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Biomedical subjects

I Angel

Publications and source records attributed to I Angel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mechanism of tachykinin NK3 receptor-mediated colonic ion transport in the guinea pig.

The guinea pig colon was used to elucidate the mechanism of tachykinin-induced secretion. Increased short-circuit current was observed in response to natural and synthetic tachykinins with rank orders of potency of substance P > neurokinin A = neuropeptide K>> neuropeptide gamma; and senktide (tachykinin NK3 receptor agonist)> Sar-substance P (tachykinin NK1 receptor agonist)> betaAlaneurokinin A (tachykinin NK2 receptor agonist)). A functional role of tachykinin NK1 receptors was confirmed as substance P and neurokinin A responsiveness was blocked by the tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist GR82334. The tachykinin NK3 receptor antagonist SB222200 had no effect, leaving in doubt the identity of the natural tachykinin NK3 receptor ligand in the colon. The response to tachykinin NK3 receptor activation was abolished by tetrodotoxin and predominantly due to atropine sensitive cholinergic activation. The non-cholinergic component resulted from stimulation of tachykinin NK 1 and 5-HT receptors as the response to senktide was blocked by GR82334 and tropisetron. In conclusion, tachykinin NK3 receptor activation stimulates cholinergic and non-cholinergic (tachykinin NK1-receptor and serotonin-mediated) secretory pathways.

Animals

The response of rat colonic mucosa to 5-hydroxytryptamine in health and following restraint stress.

The present study characterized the rat colonic secretory response to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and determined alterations in this response following stress. 5-HT stimulated rat colonic short-circuit current in a concentration-dependent fashion (pD2 = 5.19). This response was subject to desensitization and was mimicked by the indolealkylamines with a rank order potency of 5-HT approximately alpha-methyl-5-HT > 5-carboxytryptamine approximately 5-methoxytryptamine. 2-Methyl-5-HT was a partial agonist. The colonic response to 5-HT was unaltered by methysergide (10 microM), ritanserin (0.1 microM), ondansetron (1 microM) or clozapine (10 microM), but was antagonized by the 5-HT4 receptor antagonists SB204070 (pD'2 = 9.32), GR113808 (pKb = 8.56), DAU6285 (pKb = 6.07) and SDZ205557 (pKb = 6.80). The response of colonic epithelial and oesophageal tunica muscularis mucosae to 5-HT is therefore mediated by a similar 5-HT4 receptor. Following wrap restraint stress, the colonic response to 5-HT became bimodal. Half of the preparations were hyper-responsive, while the rest were hypo-responsive to 5-HT. This 5-HT4 receptor may therefore be involved in stress related changes in fluid transport.

Animals

Mechanisms of the hypoglycemic effects of the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists SL84.0418 and deriglidole.

The effects of the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist SL84.0418 and its two enantiomers, (+) deriglidole and (-)SL86.0714 on glucose and insulin levels were examined in mice and in neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. It was recently demonstrated in mouse pancreatic beta-cells that both deriglidole and SL86.0714 inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channel with similar potency whereas alpha2-adrenoceptors are blocked only by deriglidole. In the present study, we showed, in vivo in mice, that SL84.0418 and deriglidole potently reduced glycemia and antagonized diazoxide-induced hyperglycemia, whereas SL86.0714 and tolbutamide were markedly less potent. In diabetic rats, SL84.0418 and deriglidole (10 mg/kg i.p.) fully normalized glucose tolerance whereas SL86.0714 and tolbutamide only slightly improved it. Five min after deriglidole administration in mice a marked and short lasting rise in insulin levels was observed, followed by a progressive reduction of glycemia. In diabetic rats, insulin and norepinephrine levels rose 15 min after deriglidole administration. Sympathetic outflow blockade by chlorisondamine, beta-adrenoceptor blockade by propranolol or their combination markedly reduced deriglidole-induced rise in insulin levels in a similar manner. Furthermore, in chlorisondamine-treated animals norepinephrine levels were strongly lowered and not modified by deriglidole and propranolol administration. However, in spite of sympathetic outflow and beta-adrenoceptor blockade, a moderate rise in insulinemia was still observed after deriglidole administration. Taken together these data demonstrate that deriglidole is the enantiomer that mediates the antihyperglycemic and insulin secretory effects of SL84.0418. Our study suggests that the major part of deriglidole effects is the consequence of the blockade of prejunctional alpha2-adrenoceptors that have reinforced the release of catecholamines in adrenergic nerve endings and indirectly activated postjunctional beta-adrenoceptors to further potentiate insulin secretion. However, it is also suggested that another undefined mechanism is involved in deriglidole potentiation of insulin secretion.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists

Relationship between the effects of alfuzosin on rat urethral and blood pressures and its tissue concentrations.

This study was undertaken in order to establish the alpha1-antagonist effects of alfuzosin on phenylephrine-induced increases in urethral and arterial blood pressures at 1 and 6 hours post dosing (10 mg/kg, p.o.). At each time, plasma and prostatic concentrations of alfuzosin were measured and correlations between tissue concentrations and pharmacological effects were calculated. At one and six hours post dosing, alfuzosin markedly shifted the urethral and arterial dose response curve to phenylephrine. At one hour, prostatic concentration was 4.1 times greater than plasma concentration (363 ng/g vs 88 ng/ml) and at 6 hours this ratio reached 8.6 times (167 ng/g vs 20 ng/ml). By taking together the data points obtained at 1 and 6 hours we showed that the effects of alfuzosin on urethral pressure were correlated with prostate levels (r=0.906, p<0.01) and the effects on arterial blood pressure were correlated with plasma levels (r=0.941, p<0.01). These results suggest that a preferential distribution of alfuzosin in prostatic tissue may play a role in its functional uroselectivity.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

The adrenergic, cholinergic and NANC nerve-mediated contractions of the female rabbit bladder neck and proximal, medial and distal urethra.

1. The nerve-mediated contraction of the female rabbit bladder neck and different portions of the urethra (proximal, medial and distal) was studied in vitro by electrical stimulation (50 V, 30 Hz, 0.05 ms width, trains of 5 s every 5 min) by use of a superfusion system. 2. The amplitude (Emax) and the duration (Dmax) of the stimulated contraction were studied in the four tissues. The Emax value was significantly higher in distal urethra (2.07+/-0.15 g) compared to the bladder neck (1.08+/-0.10 g), proximal urethra (0.73+/-0.07 g) and medial urethra (0.87+/-0.07 g). In contrast, the Dmax value appeared slightly but significantly lower (P<0.05) in distal urethra (68.5+/-2.3 s) than in bladder neck (76.7+/-6.0 s), proximal urethra (84.5+/-5.0 s) and medial urethra (81.3+/-3.5 s). 3. Cocaine (1 microM) significantly increased the basal Emax values in medial and distal urethra and the basal Dmax values in the four tissues. 4. Prazosin (1 microM) significantly reduced E max value in proximal, medial and distal urethra and Dmax value in bladder neck and proximal urethra. Atropine (1 microM) also significantly reduced Emax values in bladder neck and proximal urethra and reduced Dmax value in bladder neck, but not in other tissues. Yohimbine (0.1 microM) was devoid of effect in the four tissues. 5. The association of prazosin (1 microM) and atropine (1 microM) did not modify the Emax and the Dmax values of the electrically-induced contractions, except in proximal urethra and in bladder neck where an additive inhibitory effect (on Emax only) was observed compared to prazosin and atropine alone. 6. The residual contractile response after combined treatment with prazosin and atropine was significantly diminished by tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1 microM) but not completely abolished. These NANC contractions were insensitive to P2X-purinoceptor desensitization by continuous tissue perfusion with alpha,beta-methylene ATP (30 microM). 7. These results demonstrate that bladder neck and proximal urethra are mainly innervated by the parasympathetic nervous system, whereas medial and distal urethras are to a greater extent under the control of the sympathetic innervation. The residual responses, insensitive to prazosin and atropine, may indicate a NANC innervation in the four tissues. However, the nature of the NANC neurotransmitter remains to be identified.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

Functional uroselectivity.

Alpha1-adrenoceptors mediating sympathetic tone to smooth muscle cells are located within the prostatic tissue, bladder base and in the proximal urethra, but are also widely distributed within a large number of tissues, especially the vascular beds and the central nervous system. Compounds clinically used in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia must therefore exhibit functional uroselectivity. This means that they should preferentially act on the lower urinary tract rather than the vasculature or central nervous system. Few clinically used alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists show selectivity for the alpha1a/A-adrenoceptor subtype, whereas most of them have similar affinities for the three cloned subtypes (alpha1a-, alpha1b- and alpha1d-adrenoceptors). Recent data from in vitro studies assessing pharmacological uroselectivity and from in vivo models evaluating functional uroselectivity challenged the relevance of the affinity or the selectivity for a known alpha1-adrenoceptor subtype in predicting functional uroselectivity. They suggest instead that another subtype, like the alpha1L-adrenoceptor, might be functionally involved. In conclusion, the actual state of knowledge on alpha1-adrenoceptor subtype distribution and function, does not support a role of pharmacological uroselectivity in predicting functional uroselectivity. Furthermore, functional uroselectivity can be achieved in the absence of selectivity for the alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes described so far.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

Anti-inflammatory properties of mizolastine after oral administration on arachidonic acid-induced cutaneous reaction in the rat.

The anti-inflammatory effect of mizolastine (CAS 108612-45-9, SL85.0324-00), a new non-sedative histamine H1-receptor antagonist, was assessed in comparison to loratadine, terfenadine and pyrilamine. Intraplantar injection of arachidonic acid (AA) into the rat paw was followed by a rapid and sustained (> or = 4h) inflammatory oedema. Mizolastine (0.1 to 10 mg/ kg p.o.) inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the time course of the AA-induced paw inflammation as from the dose of 0.1 mg/kg p.o. This effect was maintained for at least the 4 h of observation (-44% at 0.3 mg/kg p.o.) suggesting a long lasting action of mizolastine. Although with higher maximal effect, a similar time course of response was observed with dexamethasone at 0.1 mg/kg p.o. In contrast, at anti-histamine, doses, the histamine H1-receptor antagonists terfenadine (1 to 30 mg/kg p.o.), loratadine (10 mg/kg p.o.), and pyrilamine (10 mg/kg p.o.) failed to inhibit significantly the inflammatory action of AA. Moreover, under conditions of H1-receptors blockade (e.g. when co-administered with pyrilamine or loratadine (10 mg/kg p.o.), the inhibition by mizolastine (0.3 mg/kg) of AA-induced inflammation was unchanged. This suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect of mizolastine was unrelated to its histamine H1-receptor antagonist properties. It is proposed that a primary effect on the lipoxygenase pathway may contribute to this action of mizolastine. This is based on the observations that mizolastine inhibits 5-lipoxygenase activity in vitro. Furthermore, a high dose of mizolastine (50 mg/kg) did not affect the inflammatory response to carrageenin which is mediated by the cyclooxygenase pathway. Together, these data indicate that mizolastine is orally effective in this animal model for cutaneous inflammation. Combined with its blockade of histamine H1-receptors, this property may contribute to its possible use in allergic inflammation or other inflammatory states.

Administration, Oral

Effect of mizolastine on visceral sensory afferent sensitivity and inflammation during experimental colitis.

In the present study the effect of mizolastine (CAS 108612-45-9, SL85.0324-00) a novel potent histamine H1-receptor antagonist, on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis, a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease, was investigated to determine whether mizolastine has anti-inflammatory properties. Treatment with TNBS resulted in increased nociception in response to rectal balloon distension and caused intestinal damage, tissue oedema and inflammation. Oral mizolastine (0.03-3.00 mg/kg given 1 h before and once daily for 3 days after TNBS treatment) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced nociception (49% at 0.3 mg/kg), gross intestinal damage (78% at 3.0 mg/kg), histological damage (54% at 3.0 mg/kg), intestinal tissue weight (69% at 3.0 mg/kg) and myeloperoxidase activity (66% at 3.0 mg/kg). In contrast, the H1-receptor antagonist terfenadine tested under the same experimental conditions at 3-30 mg/kg was without significant effect. It is concluded that, in addition to its antiallergic properties, mizolastine possesses anti-inflammatory actions that may not be related to its H1-receptor blocking properties, reducing sensory afferent hypersensitivity, damage and neutrophil infiltration observed during colitis.

Animals

Analysis of alpha1-adrenoceptors in rabbit lower urinary tract and mesenteric artery.

In this study, we have investigated the effects of a series of alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists on the phenylephrine-mediated contractions of rabbit isolated prostate, urethra, trigone and mesenteric artery. With the exception of RS-17053 (N-[2-(2-cyclopropylmethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]-5-chloro-alpha,alpha-dim ethyl-1 H-indole-3-ethanamine hydrochloride), the antagonists displayed the lowest potency in the urethra. Catecholamine uptake1 and uptake2 appeared not to be the cause for the low pK(B)/pA2 values obtained in the urethra because cocaine and corticosterone had no effect on the potency of phenylephrine in this tissue. The low potencies displayed by prazosin. RS-17053 and HV723 (alpha-ethyl-3,4,5-trimethoxy-alpha-(3-((2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl)amino )propyl)benzene-acetonitrile fumarate) suggest that the functional receptors in all four tissues belong to the alpha(1L)-adrenoceptor class. Whether or not the significant between-tissue differences in antagonist potencies are due to heterogeneity of this receptor class remains to be elucidated.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

Post-synaptic 5-HT4 receptor modulation of tachykinergic excitation of rat oesophageal tunica muscularis mucosae.

Interaction between the 5-HT4 receptor and cholinergic-dependent and -independent contraction of the rat oesophageal muscularis mucosae was determined. Substance P- (in the presence of atropine) and carbachol-precontracted tissue was relaxed by tryptamines and the substituted benzamides with the following rank order of potency: 5-HT > 5-methoxytryptamine > cisapride > (R)-zacopride > lintopride > metoclopramide, consistent with 5-HT4 receptor activation. The response to 5-HT was not antagonized by tetrodotoxin, methysergide or ondansetron; but was shifted to the right by GR113808 ([1-[2-[methylsulphonyl)amino]ethyl]-4-piperidinyl]methyl-1-H- indole-3-carboxylate) in substance P- and carbachol-precontracted tissue, confirming 5-HT4-mediated relaxation. This study shows for the first time that although 5-HT4 receptors are involved in the modulation of cholinergic neurotransmission they can also act independently of this system modulating tachykinergic responsiveness.

5-Methoxytryptamine

The effect of ovariectomy on the contractile response of the rat isolated detrusor muscle and urethra.

Contractile responses induced by carbachol on the detrusor muscle and by noradrenaline on the isolated urethra were compared between ovariectomized rats pretreated with estradiol (50 microg/animal s.c. twice daily for five days), untreated ovariectomized rats and intact animals. In the detrusor muscle, contractions induced by 30 microM carbachol, when normalized with respect to KCl 100 mM-induced contraction, were similar for the three groups. Furthermore, contractions induced by 100 microM noradrenaline in the isolated urethra were not significatively different between groups. However, the pD2 value for noradrenaline was greater in urethral tissue from ovariectomized rats compared with ovariectomized -estrogen treated and control rats. A similar result was found for pD2 values for carbachol-induced contractions on the detrusor muscle. These results suggest that ovariectomy increases the sensitivity of the urinary bladder and urethra to the contractile effects of carbachol and noradrenaline, respectively and that this effect is reversed by in vivo estrogen pretreatment.

Animals

Comparative alpha-1 adrenoceptor subtype selectivity and functional uroselectivity of alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists.

We investigated the relevance of selectivity for a given alpha-1-adrenoceptor subtype for in vivo uroselectivity of several alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonists (alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, tamsulosin, terazosin and 5-Me-urapidil). Comparison of the affinities of these alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonists at the cloned alpha-1a, alpha-1b and alpha-1d-adrenoceptor subtypes revealed that tamsulosin and 5-Me-urapidil showed selectivity for the alpha-1a subtype. No significant correlations were found between the affinities for alpha-1b or alpha-1d-adrenoceptors and the pK(B) values obtained against phenylephrine-induced contraction of the rabbit prostate in vitro. In contrast, the antagonist potencies in rabbit prostate were correlated (r = 0.89, P < .05) with the pKi values for the alpha-1a-adrenoceptor subtype. However, the pK(B) values were consistently smaller (by 0.6 to 1.9 log unit) than the pKi values for the alpha-1a-adrenoceptor subtype, a result that suggests that the alpha-1-adrenoceptor mediating urethral contractions does not have all the characteristics of the alpha-1a-adrenoceptor. The simultaneous measurement of urethral and arterial pressures in the same conscious male rat allows evaluation of the functional uroselectivity of these antagonists based on their respective effects on both pressures. Dose ranges were selected according to effects on urethral pressure and most antagonists were found effective within the 3 to 100 microg/kg i.v. range. Alfuzosin markedly decreased urethral pressure and either did not decrease blood pressure (10-30 microg/kg) or slightly decreased it at the highest dose tested (100 microg/kg). Doxazosin did not produce sustained reductions in urethral pressure until a dose of 30 microg/kg. Blood pressure was not reduced until 100 microg/kg. Prazosin reduced urethral pressure and blood pressure within the same dose-range whereas terazosin did not decrease urethral pressure at doses that significantly decreased blood pressure (30 and 100 microg/kg). 5-Me-urapidil, an alpha-1a-selective compound did not significantly modify urethral and blood pressure whereas tamsulosin, another alpha-1a-selective compound reduced urethral pressure and blood pressure within the same dose range. In conclusion, in the conscious male rat the functional uroselectivity is not correlated with a selective affinity for the alpha-1a-adrenoceptor subtype.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists

Characterisation of the 5-HT receptor potentiating neurotransmission in rabbit bladder.

We have investigated the effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on electrically induced contractions of rabbit isolated bladder. Electrical field stimulation evoked twitch contractions which were potentiated by 5-HT (0.3-10 microM). The potentiating effect of 5-HT was inhibited by ondansetron (pA2 9.2) and granisetron (pA2 9.1) but not by methysergide or SB 204070 ((1-butyl-4-piperidinyl)methyl 8-amino-7-chloro-1,4-benzodioxan-5-carboxylate hydrochloride). This suggests that the potentiating effect of micromolar concentrations of 5-HT on neuromuscular transmission in rabbit isolated bladder is mediated by 5-HT3 receptors. The receptors involved in the response to lower concentrations of 5-HT, observed in some tissues, remain to be characterised.

5-Methoxytryptamine

Involvement of capsaicin-sensitive nerves in the regulation of glucose tolerance in diabetic rats.

The role of afferent sensory nerves in glucose tolerance and glucose stimulated insulin secretion was investigated in normal (N) or neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic (D) rats treated with capsaicin (NC and DC, respectively) during the neonatal period. In capsaicin treated animals, oral glucose tolerance was markedly improved both in NC and DC whereas insulin secretion was not affected. The effect of alpha 2-adrenergic blockade was investigated in D and DC rats. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist deriglidole (3 mg/kg i.p.) administered 30 min before glucose load slightly reduced glucose levels and markedly increased insulin levels both in D and DC rats. Thereafter, the high insulin levels were maintained or further increased following glucose administration. As a consequence, glucose tolerance was further improved in D and in DC, which already expressed an improved glucose tolerance after capsaicin administration. These results suggest that sensory nerves are implicated in the control of glucose tolerance in normal and neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through a mechanism independent of insulin release. It is also suggested that afferent sensory nerves are not implicated in the adrenergic control of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists

Normalization of insulin secretion by a selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist restores GLUT-4 glucose transporter expression in adipose tissue of type II diabetic rats.

Noninsulin-dependent mellitus is characterized by the coexistence of defective insulin secretion with insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Therapeutic objectives are, therefore, to normalize glucose-induced insulin secretion and to restore normal glucose transport into insulin-sensitive tissues. In the present study we evaluate the effects of acute and subchronic administration (2 or 10 days) of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist SL 84.0418 on glucose tolerance in nondiabetic control rats and type I and type II diabetic rats and the level of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter GLUT-4, which is exclusively expressed in white and brown adipose tissues, heart, and skeletal muscles. Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were markedly impaired in type II diabetic rats (neonatal injection of streptozotocin) and were totally corrected by an acute i.p. injection of SL 84.0418. As a consequence of the chronic restoration of insulin secretion, GLUT-4 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, initially decreased by 67% in white adipose tissue of type II diabetic rats, were normalized by subchronic (10 days), but not acute (2 days), treatment with SL 84.0418. The same results were obtained in brown adipose tissues of type II diabetic rats, whereas no modification of GLUT-4 mRNA levels remained very low in brown adipose tissues of type I diabetic rats (adult injection of streptozotocin) after acute or subchronic administration of SL 84.0418, suggesting that this drug acted by the restoration of insulin secretion. This study reports a decrease in GLUT-4 levels in insulin-sensitive tissues in this model of type II diabetes as well as its regulation after subchronic normalization of insulin secretion. We suggest a direct role for the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist SL 84.0418 in pancreatic beta-cells that allows normalization of glucose tolerance.

Adipose Tissue

[3H]cirazoline as a tool for the characterization of imidazoline sites.

Recent studies have shown that cirazoline, an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, has greater affinity than do other imidazoline or guanidinium compounds at imidazoline recognition sites. In this report we used [3H]cirazoline as a probe to characterize imidazoline recognition sites present in membrane homogenates of rat brain and kidney as well as pancreatic beta HIT T15 cells. Specific binding of [3H]cirazoline to these various homogenates was saturable and reversible and was resolved into two classes of high affinity binding sites. Competition inhibition studies of [3H]cirazoline binding to these different membrane preparations were performed with alkaloid, phenylethylamine, imidazoline, and guanidinium compounds. Catecholamines and non-imidazoline adrenoceptor ligands such as epinephrine, benextramine, prazosin, propranolol, rauwolscine, or adrenoceptor ligands such as epinephrine, benextramine, prazosin, propranolol, rauwolscine, or yohimbine did not compete with [3H]cirazoline (Ki > 10 microM). Under our experimental conditions, only guanidinium and imidazoline derivatives had high affinities for [3H]cirazoline binding sites. Unlabeled cirazoline, clonidine, bromoxidine, idazoxan, and amiloride had the highest affinities with this respective rank order. These results suggest that [3H]cirazoline is a novel high affinity radioligand that specifically labels nonadrenergic imidazoline-guanidinium sites in the brain, kidney, and beta cells. Furthermore, the obtained rank order of inhibition suggests that [3H]cirazoline binding does not distinguish between I1 and I2 sites. In addition, we compared the specific binding of [3H]cirazoline with that of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist [3H]rauwolscine in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines stably expressing human alpha 2C2-, alpha 2C4-, and alpha 2C10-adrenoceptor subtypes. Using [3H]rauwolscine as a probe, each of these transfected cell lines expressed high levels for the three different alpha 2-adrenoceptor subtypes (Bmax values were between 2 and 7 pmol.mg-1 protein). In contrast, none of these cell lines displayed measurable imidazoline recognition sites. In summary, [3H]cirazoline is a novel high affinity radioligand that specifically labels imidazoline recognition sites without significant alpha- or beta-adrenoceptor binding. Furthermore, our results using alpha 2-adrenoceptor transfected cells confirm that the imidazoline recognition sites and each of the cloned alpha 2-adrenoceptor subtypes represent distinct macromolecular entities.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists

Binding of [3H]cirazoline to an imidazoline site in rat brain and kidney membranes.

Two classes of high-affinity sites for [3H]cirazoline were characterized in rat brain and kidney membranes. In both tissues, the binding parameters for the high- and low-affinity sites are similar with Bmax values of approximately 50 fmol/mg protein, Kd approximately 0.6 nM and Bmax approximately 470 fmol/mg protein, Kd approximately 11 nM respectively. Inhibition studies of [3H]cirazoline binding to the lower affinity site revealed that only guanidinium or imidazoline derivatives compete with the specific binding of this radioligand. Our results suggest that [3H]cirazoline could be used as a novel ligand to label the non-adrenergic imidazoline-preferring sites.

Animals