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D Atlas

Publications and source records attributed to D Atlas.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Prazosin therapy for refractory variant angina.

The selective alpha, blocker prazosin was used to abolish Prinzmetal's variant angina in six patients. All had had an acute transmural myocardial infarction, after which the anginal attacks with transient ST segment elevation developed, and three of them had already suffered from variant angina prior to the infarction. Therapeutic trials with high doses of nifedipine, verapamil, nitrates, beta blockers, and (in one case) phenoxybenzamine were ineffective in all six patients. Prazosin, 8 to 30 mg/day combined with low-dose nitrates or nifedipine completely abolished the attacks in four patients, markedly reduced their frequency and intensity in one patient, and had to be stopped in the sixth one because of hypotension and dizziness. Except for this last patient, the drug was well tolerated by all the others, and no changes in blood pressure were observed. In four patients discontinuation or reduction of prazosin resulted in exacerbation of symptoms, but its renewal was followed by disappearance of the attacks. Since the mean follow-up period in this study was 4 to 6 months, further evaluation appears necessary concerning the long-term effects of this drug in Prinzmetal's variant angina.

Aged↗

Antinociceptive activity of N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine, a novel analog of clonidine: role of opioid receptors and alpha-adrenoceptors.

N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine, a derivative of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist p-aminoclonidine, was found to exhibit dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the mouse writhing assay. In this measure of antinociceptive activity it was less potent than clonidine or xylazine. Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, at a dose sufficient to abolish the antinociceptive activity of morphine, did not affect the antinociceptive activity of N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine, clonidine or xylazine. In contrast, yohimbine, a alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, reduced the antinociceptive activity of N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine, clonidine and xylazine, but not morphine. The affinity of N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine, clonidine and xylazine for alpha-adrenoceptors in rat aorta was correlated highly with the relative potency for writhing inhibition. These results suggest that the antinociceptive activity of N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine is mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors.

Analgesics↗

An affinity label for alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in rat brain.

Clonidine, a potent and highly selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonist of the central nervous system, was modified. Insertion of the strong alkylating isothiocyanate group (NCS) group, at its aromatic residue, makes clonidine a potential affinity label of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. In displacement of [3H]clonidine and p-[3H]aminoclonidine from rat brain membrane preparations, clonidine-NCS demonstrates high affinity for the alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (Kd = 50 mM). The covalent labelling of the central alpha 2-receptors requires higher concentrations of the irreversible ligand (1-70 microM), thus indicating possible non-productive interactions at the environment of the receptor site. Only partial protection of the receptors is observed with a reversible alpha 2-agonist. The new clonidine analog appears to be a general ligand for the alpha 2-adrenergic receptors and might serve as a potential affinity probe for these receptors.

Affinity Labels↗

Demonstration of human platelet beta-adrenergic receptors using 125I-labeled cyanopindolol and 125I-labeled hydroxybenzylpindolol.

The radioiodinated pindolol analogs 125I-labeled cyanopindolol ([125I]CYP) and 125I-labeled hydroxybenzylpindolol ([125I]HBP) have been used to study binding to human platelet beta-adrenergic receptors. [125I]CYP binds to a saturable class of binding sites on platelet membranes with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 14 +/- 3 pM and maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of 18 +/- 4 fmol/mg protein. Binding of [125I]CYP is reversible and is characterized by forward and reverse rate constants of 1.8 . 10(7) s-1 . M-1 and 3.8 . 10(-4) s-1, respectively. [125I]HBP binds to a saturable class of platelet membrane sites with a Kd of 50 +/- 10 pM and Bmax of 32 +/- 6 fmol/mg protein. [125I]HBP also binds to a saturable class of sites on intact platelets with a Kd of 58 +/- 14 pM and Bmax of 24 +/- 4 molecules per platelet. Binding of [125I]CYP and [125I]HBP is stereospecifically inhibited by propranolol and epinephrine; the (-) stereoisomers are at least 50-times more potent than the (+) stereoisomers. Binding of both radioligands is inhibited by adrenergic ligands with a potency order of propranolol much greater than isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than practolol greater than norepinephrine greater than phenylephrine. These observations indicate that [125I]CYP and [125I]HBP bind to platelet sites which have the pharmacological characteristics of beta-adrenergic receptors but which are not typical of either the beta 1 or beta 2 sub-type.

Blood Platelets↗

Interaction of clonidine and clonidine analogs with human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.

Several new clonidine analogs were synthesized and their ability to inhibit [3H]phentolamine binding to human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors was tested. The order of potency and calculated dissociation constants for clonidine and its analogs were as follows: clonidine (0.020 +/- 0.005 microM) greater than p-aminoclonidine (0.100 +/- 0.010 microM) greater than hydroxy-phenacetyl-aminoclonidine (0.20 +/- 0.03 microM) greater than p-dansyl clonidine (1.00 +/- 0.20 microM) greater than t-boc-tyrosine clonidine (1.80 +/- 0.60 microM). Thus, p-amino substitution reduces alpha 2-adrenergic affinity in the platelet system. The effects of clonidine and its p-amino analogs on platelet adenylate cyclase were also evaluated. This enzyme is inhibited by epinephrine acting via alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Both clonidine and p-aminoclonidine cause slight inhibition of basal adenylate cyclase and reverse the inhibition induced by epinephrine. These observations indicate that clonidine is a partial agonist for platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Clonidine p-isothiocyanate, an affinity label for alpha 2-adrenergic receptors on human platelets.

Exposure of intact human platelets or platelet membranes to the clonidine analog clonidine p-isothiocyanate (clonidine-NCS), followed by extensive washing, results in the loss of [3H]yohimbine binding to platelet alpha 2-receptors. In addition, exposure of intact platelets to clonidine-NCS, followed by extensive washing, results in the loss of of epinephrine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] in frozen--thawed platelets and in purified platelet membranes. This effect is dependent on time and concentration (t 1/2 at 30 degrees C is less than 15 min; half-maximal effect occurs with clonidine-NCS at less than 10 microM). Clonidine-NCS appears to interact by irreversibly blocking the platelet alpha 2-receptors because (i) it abolishes alpha 2-receptor effects of adenylate cyclase activity (i.e., epinephrine-induced inhibition of basal and prostaglandin E1-stimulated activity) while not altering other cyclase activity (basal, prostaglandin E1-stimulated, and NaF-stimulated) and (ii) its effect on both [3H]yohimbine binding and epinephrine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase can be specifically prevented by alpha-agonists [(-)-epinephrine and clonidine] and alpha-antagonists (yohimbine and phentolamine). These observations indicate that clonidine-NCS is an effective affinity label for platelet alpha 2-receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

Synthesis of new haloperidol analogues and characterization of their interactions with alpha-adrenoceptors in rat parotid slices and human platelet membranes.

1 The synthesis of several butyrophenone analogues of haloperidol is described. 2 The effects of these compounds on alpha-adrenoceptors were evaluated by examining their ability to reduce alpha 1-stimulated K+ release from rat parotid slices and to displace [3H]-phentolamine from human platelet membrane alpha 2-adrenoceptors. 3 The affinity of haloperidol and its analogues for alpha 1-receptors was found to be 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater than that for alpha 2-adrenoceptors. These observations suggest that most of the alpha-adrenoceptor activity of butyrophenones results from their interaction with alpha 1-adrenoceptors. 4 The relatively high affinity of the butyrophenones for alpha 1-adrenoceptors suggests that they may be useful as probes in studies of alpha 1-adrenoceptors in these and other tissues.

Animals↗

Interaction of fluorescent gonadotropin-releasing hormone with receptors in cultured pituitary cells.

A fluorescent derivative of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist analog, [D-Lys6]GnRH, was synthesized for receptor studies and shown to be biologically active. The rhodamine-derivatized peptide (Rh-GnRH) retained 40% of the receptor binding activity of [D-Lys6]GnRH, and 50% of the luteinizing hormone-releasing activity assayed in cultured pituitary cells. The fluorescent analog was employed to visualize the distribution of GnRH receptors in cultured pituitary cells, using the technique of video-intensified fluorescence microscopy. The binding of Rh-GnRH was confined to the large gonadotrophs which comprised 15% of the cell population. The specificity of the binding was shown by the absence of significant fluorescence in the presence of a 100-fold excess of [D-Lys6]GnRH, or when Rh-GnRH was incubated with choriocarcinoma, neuroblastoma, or 3T3 cell lines devoid of GnRH receptors. The interaction of Rh-GnRH with living pituitary cells was characterized by an initial diffuse distribution, followed by the formation of polar aggregates that later appeared to be internalized. These observations emphasize the value of fluorescent derivatives of GnRH for elucidating the course of the interaction with specific receptors on pituitary gonadotrophs. The initial results indicate that GnRH-receptor complexes undergo aggregation during stimulation of luteinizing hormone release, and are later internalized for subsequent degradation and/ or intracellular actions.

Animals↗

alpha-adrenergic antagonists as possible calcium channel inhibitors.

The effects of various organic Ca2+ channel inhibitors were investigated on the binding of the alpha 1-antagonist 3H-labeled 2-[(2',6'-dimethoxyphenoxyethyl)aminomethyl]-1,4-benzodioxane ([3H]WB-4101) to membranes from rat brain and neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15). As found by monitoring binding of [3H]WB-41-1, the Ca2+ channel inhibitors methoxyverapamil (D600), verapamil, and the nifedipine analogue YC-93 bind to two different sites in rat brain: a high-affinity site (dissociation constant Kd = 2.9 nM and binding capacity B = 360 fmol/mg of protein) and a low-affinity site (Kd = 260 nM and B = 2700 fmol/mg of protein). In NG108-15 cells, where no alpha 1 receptors were detected with [3H]WB-4101, the Ca2+ antagonists were found to bind to nonadrenergic sites in the membrane with a capacity B = 976 fmol/mg of protein. The binding of Ca2+ antagonists to [3H]WB-41-1 sites led to the investigation of WB-4101 as a Ca2+ inhibitor by electrophysiological techniques. WB-4101 depressed the amplitude and reduced the rate of rise of the CA2+ spike with an affinity slightly greater than that observed for D600. The concentration for 50% inhibition of the Ca2+ spike amplitude was 48 microM for WB-4101 and 80 microM for D600. The WB-4101-induced blockade of the Ca2+ spike was antagonized by high Ca2+ concentrations, indicating a common site for Ca2+ and the alpha-antagonist. D600 and WB-4101 also inhibited voltage-dependent Na+ and K+ conductances. The results suggest that Ca2+ channels can account for a fraction of the sites labeled with [3H]WB-4101 in membrane preparations from brain and NG108-15 cells.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Interaction of clonidine and clonidine analogues with alpha-adrenergic receptors of neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells and rat brain: comparison of ligand binding with inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Clonidine and several analogues of clonidine are shown to be useful probes for alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in a comparative study of ligand binding and inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The alpha-adrenergic properties of a new potential probe, N-(4-hydroxyphenacetyl)-4-aminoclonidine hydrochloride, are described. [3H]Clonidine binds to alpha-receptors of NG108-15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cell membranes with Kd values of 1.7 and 33 nM for putative high-affinity and low-affinity sites, respectively. p-Aminoclonidine and hydroxyphenacetyl aminoclonidine displace [3H]clonidine from the high-affinity sites with Kd values of 2.3 and 5.8 nM, respectively. Rat brain alpha 2-receptors also exhibit high affinity toward clonidine, p-aminoclonidine, and hydroxyphenacetyl aminoclonidine, as determined by displacement of specifically bound [3H]clonidine. Clonidine, p-amino-clonidine, and hydroxyphenacetyl aminoclonidine elicit modest inhibition (up to 24%) of NG108-125 adenylate cyclase by interaction with alpha 2-receptors (Kd,app 300, 30, and 130 nM, respectively); these compounds also partially reverse the inhibition elicited by (--)-norepinephrine. Components of the adenylate cyclase assay mixture, particularly ATP, GTP, sodium ions, and a nucleoside-triphosphate-regenerating system, decrease the high-affinity [3H]clonidine binding to NG108-15 membranes; in the presence of these components, alpha-receptors possess only low affinity (Kd 43 nM) for [3H]clonidine. The results are consistent with the concept that certain components required for the receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase convert alpha 2-receptors from a high-affinity inactive state to a low-affinity active state.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

Lateral mobility of beta-receptors involved in adenylate cyclase activation.

Cationized ferritin was found to inhibit the lateral mobility of intramembrane proteins in turkey erythrocyte membranes and the activation of adenylate cyclase by the (--)-epinephrine-bound beta-adrenergic receptor. It was observed that cationized ferritin has only a small direct effect on the beta-receptor and on the adenylate cyclase moiety. It is concluded that the cationized ferritin-induced inhibition of the hormone-dependent cyclase activity results from the inhibition of the lateral mobility of the receptor and therefore a decrease in the bimolecular rate of interaction between the receptor and the enzyme.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Direct mapping of beta-adrenergic receptors in the rat central nervous system by a novel fluorescent beta-blocker.

DL-N-(2-Hydroxy-3-napthyloxypropyl)-N'-dansylethylenediamine, dansyl analogue of propranolol (DAPN) is a novel fluorescent beta-adrenergic antagonist with high affinity to beta-receptors. The distribution pattern of DAPN fluorescence was studied in the rat central nervous system subsequent to its intravenous administration to living rats. DAPN distinctly labels specific regions and cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Highly dense DAPN fluorescence was observed in the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus, the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, the basal layers of the piriform cortex and the neocortex, the cerebellar Purkinje cell layer, and the spinal a-motoneurons. Pretreatment of control rats with DL-and L-propranolol markedly decreased the intensity and density of DAPN fluorescence in the tissue sections, whereas prior administration of D-propranolol had almost no effect. Pretreatment with large doses of reserpine did not alter the pattern of DAPN fluorescence. These findings were identical to those observed with another fluorescent beta-blocker, 9-aminoacridino-propranolol (9-AAP). Our data suggest that fluorescent beta-adrenergic antagonists may be used in vivo for the direct probing of the beta-receptors within the mammalian CNS.

Animals↗

Histochemical labeling of beta-adrenergic receptors in the mouse central nervous system by 9-amino-acridin propranolol.

A new fluorescent beta-adrenergic antagonist, 9-amino-acridin propranolol (9-AAP), was administered intravenously to living mice. In the cerebral cortex, the highest concentration of 9-AAP was noted in the hippocampal formation, where it distinctly labeled the hippocampal pyramidal cell layer and the granule cell layer of the dentate gryus. High uptake occurred in the pyramidal cell layer of the piriform cortex. In the neocortex, fluorescence was less dense and more diffuse but confined to the basal layers. A similar pattern was observed in the basal layers of the cingulate cortex, but an additional high-density dotted fluorescence labeled its layer II. In the cerebellar cortex, 9-AAP was localized within the Purkinje cell layer. In the spinal cord, the highest density of fluorescence was observed in the nuclear collections of alpha-motoneurons. The findings were similar to those observed in the central nervous system of the rat and support the reproducibility of the method. 9-AAP may be used in vivo as a fluorescent probe to map out the central beta-adrenergic receptor system.

Acridines↗