Different pharmacological anatomy in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, and suprachiasmatic nucleus of rats: quantitative autoradiography on angiotensin II receptor binding sites

Angiotensin II (AII) and vasopressin (VP) play important roles in cardiovascular function. Using 125I-[Sar1,Ile8]-angiotensin II (125I-SI-AII), a potent AII antagonist, AII receptor binding sites were autoradiographically localized in three VP-producing areas of the hypothalamus and compared in hypertensive and normotensive rats. Within three major VP-producing areas, AII receptor binding was highest in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and lowest in the supraoptic nucleus, suggesting that a differential AII regulation of separate VP systems exists in the brainstem. No statistical difference in 125I-SI-AII receptor binding was found between WKY and SHR rats in each of the three major VP-producing nuclei studied. These results are consistent with a role of AII receptors in a subtle and complicated regulation of VP in cardiovascular function.     

Angiotensin II binding sites in frog kidney and adrenal.

Angiotensin II (AII) binding sites were localized and quantified in kidney and adrenal of the frog Rana temporaria by quantitative in vitro autoradiography. AII binding was present in kidney glomeruli and in interrenal tissue of the outer zone of the adrenal gland. Saturation experiments showed that [125I]-[Val5]AII binds to a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 548 +/- 125 pM in glomeruli and 593 +/- 185 pM in interrenal tissue (n = 8). The corresponding maximal binding capacities (Bmax) were 2.48 +/- 0.71 and 3.05 +/- 1.02 fmol/mm2, respectively. AII binding was displaced by unlabeled angiotensin analogues in the rank order: [Sar1]AII greater than human AII greater than [125I]-[Val5]AII = [Val5]AII = human AIII much greater than human AI. The AII binding sites in glomeruli and interrenal tissue suggest an influence of AII on glomerular filtration rate and adrenal steroid secretion to take part in osmomineral regulation of the frog.     

Characterization of angiotensin II receptors in the rat fetus

The presence of AII receptors during early and late embryonic development was studied by binding of 125I[Sar1, Ile8] AII to whole mouse blastocysts and membrane-rich fractions from rat conceptuses, 7 to 21 days in gestation. In early mouse embryos there was no detectable binding under a variety of experimental conditions. However, in late gestation rat fetuses, specific and high affinity binding was observed, with a concentration of sites similar in membranes from whole and eviscerated fetuses. Using less than 100 micrograms of membrane protein, binding was time and temperature dependent, maintaining equilibrium from 30 to 120 min at 23 degrees C and it was enhanced by addition of Mg+2 up to 5 mM, EGTA 2 mM and dithiothreitol up to 2.5 mM. Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicated Kd values ranging between 0.7 and 0.9 nM. Binding was first detectable at day 10 (14.3 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg), increasing to 104 +/- 16, 2,625 +/- 168, 5,993 +/- 152 and 5,902 +/- 92 by days 12, 15, 18, and 21 of gestational age, respectively. Since the functional significance of these binding sites depends on the availability of the agonist ligand, acid extracts from eviscerated 10-day-old fetuses were analyzed for the presence of AII. Measurement of AII by radioimmunoassay revealed immunoreactive AII-like material (845 pg/g of tissue), with an elution pattern identical to that of AII standard in a Sephadex G-50 column. This material was bioactive, as demonstrated by its ability to displace 125I[Sar1, Ile8]AII from adrenal glomerulosa membranes, an effect which was abolished by pretreatment of the extract with AII antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Identification of angiotensin II receptor and determination of its subtypes in rabbit and guinea pig fetal tissue]

Membrane angiotensin II receptors were measured in trophoblastic tissues using a 2-step procedure. The first step consisted of the relative measurement performed at a fixed 125I[Sar1 Ile8]AII concentration of 0.15 nM in order to determine which tissues had a sufficient number of binding sites for studying the competition curves. The second consisted of determining the maximal binding (Bmax) and the dissociation constant (Kd) for [Sar1 Ile8] AII and the receptor subtypes in these tissues. The relative binding measurement revealed a significant number of occupied sites in rabbit fetal placenta and chorion (159 +/- 17 and 51 +/- 10 fmol/mg proteins) and in guinea pig chorion (132 +/- 12). The mean values of the other trophoblastic tissues were 3-10-fold lower in the 2 species. The competition curves obtained from tissues with high angiotensin II binding receptors showed the predominance of the AT2 subtype in rabbit fetal placenta (AT1/AT2 = 25/75) and of the AT1 receptor in guinea pig chorion (97/3) and in rabbit chorion (90/10). The [SAR1 Ile8] AII affinity (Kd) obtained from Scatchard plot analysis was 1.2 +/- 0.2 nM (n = 5) in fetal placenta and 1.2 (n = 1) in rabbit chorion and 0.5 +/- 0.1 (n = 3) in guinea pig chorion. In these tissues, the respective Bmax values were 1,281 +/- 115 (n = 5), 263 (n = 1) and 1,188 +/- 134 fmol/mg proteins (n = 3). These findings indicate that rabbit fetal placenta and chorion and guinea pig chorion are the most important sites of action for the renin-angiotensin system present in trophoblastic tissues.     

Quantitative distribution of angiotensin II binding sites in rat brain by autoradiography

Angiotensin II binding sites were localized and quantified in individual brain nuclei from single rats by incubation of tissue sections with 1 nM 125I-[Sar1]-angiotensin II, [3H]-Ultrofilm autoradiography, computerized microdensitometry and comparison with 125I-standards. High angiotensin II binding was present in the circumventricular organs (organon vasculosum laminae terminalis, organon subfornicalis and area postrema), in selected hypothalamic nuclei (nuclei suprachiasmatis, periventricularis and paraventricularis) and in the nucleus tractus olfactorii lateralis, the nucleus preopticus medianus, the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and the nucleus tractus solitarii. High affinity (KA from 0.3 to 1.5 X 10(9) M-1) angiotensin II binding sites were demonstrated in the organon subfornicalis, the nucleus tractus solitarii and the area postrema after incubation of consecutive sections from single rat brains with 125I-[Sar1]-angiotensin II in concentrations from 100 pM to 5 nM. These results demonstrate and characterize brain binding sites for angiotensin II of variable high affinity binding both inside and outside the blood-brain barrier.     

Angiotensin II and phorbol-esters potently down-regulate endothelin (ET-1) binding sites in vascular smooth muscle cells

[125I]ET-1 binding to vascular smooth muscle cells showed an apparent single class of high affinity recognition sites with a Kd of 2.12 +/- 0.46 nM and a Bmax of 81.2 +/- 5.2 fmol/10(6) cells. The specific binding was equally and totally displaced by ET-1 and ET-2 whereas ET-3 presented a different pattern. We investigated heterologous regulation of ET-1 binding sites by preincubating the cells with angiotensin II (AII), Arg-vasopressin, bradykinin, enkephalins, serotonin, norepinephrine and carbachol, for 18 h at 37 degrees C. Only AII pretreatment resulted in an important and dose-dependent decrease of ET-1 binding capacity. Sar1-Ile8-AII inhibited the regulatory effect of AII. Furthermore, preexposure of the cells with phorbol-12,13 dibutyrate but not with phorbol-12,13 didecanoate also resulted in a concentration-dependent diminution of ET-1 binding sites. These findings suggest that AII may selectively down-regulate ET-1 binding sites in vascular smooth muscle cells by a mechanism involving protein kinase C.     

Quantitative autoradiographic characterization of receptors for angiotensin II and other neuropeptides in individual brain nuclei and peripheral tissues from single rats

Autoradiographic techniques coupled with computerized microdensitometry and comparison with 125I standards were used to characterize and quantitate receptors for neuropeptides in rat brain and adrenal and pituitary glands. These techniques are rapidly performed, anatomically precise, and more sensitive than membrane binding techniques. They permit the determination of complete saturation curves and Scatchard analysis in discrete nuclei of the rat brain and in single rat pituitary and adrenal glands. Angiotensin II (AII) receptors were quantitated after incubation of 16-micron tissue sections with the AII agonist 125I-[Sar1]-AII. High-affinity, high-density AII receptors were present in the organon subfornicalis, organon vasculosum laminae terminalis and nuclei triangularis septalis, suprachiasmatis, and paraventricularis of the rat and in rat adrenal capsule-zona glomerulosa area, adrenal medulla, and anterior pituitary. These techniques could be used for precise localization and quantitation of other neuropeptide receptors in single rat brain nuclei, after optimizing the assay conditions and provided that suitable 125I ligands are available.     

Physicochemical characterization of photoaffinity-labeled angiotensin II receptors

Specific receptor sites for angiotensin II (AII) were analyzed in the adrenal cortex and other target tissues including liver, anterior pituitary gland, and smooth muscle, after covalent labeling with the radioactive photoaffinity analog 125I-[Sar1,(4-N3)Phe8]-AII. The photoreactive AII derivative retained high affinity for adrenal receptors and full steroidogenic activity in adrenal glomerulosa cells. In bovine adrenal cortex, covalent labeling of AII receptors by the photoreactive analog was specifically inhibited by [Sar1]AII with an IC50 of about 5 nM. The Mr of the covalent AII-receptor complex during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the labeled protein under reducing conditions was 58,000. Under non-reducing conditions, a minor band with Mr of 105,000 was also observed. Two labeled species were also found during gel permeation chromatography of the detergent-solubilized complex, with Mrs of 64,000 and 86,000. The pl of the solubilized photolabeled complex was absorbed to wheat germ lectin Sepharose 6MB and could be eluted by N-acetylglucosamine. The Mrs of specific AII-binding sites in several target tissues, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed target tissues, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed significant differences within and between species. The most striking differences were between rat adrenal cortex (79,000) and both rat liver (60,000) and bovine adrenal cortex (58,000). After enzymatic deglycosylation, the Mr of the major component present in the bovine and rat adrenal cortex decreased by 40% and 55% to 35,000 and 34,000, respectively, suggesting that variations in carbohydrate content contribute to the physical heterogeneity of AII receptors in individual target tissues.     

Developmental changes in brain angiotensin II receptors in the rat.

AII binding and distribution were measured in rat brain during development by autoradiographic techniques using radioiodinated [Sar1,Ile8]AII. At all ages, from 2 days to 7 weeks, binding was present in the circumventricular organs, and areas related to pituitary hormone secretion and modulation of sympathetic activity. At early stages of development, AII binding was transiently expressed in a number of motor- and sensory-related areas. These findings support a role for AII in the control of water intake and autonomic activity at all stages of development, and suggest that the peptide may be involved in the maturation of neuronal function during development.     

Autoradiographic Localization of Angiotensin II Receptor Binding Sites on Noradrenergic Neurons of the Locus Coeruleus of the Rat

The locus coeruleus (LC) of the rat was lesioned by microinjection of selective neurotoxins into the brainstem. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 3 micrograms/microliter, given unilaterally at two sites 0.6 mm apart on the rostro-caudal axis of the LC, was used to lesion catecholamine-containing neuronal elements. Ibotenic acid, 2.5 micrograms/0.5 microliters, administered similarly was used to lesion nerve cell bodies. Two weeks after administration of the neurotoxin, lesion efficacy was determined based on the norepinephrine content of the cerebral cortex ipsi- and contralateral to the lesion. 6-OHDA lesions of the LC caused a 46% reduction in ipsilateral cortical norepinephrine and a 60% reduction in specific 125I-[Sar1, Ile8]-angiotensin II (125I-SIAII) binding in the LC. Ibotenic acid lesions of the LC caused a 73% reduction in ipsilateral cortical norepinephrine and a 81% reduction in specific 125I-SIAII binding in the LC. These results indicate that AII receptor binding sites in the LC are localized on noradrenergic nerve cell bodies or their dendritic and axonal ramifications within the LC.     

Relevant role of Leu265 in helix VI of the angiotensin AT1 receptor in agonist binding and activity

The finding of critical residues for angiotensin II (AII) binding and receptor signalling in helices V and VI led us to assess if, in this region of the receptor, aliphatic side chains might play a role in the agonist-mediated mechanism. Two mutations of the angiotensin AT1 receptor were designed to explore a possible role of a leucine at two positions, Leu265 and Leu268. Thus two mutants, L265D and L268D, were prepared through single substitutions of Leu265, located in the C-terminal region of transmembrane VI (TM-VI), and Leu268, in the adjoining region of the third extracellular loop (EC-3), for an aspartyl residue, and were stably transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Ligand-binding experiments and the functional assays determining inositol phosphate (IP) production were performed in these cells expressing these mutants. No significant changes were found in the binding affinity for the ligands, AII, DuP753, and [Sar1Leu8]AII in the mutant L268D. Moreover, the relative potency and the maximum effect on IP production of this mutant were similar to those of the wild-type receptor. In contrast, L265D mutant AT1 receptor, located within the transmembrane domain, markedly decreased binding affinity and ability to stimulate phosphatidylinositol turnover. Our results suggest that the hydrophobic side chain of Leu265, at the C-terminal portion of the AT1's TM-VI, but not Leu268, which belongs to the EC-3 loop, might interact with the AII molecule. On the other side, the aliphatic side chain of Leu265 may be involved in the formation of the ligand binding sites through allosteric effects, thus helping to stabilize the receptor structure around the agonist binding site for full activity.     

Molecular characterization of angiotensin II type II receptors in rat pheochromocytoma cells.

The binding sites and biochemical effects of angiotensin (A) II were investigated in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12W) cells. Sarcosine1, [125I]-tyrosine4, isoleucine8-AII ([125I]-SI-AII) bound to a saturable population of sites on membranes with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.4 nM and a binding site maximum of 254 fmol/mg protein. Competitive displacement of [125I]-SI-AII by agonists and antagonists elucidated a rank order of potency of AIII greater than or equal to AII greater than PD 123177 greater than AI greater than [des-Phe]AII [AII(1-7)] much greater than DuP 753. The stable guanine nucleotide analog 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate did not alter the binding affinity or slope of the inhibition curves for AI, AII, AIII, or AII(1-7). Treatment of PC12W cells with AII or AIII did not affect the free intracellular calcium concentration, phosphoinositide metabolism, arachidonate release, cyclic GMP, or cyclic AMP concentrations. [125I]-AII binding sites remained on the cell surface and were not internalized after 2 h at 37 degrees C. Angiotensin II did not stimulate tyrosine, serine, or threonine phosphorylation. Northern analysis of PC12W mRNA with an AT1 receptor gene probe failed to produce an RNA:DNA hybrid at low stringency. These data indicate that PC12W cells express a homogeneous population of AT2 binding sites which differ significantly from AT1 receptors in signal transduction and molecular structure. AT2 sites may act via potentially novel, biochemical pathways or, alternatively, be vestigial receptors.     

Sarmesin is a partial agonist of angiotensin-II receptors in rabbit, but not in rat, aortic rings

Sarmesin, [Sar1, Tyr(Me)4]angiotensinII], has been reported to be a competitive angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonist in rat smooth muscle preparations (Scanlon et al., (1984), Life Science 34, 317-321). In the present study, sarmesin displaced AII from its binding sites in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and in a rabbit aorta membrane preparation (IC50 5 and 6 nM resp.; Ki 4.1 and 5.3 resp.) In rabbit aortic rings, sarmesin (0.003-3 microM) produced concentration-dependent contractions (ED50 89 nM) and this effect was inhibited by saralasin. No contraction was observed in the rat aorta up to 100 microM. In rabbit aortic rings, sarmesin, at the same concentrations that produced contraction, inhibited contractions induced by AII in a competitive manner (pA2 7, 26). These results indicate that, in rabbit aortic rings sarmesin is a partial agonist of AII receptors.     

Aliphatic amino acids in helix VI of the AT(1) receptor play a relevant role in agonist binding and activity

Angiotensin II (AII) AT(1) receptor mutants with replacements of aliphatic amino acids in the distal region of helix VI and the adjoining region of the third extracellular loop (EC-3) were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to determine their role in ligand binding and activation. The triple mutant [L262D, L265D, L268D]AT(1) (L3D) showed a marked reduction in affinity for AII and for non-peptide (losartan) and peptide ([Sar(1)Leu(8) ]AII) antagonists; in functional assays using inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation, the relative potency and the maximum effect of AII were reduced in L3D. Replacement of Leu(268) (in EC-3) and Leu(262) (in the transmembrane domain) by aspartyl residues did not cause significant changes in the receptor's affinity for the ligands and in IP production. In contrast, the point mutation L265D, at helix VI, markedly decreased affinity and ability to stimulate phosphatidylinositol turnover. Molecular modeling of the AT(1) receptor based on a recent crystal structure of rhodopsin, suggests that the side chain of Leu(265) but not that of Leu(262) is facing a cleft between helices V and VI and interacts with the lipid bilayer, thus helping to stabilize the receptor structure near the Lys(199) residue of helix V in the agonist binding site which is necessary for full activity.     

Subcellular Localization of "Peripheral-Type" Binding Sites for Benzodiazepines in Rat Brain

The binding of [3H]Ro 5-4864, a specific ligand for "peripheral-type" benzodiazepine binding sites and [3H]Ro 15-1788, a specific ligand for the central benzodiazepine receptors, was determined in subcellular fractions of rat brain. As previously reported, the highest levels of "peripheral-type" benzodiazepine binding sites and benzodiazepine receptors were found in the crude P1 and P2 fractions, respectively. Purification of these crude fractions revealed that high levels of both [3H]Ro 5-4864 and [3H]Ro 15-1788 binding were present in the mitochondrial and synaptosomal fractions. In contrast, the purified nuclei and myelin contained low levels of both [3H]Ro 5-4864 and [3H]Ro 15-1788 binding.     

Phylogenetic distribution of [3H]cyclohexyladenosine binding sites in nervous tissue

The specific binding of the A1 adenosine receptor ligand, [3H]CHA, was investigated in membrane fractions prepared from brains of eleven vertebrate species and ganglia of four invertebrate species. Substantial amounts of specific [3H]CHA binding sites were demonstrated in brain membranes of all vertebrate species examined; however, [3H]CHA binding sites were not detectable in nervous tissue of the invertebrate species studied. The densities of [3H]CHA binding sites in vertebrate brains increase in higher vertebrates. Moreover, the pharmacological characteristics of the site labeled by [3H]CHA in two divergent classes of vertebrates were similar. The broad phylogenetic distribution of A1 adenosine receptors in primitive as well as advanced vertebrate species suggests a fundamental role for adenosine in neuronal modulation.     

Effects of TH-142177 on angiotensin II-induced proliferation, migration and intracellular signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells and on neointimal thickening after balloon injury.

We investigated the effects of TH-142177 (N-n-butyl-N-[2'-(1-H-tetrazole-5-yl) biphenyl-4-yl]-methyl-(N-carboxy methyl-benzylamino)-acetamide), a novel selective antagonist of angiotensin II type 1-receptor (AT1-R) on angiotensin II (AII)-induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and on neointimal formation in the rat carotid artery after balloon injury, and on the intracellular signaling by the stimulation of AT1-R. High affinity AII receptor sites were detected in rat VSMC by the use of [125I]Sar1,Ile8-AII. TH-142177 and losartan competed with [125I]Sar1,Ile8-AII for the binding sites in VSMC in a monophasic manner, although PD123177, a selective antagonist of angiotensin II type 2-receptor (AT2-R), had little inhibitory effect, demonstrating the predominant existence of AT1-R in rat VSMC. TH-142177 prevented AII-induced DNA synthesis and migration, with a significant inhibition of 74 and 55%, respectively, at the concentration of 100 nM. AII-induced activation of p21ras, mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42MAPK and p44MAPK), and protein kinase C was significantly (50-78%) inhibited by TH-142177 (100 nM), suggesting that the activation of these enzymes is mediated through the stimulation of AT1-R. Balloon-injured left carotid arteries in rats showed extensive neointimal thickening, and TH-142177 (3 mg/kg) brought out a marked decrease in the neointimal thickening after balloon injury. In conclusion, TH-142177 inhibited AII-induced proliferation and migration of rat VSMC and neointimal formation in the carotid artery after balloon injury, and these effects may be related, in part, to the suppression of ras, p42MAPK and p44MAPK, and protein kinase C activities through the blockade of AT1-R. Thus, TH-142177 may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis.     

Interaction of opioid peptides and other drugs with multiple kappa receptors in rat and human brain. Evidence for species differences.

Previous experiments resolved four kappa binding sites in guinea pig brain termed kappa 1a, kappa 1b, and kappa 2b. The present study was undertaken to examine the occurrence of kappa receptor subtypes in rat and human brain. [3H]U69,593 and [3H]bremazocine were used to label kappa 1 and kappa 2 binding sites, respectively, present in brain membranes depleted of mu and delta binding sites by pretreatment with the irreversible ligands, BIT and FIT. Low levels of [3H]U69,593 binding precluded a detailed quantitative study of kappa 1 binding sites in these species. Quantitative examination of [3H]bremazocine binding resolved two kappa 2 binding sites in both rat and human brain whose ligand selectivity patterns differed from that of the guinea pig. These observations suggest that there may be considerable variation in the ligand recognition site of kappa receptor subtypes among mammalian species.