G protein and alpha-adrenoceptor classification.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Majewski.
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The effects of the beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking drug atenolol and the beta 2-adrenoceptor blocking drug ICI 118551 (ICI, Melbourne, Australia) on noradrenaline release and blood pressure were investigated using the pithed rat, which was subjected to continuous electrical stimulation of the spinal sympathetic outflow (pulses at 3 Hz). This stimulation increased blood pressure but not heart rate. The noradrenaline release rate was calculated by infusing [3H] noradrenaline and measuring the steady-state concentrations of both endogenous and infused noradrenaline. Atenolol (0.2 mg/kg bolus plus 0.1 mg/kg per h, intra-arterially) had no effect on the noradrenaline release rate or heart rate, but significantly decreased blood pressure. On the other hand, ICI 118551 (0.2 mg/kg bolus plus 0.1 mg/kg per h. intra-arterially) had no significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate, but did inhibit the noradrenaline release rate. The sympathoinhibitory effect of ICI 118551 was not observed in animals which had been adrenal medullectomized, suggesting that its effect on noradrenaline release was due to blockade of activation of facilitatory prejunctional beta 2-adrenoceptors by adrenaline. The reduced noradrenaline release in the presence of ICI 118551 was not accompanied by a reduction in blood pressure. This may be because ICI 118551 also blocked vasodilatory beta 2-adrenoceptors on vascular smooth muscle. Indeed, in unstimulated pithed rats, infusions of adrenaline which were non-pressor were found to be pressor after ICI 118551 was administered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The norepinephrine (NE) release rate, determined in the pithed rat with stimulated sympathetic outflow (3 Hz), was calculated from the steady-state concentrations of endogenous NE and [3H]NE in the central venous pool after infusion of [3H]NE intraarterially (i.a.). This technique appropriately corrects for NE metabolism and disposition since the [3H]NE closely follows the removal path of neuronally released NE. Infusion of angiotensin II (AII) [0.1 microgram/kg/min, intravenously (i.v.)] failed to increase the NE release rate. A higher rate of infusion of AII (1.0 microgram/kg/min, i.v.) markedly increased the NE release rate. The converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and the AII-receptor blocking drug saralasin (10 micrograms/kg/min, i.v.) decreased the NE release rate, indicating a tonic activation of facilitatory prejunctional AII receptors at sympathetic nerve endings. After bilateral nephrectomy, captopril and saralasin did not decrease the NE release rate. This suggests that renin release from the kidney is the primary determinant of AII effects and that local tissue generation of AII is not important Other differences were observed in nephrectomized rats: AII (0.1 microgram/kg/min, i.v.), in contrast to its lack of effect in rats with kidneys, increased the NE release rate. This suggests that the lack of effect of AII (0.1 microgram/kg/min, i.v.) on NE release in rats with kidneys may occur because facilitatory prejunctional AII receptors are maximally activated by endogenous AII.
1. Rat isolated atria were incubated with 3H-noradrenaline and the intramural sympathetic nerves were stimulated at 2 Hz for 60 s. The stimulation-induced (SI) efflux of radioactivity was used as an index of release of transmitter noradrenaline. 2. Isoprenaline (0.1 mumol/L) alone did not increase noradrenaline release. Cocaine (30 mumol/L) produced a 73% increase in the stimulation-induced release of noradrenaline. In the presence of cocaine, isoprenaline enhanced noradrenaline release by 22%. 3. In the presence of cocaine, both angiotensin I (0.3 mumol/L) and angiotensin II (0.3 mumol/L) produced almost two-fold enhancements in the SI release of noradrenaline. 4. Captopril (5 mumol/L) blocked the facilitatory effect of angiotensin I on noradrenaline release but did not alter that of isoprenaline. 5. Saralasin (0.1 mumol/L) reduced the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II on noradrenaline release but did not alter that of isoprenaline. 6. The findings indicate that the facilitation of noradrenaline release by isoprenaline in rat atria is not mediated by local formation of angiotensin II.
1. Mouse atria were incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline, and the outflow of radioactivity due to electrical field stimulation (5 Hz, 60 s) was used as an index of noradrenaline release. Angiotensin II (0.01 and 0.1 microM) significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced (S-I) outflow of radioactivity. 2. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (0.001, 0.03, 0.1 and 1.0 microM), a protein kinase C activating phorbol ester, significantly enhanced the S-I outflow of radioactivity. When angiotensin II (0.1 microM) was present with the concentration of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate that was maximally effective in increasing the S-I outflow (0.1 microM), the enhancement of S-I outflow produced by angiotensin II was maintained. 3. Polymyxin B (70 microM), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, significantly inhibited the S-I outflow. Polymyxin B also inhibited the enhancement of the S-I outflow produced by angiotensin II (0.1 microM). 4. In another series of experiments mice were injected with pertussis toxin (1.5 micrograms per mouse), 4 days before their atria were removed. The effectiveness of pertussis toxin pretreatment was determined indirectly using carbachol. Carbachol caused a concentration-dependent fall in both the rate and force of beating of isolated spontaneously beating atria from mice pretreated with vehicle. This effect of carbachol was not seen with atria from mice pretreated with pertussis toxin. 5. Pertussis toxin pretreatment did not alter the enhancement of the S-I outflow of radioactivity produced by angiotensin II (0.01 and 0.1 microM). 6. These results suggest that angiotensin II receptor modulation of noradrenaline release is not mediated through either a pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein or activation of protein kinase C.
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The changes in bone metastases from carcinoma of the breast induced by treatment have been analysed from their radiological appearances in a series of 58 patients and for an average period of 7.2 years. Indicators of regression are recalcification or re-ossification of primary osteolyses (46.8%), the development of marginal sclerosis round the defect (15.9%) and lack of progression over a period of 9 to 12 months (11.6%). Decreased sclerosis in primary osteosclerotic metastases (9.4%) may also be evidence of regression. Primary osteolytic/osteosclerotic metastases behave similar as osteolytic lesions. Recurrence or progress of tumour produces new metastases (39.6%), progressive osteolysis (26.6%), sclerosis (7.3%) and increased tumour size (15.4%).
1. Isolated preparations of rat anococcygeus muscle were incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline and the efflux of radioactivity induced by stimulation of intramural sympathetic nerves was used as a measure of release of transmitter noradrenaline. Isometric contractile responses were also measured. 2. Angiotensin I (0.03 microM) and angiotensin II (0.03 microM) produced non-sustained contractile responses and enhanced the stimulation-induced (S-I) effluxes of radioactivity as well as the contractile responses to electrical stimulation. These effects were blocked by the angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin (0.03 microM), and the effect of angiotensin I, but not angiotensin II, was blocked by the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (0.1 microm). 3. The findings indicate that there are both pre- and postjunctional receptors for angiotensin II and that angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II in the anococcygeus muscle preparation. 4. Isoprenaline (0.1 microM) slightly enhanced the S-I efflux of radioactivity, and produced a greater enhancement after neuronal uptake blockade with desipramine (0.03 microm) and alpha-adrenoceptor blockade with phentolamine (1 microM). 5. The facilitatory effect of isoprenaline on S-I efflux of radioactivity was abolished by propranolol (0.3 microM), but was not affected by low concentrations of saralasin (0.03 microM) or captopril (0.1 microM) which abolished the effect of angiotensin I. The findings suggest that isoprenaline acts directly on prejunctional beta-adrenoceptors to enhance S-I noradrenaline release, rather than indirectly by releasing angiotensin II from within the tissue. Higher concentrations of saralasin (0.1 microM) or captopril (5 microM) did block the facilitatory effect of isoprenaline. The significance of this finding is not clear.
1. In rabbit pulmonary artery and left atrial strips previously incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline, the active fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH 1-24, 0.1 microM) significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced (S-I) outflow of radioactivity when a cocktail containing corticosterone (40 microM), cocaine (30 microM) and propranolol (4 microM) was present, but not in the absence of these drugs. In rabbit pulmonary artery a facilitatory effect of ACTH 1-24 (0.1 microM) was also observed when only cocaine (30 microM) was present. 2. ACTH 1-24 (0.1 microM) did not affect the S-I outflow of radioactivity from rat atria, rat pulmonary artery or guinea-pig pulmonary artery, either in the presence or in the absence of the cocktail containing corticosterone (40 microM), cocaine (30 microM) and propranolol (4 microM). These results suggest that the presence of facilitatory prejunctional ACTH receptors may be restricted to rabbit sympathetic nerve endings. 3. Angiotensin II (0.01 microM), but not isoprenaline (0.1 microM) or ACTH 1-24 (0.1 microM), significantly enhanced the S-I outflow of radioactivity from rabbit pulmonary artery. In the presence of phentolamine (1 microM) to block inhibitory alpha 2-adrenoceptors, the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II (0.01 microM) was significantly enhanced, and a significant facilitatory effect of isoprenaline (0.1 microM) and of ACTH 1-24 (0.1 microM) was then revealed. These results suggest that feedback inhibition of noradrenaline release, mediated through the prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptor mechanism, buffers increases in noradrenaline release during activation of facilitatory prejunctional receptors. 4. In rabbit pulmonary artery, two concentrations of 8-Br-cyclic AMP, (270 or 540 microM), enhanced the S-I outflow of radioactivity in the presence of phentolamine (1 microM) to a similar extent. In the presence of 8-Br-cyclic AMP (270 microM) and phentolamine, the facilitatory effects of isoprenaline (0.1 microM) and of ACTH,24 (0.1 microM) were blocked, whereas that of angiotensin II (0.01 microM) was not changed. These results suggest that both prejunctional beta-adrenoceptors and ACTH receptors enhance noradrenaline release by generating cyclic AMP. The mechanism by which angiotensin II facilitates noradrenaline release is probably independent of the cyclic AMP second messenger pathway.
1. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (0.03 and 0.1 mumol/l) significantly inhibited stimulation-induced overflow of radioactivity from mouse isolated atria preincubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. This effect of clonidine was blocked by idazoxan (0.3 mumol/l) but not prazosin (0.3 mumol/l), indicating that an alpha 2-adrenoceptor was involved. 2. In some experiments mice were injected with pertussis toxin (1.5 micrograms/mouse) 4 days before their atria were removed and subsequently incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. Alternatively, isolated atria from untreated mice were suspended in Krebs-Henseleit solution, incubated for 16 h with pertussis toxin (1.0 and 4.0 micrograms/ml) or vehicle and subsequently incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. The effectiveness of pertussis toxin pretreatment was assessed indirectly using carbachol. Carbachol caused a dose dependent fall in both the rate and force of contraction of isolated, spontaneously beating atria from mice pretreated with vehicle in vivo or in vitro. This effect of carbachol was not seen in atria from mice pretreated with pertussis toxin in vivo or in vitro, suggesting that active toxin penetrated the myocardium. 3. Pertussis toxin pretreatment, either in vivo or in vitro did not alter the inhibitory effect of clonidine (0.03 and 0.1 mumol/l), or the facilitatory effect of the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (1.0 mumol/l), on the stimulation-induced overflow of radioactivity. These results suggest that alpha 2-adrenoceptor modulation of noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerve terminals is not dependent on an inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding protein.
The aim of this study was to investigate alpha-adrenoceptor modulation of norepinephrine (NE) release from sympathetic nerves in rat isolated perfused kidney. After preincubation with [3H]NE, the renal nerves were stimulated. The stimulation-induced (S-I) outflow of radioactivity was used as an index of NE release. Clonidine (0.1 mumol/L) decreased the S-I outflow of radioactivity. This effect was abolished by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan (0.1 mumol/L) but not by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (0.1 mumol/L). Methoxamine (10 mumol/L) also had an inhibitory effect; this was abolished by prazosin (0.1 mumol/L), but not by idazoxan. Individually, these alpha-blocking drugs and the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist corynanthine (0.3 mumol/L) enhanced S-I outflow of radioactivity. In the presence of indomethacin (10 mumol/L), the inhibitory effect of methoxamine was abolished but clonidine still inhibited S-I outflow of radioactivity. The facilitatory effect of prazosin was also unaltered by indomethacin. These results suggest the existence of inhibitory prejunctional alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the kidney. The inhibitory effect of methoxamine seems to be mediated through prostaglandin inhibition of NE release. However, the evidence for inhibitory prejunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors rests solely on the facilitatory effects of prazosin and corynanthine.
1. Extensive in vitro studies have suggested that noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerve endings is modulated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors on the terminal varicosities, activation of which by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists or neuronally released noradrenaline leads to inhibition of transmitter release. 2. Studies in intact animals support essentially the physiological operation of this mechanism, whereas human studies have reached mixed conclusions and more information is required.
1 In mouse isolated atria previously incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (3-270 microM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in the fractional stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity. 8-Bromo-cyclic GMP induced a lesser increase in the stimulation-induced outflow. 2 The phosphodiesterase inhibitors: M&B 22948 (90 microM); ICI 63197 (30 and 90 microM) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (90 microM) increased the fractional stimulation-induced outflow. Together these results indicate that cyclic AMP may have a modulatory effect on noradrenaline release. 3 The inhibition of the stimulation-induced outflow produced by clonidine (0.03 microM) and its facilitation produced by phentolamine (1 microM) were unaltered in the presence of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (90 microM). However, in the presence of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (270 microM), the facilitatory effect of phentolamine was enhanced, but the inhibitory effect of clonidine (0.03 microM) was unaltered. In the presence of ICI 63197 (30 microM) the inhibitory effect of clonidine (0.03 microM) was unaltered, but the facilitatory effect of phentolamine (1 microM) was slightly enhanced. 4 Isoprenaline (0.003-0.1 microM) enhanced the fractional stimulation-induced outflow, an effect blocked by propranolol (0.1 microM). In the presence of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (90 microM), the facilitatory effect of isoprenaline (0.01 microM) was blocked. In the presence of ICI 63197 (30 microM) the facilitatory effect of isoprenaline (0.003 microM) was potentiated. 5 These results suggest that whereas beta-adrenoceptor-mediated enhancement of noradrenaline release is linked to the stimulation of adenylate cyclase and enhanced formation of cyclic AMP, alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of noradrenaline release is not linked to inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity.
Local mechanisms that regulate transmitter release at autonomic neuroeffector junctions may be classified into four main types: (a) Automodulation, involving a feedback effect of the transmitter on receptors associated with the prejunctional terminals resulting in a restraint on the facilitation of release that occurs when a train of nerve impulses invades the terminals. Changes in the composition of the transmitter, such as the presence of adrenaline as a cotransmitter together with noradrenaline, can result in increased facilitation of transmission. (b) Transneuronal modulation involving an effect of the transmitter released from terminals of one type on adjacent terminals of another type; thus, noradrenaline release may be inhibited by acetylcholine released from cholinergic nerve terminals adjacent to the noradrenergic terminals. (c) Transjunctional modulation involving a feedback effect on the prejunctional nerve terminals of one or more factors released from effector cells. Such substances include adenyl compounds (adenosine and/or ATP) and metabolites of arachidonic acid. (d) Hormonal modulation involving the action of blood-borne hormones or locally generated hormone-like substances on prejunctional terminals. Some of the substances involved in modulation may act in more than one way; thus, opioids may function as cotransmitters or as hormones, and adenyl compounds may be cotransmitters or be released from effector cells. The effects of exogenous drugs on the substances involved in the modulation of transmission and on the prejunctional receptors for these substances account for many anomalous actions of drugs used or proposed for use in therapeutics.
The aim of the study was to investigate beta adrenoceptor modulation of norepinephrine release from sympathetic nerves in rat isolated kidney. After preincubation with [3H]norepinephrine, the renal nerves were stimulated at 1 Hz. The stimulation induced (S-I) outflow of radioactivity was taken as an index of norepinephrine release. Isoproterenol (0.1 microM) enhanced the S-I outflow of radioactivity. This effect was abolished by the beta-2 adrenoceptor blocking drug ICI 118551 (0.1 microM) but unaltered by the beta-1 adrenoceptor blocking drug atenolol (0.3 microM). In the presence of a high concentration of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (5 microM), isoproterenol failed to enhance the S-I outflow of radioactivity. However, a lower concentration of captopril (0.1 microM), which totally abolished the facilitatory effect of angiotensin I (0.1 microM) on the S-I outflow of radioactivity, failed to alter the facilitatory effect of isoproterenol. Angiotensin II (0.03 microM) enhanced markedly the S-I outflow of radioactivity and in the presence of the angiotensin II receptor blocking drug saralasin (0.1 microM) this facilitatory effect was reduced markedly. Saralasin did not alter the facilitatory effect of isoproterenol. These results suggest that stimulation of prejunctional beta-2 adrenoceptors on renal sympathetic nerve endings enhances norepinephrine release. This effect is independent of local angiotensin II production and does not involve activation of prejunctional angiotensin II receptors within the rat kidney. However, the inhibitory effect of a high concentration of captopril (5.0 microM) on beta-2 adrenoceptor-mediated facilitation of norepinephrine release remains to be clarified.
Stress was induced by immobilizing the hind limbs of rats for 12 days and housing the rats in individual cages. Control rats were housed in groups without immobilization. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured through an indwelling carotid cannula. After 10 and 12 days of immobilization and isolation, the stressed rats had significantly higher blood pressures (ca. 10 mmHg) and higher cardiac adrenaline levels (ca. 90%). After adrenal medullectomy cardiac adrenaline levels were markedly reduced in both stressed and control rats. Furthermore, the stressing procedure did not cause a rise in blood pressure in adrenal-medullectomized rats. Desipramine HCl (2 mg/kg per day), administered orally to block the neuronal uptake of adrenaline, prevented the elevation in blood pressures and cardiac adrenaline levels. Propranolol HCl (2.8 mg/kg per day), orally, also prevented the rise in blood pressure. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of facilitatory prejunctional beta-adrenoceptors on sympathetic nerves by neuronally-released adrenaline may be responsible for the raised blood pressure.
In rabbit isolated pulmonary artery previously incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline, isoprenaline (0.3 microM) had no effect on the stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity. However, if the phosphodiesterase inhibitor ICI 63,197 (30 microM) or the alpha-adrenoceptor blocker phentolamine (1 microM) was present, then isoprenaline significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced outflow, an effect blocked by propranolol (0.1 microM). ICI 63,197 (30 microM) but not phentolamine significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity. In mouse isolated atria previously incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline and stimulated at a frequency of 10 Hz, isoprenaline had no effect on the stimulation-induced outflow of radioactivity; this is in contrast to its release-enhancing effects at stimulation frequencies of 4 Hz and 2 Hz. The facilitation of stimulation-induced outflow by isoprenaline at 4 Hz was blocked by propranolol (0.08 microM) which, by itself, had no effect on the stimulation-induced outflow. At a stimulation frequency of 2 Hz in mouse atria the facilitatory effect of isoprenaline (0.01 microM) was significantly greater in the presence of ICI 63,197 (30 microM) which, by itself, had no effect on the stimulation-induced outflow. Similarly, the facilitatory effect of isoprenaline was significantly greater in the presence of phentolamine (1 microM) but, in this case, phentolamine significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced outflow. These results suggest that facilitatory prejunctional beta-adrenoceptors are present in both rabbit pulmonary artery and mouse atria. The effects of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor ICI 63,197 suggest that they are linked to adenylate cyclase in both tissues and we propose that the ability of phentolamine to facilitate the release and enhance the effect of isoprenaline may be due to the blockade of alpha-adrenoceptor inhibition of adenylate cyclase. This latter proposition needs further investigation.
Captopril lowered blood pressure in chloralose-anaesthetized rats and enhanced the depressor responses to metenkephalin and D-Ala-metenkephalinamide to the same extent. Since metenkephalin is a much better substrate than D-Ala-metenkephalinamide for dipeptidylcarboxypeptidase, some mechanism other than inhibition of this enzyme appears to be responsible for the enhancement by captopril of the responses to opioids. When the blood pressure had been lowered by haemorrhage, naloxone was no more effective than saline control in restoring blood pressure. However, when captopril was given after haemorrhage, the blood pressure was further lowered, and then naloxone produced a significant restoration. Hydralazine given after haemorrhage also caused a further lowering of blood pressure, then naloxone produced a lesser restoration of blood pressure than in haemorrhage plus captopril experiments. The results suggest that release of endogenous opioids may contribute to the fall in blood pressure upon bleeding.