Relation between subsynaptic receptor blockade and response to quantal transmitter at the mouse neuromuscular junction

When a quantum of transmitter is released into a synaptic cleft, the magnitude of the subsynaptic response depends upon how much transmitter becomes bound to receptors. Theoretical considerations lead to the conclusion that if receptor density is normally high enough that most of the quantal transmitter is captured, subsynaptic quantal responses may be insensitive to receptor blockade. The effectiveness of receptor blockers in depressing the subsynaptic response should be diminished by interference with processes that normally dispose of transmitter, but increased if receptor density is reduced. In conformity with equations derived from a simple mathematical model, the apparent potency of (+)- tubocurarine (dTC) to depress the peak height of miniature end-plate currents (MEPCs) in mouse diaphragm was substantially reduced by poisoning of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and increased by partial blockade of receptors by immunoglobulin G from patients with myasthenia gravis or alpha-bungarotoxin. We calculated from the data that normally capture of quantal acetylcholine (ACh) by receptors is approximately 75% of what it would be if there were no loss of ACh by hydrolysis or diffusion of ACh form the synaptic cleft. This fraction is increased to approximately 90% by poisoning of AChE. Conversely, it normally requires blockade of approximately 80% of receptors-and after AChE poisoning, approximately 90% of receptors-to reduce ACh capture (and MEPC height) by 50%. The apparent potency of dTC to alter MEPC time- course (after AChE poisoning) and to depress responses to superperfused carbachol was much greater than its apparent potency to depress MEPC height, but corresponded closely with the potency of dTC to block receptors as calculated from the action of dTC on MEPC height. These results indicate that the amplitude of the response to nerve-applied acetylcholine does not give a direct measure of receptor blockade; it is, in general, to be expected that an alteration of subsynaptic receptor density may not be equally manifest in responses to exogenous and endogenous neurotransmitter.     

Antagonist actions of bicuculline methiodide and picrotoxin on extrasynaptic gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors

The effects of picrotoxin and bicuculline methiodide to block depolarizing responses of extrasynaptic receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are compared using excitability testing of myelinated axons in amphibian peripheral nerve. The actions of the antagonists appear both complex and dissimilar. Picrotoxin (10-1000 microM) produces large reversible depressions of the maximal response to GABA (0.01-10mM) and increases the EC50 from 0.33 to 12.6 mM. With high concentrations of agonist and antagonist an insensitive component is apparent. The action of picrotoxin is not classically noncompetitive: it may represent a mixed antagonism (competitive and noncompetitive) or a noncompetitive one, masked by the presence of receptor reserve and (or) secondary depolarizing influences (e.g., GABA-evoked [K+] o accumulation). Bicuculline methiodide (10-200 microM) shifts the GABA concentration-response curve to the right; maximal responses persist and are even enhanced. The impression that bicuculline methiodide has a competitive action is supported by analysis of its inhibition of responses to low concentrations of the agonist. It is suggested that the enhancement of GABA responses by bicuculline methiodide and their apparent resistance to block by picrotoxin may be due to a common secondary effect of the antagonists such as a decrease in membrane conductance to K+ and (or) block of transmitter uptake.     

GABA receptors on the cell-body membrane of an identified insect motor neuron

The pharmacology of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor on the cell body of an identified motor neuron of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana) was investigated by current-clamp and voltage-clamp methods. Iontophoretic application of GABA increased membrane conductance to chloride ions, and prolonged application resulted in desensitization. Hill coefficients, determined from dose-response data, indicated that binding of at least two GABA molecules was required to activate the chloride channel. Differences between vertebrate GABAA receptors and insect neuronal GABA receptors were detected. For the GABA receptor of motor neuron Df, the following rank order of potency was observed: isoguvacine greater than muscimol greater than or equal to GABA greater than 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen was inactive. Of the potent vertebrate GABA receptor antagonists (bicuculline, pitrazepin, RU5135 and picrotoxin), only picrotoxin (10(-7) M) produced a potent, reversible block of the response to GABA of motor neuron Df. Both picrotoxinin and picrotin also blocked GABA-induced currents. Bicuculline hydrochloride (10(-4) M) and bicuculline methiodide (10(-4) M) were both ineffective when applied at resting membrane potential (-65 mV), although at hyperpolarized levels partial block of GABA-induced current was sometimes observed. Pitrazepin (10(-4) M) caused a partial, voltage-independent block of GABA-induced current. The steroid derivative RU5135 was inactive at 10(-5) M. In contrast to the potent competitive blockade of vertebrate GABAA receptors by bicuculline, pitrazepin and RU5135, none of the weak antagonism caused by these drugs on the insect GABA receptor was competitive. Flunitrazepam (10(-6) M) potentiated GABA responses, providing evidence for a benzodiazepine site on an insect GABA-receptor-chloride-channel complex.     

Antagonism with dibenamine, D-600, and Ro 3-7894 to estimate dissociation constants and receptor reserves for cardiac adrenoceptors in isolated rabbit papillary muscles

In papillary muscles isolated from reserpinized rabbits, positive inotropic responses to the alpha (alpha)-adrenergic agonist, (-)-phenylephrine in the presence of 10(7) M timolol and the beta (beta)-adrenergic agonist. (-)-isoproterenol were antagonized with the irreversible alpha-adrenergic antagonist, dibenamine, the irreversible beta-adrenergic antagonist. Ro 3-7894, and the calcium blocker, D-600. D-600 was employed as a functional antagonist of both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor responses. Dissociation constants (Ka values) for drug-receptor interactions were calculated by the method of Furchgott and used to estimate fractional receptor occupancy and agonist efficacies. Comparison of responses showed that the receptor reserve for cardiac beta-adrenoceptors was greater than for alpha-adrenoceptors. D-600 was an effective inhibitor of both cardiac alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor responses; however, estimates of KA and receptor reserves were similar to estimates using an irreversible antagonist for alpha-but not beta-adrenoceptors.     

Angiotensin antogonists as pharmacological tools.

The availability of specific competitive antagonists stimulated investigation of the physiological and pathological role of angiotensin (A-II) and permitted the qualitative and quantitative characterization of numerous angiotensin receptor sites. The specific, competitive antogonists for A-II inhibit both the direct actions of A-II on isolated smooth muscle preparations and the stimulation of specific vascular receptor sites by which A-II evokes prostaglandin biosynthesis and release. Converting enzyme inhibitors a) block the action of exogenous A-I; b) lower blood pressure in conditions associated with high plasma renin levels (e.g., two-kidney renal hypertension, dehydrated diabetes insipidus rats, or in hemorrhagic shock); c) enhance responses to exogenous bradykinin (by inhibiting bradykininase); but d) do not block the effects of A-II at its receptor sites. A-II-receptor antagonists a) block the action of both A-I and A-II, b) lower blood pressure in high renin states, but c) have no effect on bradykinin degradation or action. Angiotensin receptor and synthesis antagonists have been shown to decrease the overall peripheral resistance and to reverse the renal cortical vasoconstriction during hemorrhagic shock and to prolong survival time in hemorrhaged dogs. It is our belief that angiotensin antogonists have therapeutic potential in hemorrhagic shock and would be expected (alone or in combination with alpha-andrenergic blockade) to overcome vascular shutdown and enhance organ perfusion (especially in the kidney).     

Modulation of the intensity of the non-quantal transmitter release by nitric oxide (NO) at the neuromuscular junction

In the rat diaphragm muscle, nitric oxide (NO)--sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), as well as substrate for the NO synthesis L-arginine, decrease the level of hyperpolarization of the muscle fibre membrane after acetylcholine receptor blockade by the d-TC and irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibition by armin (H-effect). Contrary to that, disruption of the NO synthesis in the muscle fibres by the NO-synthase inhibitor NG-nitrol-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) results in enhancement of the H-effect both in vitro and in vivo. Inactivated SNP and inactive forms of arginine and NAME did not affect the H-effect magnitude. Haemoglobin, effectively binding the NO molecules, abolishes the suppressing effects of the SNP, SNAP and L-arginine upon the H-effect. The findings suggest that the NO could be acting as a modulator of nonquantal transmitter release at the mammalian neuromuscular junction.     

Recovery of acetylcholine response of denervated muscle following exposure to alpha-bungarotoxin.

Experiments were performed using denervated muscles and the irreversible cholinergic inhibitor α-Bungarotoxin. After eliminating the membrane voltage response to carbamylcholine by exposure to α-Bungarotoxin, the response was observed to recover to 30% of its original value after 5 hours. Additional experiments suggest that the dissociation of α-Bungarotoxin from the extrajunctional receptors may be responsible. It was also observed that d-tubocurarine, normally a rapidly reversible competitive inhibitor, acts as either a noncompetitive, an uncompetitive, or a slowly reversible competitive inhibitor after recovery from α-Bungarotoxin. Unlike d-tubocurarine, the rapidly reversing comeptitive effect of hexamethonium was not changed.     

The action of agonists and antagonists at the histamine H1 receptor and receptor protection studies in guinea pig ileum

We have examined the ability of histamine and the competitive reversible antihistamines to protect the histamine H1 receptor against alkylation with the 2-haloalkylamines, phenoxybenzamine and SY-14. In isolated guinea pig ileum these irreversible antagonists produce a parallel shift in the dose-response curve to histamine with retention of the maximum response if they are used at concentrations less than about 10(-6)M. Treatment with these 2-haloalkylamines in the presence of a high concentration of histamine did not alter the blocking activity. Thus histamine appears to be unable to protect its own receptor against irreversible blockade. The competitive reversible antagonists, on the other hand, did provide effective protection against irreversible blockade. It is likely that the competitive reversible H1 receptor antagonists have at least some part of their attachment site in common with irreversible antagonists of the 2-haloalkylamine type, while the inability of histamine to provide self-protection suggests that its primary attachment site is different from that of the antagonists.     

The allosteric influence of beta-halo-alkylamines on the acetyl-choline receptor of smooth muscle.

Using the method of receptor blockade by phenoxybenzamine, data have been obtained at the acetylcholine receptor that cannot be explained by a competitive irreversible blockade of the receptors. An allosteric attack of the beta-halo-alkylamines is discussed.     

Clinical Use of Aromatase Inhibitors: Current Data and Future Perspectives

Abstract

A systematic procedure for the kinetic study of irreversible inhibition when the enzyme is consumed in the reaction which it catalyses, has been developed and analysed. Whereas in most reactions the enzymes are regenerated after each catalytic event and serve as reusable transacting effectors, in the consumed enzymes each catalytic center participates only once and there is no enzyme turnover. A systematic kinetic analysis of irreversible inhibition of these enzyme reactions is presented. Based on the algebraic criteria proposed in this work, it should be possible to evaluate either the mechanism of inhibition (complexing or non-complexing), or the type of inhibition (competitive, non-competitive, uncompetitive, mixed non-competitive). In addition, all kinetic constants involved in each case could be calculated. An experimental application of this analysis is also presented, concerning peptide bond formation in vitro. Using the puromycin reaction, which is a model reaction for the study of peptide bond formation in vitro and which follows the same kinetic law as the enzymes under study, we have found that: (i) the antibiotic spiramycin inhibits the puromycin reaction as a competitive irreversible inhibitor in a one step mechanism with an association rate constant equal to 1.3 × 10⁴M^-1s^-1 and, (ii) hydroxylamine inhibits the same reaction as an irreversible non-competitive inhibitor also in a one step mechanism with a rate constant equal to 1.6 × 10^-3 M^-1s^-1.     

Pyruvate carboxylase: affinity labelling of the magnesium adenosine triphosphate binding site.

The 2' , 3'-dialdehyde derivative of ATP (oATP) was prepared by periodate oxidation and on the following criteria was considered to be an effective affinity label. The magnesium complex of this derivative (Mg-oATP2) was shown to ba linear competitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP2-in both the acetyl-CoA-dependent and -independent activities of the enzyme but was a non-competitive inhibitor with respect to bicarbonate, and an uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to pyruvate. Mg-oATP was covalently bound to pyruvate carboxylase by reduction using sodium borohydride with concurrent irreversible inactivation of the enzyme...     

The chemical biology of clinically tolerated NMDA receptor antagonists

Most neuroprotective drugs have failed in clinical trials because of side-effects, causing normal brain function to become compromised. A case in point concerns antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate type of glutamate receptor (NMDAR). Glutamate receptors are essential to the normal function of the central nervous system. However, their excessive activation by excitatory amino acids, such as glutamate itself, is thought to contribute to neuronal damage in many neurological disorders ranging from acute hypoxic-ischemic brain injury to chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The dual role of NMDARs in particular for normal and abnormal functioning of the nervous system imposes important constraints on possible therapeutic strategies aimed at ameliorating neurological diseases. Blockade of excessive NMDAR activity must therefore be achieved without interference with its normal function. In general, NMDAR antagonists can be categorized pharmacologically according to the site of action on the receptor-channel complex. These include drugs acting at the agonist (NMDA) or co-agonist (glycine) sites, channel pore, and modulatory sites, such as the S-nitrosylation site where nitric oxide (NO) reacts with critical cysteine thiol groups. Because glutamate is thought to be the major excitatory transmitter in the brain, generalized inhibition of a glutamate receptor subtype like the NMDAR causes side-effects that clearly limit the potential for clinical applications. Both competitive NMDA and glycine antagonists, even although effective in preventing glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity, will cause generalized inhibition of NMDAR activities and thus have failed in many clinical trials. Open-channel block with the property of uncompetitive antagonism is the most appealing strategy for therapeutic intervention during excessive NMDAR activation as this action of blockade requires prior activation of the receptor. This property, in theory, leads to a higher degree of channel blockade in the presence of excessive levels of glutamate and little blockade at relatively lower levels, for example, during physiological neurotransmission. Utilizing this molecular strategy of action, we review here the logical process that we applied over the past decade to help develop memantine as the first clinically tolerated yet effective agent against NMDAR-mediated neurotoxicity. Phase 3 (final) clinical trials have shown that memantine is effective in treating moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease while being well tolerated. Memantine is also currently in trials for additional neurological disorders, including other forms of dementia, glaucoma, and severe neuropathic pain. Additionally, taking advantage of memantine's preferential binding to open channels and the fact that excessive NMDAR activity can be down-regulated by S-nitrosylation, we have recently developed combinatorial drugs called NitroMemantines. These drugs use memantine as a homing signal to target NO to hyperactivated NMDARs in order to avoid systemic side-effects of NO such as hypotension (low blood pressure). These second-generation memantine derivatives are designed as pathologically activated therapeutics, and in preliminary studies appear to have even greater neuroprotective properties than memantine.     

Agonist Antagonist Interactions at the Rapidly Desensitizing P2X3 Receptor

P2X3 receptors (P2XRs), as members of the purine receptor family, are deeply involved in chronic pain sensation and therefore, specific, competitive antagonists are of great interest for perspective pain management. Heretofore, Schild plot analysis has been commonly used for studying the interaction of competitive antagonists and the corresponding receptor. Unfortunately, the steady-state between antagonist and agonist, as a precondition for this kind of analysis, cannot be reached at fast desensitizing receptors like P2X3R making Schild plot analysis inappropriate. The aim of this study was to establish a new method to analyze the interaction of antagonists with their binding sites at the rapidly desensitizing human P2X3R. The patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the structurally divergent, preferential antagonists A317491, TNP-ATP and PPADS. The P2X1,3-selective α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP) was used as an agonist to induce current responses at the wild-type (wt) P2X3R and several agonist binding site mutants. Afterwards a Markov model combining sequential transitions of the receptor from the closed to the open and desensitized mode in the presence or absence of associated antagonist molecules was developed according to the measured data. The P2X3R-induced currents could be fitted correctly with the help of this Markov model allowing identification of amino acids within the binding site which are important for antagonist binding. In conclusion, Markov models are suitable to simulate agonist antagonist interactions at fast desensitizing receptors such as the P2X3R. Among the antagonists investigated, TNP-ATP and A317491 acted in a competitive manner, while PPADS was identified as a (pseudo)irreversible blocker.     

Comparative regulation of potassium and amphetamine induced release of 3H-norepinephrine from rat brain via presynaptic mechanisms.

This study examined the ability of various drugs to modify the potassium (K) or d-amphetamine (d-A) induced release of ³H-norepinephrine ³HNE) from chopped rat cortical tissue. The K induced release of the transmitter, which occurs from reserpine sensitive sites of cortical tissue, was significantly reduced by the beta receptor antagonist propranolol, the alpha receptor agonist clonidine and also by PGE₂. Pretreatment with eicosatetrynoic acid, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, did not influence the effect of clonidine on ³HNE release; thus this latter effect appears to be independent of enhanced prostaglandin formation. The proposed alpha receptor mediated negative feedback exhibits stereospecificity since addition of exogenous 1-, but not d-, NE decreased release of the transmitter. Blockade of alpha receptors by phentolamine or stimulation of beta receptors by isoproterenol significantly enhanced the K induced release of ³HNE from cortical tissue. By contrast, the d-A induced release of ³HNE which occurs from reserpine-insensitive sites, was reduced by propranolol and clonidine; and was not altered by phentolamine, isoproterenol or PGE₂. These data indicate that the K, but no d-A, induced release of ³HNE from cortical tissue is modified in accordance with postulated presynaptic negative and positive feedback mechanisms.     

Potential misconceptions arising from the application of enzyme kinetic equations to ligand-receptor systems at equilibrium

The interactions of ligands with their receptors and the modulation of those interactions by other ligands are commonly described in the (verbal and mathematical) language of enzymology. While this analogy is appropriate in that velocity-substrate concentration curves and ligand-receptor binding isotherms often conform to similar rectangular hyperbolic relationships, the mathematical and conceptual similarities between the two systems strictly apply only to the simplest cases (absence or presence of a pure competitive inhibitor). To conclude that other classic forms of enzyme inhibition (uncompetitive, noncompetitive, mixed) have their exact mechanistic counterparts in "receptorology" can be misleading if due consideration is not given to the differences between the two types of system (steady-state versus equilibrium). In this communication, it is shown that relating receptor binding mechanisms to enzymological models results in Scatchard plots that are markedly different in appearance from the equivalent Eadie plots displaying enzyme kinetic data for all cases other than those in the absence of inhibitor or in the presence of a purely competitive inhibitor. It follows that receptor binding systems, which do produce inhibition patterns similar to those indicative of uncompetitive, noncompetitive, or mixed inhibition of an enzyme system, must do so through mechanisms that are different from those that produce these effects on enzymes. Consequently, terms such as uncompetitive or noncompetitive inhibition have different meanings when applied to receptors as compared with enzymes.     

Kinetic study of an enzyme-catalysed reaction in the presence of novel irreversible-type inhibitors that react with the product of enzymatic catalysis

In the present paper a kinetic study is made of the behaviour of a Michaelis-Menten enzyme-catalysed reaction in the presence of irreversible inhibitors rendered unstable in the medium by their reaction with the product of enzymatic catalysis. A general mechanism involving competitive, non-competitive, uncompetitive and mixed irreversible inhibition with one or two steps has been analysed. The differential equation that describes the kinetics of the reaction is non-linear and computer simulations of its dynamic behaviour are presented. The results obtained show that the systems studied here present kinetic co-operativity for a target enzyme that follows the simple Michaelis-Menten mechanism in its action on the substrate, except in the case of an uncompetitive-type inhibitor.     

Equilibrium competition binding assay: inhibition mechanism from a single dose response

Inhibition of a receptor by a small-molecule compound in many cases is achieved via a competitive, uncompetitive or non-competitive mechanism. The receptor-inhibitor interaction is often probed through the displacement of a ligand in an equilibrium competition binding experiment. The previous solutions to receptor inhibition mechanisms were borrowed from steady-state enzyme inhibition mechanisms. The inhibition mechanism is determined by a visual inspection or a global fit of ligand dose response curves at a series of inhibitor concentrations. However these solutions only apply to situations when both the ligand and the inhibitor are not significantly depleted by the receptor. In most published equilibrium receptor binding studies, only the relative potency of the inhibitor is calculated. Ranking inhibitors tested under differing experimental conditions is often not possible. In the current paper, we offer exact mathematical solutions to uncompetitive and non-competitive inhibition, and demonstrate that in most cases both the inhibition mechanism and absolute potency of an inhibitor can be simultaneously determined from a single dose response of the inhibitor at a fixed concentration of the ligand. Therefore, an equilibrium competition assay provides a quick and facile method to determine the inhibition mechanism of a large number of inhibitors. The theory herein described is applicable to equilibrium competition binding experiments such as radioligand assays and fluorescence polarization assays.     

Conserved structural and functional control of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor gating by transmembrane domain M3

The molecular events controlling glutamate receptor ion channel gating are complex. The movement of transmembrane domain M3 within N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits has been suggested to be one structural determinant linking agonist binding to channel gating. Here we report that covalent modification of NR1-A652C or the analogous mutation in NR2A, -2B, -2C, or -2D by methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MT-SEA) occurs only in the presence of glutamate and glycine, and that modification potentiates recombinant NMDA receptor currents. The modified channels remain open even after removing glutamate and glycine from the external solution. The degree of potentiation depends on the identity of the NR2 subunit (NR2A < NR2B < NR2C,D) inversely correlating with previous measurements of channel open probability. MTSEA-induced modification of channels is associated with increased glutamate potency, increased mean single-channel open time, and slightly decreased channel conductance. Modified channels are insensitive to the competitive antagonists D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) and 7-Cl-kynurenic acid, as well as allosteric modulators of gating (extracellular protons and Zn(2+)). However, channels remain fully sensitive to Mg(2+) blockade and partially sensitive to pore block by (+)MK-801, (-)MK-801, ketamine, memantine, amantadine, and dextrorphan. The partial sensitivity to (+)MK-801 may reflect its ability to stimulate agonist unbinding from MT-SEA-modified receptors. In summary, these data suggest that the SYTANLAAF motif within M3 is a conserved and critical determinant of channel gating in all NMDA receptors.     

Complete inhibition of purinoceptor agonist-induced nociception by spinorphin, but not by morphine

We found that spinorphin, a novel neuropeptide showed analgesia in a different manner compared with morphine. By measuring flexor responses induced by the intraplanter injection of substances, the presence of three different types of sensory neurons were demonstrated. Although spinorphin completely blocked 2-metylthioadenosine (2-MeS ATP, a P2X(3) agonist)-induced responses, morphine did not. On the other hand, morphine-induced blockade of bradykinin (BK, a B(2)-receptor agonist)-responses was attenuated by pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment, whereas that of spinorphin was not. Thus it is suggested that spinorphin has a spectrum of analgesia which covers the blockade of nociception insensitive to morphine.     

The relationship between alpha 1-adrenergic receptor occupation and the mobilization of intracellular calcium

We have simultaneously quantitated alpha 1-adrenergic receptor occupation and agonist-elicited Ca2+ mobilization monitored as unidirectional 45Ca2+ efflux from intact BC3H-1 muscle cells in order to examine the relationship between the number of surface receptors occupied and the functional response. [3H]Prazosin has been used to measure receptor number as well as the binding kinetics with surface receptors, and the observed equilibrium and kinetic constants are in close accord with values obtained previously in cellular homogenates. Since alpha 1-agonist-elicited 45Ca2+ efflux can be monitored over intervals of 3 min or less and prazosin dissociation from its receptor has a t 1/2 of 44 min, prazosin can be employed to produce a pseudoirreversible inactivation of receptors. A comparison of the remaining receptors and residual response reveals an inverse linear relationship between receptors inactivated by prazosin and 45Ca2+ efflux. A similar result is obtained following fractional receptor inactivation with the irreversible alkylating agent phenoxybenzamine. Parameters of receptor occupation and response also correlate well for the agonist phenylephrine and for the competitive antagonist phentolamine. The unitary relationship between sites available for occupation and response indicates that the alpha 1 receptor does not function as an oligomer where fewer bound antagonist molecules are required to block the receptor than sites of agonist occupation necessary for activation. Moreover, substantial evidence has accrued in intact smooth muscle for a receptor reserve or nonlinear coupling between alpha 1 receptor occupation and contraction in smooth muscle. Our findings demonstrate that such behavior does not exist for alpha 1 receptor-elicited mobilization of Ca2+ in the BC3H-1 muscle cell.