Antagonism of alpha- and beta-adrenergic-mediated accumulations of cyclic AMP in rat cerebral cortical slices by the beta-antagonist (-)alprenolol.

(?)Alprenolol, a compound reported to bind with a high degree of specificity and stereoselectivity to β-adrenergic receptors from rat cerebral cortex completely inhibited the accumulations of cyclic AMP elicited by maximally effective concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine at antagonist concentrations as low as 10^?5M. Other β-adrenergic antagonists such as (?)propranolol, (±)sotalol, and (+)alprenolol only partially antagonized accumulations of cyclic AMP elicited by these catecholamines even at 10-fold higher concentrations. α-Adrenergic antagonists such as phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine and clonidine only partially antagonized inhibited the accumulation of cyclic AMP elicited by methoxamine, a compound shown to stimulate the accumulation of cyclic AMP by interaction with α-adrenergic receptors. The results indicate that in brain tissue containing a mixed population of α- and β- adrenergic linked cyclic AMP generating systems, (?)alprenolol does not exhibit absolute specificity for β-receptors.     

Stereospecific (3H)(minus)-alprenolol binding sites, beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase

The binding of [³H](?)-alprenolol (a potent β-adrenergic antagonist) to sites in frog erythrocyte membranes has been studied by a centrifugal assay. The specificity of the binding sites is strikingly similar to what might be expected of the β-adrenergic receptor binding sites which mediate stimulation of adenylate cyclase by catecholamines in these membranes. The sites bind β-adrenergic antagonists and agonists with affinities which are directly related to their antagonist or agonist potency on the frog erythrocyte membrane adenylate cyclase. Binding shows strict stereospecificity with (?)-isomers exhibiting two orders of magnitude higher affinities than (+)-isomers. Dissociation constants for potent β-adrenergic antagonists are in the range of 10^?9 – 10^?8M whereas those for β-adrenergic agonists are about two orders of magnitude higher (≥ 10^?6M).     

Blockade of central beta-adrenergic receptors by tazolol (1-isopropylamino-3-(2-thiazoloxy)-2-propanol).

Tazolol, a β₁-adrenergic agonist in heart, had no intrinsic β-adrenergic agonist activity with respect to cyclic AMP-generating systems in rat cerebral cortical slices or with respect to firing of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. Instead, tazolol proved to be a relatively potent and specific β-adrenergic antagonist. The IC₅₀ for (±) tazolol in antagonizing (-) isoproterenol-elicited accumulation of cyclic AMP in rat cortical slices was 7 × 10^?7M. The IC₅₀ in antagonizing [³H] dihydroalprenolol-binding in rat cortical homogenates was 2.9 × 10^?7 M. Tazolol was about 10 fold more potent in both cases than the β-antagonist, (±) sotalol. Tazolol antagonized the inhibitory, β-adrenergically mediated effects of iontophoretically applied norepinephrine on firing of cerebellar Purkinje cells. The inhibitory effects of γ-aminobutyric acid on firing of Purkinje cells were not altered by tazolol. Tazolol appeared to lack significant local anesthetic activity as evidenced by its lack of effect on spike height in spontaneous firing Purkinje cells.     

Direct studies of beta-adrenergic receptors intact frog erythrocytes.

(?) [³H]Dihydroalprenolol, a potent competitive β-adrenergic antagonist can be used to directly study β-adrenergic receptors by ligand binding techniques in an intact cell system, the frog erythrocyte. At 37°, binding reached equilibrium within 1 minute. Upon addition of excess unlabeled propranolol, complete dissociation of receptor bound ligand occurred within 1 minute. The characteristics of (?) [³Hdihydroalprenolol binding to β-adrenergic receptors in intact cells were quite similar to those previously demonstrated with isolated membrane fractions. The equilibrium dissociation constant for (?) [³H]dihydroalprenolol was 1.5 nM. Order of potency of agonists and antagonists in competing for the binding sites was appropriate for the β-adrenergic receptor as was the stereospecificity of binding ((?) isomers more potent than (+) isomers). Saturation studies with these intact cells indicated 1700 binding sites/cell in excellent agreement with the number previously estimated from membrane studies. Preincubation of cells with 10^?5M isoproterenol produced a 36% fall in number of β-adrenergic receptors. It is concluded that (?) [³H]dihydroalprenolol can be used to directly study the properties and regulation of β-adrenergic receptors in intact cell as well as broken cell preparations.     

Alpha-adrenergic interaction with stimulators of cyclic AMP concentrations in canine thyroid slices.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) increased cyclic AMP levels approximately 10–20 fold in canine thyroid slices after 30 min incubation. Thereafter the cyclic AMP level declined reaching about 50% of the maximal by 90 min even in the presence of 10 mM theophylline. When phentolamine, an α-adrenergic blocker, was added with TSH to the incubation medium, the decline of cyclic AMP levels that followed the peak was markedly diminished. The maximal effect of phentolamine was observed at a concentration of 10^?6M. A similar decline of the cyclic AMP levels after the peak was observed when the tissues was stimulated by prostaglandin E₁ or cholera toxin and the decline was again prevented by phentolamine. Phentolamine alone had no significant effect on the basal cyclic AMP levels. Phenylephrine, an α-adrenergic agonist, diminished the rise of cyclic AMP levels induced by TSH.Norephinephrine, a physiologic adrenergic stimulator, caused a marked inhibition of the elevation of cyclic AMP levels induced by prostaglandin E₁ or cholera toxin as was the case by TSH (Life Sciences 21, 607, 1977). The norepinephrine effect was abolished by phentolamine, but not by propranolol, a β-adrenergic blocker.These results indicate that α-adrenergic actions may be involved in the counter-regulation of cyclic AMP levels in canine thyroid glands.     

Catecholamine receptors and cyclic AMP formation in the central nervous system: effects of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives.

The ability of a series of tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) alkaloids to inhibit the binding of radioligands to catecholamine receptors in the CNS has been examined. $\text{(+)}$ THP was the most potent inhibitor of [³H] dihydroalprenolol binding to β-adrenergic receptors and of [³H] haloperidol to dopaminergic receptors and was the least potent inhibitor of [³H] WB-4101 binding to α-adrenergic receptors. Other THIQ alkaloids examined such as salsoline, salsolinol, and reticuline were less potent than $\text{(+)}$ THP in inhibiting radioligand binding to β-adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors, and more potent than $\text{(+)}$ THP in inhibiting radioligand to α-adrenergic receptors. The marked potency of $\text{(+)}$ THP in inhibiting radioligand binding to β-adrenergic receptors (IC₅₀ ～ 10^?7 M) was confirmed by the potency of this compound in inhibiting (?) isoproternol elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP in brain slice preparations. These data indicate that, if formed $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$ during alcohol consumption, THIQ derivatives such as THP may affect catecholamine neurons in the CNS.     

Effect of catecholamines and ovarian hormones on cyclic AMP accumulation in rat hypothalamus

Effect of different monoamines and estradiol were studied on cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in hypothalami from 21 day old female rats. Incubation for 5 min with 10^?4M epinephrine, norepinephrine or dopamine resulted in an increase in cAMP accumulation in the hypothalamus. Incubation of hypothalamic tissue with estradiol (4 × 10^?7M to 2 × 10^?5M) also resulted in an increase in cyclic AMP levels. The increase caused by estradiol was observed only after 50 min of incubation period. The estradiol induced increase in cyclic AMP accumulation was abolished by both α and β blockers. These results suggest that the estradiol-induced increase in cyclic AMP may be mediated by a prior increase in catecholamines in the hypothalamic tissue.     

Effects of biogenic amines on fat cells of Glossina morsitans in vitro

Lipid synthesis from leucine by fat cells of Glossina morsitans in vitro was inhibited by dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline and octopamine. Noradrenaline and octopamine were most active with maximal response occurring at 10^?4 and 10^?5 M respectively. The release of free fatty acids and the synthesis of proline from alanine by fat cells were stimulated by octopamine but not by the other amines. Maximal release of material from fat cells occurred at an octopamine concentration of 10^?2 M but at higher concentrations the response was diminished.The inhibition of lipid synthesis by octopamine was blocked by the α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine but not by the β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. Neither receptor-blocking-agent affected the action of corpora cardiaca extracts upon fat cells indicating that separate receptors are present for amines and the peptide hormones.     

[3H]norepinephrine binding and lipolysis by isolated fat cells

[³H]norepinephrine was shown to bind to specific sites on isolated fat cells. A Scatchard plot of norepinephrine binding showed two apparent K_a of 1.9 · 10⁶ and 1.2 · 10⁵ LM^?. 1.4 · 10^?4 M Norepinephrine covalently-linked to agarose beads reduced [³H]norepinephrine binding by over 50%. Several structurally related drugs were compared as inhibitors of [³H]norepinephrine binding and as stimulators of lipolysis in preparations of similarly prepared cells. Dose-response curves for norepinephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol showed the affinities for binding inhibition and for stimulation of lipolysis to be in the same range of 6 · 10^?7-2 · 10^?6 M. Dopamine and dopa were potent inhibitors of [³H]norepinephrine binding at 8.5 · 10^?7 M and 2.0 · 10^?6 M respectively, but did not stimulate lipolysis even at 10^?4 M. Propranolol, a β-adrenergic antagonist, had no effect on [³H]norepinephrine binding at 10^?4 M but completely inhibited catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis at 10^?5 M. Phentolamine, an α-adrenergic antagonist, did not inhibit binding or catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis at 10^?4 M. Ephedrine, metaraminol, phenylephrine and normetanephrine were also ineffective both as [³H]norepinephrine binding inhibitors and as stimulators of lipolysis. The results suggested the catechol ring of catecholamines is more important than the ethanolamine side chain as a requirement for binding, while both an intact catechol moiety and ethanolamine function appear necessary for physiological effect.     

Alpha-adrenergic receptors on human platelets.

[³H] dihydroergocyrptine, an α-adrenergic antagonist, binds specifically to sites on human platelet membranes. Prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) stimulates the production of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in human platelets. Alpha-adrenergic agonists, 1-epinephrine and 1-norepinephrine, and antagonists, phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, and dihydroergocyrptine inhibit the binding of [³H] dihydroergocryptine. The α-adrenergic agonists inhibit PGE₁-stimulated cAMP production and the α-adrenergic antagonists phentolamine and dihydroergocryptine reverse this inhibition. The β-adrenergic agonist 1-isoproterenol and the β-adrenergic antagonists d1-propranolol and 1-alprenolol do not significantly alter binding or PGE₁-stimulated cAMP production. Clonidine, dopamine, and serotonin inhibit binding, but clonidine and dopamine are weak inhibitors of PGE₁-stimulated cAMP production, and serotonin is without effect. Tyramine, an amine without direct adrenergic activity fails to inhibit binding. Alpha-adrenergic agonists decrease the apparent affinity of a PGE₁-receptor activating cAMP production. The inhibition of PGE₁-stimulated cAMP production is a physiological measure of α-adrenergic agonist binding to the α-receptor.     

In Vivo Evidence that Nonneuronal β-Adrenoceptors as Well as Dopamine Receptors Contribute to Cyclic AMP Efflux in Rat Striatum

Abstract: We applied in vivo microdialysis to assess the effects of dopaminergic and β-adrenergic receptor stimulation on cyclic AMP efflux in rat striatum under chloral hydrate anesthesia. Dopamine (up to 1 mM) infused for 20 min through the probe did not increase cyclic AMP, whereas both the selective dopamine D₁ agonist SKF 38393 and D₂ antagonist sulpiride produced modest increases. It is interesting that the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol produced a marked increase (204.7% of basal level at 1 mM) which was antagonized by the β-adreno-ceptor antagonist propranolol. Pretreatment with a glial selective metabolic inhibitor, fluorocitrate (1 mM), by a 5-h infusion through the probe attenuated basal cyclic AMP efflux by 30.3% and significantly blocked the response to isoproterenol. By contrast, striatal injection of a neuro-toxin, kainic acid (2.5 μg), 2 days before the dialysis experiment did not affect basal cyclic AMP or the response to isoproterenol, but blocked the response to SKF 38393. These data demonstrate that β-adrenoceptors as well as dopamine receptors contribute to cyclic AMP efflux in rat striatum in vivo. They also suggest that basal and β-adre-noceptor-stimulated cyclic AMP efflux are substantially dependent on intact glial cells.     

Beta-adrenergic receptors: stereospecificity and lack of affinity for catechols

Studies of adenylate cyclase activity in rat liver, heart and fat cell microsomal preparations and in turkey and rat erythrocyte ghosts indicate that β-adrenergic receptors exhibit very strict stereospecificity for (?)-catecholamines. (+)-Isomers of active catecholamines and inactive catechol compounds do not inhibit the β-adrenergic-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase and thus do not interact with specific receptors. However, very high concentrations (above 10^?4 M) of (?)- and (+)-isomers, as well as of biologically inactive non-catecholamine catechols (e.g., pyrocatechol, dihydroxymandelic acid), inhibit in a nonspecific manner the basal, hormone (catecholamine, glucagon)- and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Studies with propranolol suggest that the low activity (0.1 to 1%) of (+)-isomers of norepinephrine can be explained by contamination with the (?)-isomer. The activity of soterenol, a potent non-catechol β-adrenergic agonist, is uninfluenced by (+)-catecholamines or catechols. It is concluded that the binding of ³H-labeled catecholamines to a variety of cells, microsomes and membranes as described in various previous studies cannot represent specific receptor interactions. Binding to receptors must demonstrate strict stereospecificity and must not be affected by unrelated catechol substances.     

Effect of vanadate on cardiac contraction and adenylate cyclase.

Vanadate produces a positive inotropic effect on ventricular muscle from rat, rabbit, guinea pig and cat; a positive inotropic effect on the atria of rat and rabbit, but a negative inotropic effect on the atria of guinea pig and cat. The effects of vanadate are completely reversible and occur in a concentration range of 10^?5M to 10^?3M. In this same concentration range, vanadate also causes a marked activation of cardiac adenylate cyclase suggesting that the positive inotropic action might be due in part to an elevation of cyclic AMP levels. The effects of vanadate are not influenced by alprenolol, cimetidine, or mepyramine, indicating a lack of involvement of β-adrenergic or histamine H₂ and H₁ receptors.     

The binding of fluorocatecholamines to adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors in rat brain membranes

2-Fluoronorepinephrine (IC₅₀ ≈0.7 μM) is a relatively selective ligand for displacement of radioactive dihydroalprenolol from β₁-adrenergic receptors in membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex. It is less potent (IC₅₀ ≈10 μM) in displacing dihydroalprenolol from β₂-adrenergic receptors in rat cerebellar membranes and in displacing clonidine from α₂-adrenergic receptors in rat cerebral cortical membranes. It is much less potent (IC₅₀ > 100 μM) in displacing WB-4101 from α₁-adrenergic receptors in rat cerebral cortical membranes. In contrast, 6-fluoronorepinephrine is relatively selective for α-adrenergic receptors, being at least 50–200 times more potent at such receptors than at β-adrenergic receptors. 5-Fluoronorepinephrine like norepinephrine does not exhibit remarkable selectivity towards α- and β-adrenergic receptors. The 2-, 5- and 6-fluorodopamines are more potent ligands at α₁-adrenergic receptors than at α₂- and β-adrenergic receptors but the specificity is not markedly affected by the position of the fluorine substituent. The results suggest that the specificity exhibited by the 2- and 6-fluoronorepinephrine at adrenergic receptors is not primarily due to fluorine-induced changes in the physicochemical properties of the aromatic ring, but instead to stereoselective interactions of the ethanolamine side chain of norepinephrine with fluorine at either the 2- or 6-ring positron. The fluorodopamines like dopamine itself are more potent at dopaminergic than at α- or β-adrenergic receptors. The 2-, 5- and 6-fluorodopamines are all nearly equipotent with dopamine in the displacement of radioactive spiroperidol from dopaminergic receptors in membrane preparations from rat striatum, while the 2- and 6-fluorodopamine are somewhat less potent than dopamine or 5-fluorodopamine in displacement of radioactive apomorphine in striatal membranes.     

Effect of adrenergic agents on α-amylase release and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate accumulation in rat parotid tissue slices

The role of cyclic AMP in stimulus-secretion coupling was investigated in rat parotid tissue slices in vitro. Isoproterenol and norepinephrine stimulated a rapid intracellular accumulation of cyclic AMP, which reached a maximum level of 20–30 times the control value by 5 to 10 min after addition of the drug. Isoproterenol was approximately ten times more potent in stimulating both α-amylase release and cyclic AMP accumulation than were norepinephrine and epinephrine, which had nearly equal effects on these two parameters. Salbutamol and phenylephrine were less effective. A parallel order of potency and sensitivity was observed for the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in a washed particulate fraction. The results suggest that these drugs are acting on the parotid acinar cell through a β₁-adrenergic mechanism.At the lowest concentrations tested, each of the adrenergic agonists stimulated significant α-amylase release with no detectable stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation. Even in the presence of theophylline, phenylephrine at several concentrations increased α-amylase release without a detectable increase in cyclic AMP levels. However, phenylephrine did stimulate adenylate cyclase. These data suggest that, under certain conditions, large increases in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP may not be necessary for stimulation of α-amylase release by adrenergic agonists. Also consistent with this idea was the observation that stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by isoproterenol was much more sensitive to inhibition by propranolol than was the stimulation of α-amylase release by isoproterenol.Stimulation of α-amylase release by phenylephrine was only partially blocked by either α- or β-adrenerg blocking agents, whereas stimulation of adenylate cyclase by phenylephrine was blocked by propranolol and not by phentolamine. Phenoxybenzamine and phentolamine potentiated the effects of norepinephrine and isoproterenol on both cyclic AMP accumulation and α-amylase release. However, phenoxybenzamine also potentiated the stimulation of α-amylase release by N⁶,O^2′-dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate. These observations may indicate a non-specific action of phenoxybenzamine, and demonstrate the need for caution in interpreting evidence obtained using α-adrenergic blocking agents as tools for investigation of α- and β-adrenergic antagonism.     

The nature of receptors regulating the formation of cyclic AMP in brain tissue.

Extensive studies of the past seven years have provided fundamental information on the pharmacological properties of receptors controlling formation of cyclic AMP in brain slices and homogenates. Receptors for adenosine, α- and β-adrenergic agonists, dopamine, serotonin, H₁- and H₂-histaminergic agonists, and prostaglandins of the E series have been defined and evidence for a glutamate receptor has been presented. Extrapolation of such pharmacological data to studies with whole animals should provide important information as to the physiological significance of specific cyclic AMP-generating systems to the function of the intact brain.     

Characteristics of the catecholamine and histamine receptor sites mediating accumulation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in guinea pig brain

—Five areas of guinea pig brain were examined to determine the properties of the receptor sites mediating increases in [³H]adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP). Both epinephrine and histamine were effective in causing increases in cyclic AMP in slices derived from cerebral cortex, hippocampus or amygdala, but not in diencephalon or brainstem. Stimulation of slices of cerebral cortex by either epinephrine or histamine resulted in a small, but reproducible, decrease in specific radioactivity of the [³H]-cyclic AMP produced, as did stimulation of the hippocampus by epinephrine. The catecholamine receptor was an α-adrenergic receptor in all three areas where epinephrine was effective; α-adrenergic stimulation, but not β-adrenergic stimulation, increased levels of [³H]-cyclic AMP. Furthermore, α-, but not β-adrenergic blocking agents, prevented the epinephrine- induced increase of both [³H]- and total cyclic AMP in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Only antihistaminic agents were capable of antagonizing the histamine-induced increase of both [³H]- and total cyclic AMP in these two brain areas. The catecholamine receptor in the amygdala also appeared to be an α-adrenergic receptor. The effects of histamine and epinephrine together were far greater than the sum of effects of either hormone alone in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus.     

Binding of 3H-lisuride hydrogen maleate to striatal membranes of rat brain

Binding of ³H-lisuride hydrogen maleate (LHM), a dopaminergic agonist, to striatal membranes was inhibited by (+)-butaclamol, whereas (-)- butaclamol at a concentration of 10^?9-10^?7M was without effect. The difference in the amount of ³H-LHM bound to striatal membranes in the presence of 10^?7 M (-)-butaclamol and (+)-butaclamol was designated as the specific binding of ³H-LHM, and its properties were examined. The specific ³H-LHM binding to striatal membranes was saturated with an equilibrium amount of 490 fmol/mg protein and had an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.5 nM. The specific binding of ³H-LHM to striatal membranes was inhibited by LHM, haloperidol, apomorphine and methysergide with inhibitor association constants (Ki value) of 0.79, 7.1, 100 and 180 nM, respectively. Phentolamine, dopamine, (-)-norepinephrine and serotonin were weaker inhibitors of the specific binding of ³H-LHM to striatal membranes, with Ki values of 1,100, 3,500, 33,000 and 79,000 nM, respectively. No inhibition was observed with (±)-propranolol, dichloroisoproterenol or QNB. These results are discussed in connection with dopamine receptors.     

DOPAMINE IN THE MESOLIMBIC SYSTEM OF THE RAT BRAIN: ENDOGENOUS LEVELS AND THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE UPTAKE MECHANISM AND STIMULATION OF ADENYLATE CYCLASE ACTIVITY

Abstract— High concentrations of dopamine were found in the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle of the rat brain using a radiochemical enzymatic assay technique. An active uptake system for [³H]dopamine that is temperature sensitive and dependent on external sodium ions is present in synaptosome-rich homogenates of these two brain areas. This uptake process is potently inhibited by benztropine (IC₅₀= 2.0 × 10^-7m ). Dextroamphetamine d was 4.5 times more potent than 1-amphetamine in inhibiting dopamine uptake in the nucleus accumbens and six times more potent in the olfactory tubercle and corpus striatum. Low concentrations of dopamine caused an increase in adenosine 3′5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) formation in homogenates of both the nucleus accembens and olfactory tubercle. This effect was potently blocked by chlorpromazine. The α-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine weakly antagonized the stimulation of this adenylate cyclase by dopamine, but the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol did not.