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PubMed1988

Characterization of cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the rabbit iris.

The sphincter smooth muscle of the iris is innervated by excitatory parasympathetic nerve fibers, and the activation of these fibers results in the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate into its derived second messengers, myosin light chain phosphorylation and muscle contraction. The present study characterizes the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) of the rabbit iris employing [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) and L-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) as probes. Binding studies indicated that [3H]NMS and [3H]QNB bound to homogeneous populations of mAChRs with apparent Bmax values of 0.67 and 1.09 pmol/mg protein respectively. Binding of radioligands was rapid, saturable, stereospecific, reversible, and inhibited by specific muscarinic agonists and antagonists in a competitive manner. [3H]NMS displayed a lower amount of nonspecific binding and a faster association and dissociation rate than [3H]QNB. The relative potencies for displacement of both radioligands, based on their Ki values, were (-)QNB greater than atropine greater than (+)QNB greater than pirenzepine greater than pilocarpine. Antagonist displacement of the radioligands appeared to obey the law of mass action, indicating interaction with a single binding site. However, displacement of the radioligands by the agonists carbamylcholine and methacholine indicated interaction with both high and low affinity binding sites. Comparison of the displacement of [3H]NMS and [3H]QNB by pirenzepine in microsomal fractions from rabbit iris, ileal muscle and cerebral cortex revealed the presence of a single subtype of mAChR in the iris which had an affinity for PZ that was slightly higher than that of ileal M2 receptors, but lower than that of brain M1 receptors. This suggests that the mAChRs in the iris may represent a subclass of receptors within the M2 subtype, or they may constitute an entirely different subtype of mAChRs.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Modulation of oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract and effect on rat intestinal motility.

The amounts of different factors, which are involved in oxygen free radical production or in protection against oxygen radicals, were determined in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GI-tract). Glutathione and superoxide dismutase were present in lower amounts within the small intestine compared with the stomach and the large intestine. In the small intestine glutathione peroxidase and catalase both prevailed in the intestinal muscle compared to the mucosa, whereas in the large intestine both enzymes are equally distributed among the mucosa and muscle. Xanthine oxidase was mainly present in the small intestinal mucosa. Taken together, these results suggest that the large intestine is better provided with protective enzymic and non-enzymic factors against oxidative stress than the small intestine. The protective capacity of different intestinal preparations against lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes was assessed, and particularly the mucosal fractions from the small intestine showed a marked protection against lipid peroxidation, which is not easily explained with the presence of the enzymes measured in this study. Pretreatment of intestinal segments with hydrogen peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide resulted in a damaged contractile response of the longitudinal smooth muscle to methacholine in all parts of the GI-tract, expressed in a lower pD2 value and a decreased maximal response. Pretreatment with these peroxides also decreased contractions after depolarization with K+. The large intestine is more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide than the small intestine, which parallels with the sensitivity to lipid peroxidation. The results obtained with hydrogen peroxide also correlate well with the catalase activity in the various segments of the intestine. In conclusion, oxidative stress in the GI-tract alters intestinal motility, especially in the large intestine. Probably this does not occur at the level of muscarinic receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Partial characterization of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in guinea-pig lung employing the synthetic heptapeptide substrate, kemptide. In vitro sensitivity of the soluble enzyme to isoprenaline, forskolin, methacholine and leukotriene D4.

This paper describes the partial characterization of soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) in guinea-pig lung using Kemptide, a synthetic serine-containing heptapeptide, and examines the sensitivity of this enzyme to drugs which are reported to increase and to decrease the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. Differential centrifugation of lung homogenates revealed that 78% of A-kinase was present in the 31,000 gmax x 15 min supernatant fraction. Both basal and cyclic AMP-stimulated phosphotransferase activity of this 'soluble' enzyme were abolished by the heat-stable inhibitor of A-kinase. Soluble A-kinase was Mg2(+)-dependent (apparent Km and and Kact 8.6 and 2.6 mM, respectively) and was stimulated nine-fold by saturating concentrations of both cyclic AMP (Kact: 131 nM) and cyclic GMP (Kact: 28.7 microM) at a protein (enzyme) concentration of 1.3 micrograms. Kinetic analysis of the effect of Kemptide and ATP revealed linear, Hanes plots with Michealis constants of ca. 12 and 13 microM, respectively. Chromatography of the soluble enzyme over DEAE-cellulose resolved three peaks of catalytic activity when fractions were assayed in the presence of cyclic AMP (10 microM): (i) free catalytic subunits (5%), (ii) Type I isoenzyme (5%) and (iii) Type II isoenzyme (90%). The A-kinase activity ratio was markedly increased in lung pre-treated with the smooth muscle relaxants isoprenaline and forskolin. This biochemical effect was both time- and concentration-dependent and was temporally associated with the ability of these drugs to reduce lung parenchymal tone. In contrast, the contractile agonists, methacholine (Mch) and leukotriene (LT) D4 exerted opposite effects on A-kinase activity. Thus, Mch significantly reduced cyclic AMP levels and lowered basal A-kinase activity whilst the converse was true for LTD4. For both drugs this biochemical effect accompanied contraction of the lung. Pre-treatment of lung tissue with flurbiprofen, an irreversible inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase in vitro, abolished the ability of LTD4 to increase the A-kinase activity ratio suggesting that this biochemical response was mediated indirectly through the stimulated biosynthesis and release of a prostanoid(s) able to activate adenylyl cyclase; the increase in tension induced by LTD4, however, was not significantly affected by flurbiprofen pre-treatment. Collectively, these data support the concept that soluble A-kinase activity in guinea-pig lung can be regulated by changes in intracellular cyclic AMP and that activation and/or inhibition of this biochemical cascade may influence alterations in lung contractility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1981

Influence of cholinomimetics and cholinolytics on vestibular compensation.

The influence of cholinomimetics and cholinolytics on vestibular compensation was investigated in Rana temporaria. In compensated animals cholinomimetics induced a complete decompensation with reappearance of all symptoms characteristic of the precompensated state. Cholinolytic exerted antagonistic effects. They induced postural and locomotor symptoms which were a mirror-image of those observed in the precompensated state. The findings support the assumption that the compensatory reorganization of the vestibular system involves the modification of cholinergic brain stem synapses.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of histamine and methacholine bronchial challenges using the DeVilbiss 646 nebulizer and the Rosenthal-French dosimeter.

We have compared bronchial challenge with both histamine and methacholine for the tidal breathing method and dosimeter method, using the DeVilbiss 646 nebulizer, in 18 patients with asthma. There was a significant difference between the PC20 FEV1 but not the PD20 FEV1 when either agonist was administered by the different techniques but not by the same method.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The effect of nifedipine on bronchial reactivity to inhaled histamine and methacholine: a comparative study in normal and asthmatic subjects.

The effect of pretreatment with nifedipine 20 mg sublingually on the bronchoconstrictor response to inhaled histamine and methacholine in asthmatic and normal subjects has been studied. For each agonist the provocation concentration required to produce a 15% fall in FEV1 (PC15) and a 35% fall in specific conductance (PC35) was determined. In the group of asthmatic subjects the responses to histamine were significantly attenuated by histamine, PC15 increasing from 0.29 mg/ml to 0.68 mg/ml (P less than 0.001) and PC35 increasing from 0.25 mg/ml to 0.58 mg/ml (P less than 0.001). Responses to methacholine showed less modification by nifedipine. PC15 increased from 0.23 mg/ml to 0.32 mg/ml (P less than 0.05). Changes in PC35 were not significant. In the group of normal subjects no attenuation of the response to methacholine was produced by nifedipine but significant increases of PC15 (P less than 0.002) and PC35 (P less than 0.005) were produced by the agent. The results are consistent with nifedipine exerting an effect principally on mediators dependent on external calcium sources for stimulus-contraction coupling in the airways. The magnitude of change in the histamine response of the two groups was similar, suggesting calcium dependent mechanisms are not involved in asthmatic hyper-responsiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Further support for the central origin of the gastric antisecretory properties of clonidine in conscious rats.

The effects of clonidine (CL) on interdigestive gastric acid secretion were studied in chronic gastric fistula rats and compared with those of St 91, a CL-like drug which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. CL induced a dose-dependent inhibition of gastric acid output when administered s.c. (ED50 13.5 micrograms X kg-1), in the lateral ventricle of the brain (ED50 5.80 micrograms X kg-1) or in the cisterna magna (ED50 0.49 micrograms X kg-1). St 91 and several alpha-adrenergic antagonists administered subcutaneously also inhibited gastric acid secretion dose dependently. Decreasing activities were prazosin greater than St 91 greater than phentolamine greater than yohimbine greater than piperoxan; phenoxybenzamine was a poor inhibitor. The anti-secretory properties of CL on basal secretion were antagonized by yohimbine and piperoxan. Other drugs either did not antagonize (phentolamine) or potentiated (phenoxybenzamine, prazosin) the CL effect, while yohimbine and phenoxybenzamine potentiated the response to St. 91. CL had no activity on methacholine while it drastically inhibited 2-DG-, histamine- and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion. The inhibitory activity of CL on histamine stimulation was significantly decreased by yohimbine but not by phentolamine. These results confirm that the CL inhibition of the gastric acid secretion in unanesthetized rats is mediated at least partly through the stimulation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Most of the data favour a major role of the CNS in the antisecretory activity of CL and suggest the possibility that most of the receptors involved are located in the medulla oblongata.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1983

Kinetics of antisecretory action of a new H2-antagonist, YM-11170, in conscious dogs.

The antisecretory property of YM-11170 was compared with that of cimetidine and atropine in the Heidenhain pouch dog. YM-11170 inhibited competitively dimaprit-induced gastric acid secretion in doses of 33 and 100 nmol/kg per h and its antisecretory potency was 148 times more pronounced than that of cimetidine. The secretory action of pentagastrin and methacholine was also inhibited by YM-11170 and cimetidine with doses similar to those required for the inhibition of dimaprit action although the inhibition by the H2-antagonists was not of the surmountable type. Atropine inhibited gastric secretion stimulated by methacholine and pentagastrin more strongly than that stimulated by dimaprit. It is concluded that YM-11170 is a competitive antagonist of dimaprit-induced gastric secretion in vivo and that the activity of the H2-antagonists in blocking gastric H2-receptors may reflect their inhibitory effect on the acid response to pentagastrin and methacholine.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Pharmacological characterization of the postjunctional beta-adrenoceptors in the rat gastric fundus.

In order to characterize the postjunctional beta-adrenoceptors in the rat gastric fundus, we studied the influence of beta-agonists and beta-antagonists on methacholine-contracted fundus strips. The mixed beta-agonist isopropylnoradrenaline and the beta 2-selective agonist fenoterol had a concentration-dependent relaxing effect and at higher concentrations completely inhibited the methacholine-induced tone. The reputedly beta 1-selective agonist prenalterol only produced about 50% inhibition and another reputedly beta 1-selective agonist, tazolol, had almost no relaxing effect. The beta-antagonists propranolol (beta 1 + beta 2), practolol (beta 1), H35/25 (beta 2) and ICI 118,551 (beta 2) all shifted the concentration-response curves for isopropylnoradrenaline and fenoterol in a parallel way to the right, but the slope of the Schild plot was not significantly different from 1 only for the antagonism of isopropylnoradrenaline by H35/25. The relaxing effect of prenalterol was only clearly antagonized by ICI 118,551. The results suggest that postjunctional beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors are present in the rat gastric fundus.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1985

Organ culture of young rat vas deferens as an in vitro model for the study of denervation supersensitivity.

To investigate whether organ culture is a suitable in vitro model for studying the mechanisms of denervation-induced supersensitivity, we cultured 1-week-old rat vas deferens for 3 days with a basic applied tension of 20 mg. Cultured muscles showed supersensitivity to norepinephrine and methacholine with concomitant elevation of the maximal response. To compare these changes with those caused by denervation, young rats were chemically denervated by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine, and consequent sensitivity changes were investigated. Denervated muscles showed non-specific supersensitivity to norepinephrine and methacholine but the maximal response did not increase. When these denervated muscles were organ-cultured, they showed no or only a slight increase in sensitivity to norepinephrine and methacholine, but the maximal response increased greatly. These observations led to the suggestion that the increase in sensitivity may be mediated through the same mechanisms as those for denervation supersensitivity. The elevation of the maximal response was suggested to be produced by the improvement of cell-to-cell conduction as well as some other unknown factor(s) probably specific to organ culture. Thus, it was concluded that organ-cultured 1-week-old rat vas deferens is a useful model to study the mechanisms of denervation supersensitivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Human small airway smooth muscle responses in vitro; actions and interactions of methacholine, histamine and leukotriene C4.

The in vitro contractile responses to methacholine, histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) were measured in human bronchiolar strips obtained after surgery. LTC4 was approximately 100 times more potent than both methacholine and histamine (mean pD2 values were 8.01, 6.18 and 5.87 respectively). All three agonists produced the same maximum contractile response (Tmax) and no difference was found in the time course of methacholine-, histamine- and LTC4-induced responses. When methacholine, histamine and LTC4 were applied in succession on one airway preparation, no interactions between these agonists were demonstrated for pD2. However, interactions were found concerning Tmax. The sensitivity (pD2) could be measured accurately and reproducibly and showed a relatively small within-patients variation (coefficients of variation 4-5%). In contrast, Tmax showed a considerable within-patients variation (coefficients of variation 47-91%), which limits its usefulness when small numbers of airway preparations are studied.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1986

Altered endothelium-mediated relaxation after denervation of growing rabbit ear artery.

The relaxation response to methacholine and sodium nitroprusside was examined in ring segments from the posterior auricular artery and its continuation the central ear artery in growing rabbits 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks following unilateral adrenergic and sensory denervation. The maximal relaxation achieved by methacholine (endothelium-dependent) was significantly depressed in the denervated arteries compared with the contralateral controls. Sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent relaxant agent) elicited the maximal relaxation in all tissues. These results demonstrated impaired arterial endothelium-dependent relaxation to methacholine after chronic denervation.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Airway epithelium modulates the reactivity of guinea-pig respiratory smooth muscle.

The influence of the epithelium on the reactivity of guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle in vitro was investigated. Mechanical removal of the epithelium produced contrasting effects on methacholine-, histamine- and K+-induced contractions of tracheal strips. Epithelium removal resulted in 2.1-fold shifts to the left of histamine and methacholine concentration-response curves, and an increase in the maximum response to histamine; the maximum response to methacholine was unaffected. Epithelium removal had little effect on the sensitivity, but decreased the maximum response to K+. The results suggest that inhibitory and excitatory factor(s) are released from epithelial cells, and that these factors modulate the reactivity of the smooth muscle. Indomethacin (1 microM) produced in epithelium-containing preparations qualitatively identical effects on the sensitivity to methacholine and on the maximum response to histamine as removal of the epithelium. However, indomethacin was without effect on the sensitivity to histamine in the presence or absence of the epithelium. Alterations in the production or release of epithelial cell-derived factors may contribute to the airway hyperreactivity observed in respiratory disorders.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1988

Vitamin E and selenium regulate balance between beta-adrenergic and muscarinic responses in rat lungs.

The effects of hydrogen peroxide on the beta-adrenergic and muscarinic responses of the rat trachea muscle were studied in vitro, after feeding rats, for 6 weeks, either a diet deficient in vitamin E and selenium or a control diet. In the control situation after incubation with 1 mM hydrogen peroxide for 30 min, a reduction of the maximal response to methacholine of 39% occurred whereas no pD2 shift could be demonstrated. Moreover, no response to isoprenaline after precontraction with 3 x 10(-7) M methacholine was left. In the deficient situation, we found a reduction to 64% of the response to methacholine after incubation with 1 mM hydrogen peroxide. Again isoprenaline became inactive, i.e. no relaxation with isoprenaline was observed after precontraction with 3 x 10(-7) M methacholine. We therefore conclude that vitamin E and selenium protect against oxidative stress in lung tissue and thus regulate the (patho-) physiological balance between adrenergic and muscarinic responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Spatial localization of the stimulus-induced rise in cytosolic Ca2+ in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Distinct nicotinic and muscarinic patterns.

The spatial distribution of the intracellular free Ca2+ (Ca2+i) rise elicited by different stimuli in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined in single fura-2-loaded cells. In response to the potent secretagogues nicotine and high K+, Ca2+i was initially localized exclusively to the entire subplasmalemmal area of the cell. In response to the ineffective secretagogues, methacholine and muscarine, the rise in Ca2+i originated only in one pole of the cell and even at the peak of the response Ca2+ was still generally restricted to this same area of the cell. These results suggest that the triggering of exocytosis from these cells requires a specific spatial distribution of Ca2+i.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1990

The caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ store in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells; an examination of its role in triggering secretion and Ca2+ homeostasis.

The effect of caffeine on catecholamine secretion and intracellular free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells was examined using single fura-2-loaded cells and cell populations. In cell populations caffeine elicited a large (approximately 200 nM) transient rise in [Ca2+]i that was independent of external Ca2+. This rise in [Ca2+]i triggered little secretion. Single cell measurements of [Ca2+]i showed that most cells responded with a large (greater than 200 nM) rise in [Ca2+]i, whereas a minority failed to respond. The latter, whose caffeine-sensitive store was empty, buffered a Ca2+ load induced by a depolarizing stimulus more effectively than those whose store was full. The caffeine-sensitive store in bovine chromaffin cells may be involved in Ca2+ homeostasis rather than in triggering exocytosis.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1986

Rat pancreatic zymogen granules. An actively acidified compartment.

In this study, we looked for acidification in pancreatic zymogen granules as recently reported for other secretory vesicles. In intact dispersed acinar cells, acidic intracellular compartments identified by fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange corresponded exactly to the distribution of zymogen granules visualized by light microscopy. Acridine orange fluorescence in zymogen granules was reversibly dissipated by protonophores (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, monensin) and NH4Cl; and the percentages of cytoplasmic area occupied by the acidic compartments and by zymogen granules were identical under fasting conditions and decreased in parallel after in vivo cholinergic stimulation. Zymogen granules released acutely from hypotonically disrupted cells without homogenization also accumulated acridine orange. Red-orange fluorescence in released granules was also abolished by protonophores and NH4Cl; and it reappeared after washout of protonophores in the presence, but not absence of adenosine triphosphate. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, which inhibits all proton pumps, and N-ethylmaleimide, which inhibits the proton pump of endocytic vesicles and lysosomes, but not mitochondria, prevented this adenosine triphosphate-dependent reappearance of acridine orange fluorescence, whereas vanadate did not. In contrast to these observations with zymogen granules in situ or acutely released from disrupted cells, granules isolated by conventional multistep homogenization/centrifugation procedures did not exhibit adenosine triphosphate-dependent acidification or development of a positive membrane potential as measured by quenching of acridine orange or Oxonol V, respectively. The latter findings may indicate release of inhibitors or granule damage during isolation. Collectively, the present results provide direct evidence that zymogen granules contain an active acidification mechanism which appears similar to that of other secretory vesicles and endosomes. This acidification process may have important implications for the storage, stabilization, and secretion of intragranular proteins including proenzymes.

Acridine Orange↗