Attenuation of D-1 antagonist-induced D-1 receptor upregulation by concomitant D-2 receptor blockade

The effect of chronic selective D-1 and/or D-2 dopamine receptor blockade on regional D-1 receptor binding was studied in rat brain following chronic treatment with the specific D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 and/or the predominantly D-2 antagonist haloperidol. D-1 receptor density and affinity were evaluated by quantitative autoradiography using 125I-SCH 23982. Chronic SCH 23390 treatment increased D-1 receptor density by 30 to 40% in the striatum, accumbens and tuberculum olfactorium; receptor affinity remained unchanged. Haloperidol had no effect on D-1 receptor Bmax or Kd values, although, when administered with SCH 23390, reduced the D-1 receptor upregulation induced by the D-1 antagonist in striatum and tuberculum olfactorium, but not in nucleus accumbens. These results may be attributable to D-1/D-2 dopamine receptor interactions occurring in the striatum and tuberculum olfactorium and may have implications for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced extrapyramidal disorders.     

Permissive role of D-1 receptor stimulation for the expression of D-2 mediated behavioral responses: a quantitative phenomenological study in rats

The syndrome of behavioral stimulation induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by two dopaminergic agents was studied by distinguishing specific behavioral items and quantifying them in terms of their incidence. The specific D-2 agonist LY 171555 elicited yawning, genital grooming, exploratory behavior, downward sniffing and licking but failed to induce gnawing even at high doses. On the other hand, the D-1/D-2 agonist apomorphine elicited the full stereotyped syndrome including gnawing. Depletion of endogenous dopamine (DA) by alpha-methyltyrosine (alpha-MT) prevented the ability of LY 171555 to elicit all the items of behavioral stimulation including the stereotyped ones (sniffing and licking). In contrast, the ability of apomorphine to induce stereotypies was not reduced by depletion of endogenous DA by alpha-MT pretreatment. Blockade of D-1 receptors with SCH 23390 abolished the capacity of both LY 171555 and apomorphine to elicit all the items of behavioral stimulation. In alpha-MT pretreated rats, administration of low doses of the D-1 agonist SKF 38393 (2.5 mg/kg s.c.) reinstated the ability of LY 171555 to elicit behavioral stimulation and eventually conferred the ability of inducing gnawing. The results support the hypothesis that stimulation of D-1 receptors exerts a permissive role for the expression of behavioral stimulation following D-2 receptor stimulation. Endogenous DA appears to provide sufficient D-1 input to permit full expression of yawning, genital grooming, exploratory behavior, downward sniffing and licking following D-2 stimulation; pharmacological stimulation of D-1 in addition to D-2 receptors seems however necessary for full expression of the highest rank stereotypy item, gnawing.     

Hyperactivity induced by stimulation of separate dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors in rats with bilateral 6-OHDA lesions

The effects of DA agonists and antagonists with different dopamine (DA) D-1 and D-2 receptor selectivity have been studied in rats with bilateral 6-OHDA lesions. The D-1 agonist SK & F 38393, the D-2 agonist pergolide and the mixed agonist apomorphine all induced marked hyperactivity in lesioned rats in doses which were without stimulant effect in sham-operated animals. The hyperactivity induced by SK & F 38393 was blocked by the DA D-1 antagonist SCH 23390, but unaffected by the D-2 antagonists spiroperidol or clebopride. Pergolide-induced hyperactivity showed the reverse selectivity. The mixed D-1/D-2 antagonists, cis(Z)-flupentixol and cis(Z)-clopenthixol, however blocked the effect of both agonists. Apomorphine-induced hyperactivity was neither blocked by selective D-1 nor D-2 antagonists, but was dose-dependently inhibited by cis(Z)-flupentixol and cis(Z)-clopenthixol. Potent blockade was also obtained by combined treatment with SCH 23390 and spiroperidol, indicating the need of blocking both D-1 and D-2 receptors simultaneously. The results indicate that D-1 and D-2 receptor function can be independently manipulated in denervated rats and they confirm similar results obtained in rats with unilateral 6-OHDA lesions using circling behaviour.     

Interactions of novel dopaminergic ligands with D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors

The interactions of three novel dopaminergic ligands, SKF38393, SKF82526 and SKF83742, with D-1 and D-2 dopamine (DA) receptors have been investigated using radioligand binding techniques and computer modeling procedures. Using the bovine anterior pituitary D-2 DA receptor system, SKF38393 and SKF82526 behave as agonists demonstrating biphasic agonist/3H-antagonist competition curves. For both drugs, the high affinity phase comprised 30% of the total displacement curve. Such findings are atypical as previously tested classical dopamine agonists demonstrated high and low affinity displacement phases in equal proportions. Such behavior exhibited by the SKF agonists may be related to their activity as partial agonists. In contrast, SKF83742 behaves as an antagonist exhibiting homogeneous monophasic competition curves. Similar results are obtained in the rat striatal membrane D-2 DA receptor system. Both SKF38393 and SKF82526 also demonstrate shallow biphasic displacement curves on rat striatal D-1 receptors labeled with 3H-flupentixol whereas SKF83742/3H-flupentixol curves are uniphasic. Of all the ligands, only SKF38393 clearly demonstrates higher affinity for 3H-flupentixol labeled D-1 receptors.     

Behavioral recovery after irreversible inactivation of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors

Irreversible inactivation of both D-1 and D-2 dopamine (DA) receptors by N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) resulted in complete loss of stereotypy response to R-(-)-N-propylnorapomorphine (NPA; 0.1-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) 24 hr later. Stereotyped sniffing recovered much more rapidly than oral behaviors. The D-2 antagonist sulpiride (200 mg/kg) and the putatively nonselective antagonist cis-flupenthixol (2 mg/kg), administered prior to EEDQ, prevented the loss of NPA-induced sniffing but only partially protected against loss of oral behaviors 24 hr later. Complete protection of both behaviors was seen after pretreatment with a combination of sulpiride and the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 (1 mg/kg); pretreatment with the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 alone, however, did not modify the rate of recovery of either behavioral response. The results suggest that either different populations of DA receptors mediate expression of these behaviors or stimulation of a small fraction of the total DA receptor pool may be sufficient to elicit sniffing but not oral responses. Furthermore, maintaining a normal complement of D-2 rather than D-1 receptors appears to be a critical determinant for the elicitation of these behaviors.     

Distinct target size of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors in rat striatum

Frozen rat striatal tissue was exposed to 10 MeV electrons from a linear accelerator. Based on the theory of target size analysis, the molecular weights of dopamine D-1 receptors (labelled by 3H-piflutixol) and dopamine D-2 receptors (labelled by 3H-spiroperidol) were 79,500 daltons and 136,700 daltons, respectively. The size of the dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase was 202,000 daltons. The estimated molecular sizes were deduced by reference to proteins with known molecular weights which were irradiated in parallel. The results showed that the molecular entities for 3H-piflutixol binding and 3H-spiroperidol binding were not identical. The present results do not allow conclusions as to whether D-1 and D-2 receptors are two distinct proteins in the membrane, or whether the receptors are located on the same protein. In the latter case the binding of 3H-spiroperidol needs the presence of a second molecule.     

Influence of D-1 receptor system on the D-2 receptor-mediated hypothermic response in mice

The hypothermia induced by apomorphine, a mixed dopamine (DA) agonist in male Swiss-Webster mice, was not blocked by the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 but was completely blocked by the selective D-2 antagonists haloperidol, sulpiride and YM-09151-2. The selective D-1 agonist SKF 38393 did not elicit hypothermic response but the selective D-2 agonist quinpirole caused a marked lowering of rectal temperature. D-2 antagonists blocked this response to quinpirole. SCH 23390 enhanced and SKF 38393 attenuated the hypothermia induced by quinpirole. Ineffective doses of haloperidol and SKF 38393, when given together, completely blocked the effect of quinpirole. It was concluded that hypothermia is a D-2 receptor mediated response but modulated by the D-1 receptor system. In another series of experiments the influence of neuroleptics and antidepressants on the hypothermic effect of apomorphine and quinpirole was investigated. The hypothermic effect of a low dose (1 mg/kg) of apomorphine was blocked by the D-2 receptor antagonists, but not by classical antidepressants. However, the response to a high dose (10 mg/kg) of apomorphine was blocked by both classical antidepressants and D-2 antagonists (except haloperidol). These drugs did not show similar effect on quinpirole-induced hypothermia. It is clear that the hypothermic response, especially that of quinpirole, is not a suitable model for testing either neuroleptics or antidepressants.     

Coexistence of inhibitory dopamine D-1 and excitatory D-2 receptors on the same caudate nucleus neurons

Microiontophoretic studies using cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose were performed to determine whether or not dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors co-exist in the same caudate nucleus (CN) neurons that receive inputs from the substantia nigra (SN), and in which spikes elicited by SN stimulation were blocked by domperidone, a selective D-2 antagonist. Iontophoretic application of dopamine produced a dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous firing in 2 of 4 spontaneously active CN neurons and an increase in firing in the remaining 2 neurons. However, dopamine inhibited the glutamate-induced firing in 31 of 32 CN neurons that were not spontaneously active. Similar inhibition with iontophoretically applied SKF 38393, a selective D-1 agonist, was observed in 33 of 34 spontaneously inactive neurons tested. When the effects of dopamine, SKF 38393 and bromocriptine (D-2 agonist) were examined on the same CN neurons, the inhibitory effects of both dopamine and SKF 38393 were seen in 14 of 15 neurons, and both an inhibition by SKF 38393 and an excitation by bromocriptine were observed in 15 of 17 neurons. The inhibitory effects of dopamine and SKF 38393 were antagonized by haloperidol and SCH 23390 (D-1 antagonist) without being affected by domperidone. Furthermore, the dopamine-induced inhibition was converted to an excitation during simultaneous application of SCH 23390 in 6 of 10 CN neurons, and this excitation was antagonized by domperidone. These results strongly suggest that the inhibitory D-1 and excitatory D-2 receptors co-exist on the same CN neurons receiving inputs from the SN.     

6,7-Dihydroxy-2-dimethylaminotetralin (TL-99) stimulates postjunctional D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors

6,7-Dihydroxy-2-dimethylaminotetralin (TL-99) mimicks the ability of dopamine either to enhance adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of goldfish retina or to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of the intermediate lobe (IL) of the rat pituitary gland previously treated with cholera toxin. Both the dopamine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the fish retina and the dopamine inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in the rat IL are associated with cells postjunctional to the dopaminergic neurons innervating these tissues. Therefore, the present data do not support the contention that TL-99 is a selective presynaptic dopamine receptor agonist.     

Sequestration of dopamine D2 receptors depends on coexpression of G-protein-coupled receptor kinases 2 or 5.

We examined the agonist-dependent sequestration/internalization of dopamine D2 receptor (the long form D2L and short form D2S), which were transiently expressed in COS-7 and HEK 293 cells with or without G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK2 or GRK5). Sequestration was assessed quantitatively by loss of [3H] sulpiride-binding activity from the cell surface and by transfer of [3H] spiperone-binding activity from the membrane fraction to the light vesicle fraction in sucrose-density gradients. In COS-7 cells expressing D2 receptors alone, virtually no sequestration was observed with or without dopamine (< 4%). When GRK2 was coexpressed, 50% of D2S receptors and 36% of D2L receptors were sequestered by treatment with 10(-4) M dopamine for 2 h, whereas no sequestration was observed in cells expressing the dominant negative form of GRK2 (DN-GRK2). When GRK5 was coexpressed, 36% of D2S receptors were sequestered following the same treatment. The agonist-dependent and GRK2-dependent sequestration of D2S receptors was reduced markedly in the presence of hypertonic medium containing 0.45 M sucrose, suggesting that the sequestration follows the clathrin pathway. Internalization of D2S receptors was also assessed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Translocation of D2 receptors from the cell membrane to intracellular vesicles was observed following the treatment with dopamine from HEK 293 cells only when GRK2 was coexpressed. D2S receptors expressed in HEK 293 cells were shown to be phosphorylated by GRK2 in an agonist-dependent manner. These results indicate that the sequestration of D2 receptors occurs only through a GRK-mediated pathway.     

Renin expression in large renal vessels during fetal development depends on functional beta1/beta2-adrenergic receptors

During nephrogenesis, renin expression shifts from large renal arteries toward smaller vessels in a defined spatiotemporal pattern, finally becoming restricted to the juxtaglomerular position. Chronic stimulation in adult kidneys leads to a recruitment of renin expression in the upstream vasculature. The mechanisms that control this characteristic switch-on and switch-off in the immature and adult kidney are not well-understood. Previous studies in mice with juxtaglomerular cell-specific deletion of the adenylyl cyclase-stimulatory G protein Gsα suggested that signaling along the cAMP pathway plays an essential role for renin expression during nephrogenesis and in the adult kidney. To identify the Gsα-dependent receptor that might be involved in activating this pathway, the present studies were performed to compare renin expression in wild types with that in mice with targeted deletions of β(1) and β(2)-adrenoceptors. The sympathetic nervous system is an important regulator of the renin system in the adult kidney so that activation of β-adrenenoceptors may also participate in the activation of renin expression along the developing arterial tree and in upstream vasculature in adulthood. Compared with wild-types, renin expression was found to be significantly lower at all developmental stages in the kidneys of β(1)/β(2) Adr(-/-) mice. Three-dimensional analysis showed reduced renin expression in all segments of the vascular tree in mutants and a virtual absence of renin expression in the large arcuate arteries. Adult mutant kidneys showed the typical upstream renin expression after chronic stimulation. Tyrosine hydroxylase staining in fetal and postnatal kidneys revealed that sympathetic innervation of renin-producing cells occurs early in fetal development. Our data indicate that genetic disruption of β-adrenergic receptors reduces basal renin expression along the developing preglomerular tree and in adult kidneys. Furthermore, β-adrenergic receptor input is critical for the expression of renin in large renal vessels during early fetal development.     

Evidence for the presence of both D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors in human esophagus.

Clinical and pharmacological evidence suggested that dopamine is involved in the control of esophageal motility. The present study was designed to determine whether or not dopamine receptors are present in human esophagus. With this aim we measured adenylate cyclase activity as a biochemical index of dopamine receptor function in esophageal specimens taken from five patients during surgery for upper esophageal carcinoma. The selective D-1 agonist fenoldopam stimulated cAMP formation in the lower esophageal sphincter, but not in the esophageal body; this effect was prevented by the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 and by d-butaclamol. Bromocriptine, a selective D-2 stimulator, inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in the lower esophageal sphincter, an effect blocked by the D-2 antagonist (-)sulpiride. No effects of bromocriptine were found in the esophageal body. These data indicate that both D-1 and D-2 receptors are present in the lower esophageal sphincter, but not in esophageal body and emphasize the role of dopamine in the regulation of esophageal function.     

The stoichiometry of P2X2/6 receptor heteromers depends on relative subunit expression levels

Fast synaptic transmission involves the operation of ionotropic receptors, which are often composed of at least two types of subunit. We have developed a method, based on atomic force microscopy imaging to determine the stoichiometry and subunit arrangement within ionotropic receptors. We showed recently that the P2X(2) receptor for ATP is expressed as a trimer but that the P2X(6) subunit is unable to oligomerize. In this study we addressed the subunit stoichiometry of heteromers containing both P2X(2) and P2X(6) subunits. We transfected tsA 201 cells with both P2X(2) and P2X(6) subunits, bearing different epitope tags. We manipulated the transfection conditions so that either P2X(2) or P2X(6) was the predominant subunit expressed. By atomic force microscopy imaging of isolated receptors decorated with antiepitope antibodies, we demonstrate that when expression of the P2X(2) subunit predominates, the receptors contain primarily 2 x P2X(2) subunits and 1 x P2X(6) subunit. In contrast, when the P2X(6) subunit predominates, the subunit stoichiometry of the receptors is reversed. Our results show that the composition of P2X receptor heteromers is plastic and dependent on the relative subunit expression levels. We suggest that this property of receptor assembly might introduce an additional layer of subtlety into P2X receptor signaling.     

Rapid induction of supersensitivity to muscarinic antagonists-induced motor excitation by continuous stimulation of cholinergic receptors

Following single or repeated treatment with the irreversible anticholinesterase, DFP or, during infusion of the muscarinic receptor agonist, oxotremorine, and the reversible anticholinesterase physostigmine, effects of challenges with muscarinic antagonists were studied in rats. The antagonists, atropine, scopolamine, benztropine, orphenadrine and trihexyphenidyl induced, to a low degree, limb-shakes (myoclonus) and stereotyped behaviors in normal rats. However, within 24-72 hr after the above pretreatments, this myoclonus was significantly enhanced. The anticholinergic-stereotypies were also increased but only by severe cholinergic pretreatment and at a time later than that for the myoclonus. Myoclonus and stereotypies are known to be produced by treatments which directly enhance serotonergic and dopaminergic activities, respectively. It is suggested that during prolonged cholinergic stimulation, the cholinergic-monoaminergic balance in the brain can be altered depending upon the degree of stimulation. This could be responsible for the observed differential onset of changes in the anticholinergic-behavioral responses, which could, in turn, be mediated by different monoaminergic (serotonin and dopamine) systems.     

Induction of IL 2 receptor expression and cytotoxicity of thymocytes by stimulation with TCF1

We investigated the role of T cell cytotoxicity inducing factor 1 (TCF1) in the induction of a cytotoxic T cell response. We found that help-deficient thymocyte cultures supplied with saturating amounts of purified IL 2 did not develop CTL in a 5-day culture. The expression of cytotoxicity was dependent on the addition of TCF1 derived from the T cell hybridoma K15. TCF1 also induced proliferation of thymocytes in the presence of IL 2. Only the PNA- thymocyte subpopulation responded to TCF1 with proliferation and cytotoxicity in the presence of IL 2. The monokine IL 1 also induced proliferation in this subpopulation but failed to induce cytotoxicity. IL 1 was further distinguished from TCF1 by inhibition of IL 1-induced but not TCF1-induced proliferation by anti-IL 1 antibodies. In addition, using anti-IL 2 receptor antibodies (AMT 13), we showed that TCF1 in the presence of IL 2 substantially increased IL 2 receptor expression in thymocytes. IL 1 had the same effect on induction of IL 2 receptor expression as TCF1. Because some effects of IL 1 and TCF1 are distinct and some overlap, we discuss whether IL 1 and TCF1 induce different subsets of PNA- thymocytes.     

Interleukin-1-induced activation of the small GTPase Rac1 depends on receptor internalization and regulates gene expression

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) triggers the internalization of its cognate receptor from the plasma membrane. We recently demonstrated that this internalization is of critical importance for the IL-1-induced gene expression. In this study we report that the IL-1-induced activation of the small GTPase Rac1 requires receptor endocytosis. We further show that the depletion of Rac1 reduces the IL-1-dependent gene expression without affecting signaling events that are initiated at the plasma membrane. Collectively, we provide evidence for a key role of Rac1 in a pathway that regulates IL-1-induced gene expression depending on receptor endocytosis.     

Effects of zotepine, chlorpromazine and haloperidol on D-1, D-2, D-3 and D-4 subtypes of dopamine receptors in rat striatal and bovine caudate nucleus membranes

Inhibitory effects of zotepine (Zot) on D-1, D-2, D-3 and D-4 subtypes of dopamine (DA) receptors were investigated in crude synaptic membranes of rat striatum and bovine caudate nucleus and compared to those of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and haloperidol (HAL). From the IC₅₀-values of Zot, CPZ and HAL, the K-values of each drug are estimated as follows: 34.4, 152 and 244 nM (D-1, ³H-labeled cis-flupenthixol binding (1.0 nM) to rat membranes); 37.4, 7.1 and 2.4 nM (D-2, [³H]spiperone (Spi) binding (0.5 nM) to rat membranes in the presence of 0.1 μM ketanserin); 73.1, 15.2 and 22.4 nM (D-3, ³H-labeled N-propylapomorphine (NPA) binding (0.29 nM) to bovine membranes in the presence of 0.1 μM Spi); 9.5, 65.3 and 3.1 nM (D-4, [³H]NPA binding (0.29 nM) bovine membranes in the presence of 25 nM DA), respectively. Zot binds with higher affinity to D-4 but lower affinity to D-3 than to other subtypes. It is also presumed that Zot binds to D-1 with high affinity and D-2 and D-3 with low affinity compared to CPZ and HAL.     

Adenylate cyclase from sea urchin eggs is positively and negatively regulated by D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors

The adenylate cyclase present in membranes prepared from sea urchin eggs is sensitive to dopamine stimulation. The receptor sites coupled to sea urchin adenylate cyclase were characterized by means of specific agonists and antagonists. The D-1 dopamine agonist SKF-38393 was able to stimulate enzyme activity, while the two D-1 dopamine antagonists, SCH-23390 and SKF-83566, suppressed the stimulatory effect of dopamine. In addition, the D-2 dopamine agonists, PPHT and metergoline, brought about a dose-dependent inhibition of dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. These data show that: (i) in sea urchin eggs adenylate cyclase is regulated by dopamine receptors; (ii) these receptors share characteristics with D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors present in the mammalian brain.     

Evidence that kinin B2 receptor expression is upregulated by endothelial overexpression of B1 receptors

Bradykinin (BK) and des-Arg⁹-bradykinin (DBK) of kallikrein-kinin system exert its effects mediated by the B₂ (B₂R) and B₁ (B₁R) receptors, respectively. It was already shown that the deletion of kinin B₁R or of B₂R induces upregulation of the remaining receptor subtype [10], [12], [16], [28], [36]. However studies on overexpression of B₁R or B₂R in transgenic animals have supported the importance of the overexpressed receptor but the expression of another receptor subtype has not been determined [17], [19], [33]. Previous study described a marked vasodilatation and increased susceptibility to endotoxic shock which was associated with increased mortality in response to DBK in thoracic aorta from transgenic rat overexpressing the kinin B₁R (TGR(Tie₂B₁)) exclusively in the endothelium. In another study, mice overexpressing B₁R in multiple tissues were shown to present high susceptibility to inflammation and to lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxic shock. Therefore the role of B₂R was investigated in the thoracic aorta isolated from TGR(Tie₂B₁) rats overexpressing the B₁R exclusively in the vascular endothelium. Our findings provided evidence for highly increased expression level of the B₂R in the transgenic rats. It was reported that under endotoxic shock, these rats exhibited exaggerated hypotension, bradycardia and mortality. It can be suggested that the high mortality during the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock provoked in the transgenic TGR(Tie₂B₁) rats could be due to the enhanced expression of B₂R associated with the overexpression of the B₁R.