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Biomedical subjects

J Bockaert

Publications and source records attributed to J Bockaert.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

The resolution of dopamine and beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities in homogenates of cat cerebellum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by dopamine and various beta-adrenergic agonists has been investigated in homogenates from 3 areas of cat brain: the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the beta-arenergic receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase could be classified as either beta 1 and beta 2 subtypes in the different regions studied. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by the beta-adrenergic agonist, (-)isoproterenol (5 X 10(-6) M), was completely blocked by the specific beta-adrenergic antagonist, (p)alprenolol (1-(-5) M), but not by the dopaminergic antagonist, fluphenazine (10(-5) M), whereas the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by (-)epinephrine (10(-4) M) was blocked to varying extents by these two drugs in each of the 3 regions studied. The (-)epinephrine effect was always blocked in the combined presence of (p)alprenolol and fluphenazine. The adenylate cyclase stimulation by (p)epinephrine which is not blocked by (p)alprenolol was due to interaction of (p)epinephrine with a dopaminergic-sensitive adenylate cyclase which has been characterized in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Regional differences in the affinity of beta-adrenergic-sensitive adenylate cyclase for various agonists were investigated in the presence of fluphenazine (10(-5) M). In the cerebellum the potency order was (+/-)protokylol greater than (+/-)hydroxybenzylisoproterenol greater than (+/-)isoproterenol greater than (-)epinephrine greater than (+/-)salbutamol greater than (-)norepinephrine, indicating the presence of a beta 2-adrenergic receptor. In the cerebral cortex the potency order was (-)isoproterenol greater than +/-)protokylol greater than (+/-)hydroxybenzylisoproterenol greater than (-)epinephrine = (-)norepinephrine ((+/-)salbutamol being inactive). A similar pattern was found in the hippocampus indicating the presence of a beta 1-adrenergic receptor in these two regions. (+/-)Salbutamol was a partial agonist in the cerebellum and a competitive antagonist in the cerebral cortex. The ratio of the antagonist potencies of (+/-)practolol and (+/-)butoxamine preferential beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic antagonists respectively, to block the stimulation of adenylate cyclase was 25 in the cerebellum, compared to 0.5 in the cerebral cortex and 1.6 in the hippocampus. These results confirm the presence of a beta 2 subtype of receptor coupled to adenylate cyclase in the former and beta 1 subtypes in the latter two regions. The comparison between the affinities of a series of beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists for the beta-adrenergic receptors coupled with an adenylate cyclase in cerebral cortex and cerebellum with their affinities for well characterized beta 2-adrenergic receptors in lung and beta 1-adrenergic receptor in heart substantiated this conclusion.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Is dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase involved in regulating the activity of striatal cholinergic neurons?

The dopamine (DA)-receptor mediated changes in striatal acetylcholine (ACh) levels have been studied to determine if this effect involves a D1-(adenylate cyclase dependent) or D2-(not linked to an adenylate cyclase) type of DA-receptor, Various DA-agonists (apomorphine, N-diphenethylamine derivatives) increased striatal ACh levels in both intact and 6-OHDA lesioned rats whereas only apomorphine stimulated the adenylate cyclase activity of striatal homogenates. The N-diphenethylamine compounds (RU 24213, RU 24926 and RU 26933) were without effect either on basal or DA-stimulated activities of this enzyme. In contrast, D-LSD (which acts as a partial agonist of the striatal DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase) did not modify the striatal ACh content. More interestingly, an intrastriatal injection of cholera toxin greatly stimulated striatal adenylate cyclase without altering ACh concentrations. Both haloperidol and methergoline antagonized the DA stimulation of adenylate cyclase, but only haloperidol decreased striatal ACh levels. These results indicate that the DA receptor involved in regulating the activity of striatal cholinergic neurons is of the D2-type.

Acetylcholine↗

Topographical distribution of dopaminergic innervation and dopaminergic receptors of the anterior cerebral cortex of the rat.

The quantitative topographical distribution of the dopaminergic innervation and the DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase were estimated in the anterior cerebral cortex of the rat. The high affinity uptake of [3H]DA and endogenous levels of DA were used as markers of the dopaminergic innervation. [3H]DA uptake, DA levels and DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase were estimated in microdiscs of tissues punched out from frozen serial frontal slices. The uptake of [3H]DA was measured on sucrose homogenates prepared from such microdiscs. The ventral part of the frontal cortex contained the highest DA concentration and DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity; the other structures rich in DA and in DA receptors were the cingular (close to the corpus callsoum) and the rhinal cortices. All of these cortical areas were rich in [3H]DA uptake sites. However, curiously, the dorsal part of the frontal cortex, which contained only moderate amounts of DA and of DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase, presented the highest number of [3H]DA uptake sites. Nevertheless, the uptake of [3H]DA in this region decreased by 60% after bilateral electrolytical lesions of the ventral tegmental area (A10 group). The parietal cortex was practically devoid of dopaminergic innervation and of DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase. The activity of the DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase in the frontal, cingular and rhinal cortices was 10-fold higher than that found in the striatum when compared to their respective DA levels.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Paradoxical decrease of brain 5-HT turnover by metergoline, a central 5-HT receptor blocker.

Since metergoline (1-methyl-8-beta-carbobenzyloxy-aminomethyl-10-alpha-ergoline) is a potent 5-HT antagonist in peripheral organs, its possible blocking effects on 5-HT receptors in the rat brain were investigated. In vitro, metergoline inhibited both the specific high affinity binding of 3-H-5-HT onto synaptosomal membranes (IC 50 = 18 nM) and the stimulating effect of 10 micron 5-HT on the adenylate cyclase activity in colliculi homogenates from newborn rats (IC 50 = 12 micron. In vivo, the administration of metergoline (10 mg/kg i.p., 60 min before death) resulted in a significant decrease in the 3-H-5-HT binding capacity of synaptosomal membranes from the forebrain of adult rats. Taken together, these data clearly indicated that metergoline is a potent blocker of some serotoninergic receptors in the rat brain. Surprisingly, the changes in 5-HT turnover occurring in the brainstem and in the forebrain 1 h after metergoline (2-10 mg/kg) treatment were similar to those normally induced by a central 5-HT agonist: both the rate of 5-HT utilisation and that of 5-HT synthesis were significantly decreased. These changes were in contrast to the acceleration of 5-HT turnover induced by the administration of another potent central 5-HT antagonist, methiothepin. These results are discussed in relation to the possible existence of several types of serotoninergic receptors in the rat brain. It is possible that the positive feedback regulation of 5-HT turnover is triggered by the blockade of serotoninergic receptors sensitive to methiothepin, but not to metergoline.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Characteristics of dopamine and beta-adrenergic sensitive adenylate cyclases in the frontal cerebral cortex of the rat. Comparative effects of neuroleptics on frontal cortex and striatal dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclases.

Homogenates of frontal cerebral cortex of the rat were prepared from microdiscs punched out in areas rich in dopaminergic terminals. Under optimal assay conditions, dopamine (10-4 M) stimulated an adenylate cyclase present in these homogenates by 80-100%. This stimulation reached 200% when microdiscs were punched out from the medial part of the frontal cerebral cortex, adjacent to the forceps minor. Dopamine interacted with an homogeneous population of receptor sites which had an apparent affinity (KD) of 3.8 +/- 0.9 x 10-6 M (N = 4). The dopamine receptor was blocked by fluphenazine and phentolamine but had no affinity for pindolol, propranolol or L-isoproterenol. The affinities of several neuroleptics having different chemical structures were simultaneously determined on striatal and on frontal cerebral cortex dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclases. Fluphenazine was more potent in blocking the striatal than the frontal cerebral cortex dopaminergic receptors. In contrast, in all experiments, haloperidol had an higher affinity for the cerebral frontal cortex than for the striatal dopaminergic receptors. Thus, haloperidol was less effective than fluphenazine in blocking the striatal dopaminergic receptors, and equally potent than fluphenazine in inhibiting the frontal cerebral cortex dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase. Chlorpromazine, thioridazine and clozapine had the same affinity for the two dopaminergic adenylate cyclase systems. L-isoproterenol interacted with an homogeneous population of beta-adrenergic receptor sites (KD = 3 +/- 2 X 10-7 M; N = 4) coupled with an adenylate cyclase distince from the dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase. This beta-receptor had no affinity for dopamine or fluphenazine but was blocked by propranolol or pindolol. L-Norepinephrine was shown to stimulate both the dopamine (KD = 1.8 +/- 1 X 10-5 M; N = 4) and the beta-adrenergic (KD = 8 +/- 3 X 10-7 M; N = 4) sensitive adenylate cyclases. Thus, the L-norepinephrine effect was totally blocked in the combined presence of fluphenazine and pindolol.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗