Biomedical subjects

M Waelbroeck

Publications and source records attributed to M Waelbroeck.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Thermodynamics of antagonist binding to rat muscarinic M2 receptors: antimuscarinics of the pridinol, sila-pridinol, diphenidol and sila-diphenidol type.

1. We studied the effect of temperature on the binding to rat heart M2 muscarinic receptors of antagonists related to the carbon/silicon pairs pridinol/sila-pridinol and diphenidol/sila-diphenidol (including three germanium compounds) and six structurally related pairs of enantiomers [(R)- and (S)-procyclidine, (R)- and (S)-trihexyphenidyl, (R)- and (S)-tricyclamol, (R)- and (S)-trihexyphenidyl methiodide, (R)- and (S)-hexahydro-diphenidol and (R)- and (S)-hexbutinol]. Binding affinities were determined in competition experiments using [3H]-N-methyl-scopolamine chloride as radioligand. The reference drugs were scopolamine and N-methyl-scopolamine bromide. 2. The affinity of the antagonists either increased or decreased with temperature. van't Hoff plots were linear in the 278-310 degrees K temperature range. Binding of all antagonists was entropy driven. Enthalpy changes varied from large negative values (down to -29 kJ mol-1) to large positive values (up to +30 kJ mol-1). 3. (R)-configurated drugs had a 10 to 100 fold greater affinity for M2 receptors than the corresponding (S)-enantiomers. Enthalpy and entropy changes of the respective enantiomers were different but no consistent pattern was observed. 4. When silanols (R3SiOH) were compared to carbinols (R3COH), the affinity increase caused by C/Si exchange varied between 3 and 10 fold for achiral drugs but was negligible in the case of chiral drugs. Silanols induced more favourable enthalpy and less favourable entropy changes than the corresponding carbinols when binding. Organogermanium compounds (R4Ge) when compared to their silicon counterparts (R4Si) showed no significant difference in affinity as well as in enthalpy and entropy changes. 5. Exchange of a cyclohexyl by a phenyl moiety was associated with an increase or a decrease in drug affinity (depending on the absolute configuration in the case of chiral drugs) and generally also with a more favourable enthalpy change and a less favourable entropy change of drug binding. 6. Replacement of a pyrrolidino by a piperidino group and increasing the length of the alkylene chain bridging the amino group and the central carbon or silicon atom were associated with either an increase or a decrease of entropy and enthalpy changes of drug binding. However, there was no clear correlation between these structural variations and the thermodynamic effects. 7. Taken together, these results suggest that hydrogen bond-forming OH groups and, to a lesser extent, polarizable phenyl groups contribute significantly to the thermodynamics of interactions between these classes of muscarinic antagonists and M2 muscarinic receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Stereoselective interaction of procyclidine, hexahydro-difenidol, hexbutinol and oxyphencyclimine, and of related antagonists, with four muscarinic receptors.

We investigated the binding properties of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the muscarinic antagonists trihexyphenidyl, procyclidine, hexahydro-difenidol, p-fluoro-hexahydro-difenidol, hexbutinol, p-fluoro-hexbutinol, and their corresponding methiodides at muscarinic M1, M2, M3 and M4 receptor subtypes. In addition, binding properties of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of oxyphencyclimine were studied. The (R)- enantiomers (eutomers) of all the compounds had a greater affinity than the (S)-isomers for the four muscarinic receptor subtypes. The binding patterns of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers were generally different. We did not observe any general correlation between the potency of the high-affinity enantiomer and the affinity ratio (eudismic ratio) of the two enantiomers. The results are discussed in terms of a 'four subsites' binding model.

Alkynes↗

PubMed1992

Inactivation of brain cortex muscarinic receptors by 4-diphenylacetoxy-1-(2-chloroethyl) piperidine mustard.

We demonstrated in this study that 4-DAMP [4-diphenylacetoxy-1-(2- chloroethyl) piperidine] mustard, which cyclizes to the aziridinium ion, behaved as a non-selective, non-competitive inhibitor of muscarinic receptors in rat brain cortex. It inactivated to the same extent the M1, M2 and M4 muscarinic receptors present in this tissue, as well as receptors accessible or not accessible to quaternary antimuscarinic drugs. Under mild incubation conditions, the muscarinic receptors in a state with super high affinity for agonists (SH receptors) were less affected by preactivated 4-DAMP mustard than the receptors in the states with lower affinity for agonists (H and L receptors).

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Inhibitory effects of ATP and other nucleotides on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) binding to R1-type ANP receptors in human neuroblastoma NB-OK-1 cell membranes.

ATP dose-dependently inhibited rat 125I-ANP-(99-126) binding to membranes from the human neuroblastoma cell line NB-OK-1 by increasing the KD value for the hormone without altering the Bmax value. After a 20 min preincubation with 37.5 pM 125I-ANP-(99-126) and 0.5 mM ATP, followed by the addition of 0.3 microM unlabelled ANP-(99-126), the proportion of rapidly dissociating receptors was 4-times higher than in the absence of ATP. The other nucleotides ADP, AMP, AMP-PNP, ATP gamma S, GTP, GDP, GMP, GMP-PNP and GTP gamma S were also inhibitory but with a lower potency and/or efficacy. Binding equilibrium data were satisfactorily simulated by a computer program based on partially competitive binding of ANP-(99-126) and the nucleotides, and this, together with the data on dissociation kinetics, strongly suggests that several nucleotides, when added at concentrations up to 1 mM, form a ternary ANP-receptor-nucleotide complex.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed1992

Binding properties of nine 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine (4-DAMP) analogues to M1, M2, M3 and putative M4 muscarinic receptor subtypes.

1. We compared the binding properties of 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) and nine analogues of this compound on muscarinic receptors of human neuroblastoma NB-OK1 cells (M1 subtype), rat heart (M2 subtype), rat pancreas (M3 subtype) and to the putative M4 subtype in striatum. 2. The requirements for high affinity binding were somewhat different for the four receptor subtypes. In general, the requirements of M3 receptors were more stringent than for M1, M2 or putative M4 receptors. 3. The abilities of the compounds to discriminate muscarinic receptor subtypes were not correlated with their affinities at any subtype. 4. The temperature-dependence of binding of 4-DAMP analogues to M2 receptors varied with the drug structure. In particular, the increased affinity of the alpha-methyl derivative of 4-DAMP could be ascribed to van der Waals interactions. 5. The affinities of most 4-DAMP analogues for M2 and M3 receptors were similar to their pharmacological potencies on atrial and ileum preparations, respectively. 6. At concentrations above 1 microM, all 4-DAMP analogues as well as atropine, reduced the [3H]-N-methyl scopolamine ([3H]-NMS) dissociation rate from cardiac muscarinic receptors, with no obvious structure-activity relationship.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed1991

Characterization and regulation of the expression of scyllatoxin (Leiurotoxin I) receptors in the human neuroblastoma cell line NB-OK 1.

125I-[Tyr2]scyllatoxin allowed to label a single class of high-affinity receptors in membranes from the human neuroblastoma cell line NB-OK 1. The Kd of these receptors was 60 pM for scyllatoxin (Leiurotoxin I) and 20 pM for apamin and the Bmax was low (3.8 fmol/mg membrane protein). K+ increased toxin binding at low concentrations but exerted opposite effects at high concentrations. Ca2+, guanidinium and Na+ exerted only inhibitory effects on binding. Scyllatoxin binding sites were overexpressed 2.5-fold after a 24-h cell pretreatment with 2 mM butyrate. This effect was suppressed by cycloheximide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Binding affinities of hexahydro-difenidol and hexahydro-sila-difenidol analogues at four muscarinic receptor subtypes: constitutional and stereochemical aspects.

Hexahydro-sila-difenidol and eight analogues behaved as simple competitive inhibitors of [3H]N-methyl-scopolamine binding to homogenates from human neuroblastoma NB-OK 1 cells (M1 sites), rat heart (M2 sites), rat pancreas (M3 sites), and rat striatum 'B' sites (M4 sites). Pyrrolidino- and hexamethyleneimino analogues showed the same selectivity profile as the parent compound. Hexahydro-sila-difenidol methiodide and the methiodide of p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol had a higher affinity but a lower selectivity than the tertiary amines. Compounds containing a p-methoxy, p-chloro or p-fluoro substituent in the phenyl ring of hexahydro-sila-difenidol showed a qualitatively similar selectivity profile as the parent compound (i.e., M1 = M3 = M4 greater than M2), but up to 16-fold lower affinities. o-Methoxy-hexahydro-sila-difenidol has a lower affinity than hexahydro-sila-difenidol at the four binding sites. Its selectivity profile (M4 greater than M1, M3 greater than M2) was different from hexahydro-sila-difenidol. Replacement of the central silicon atom of hexahydro-sila-difenidol, p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol and their quaternary (N-methylated) analogues by a carbon atom did not change their binding affinities significantly. The four muscarinic receptors showed a higher affinity for the (R)- than for the (S)-enantiomers of hexahydro-difenidol, p-fluorohexahydro-difenidol and their methiodides. The stereoselectivity varied depending on the receptor subtype and drug considered.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Stereoselectivity of (R)- and (S)-hexahydro-difenidol binding to neuroblastoma M1, cardiac M2, pancreatic M3, and striatum M4 muscarinic receptors.

(R)-Hexahydro-difenidol has a higher affinity for M1 receptors in NB-OK 1 cells, pancreas M3 and striatum M4 receptors (pKi 7.9 to 8.3) than for cardiac M2 receptors (pKi 7.0). (S)-Hexahydro-difenidol, by contrast, is nonselective (pKi 5.8 to 6.1). Our goal in the present study was to evaluate the importance of the hydrophobic phenyl, and cyclohexyl rings of hexahydro-difenidol for the stereoselectivity and receptor selectivity of hexahydro-difenidol binding to the four muscarinic receptors. Our results indicated that replacement of the phenyl ring of hexahydro-difenidol by a cyclohexyl group (----dicyclidol) and of the cyclohexyl ring by a phenyl moiety (----difenidol) induced a large (4- to 80-fold) decrease in binding affinity for all muscarinic receptors. Difenidol had a significant preference for M1, M3, and M4 over M2 receptors; dicyclidol, by contrast, had a greater affinity for M1 and M4 than for M2 and M3 receptors. The binding free energy decrease due to replacement of the phenyl and the cyclohexyl groups of (R)-hexahydro-difenidol by, respectively, a cyclohexyl and a phenyl moiety was almost additive in the case of M4 (striatum) binding sites. In the case of the cardiac M2, pancreatic M3, or NB-OK 1 M1 receptors the respective binding free energies were not completely additive. These results suggest that the four (R)-hexahydro-difenidol "binding moieties" (phenyl, cyclohexyl, hydroxy, and protonated amino group) cannot simultaneously form optimal interactions with the M1, M2, and M3 muscarinic receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Binding kinetics of quinuclidinyl benzilate and methyl-quinuclidinyl benzilate enantiomers at neuronal (M1), cardiac (M2), and pancreatic (M3) muscarinic receptors.

We analyzed the competition kinetics of quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) and QNB methiodide enantiomers on human NB-OK1 neuroblastoma (M1), rat cardiac (M2), and rat pancreas (M3) muscarinic binding sites. The association rate constants of the four drugs depended on the receptor subtype studied and were lower with pancreas (M3) (1-9 x 10(5) M-1 sec-1) than with cardiac (M2) (1-5 x 10(6) M-1 sec-1) and NB-OK1 (M1) (1-5 x 10(6) M-1 sec-1) binding sites. At each receptor subtype, we observed no significant difference between the association rate constants of the R- and S-enantiomers of either QNB or QNB methiodide. Receptor stereoselectivity, when present, was associated with differences in unlabeled drug dissociation rate constants. The dissociation rate constant varied much more than the association rate constant, when either (R)-QNB dissociation from the three subtypes (half-life, 77 min to greater than 340 min; best fit, 40 days) or dissociation of the four drugs from each receptor subtype (half-lives varying from 1.4 min to 4 hr at M1 receptors, 1.1 to 77 min at M2 receptors, and 3.5 min to greater than 340 min at M3 receptors were obtained by competition kinetics analysis) was compared.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Stereoselectivity of procyclidine binding to muscarinic receptor subtypes M1, M2 and M4.

The goals of the present study were: (1) to investigate the binding properties of (R)- and (S)-procyclidine and two achiral derivatives of muscarinic M1, M2 and M4 receptor subtypes and (2) to identify the interactions which allow these receptors to discriminate between the two stereoisomers. (R)-Procyclidine showed a higher affinity for human neuroblastoma NB-OK 1 muscarinic M1 and rat striatum muscarinic M4 receptors, as compared to rat cardiac M2 receptors. (S)-Procyclidine had a 130-fold lower affinity than (R)-procyclidine for M1 and M4 receptors, and a 40-fold lower affinity for M2 receptors. Pyrrinol, the achiral diphenyl derivative with the cyclohexyl group of (S)-procyclidine replaced by a phenyl group, has an eight-fold lower affinity for M1 and M4 receptors, as compared to (R)-procyclidine, and a three-fold lower affinity for M2 receptors. Hexahydro-procyclidine, the corresponding achiral dicyclohexyl compound, had a 10- to 20-fold lower affinity than (R)-procyclidine for the three receptors. The increase in binding free energy, which is observed when the phenyl and cyclohexyl groups of procyclidine are separately replaced by cyclohexyl and phenyl groups, respectively, was additive in the case of M1, M2 and M4 receptors. This indicates that the muscarinic receptor stereoselectivity was based on the coexistence of two binding sites, one preferring a phenyl rather than cyclohexyl group and the second preferring a cyclohexyl rather than a phenyl group. In addition, there were also binding sites for the hydroxy moiety and the protonated amino group of the ligands. The greater affinity and stereoselectivity of M1 and M4 muscarinic receptors for (R)-procyclidine reflected the better fit of the cyclohexyl group of (R)-procyclidine to the subsite of M1 and M4 as compared to M2 receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Stereoselective inhibition of muscarinic receptor subtypes by the enantiomers of hexahydro-difenidol and acetylenic analogues.

1. The affinities of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of hexahydro-difenidol (1) and its acetylenic analogues hexbutinol (2), hexbutinol methiodide (3) and p-fluoro-hexbutinol (4) (stereochemical purity greater than 99.8%) for muscarinic receptors in rabbit vas deferens (M1), guinea-pig atria (M2) and guinea-pig ileum (M3) were measured by dose-ratio experiments. 2. The (R)-enantiomers consistently showed higher affinities than the (S)-isomers. The stereoselectivity ratios [(R)/(S)] were greatest with the enantiomers of 1 (vas deferens: 550; ileum: 191; atria: 17) and least with those of the p-Fluoro-analogue 4 (vas deferens: 34; ileum: 8.5; atria: 1.7). 3. The enantiomeric potency ratios for compounds 1-4 were highest in rabbit vas deferens, intermediate in guinea-pig ileum and much less in guinea-pig atria. Thus, these ratios may serve as a predictor of muscarinic receptor subtype identity. 4. (S)-p-Fluoro-hexbutinol [(S)-4] showed a novel receptor selectivity profile with preference for M3 receptors: M3 greater than M2 greater than or equal to M1. 5. These results do not conform to Pfeiffer's rule that activity differences between enantiomers are greater with more potent compounds.

Alkynes↗

PubMed1990

Binding of selective antagonists to four muscarinic receptors (M1 to M4) in rat forebrain.

To compare the proportions of four muscarinic receptors in different rat brain regions, we used competition curves with four selective antagonists, at 1-[N-methyl-3H]scopolamine methyl chloride [( 3H]NMS) binding equilibrium and after allowing [3H]NMS dissociation for 35 min. Himbacine and methoctramine were shown to discriminate two muscarinic receptor subtypes having a high affinity for 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide and hexahydrosiladifenidol, intermediate affinity for pirenzepine, and low affinity for AF-DX 116. One M4 subtype had a high affinity for himbacine and methoctramine; it was found predominantly in homogenates from rat striatum (46% of total [3H]NMS receptors) and in lower proportion in cortex (33% of [3H]NMS receptors) and hippocampus (16% of [3H]NMS receptors). Its binding properties were identical to those of muscarinic receptors in the neuroblastoma x glioma NG 108-15 hybrid, suggesting that it was encoded by m4 mRNA. The M3 subtype (typically found in rat pancreas, a tissue expressing the m3 mRNA) had a low affinity for himbacine and methoctramine and represented about 10% of all [3H]NMS receptors in rat brain cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum. M1 and M2 receptors were identified in rat brain by their high affinity for pirenzepine and AF-DX 116, respectively.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1989

Affinity profiles of hexahydro-sila-difenidol analogues at muscarinic receptor subtypes.

In an attempt to assess the structural requirements of hexahydro-sila-difenidol for potency and selectivity, a series of analogues modified in the amino group and the phenyl ring were investigated for their affinity to muscarinic M1-(rabbit vas deferens), M2- (guinea-pig atria) and M3- (guinea-pig ileum) receptors. All compounds were competitive antagonists in the three tissues. Their affinities to the three muscarinic receptor subtypes differed by more than two orders of magnitude and the observed receptor selectivities were not associated with high affinity. The pyrrolidino and hexamethyleneimino analogues, compounds substituted in the phenyl ring with a methoxy group or a chlorine atom as well as p-fluoro-hexahydro-difenidol displayed the same affinity profile as the parent compound, hexahydro-sila-difenidol: M1 approximately M3 greater than M2. A different selectivity pattern was observed for p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol: M3 greater than M1 greater than M2. This compound exhibited its highest affinity for M3-receptors in guinea-pig ileum (pA2 = 7.84), intermediate affinity for M1-receptors in rabbit vas deferens (pA2 = 6.68) and lowest affinity for the M2-receptors in guinea-pig atria (pA2 = 6.01). This receptor selectivity profile of p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol was confirmed in ganglia (M1), atria (M2) and ileum (M3) of the rat. Furthermore, dose ratios obtained with either pirenzepine (M1) or hexahydrosila-difenidol (M2 and M3) and the p-fluoro analogue used in combination suggested that the antagonism was additive, implying mutual competition with a single population of muscarinic receptor subtypes. These results indicate that p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol represents a valuable tool for characterization of muscarinic receptor subtypes.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Bretylium tosylate binds preferentially to muscarinic receptors labelled with [3H]oxotremorine M (SH or 'high affinity' receptors) in rat heart and brain cortex.

Bretylium tosylate is an antiarrhythmic agent. In guinea pig atria it showed the properties of a competitive muscarinic (cholinergic) antagonist and could distinguish between two muscarinic receptor classes or states in cardiac membranes. We decided to further investigate its binding properties at muscarinic cholinergic receptors of the rat heart and brain (cortex), keeping in mind the recently discovered heterogeneity of muscarinic receptor protein. Bretylium tosylate recognized two receptor classes or states in the heart with Ki values of 0.9 and 11 microM. All cardiac membrane receptors showed a homogeneous (11 microM) Ki value for the drug in the presence of GTP in the incubation medium, or after in vivo pretreatment with islet activating protein (IAP). Bretylium tosylate was able (but only at a high concentration, 1 mM) to slow the dissociation kinetics of the tracer, which suggests that it also bound to an allosteric site on the muscarinic receptor, or that it affected the receptor environment. In the brain cortex, as in the heart, bretylium tosylate displayed a high affinity for receptors labelled with the agonist [3H]oxotremorine M (Ki value: 0.8 microM for the SH-or cardiac-type high-affinity receptors), and a 8- to 10-fold lower affinity for cortex M and L receptors. These data suggest that the antagonist bretylium tosylate had binding properties in rat cardiac membranes analogous to those of the partial agonist pilocarpine and that it interacted with a single type of receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Binding and functional properties of antimuscarinics of the hexocyclium/sila-hexocyclium and hexahydro-diphenidol/hexahydro-sila-diphenidol type to muscarinic receptor subtypes.

1. In an attempt to assess the structural requirements for the muscarinic receptor selectivity of hexahydro-diphenidol (hexahydro-difenidol) and hexahydro-sila-diphenidol (hexahydro-sila-difenidol), a series of structurally related C/Si pairs were investigated, along with atropine, pirenzepine and methoctramine, for their binding affinities in NB-OK 1 cells as well as in rat heart and pancreas. 2. The action of these antagonists at muscarinic receptors mediating negative inotropic responses in guinea-pig atria and ileal contractions has also been assessed. 3. Antagonist binding data indicated that NB-OK 1 cells (M1 type) as well as rat heart (cardiac type) and pancreas (glandular/smooth muscle type) possess different muscarinic receptor subtypes. 4. A highly significant correlation was found between the binding affinities of the antagonists to muscarinic receptors in rat heart and pancreas, respectively, and the affinities to muscarinic receptors in guinea-pig atria and ileum. This implies that the muscarinic binding sites in rat heart and the receptors in guinea-pig atria are essentially similar, but different from those in pancreas and ileum. 5. The antimuscarinic potency of hexahydro-diphenidol and hexahydro-sila-diphenidol at the three subtypes was influenced differently by structural modifications (e.g. quaternization). Different selectivity profiles for the antagonists were obtained, which makes these compounds useful tools to investigate further muscarinic receptor heterogeneity. Indeed, the tertiary analogues hexahydro-diphenidol (HHD) and hexahydro-sila-diphenidol (HHSiD) had an M1 = glandular/smooth muscle greater than cardiac selectivity profile, whereas the quaternary analogues HHD methiodide and HHSiD methiodide were M1 preferring (M1 greater than glandular/smooth muscle, cardiac).

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Pharmacology of hexahydro-difenidol, hexahydro-sila-difenidol and related selective muscarinic antagonists.

A series of hexahydro-difenidol (HHD) and hexahydro-sila-difenidol (HHSiD) analogues modified in the amino group, the phenyl ring and in the alkylene chain were investigated for their binding and functional properties at muscarinic M1, M2 and M3 receptors. Novel muscarinic receptor antagonists were obtained which exhibited different receptor selectivity profiles from the parent compounds HHD and HHSiD (M1 congruent to M3 greater than M2), e.g. HHD and HHSiD methiodides, M1 greater than M2 congruent to M3; p-fluoro-HHSiD, M3 greater than M1 greater than M2; trans-hexbutenol, M1 greater than M3 greater than M2; and (s)-p-fluoro-hexbutinol, M3 greater than M2 congruent to M1. Stereoselectivity ratios [(R)/(S)] for the enantiomers of HHD, hexbutinol and p-fluoro-hexbutinol were highest at M1, intermediate at M3 and lowest at M2 receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Stereoselectivity of the interaction of muscarinic antagonists with their receptors.

The stereoselectivity of the interaction with muscarinic receptors of enantiomers of a series of chiral antagonists is receptor subtype dependent. There is no overall relationship between stereoselectivity and receptor affinity. Depending on the antagonist studied, receptor stereoselectivity may indeed reflect: (1) the weakening or loss of a single interaction involving one of the four groups bound to the asymmetric carbon; (2) steric hindrance preventing optimum interaction of the low affinity steroisomer with the receptor; and/or (3) the inversion of the relative positions of two moieties of the ligand with similar structural and electronic properties i.e. comparable affinities for the two corresponding subsites in the receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Determination of the association and dissociation rate constants of muscarinic antagonists on rat pancreas: rank order of potency varies with time.

Antagonist binding to rat pancreatic muscarinic receptors was relatively slow at 25 degrees (tracer dissociation half-life, 50 to 60 min). We, therefore, chose this system to investigate the errors induced by nonequilibrium incubations on the estimates of receptor capacity and selectivity, in binding studies. We took advantage of the fact that muscarinic antagonists recognize only one receptor subtype in rat pancreatic homogenates and that association and dissociation kinetics conform to the law of mass action to analyze quantitatively the binding kinetics of [3H]N-methylscopolamine and of several unlabeled progressive to these receptors. We observed no correlation between the affinities of drugs for muscarinic receptors and their dissociation rate constants. As a result, the apparent receptor specificity (based on relative affinities for different antagonists) varied markedly with the incubation period. We, therefore, strongly recommend that in general competition curves established for receptor classification should be compared at different incubation periods to ensure that equilibrium is attained. The association rate constants of muscarinic antagonists for rat pancreas receptors were remarkably low, when compared with other ligand-receptor systems. This suggests that the antagonist-pancreatic muscarinic receptor association reaction included a rate-limiting conformational change of the drug-receptor complex. This isomerization step was not directly detectable in our kinetic studies, due to the very low affinity and rapid dissociation rate of the initial nonisomerized complex.

Animals↗