor Subtypes in Human Brain

Pirenzepine, a compound with selective antimuscarinic activity, was used to distinguish muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes in normal human brain. Hill coefficients and IC50 values derived from the inhibition of specific [3H]L-quinuclidinyl benzilate receptor binding suggest the presence of two muscarinic binding sites, differing both in affinity for pirenzepine and in tissue distribution.     

A unique regulatory profile and regional distribution of [3H]pirenzepine binding in the rat provide evidence for distinct M1 and M2 muscarinic receptor subtypes

We recently demonstrated that the non-classical muscarinic receptor antagonist [³H]pirenzepine ([³H]PZ) identifies a high affinity population of muscarinic sites in the rat cerebral cortex. We now report that cortical muscarinic sites to which [³H]PZ binds with high affinity are modulated by ions but not guanine nucleotides. We also have examined equilibrium [³H]PZ binding in homogenates of various rat tissues using a new rapid filtration assay. All regional saturation isotherms yielded a similar high affinity dissociation constant (K_d = 2 ? 8 nM) in 10 mM sodium-potassium phosphate buffer. Receptor density (B_max in fmol/mg tissue) varied as follows: corpus striatum = 154.5, cerebral cortex = 94.6, hippocampus = 94.3, ileum = 1.3, cerebellum = 1.0, and heart = 0.45. The cerebral cortex and hippocampus possess 61 percent of striatal binding sites, while the ileum, cerebellum and heart contain only 0.84 percent, 0.65 percent and 0.29 percent of striatal sites respectively. The [³H]PZ sites in heart, ileum, and cerebellum represent 3.1 percent, 9.6 percent, and 10.4 percent of the sites obtained by using [³H](?)quinuclidinyl benzilate. Thus, [³H]PZ labels high affinity muscarinic receptor binding sites with a tissue distribution compatible with the concept of distinct M₁ and M₂ receptor subtypes. Accordingly, regions such as heart, cerebellum, and ileum would be termed M₂, though each have an extremely small population of the M₁ high affinity [³H]PZ site. [³H]PZ therefore appears to be a useful ligand for M₁ receptor identification. Furthermore, the inability to demonstrate a significant effect of guanine nucleotides upon high affinity [³H]PZ binding to putative M₁ receptors suggests that M₁ sites may be independent of a guanine regulatory protein.     

Quantitative autoradiography of [3H]CTOP binding to mu opioid receptors in rat brain

[3H]H-D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 ([3H]CTOP), a potent and highly selective mu opioid antagonist, was used to localize the mu receptors in rat brain by light microscopic autoradiography. Radioligand binding studies with [3H]CTOP using slide-mounted tissue sections of rat brain produced a Kd value of 1.1 nM with a Bmax value of 79.1 fmol/mg protein. Mu opioid agonists and antagonists inhibited [3H]CTOP binding with high affinity (IC50 values of 0.2-2.4 nM), while the delta agonist DPDPE, delta antagonist ICI 174,864, and kappa agonist U 69, 593 were very weak inhibitors of [3H]CTOP binding (IC50 values of 234-3631 nM). Light microscopic autoradiography of [3H]CTOP binding sites revealed regions of high density (nucleus of the solitary tract, clusters in the caudate-putamen, interpeduncular nucleus, superior and inferior colliculus, subiculum, substantia nigra zona reticulata, medial geniculate, locus coeruleus and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus) and regions of moderate labeling (areas outside of clusters in the caudate-putamen, cingulate cortex, claustrum and nucleus accumbens). The cerebral cortex (parietal) showed a low density of [3H]CTOP binding.     

High affinity (3H)tryptamine binding sites in various organs of the rat

(3H)Tryptamine binds with high affinity (KD values around 4 nmol/l) to membranes from different organs of the rat. The number of binding sites was high in the liver, intermediate in the heart and cerebral cortex and low in other organs including ileum, kidney, spleen, stomach and lung. Binding to kidney membranes was investigated in more detail. It was rapid and reversible (t1/2 7 min.). The structure-activity profile was characterized by high affinity of some beta-carbolines (IC50 = 20 - 200 nmol/l), medium affinity of serotonin (IC50 = 858 nmol/l) and low of methysergide (IC50 greater than 20 mumol/l). The findings correlate very well with binding characteristics to cerebral cortex membranes. Therefore, rat brain cortex and other organs contain the same type of (3H)tryptamine binding site and may be equally appropriate for further analysis.     

Muscarinic receptor activity change after prolonged treatment with growth hormone and somatostatin

1. The effect of 10-day treatment with growth hormone (GH) (1 mg/kg body weight day) and somatostatin (SRIF) (0.25 mg/kg body weight day) subcutaneously on the activity of muscarinic (M) receptors in rat hypothalamic, pituitary and cerebral cortical membrane fractions was studied using (3H)quinuclidinyl benzylate [(3H)QNB] as radioligand. 2. The administration of GH and SRIF significantly decreased the M-receptor binding affinity in the hypothalamus. 3. In the pituitary the M-receptor affinity was increased after both GH and SRIF treatment. 4. In the hypothalamus and the pituitary the binding capacity of muscarinic receptors was unchanged. 5. In the cerebral cortex the chronical GH injection induced an increase in the number of antagonist binding sites and a decrease of their affinity, while the similar SRIF treatment led to an increase of the binding affinity without any change of M-receptor capacity. 6. These results indicate that GH and SRIF selectively and region-specifically modulate muscarinic receptor binding affinity and capacity and provide new insight into the feedback regulatory mechanisms of GH secretion.