Autoradiographic localization of [3H]dextromethorphan (DM) in guinea pig brain: allosteric enhancement by ropizine.
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Allosteric Regulation↗
Biomedical subjects
J M Musacchio
Publications and source records attributed to J M Musacchio.
The effect of prototypic sigma ligands on the binding of [3H]dextromethorphan to guinea pig brain.
We studied the effects of several prototypic sigma site ligands on the binding of [3H]dextromethorphan ([3H]DM) to guinea pig brain. Haloperidol, 3-(-3-Hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine [+)-3-PPP) and (+)-N-allyl-N-normetazocine [+)-NANM or (+)-SKF10,047), which are potent sigma site ligands, showed high affinity for [3H]DM binding sites. The rank order of potency of sigma ligands, as indicated by the Ki values for the high-affinity sites is: haloperidol greater than (+)-pentazocine greater than (+)-cyclazocine greater than (+)-SKF10,047 greater than (-)-butaclamol much greater than (+)-butaclamol greater than (-)-SKF10,047. This rank order of potency is similar to that for the sites labeled with [3H](+)-3-PPP and [3H](+)-SKF10,047. The (+)-isomers of several benzomorphans displayed higher affinity than the (-)-isomers. (-)-Butaclamol competed against [3H]DM binding more effectively than the (+)-isomer, displaying the same stereospecificity shown for sigma sites. The findings reported here demonstrate that there are previously unrecognized similarities between DM and sigma sites. It is evident that further exploration of the DM, sigma and phencyclidine (PCP) sites will be necessary to establish the physiological role and therapeutic potential of these sites.
Animals↗
Autoradiographic localization of [3H]dextromethorphan in guinea pig brain: allosteric enhancement by ropizine.
Dextromethorphan (DM) is an antitussive with anticonvulsant activity that binds to high- and low-affinity sites in guinea pig brain homogenates. We examined the autoradiographic localization of [3H]DM using the anticonvulsant ropizine, an allosteric modifier that decreases the dissociation rate of [3H]DM. Competition studies demonstrated that the binding to brain sections was identical to that of brain homogenates [Craviso and Musacchio: Mol Pharmacol 23:629-640, 1983b]. Computer-assisted quantitative analysis of the autoradiographic images demonstrated that [3H]DM binds to discrete structures throughout the brain, but with higher density in the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The most intense labeling was observed in the rhabdoid, dorsal raphe, median raphe, caudal linear raphe nuclei, and cranial motor nerve nuclei. The central gray showed moderate to high-density labeling throughout its entire rostro-caudal extent, with very high binding in the dorsal tegmental nucleus and the locus coeruleus. Moderate and high binding was also seen in several hypothalamic structures. Distinct bands of moderate binding were seen in the pyramidal cell layer of the piriform cortex, the retrosplenial cortex, the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus, the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus, and the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. The striking similarity between the binding distribution of [3H]DM and sigma ligands, plus competition studies in brain homogenate, support the hypothesis that DM and sigma ligands share a common high-affinity binding site [Musacchio et al: Mol Pharmacol 35:1-5, 1989]. The distribution of [3H]DM binding provides possible anatomical substrates for both the antitussive and anticonvulsant actions of DM.
Allosteric Regulation↗
Dextromethorphan and sigma ligands: common sites but diverse effects.
There is increasing evidence that sigma ligands and dextromethorphan (DM) bind to at least one common high-affinity site. DM and other antitussives do not produce psychotomimetic effects. This suggested that sigma ligands may produce their characteristic effects through another site, and prompted us to review critically the literature on the side effects of sigma opiates. Contrary to what is generally accepted, the dysphoric and psychotomimetic side effects of sigma opiates are mediated by the levo-and not by the dextrorotatory isomers. Moreover, these effects are unequivocally naloxone-reversible. Therefore, the current version of the "sigma receptor", with high affinity for the dextrorotatory sigma opiates, cannot explain the psychotomimetic effects of the levorotatory enantiomers. Thus, neither the "sigma ligands" nor its newly defined "receptor" are involved in the psychotomimetic effects of sigma opiates. Further experimentation with more selective drugs and with a combination of different methods will be necessary to identify the different binding sites, and to establish their physiological role and therapeutic potential.
Animals↗
High affinity dextromethorphan binding sites in guinea pig brain. Effect of sigma ligands and other agents.
Dextromethorphan (DM), a non-narcotic antitussive, binds in the guinea pig brain to specific high- and low-affinity sites with Kd values of 57 nM and 24 microM, respectively (Musacchio et al., 1988). The antitussives carbetapentane, caramiphen, butamirate and dimethoxanate competed with the high-affinity binding of [3H]DM at pH 7.4 with nanomolar Ki values. Sigma site ligands showed high affinity for [3H]DM binding sites. The rank order of potency was: haloperidol greater than (+)-pentazocine greater than (+)-cyclazocine greater than 3-(-3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine greater than (+)-N-allylnormetazocine greater than (-)-butaclamol much greater than (+)-butaclamol (-)-N-allylnormetazocine. The antipsychotic perphenazine competed with low nanomolar Ki values, whereas rimcazole was weaker. The antidepressant opipramol and the benzomorphan (+)2'methoxyphenazocine were the most effective drugs tested, with Ki values of 0.4 nM. By contrast, MK-801 and phencyclidine hydrochloride were very weak competitors for [3H]DM binding. The diphenylalkylamines were the most effective competitors of the calcium channel blocking agents: prenylamine and cinnarizine had Ki values of 17 and 22 nM, respectively. Lidoflazine and hydroxyzine were slightly less potent, but nifedipine and the benzothiazepine diltiazem were much weaker. Potassium channel blockers inhibited DM binding in pharmacologically relevant concentrations: primaquine was the most effective with a Ki of 0.5 microM. Other antimalarial potassium channel blockers tested inhibited binding in the micromolar range. 4-Aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium had Ki values of 0.76 and 1.40 mM, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Effects of dextromethorphan site ligands and allosteric modifiers on the binding of (+)-[3H]3-(-3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine.
Equilibrium binding analysis demonstrated that (+)-[3H]3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine [(+)-[3H]3-PPP] binds in guinea pig brain homogenates to high and low affinity sites with Kd values of 25 nM and 0.9 microM, respectively. Competition studies with dextromethorphan (DM) site ligands and other drugs against (+)-[3H]3-PPP demonstrated that their Ki values and rank order of potency are identical to those found previously against [3H] DM. Most significant, ropizine produced a concentration-dependent increase in the binding of (+)-[3H]3-PPP, with an inhibitory component at high concentrations, as described previously for [3H]DM. Similarly, phenytoin increased the binding of (+)-[3H]3-PPP in the same fashion as that of [3H]DM. Computer-assisted analysis of equilibrium binding of (+)-[3H]3-PPP in the presence of 10 microM ropizine demonstrated that the binding increase produced is due to a 3-fold increase in the affinity for (+)-[3H]3-PPP. These results, and our previous finding that sigma ligands inhibit [3H] DM binding with a rank order of potency similar to that for sites labeled with (+)-[3H]3-PPP or (+)-[3H]SKF10,047 strongly suggest that sigma ligands bind to the high affinity DM site. These findings, and the inability of DM and other antitussives to produce psychotomimetic side effects, suggest that the high affinity DM sites can mediate only the nonpsychotomimetic effects of sigma ligands. However, further studies are necessary to determine the physiological role and therapeutic potential of the DM high affinity sites.
Allosteric Regulation↗
Caramiphen: a non-opioid antitussive with potent anticonvulsant properties in rats.
The effect of the non-opioid antitussive caramiphen was studied in the rat maximal electroshock test. Caramiphen produced a dose- and time-dependent blockade of tonic hindlimb extension and was nearly twice as potent as the prototypical anticonvulsant drug diphenylhydantoin. Pretreatment with a subthreshold-effective dose of caramiphen potentiated the anticonvulsant effects of diphenylhydantoin, lowering its ED50 33-fold. The anticonvulsant effects of caramiphen were not associated with its cholinolytic activity since (a) its anticonvulsant effects were not antagonized by physostigmine and (b) the more potent cholinolytic atropine was only weakly effective against maximal electroshock convulsions when tested at doses 25 times the minimally effective dose of caramiphen. Anticonvulsant effects of caramiphen were associated with minimal behavioral impairment. The results demonstrate that caramiphen is a potent anticonvulsant against generalized convulsions and, like other non-opioid antitussives, will enhance the anticonvulsant properties of diphenylhydantoin. It is suggested that the anticonvulsant effects of caramiphen result from specific binding to brain receptors labelled by the non-opioid antitussive dextromethorphan, and that the interactions with diphenylhydantoin involve allosteric interactions between the different binding sites.
Animals↗
Dextromethorphan binding sites in the guinea pig brain.
1. Dextromethorphan (DM), a dextrorotatory nonopioid antitussive, binds to specific high-affinity sites in the central nervous system. These sites are distinct from the opioid and other known neurotransmitter receptor sites. Antitussives such as carbetapentane and caramiphen also bind to DM sites with a nanomolar affinity. 2. The anticonvulsant drugs phenytoin and ropizine produce an allosteric enhancement of the binding of [3H]DM to guinea pig brain. DM, carbetapentane, and caramiphen also are efficacious anticonvulsant agents in the rat maximal electroshock seizures test, and DM enhances the anticonvulsant effects of phenytoin (PHT). 3. These results suggest that drugs that bind to the DM sites could be used alone as anticonvulsants or in combination with PHT to lower its effective dose and reduce its side effects. 4. The investigation of the DM binding sites may help to open new approaches for the treatment of convulsive disorders and to explain further some of the molecular mechanisms of neutronal excitability.
Animals↗
Cross-dependence to opioid and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonists in NG108-15 cells.
Clonidine, a partial alpha 2-agonist, has been used empirically to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms, but the mechanism of its effects is not completely understood. We studied the interactions of opioid and adrenergic receptor agonists in the NG108-15 cells, which are a model of opiate dependence. We determined that in these cells the adenylate cyclase (AC) [EC 4.6.1.1; ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing) overshoot response to opioid or alpha 2-agonist withdrawal can be significantly attenuated or suppressed by the other agonist. Subsequently, the AC overshoot response can be triggered with the antagonist to the second agonist to which the cells were not dependent. These results demonstrate that convergent dependence to morphine and alpha 2 agonists can occur in a homogeneous cell population without neuronal loops. Therefore, the basic mechanisms that can account for convergent dependence in this model take place at the level of intracellular regulatory pathways that do not require neuronal networks.
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
High affinity dextromethorphan binding sites in guinea pig brain: further characterization and allosteric interactions.
Dextromethorphan (DM), a non-narcotic antitussive with anticonvulsant activity, binds to high (Kd, 57 nM)- and low-affinity sites (Kd, 24 microM) in the guinea pig brain. This work, done at physiological pH, expands previous results obtained at pH 8.3. Phenytoin (PHT) produces an allosteric increase in the binding of [3H]DM, which is more marked than that reported previously: PHT (100 microM,) at pH 7.4, increased the binding affinity of [3H]DM to brain homogenates 4-fold, without changing the concentration of DM sites. Moreover, ropizine (SC-13504) an anticonvulsant benzhydryl piperazine, also produced a marked concentration-dependent increase in the binding of [3H]DM, which is mediated by a decrease in the dissociation rate of [3H]DM. Importantly, the effects of ropizine are fully apparent at 10 microM, 10-fold lower than those of PHT. The effects of PHT and ropizine show that the affinity of the DM sites can be increased by other ligands, suggesting that these sites are located on macromolecules that can exist in at least two conformational states. [3H]DM also binds to peripheral tissues, but the brain displays the highest affinity. Besides, the central and peripheral sites are different as determined by competition studies with caramiphen and carbetapentane, which are DM site ligands with antitussive and anticonvulsant activity. The results reported in this communication are consistent with the hypothesis that the high-affinity DM binding sites mediate antitussive and anticonvulsant activity when occupied by the appropriate ligand.
Animals↗
N-ethylmaleimide blocks the modulatory effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides on the brain substance P receptor.
The binding of [3H]physalaemin ([3H]PHY) to rat brain substance P receptors is modulated by cations and guanine nucleotides. [3H]PHY binding in the presence of either monovalent or divalent cations (125 mM Na2SO4 or 2.5 mM MnCl2) shows a KD of 5.9 and 5.5 nM and a Bmax of 44.4 and 63.9 fmol/mg protein respectively. In the presence of both, there is a 2-fold increase in the affinity (KD 2.8 nM) and a 25-80% increase in the Bmax (81.6 fmol/mg protein). Addition of 100 microM GTP or Gpp(NH)p in either 125 mM Na2SO4 or 2.5 mM MnCl2 or both decreases the Bmax by 25-55%. However, the receptor affinity for [3H]PHY is not significantly altered by guanine nucleotides. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) irreversibly inhibits the receptor binding with an IC50 of 1.0 mM, demonstrating that SH groups play a critical role in the interaction of the ligand with the receptor. If the SP receptors are protected with 1 microM PHY, NEM irreversibly inhibits the effect of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides. Analysis of [3H]PHY binding in 125 mM Na2SO4, 2.5 mM MnCl2 on membranes that were protected with 1 microM PHY and then preincubated with NEM demonstrates a variable decline in receptor number and a 2-fold decrease in the affinity (KD, from 2.8 to 6.9 nM). These observations indicate the existence of a second class of SH groups that are essential for the interaction of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides with the receptor. The blockade of the modulatory effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides by NEM treatment further suggests that brain SP receptors are coupled to a guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein.
Animals↗
Allosteric modulation of dextromethorphan binding sites.
The nonopioid antitussives dextromethorphan (DM), carbetapentane and caramiphen are efficacious anticonvulsant agents in the rat MES test. The findings presented strongly suggest the existence of a novel allosteric mechanism by which drugs acting at two different but interacting sites, exert their effects. This mechanism has marked similarities with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-benzodiazepine interactions, even though their binding sites are different. The allosteric interactions of dextromethorphan and phenytoin in the binding assay and the potentiation of the anticonvulsant effects of phenytoin by dextromethorphan suggest that drugs that bind to the dextromethorphan sites could be used to reduce the effective dose of phenytoin and reduce its side effects, at least those which are not an extension of its specific pharmacological actions. It is evident that the investigation of the molecular mechanisms described may help to open new approaches to understand and treat convulsive disorders, to find novel anticonvulsant drugs and to further explain some of the molecular mechanisms of neuronal excitability.
Animals↗
Naloxone elicits an excitatory response in the morphine-tolerant mouse vas deferens.
The effects of naloxone on the electrically stimulated vas deferens from mice implanted with morphine (tolerant) or placebo (naive) pellets were studied. In tolerant vas deferens, naloxone produced an 86.6% increase of the twitch contractions when the preparations were stimulated with 15 V, while only a 12% increase was observed with supramaximal voltage (40 V). Naloxone had no effect at either voltage in preparations from naive animals. The effect of morphine in naive vas deferens stimulated with 15 V, was reversed by naloxone without further increase over baseline contractions. The results suggest that opioid receptors other than those located in the neuronal soma and/or coupled to adenylate cyclase may be involved in the development of dependence.
Animals↗
Dextromethorphan and carbetapentane: centrally acting non-opioid antitussive agents with novel anticonvulsant properties.
The non-opioid antitussives dextromethorphan and carbetapentane, the active ingredients of several over-the-counter cough suppressants, provide a dose-related protection against maximal electroshock seizures in rats. Both drugs, which bind with high affinity to the same site in the brain, potentiated the effects of the prototypic antiepileptic drug diphenylhydantoin. We propose that these novel anticonvulsant drugs may represent potentially useful therapeutic agents for the treatment of some forms of epilepsy, either alone or in combination with existing antiepileptic drugs.
Animals↗
The adenylate cyclase rebound response to naloxone in the NG108-15 cells. Effects of etorphine and other opiates.
The adenylate cyclase (AC) of the neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15), is generally considered to be a model for the study of the biochemical correlates of opiate tolerance and dependence. However, the naloxone-induced rebound response of adenylate cyclase, described in some recent reports, is much smaller than that originally described by Sharma, Klee and Nirenberg (1975). Possible explanations for these discrepancies are: (1) a marked down-regulation of opioid receptors and tolerance produced by the use of delta agonists or (2) the use of etorphine, a relatively hydrophobic drug which has slower dissociation rates than morphine. To test these possibilities, neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells were treated cells with morphine, etorphine, [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), [D-Ala2]Leu-enkephalinamide (DALAMID) or vehicle. In addition, some of the cells treated with etorphine were washed with DADLE to replace the etorphine without producing the rebound response of adenylate cyclase prior to the addition of naloxone. The cells treated with morphine, DADLE and DALAMID, and incubated with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and naloxone showed a significant rebound of adenylate cyclase when compared with control groups and opiate-treated cells, incubated only with PGE1. In contrast, naloxone did not induce any significant rebound response in cells treated with etorphine unless they were previously washed with DADLE. These results demonstrate that the lack of a rebound response in cells treated with etorphine was due to the slow dissociation rates of the opiate and not to tolerance or to down-regulation of opioid receptors produced by agonists of high intrinsic activity.
Adenylyl Cyclases↗
Specific binding of [3H]substance P to the rat submaxillary gland. The effects of ions and guanine nucleotides.
[3H]Substance P ([3H]SP), in a high ionic strength incubation medium, binds to a single class of saturable, noninteracting binding sites on rat submaxillary gland membranes with a KD = 2.8 +/- 0.34 nM and maximum binding (Bmax) = 220 +/- 31 fmol/mg of protein. The rank order of potency of various tachykinins, SP fragments and analogs to compete against [3H]SP is correlated with their potency to induce salivation. These findings indicate that, under the conditions described, [3H]SP binds to a physiologically relevant tachykinin receptor of the SP-P subtype. [3H]SP binding increases by 35% in the presence of optimal concentrations of Mn++ and Mg++ whereas guanine nucleotides reduce [3H]SP binding. The effect produced by either divalent cations or guanine nucleotides is due to increasing or decreasing the Bmax, respectively, without changing the affinity of [3H]SP. Guanine nucleotides reduce the Bmax of [3H]SP to the same level in the presence or absence of divalent cations, indicating that divalent cations increase the population of SP receptors that are sensitive to guanine nucleotides. In low ionic strength media, and when the nonspecific binding is defined by 1 microM SP, [3H]SP binds to two sites: a high affinity site with a KD of 0.14 nM and a Bmax of 370 fmol/mg of protein and a low affinity high capacity site. When the nonspecific binding is defined by 1 microM physalaemin, the high affinity is the only detectable site. However, in low ionic strength media, physalaemin has about one-fiftieth the potency of SP in competing with [3H]SP. These results prove that increasing the ionic strength of the media reduces the affinity of SP and some of its fragments and allows the determination of physiologically relevant SP-P binding sites.
Animals↗
Specific binding of [3H-Tyr8]physalaemin to rat submaxillary gland substance P receptor.
[3H]Physalaemin [( 3H]PHY) binds to a single class of noninteracting sites on rat submaxillary gland membranes suspended in high ionic strength media with a KD of 2.7 nM, a Bmax of 240 fmol/mg of protein, and low nonspecific binding. The relative potencies of substance P (SP) and its fragments in competing with [3H]PHY correlate with their relative salivation potencies. This indicates that [3H]PHY interacts with a physiologically relevant SP receptor. In low ionic strength media, the KD of [3H]PHY does not change, but SP and some of its fragments are more potent than PHY in competing with [3H] PHY. Computer-assisted analysis of [3H]PHY and [3H]SP binding in high and low ionic strength media demonstrated that both peptides are equipotent in high ionic strength but that the affinity of SP increases by 70-fold in low ionic strength. The SP fragments that contain a basic residue in positions 1 and/or 3 also display an increased affinity in low ionic strength. These findings document that [3H]PHY binding in high ionic strength (mu = 0.6) accurately reflects the pharmacological potencies of agonists on the SP-P receptor. The binding of [3H]PHY, like that of [3H]SP, increases by the addition of divalent cations (Mg2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mn2+). Guanine nucleotides decrease [3H]PHY binding by decreasing the Bmax to the same level (160 fmol/mg of protein), in the presence or absence of Mg2+.
Animals↗
Specific labeling of rat brain substance P receptor with [3H]physalaemin.
The binding of [3H]physalaemin [( 3H]PHY) to rat brain membranes is specific, saturable and reversible in the presence of monovalent cations and peptidase inhibitors. Monovalent cations increase the binding of [3H]PHY in an ionic strength (mu)-dependent manner with an optimal effect at mu higher than 0.3. Addition of 2.5 mM MnCl2 results in a 2-fold increase in the affinity (KD) and a 40% increase in the maximal receptor density (Bmax). Scatchard analysis under these conditions indicates the existence of a single population of noninteracting sites with KD of 3.6 nM and a Bmax of 76 fmol/mg of protein. Substance P (SP) and physalaemin are equipotent in inhibiting the binding of [3H]PHY, whereas the potency of SP(2-11), SP(3-11), and SP(4-11) decreased in inverse proportion to their length. The relative affinity of the different tachykinins, SP, and SP fragments in competing with [3H]PHY correlates with their potency to stimulate several bioassay systems, indicating that [3H]PHY labels a physiologically relevant binding site that correspond to the SP-P tachykinin receptor. Guanine nucleotides completely abolish the increase in the binding of [3H]PHY produced by 2.5 mM MnCl2, but in its absence, the nucleotides reduce binding only by 15%. Guanine nucleotides reduce binding to the same level regardless of the presence or absence of the divalent cation. Regional distribution studies confirm that the density of SP receptors is maximal in the olfactory bulb, followed by the hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum.
Animals↗