Biomedical subjects

R D Pinnock

Publications and source records attributed to R D Pinnock.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

The cholecystokinin-induced increase in intracellular calcium in AR42J cells is mediated by CCKB receptors linked to internal calcium stores.

Changes in intracellular levels of free [Ca2+]i were monitored in cell suspensions and either single cells or cell clusters of the rat pancreatic tumour cell line AR42J grown on cover slips. Increases in free [Ca2+]i were seen when the bathing medium contained cholecystokinin octapeptide sulphated (CCK) or CCKB receptor agonists. Responses to CCK agonists were repeatable and reversed on washout. The responses to cholecystokinin and pentagastrin could be blocked by selective CCKB receptor antagonists but not a CCKA receptor antagonist. Depleting internal Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin blocked the response to pentagastrin suggesting that the response was mediated by Ca2+ release from internal stores. The rapid run down of the pentagastrin response in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ shows that replenishment of internal stores by extracellular Ca2+ is important in maintaining the CCK response.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Evaluation of a series of novel CCKB antagonists using a functional assay in the rat central nervous system.

1. Electrophysiological recordings from rat ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in vitro have been used to compare the effects of novel chemical entities on CCKB receptor activation in the rat central nervous system. 2. Twenty compounds from three different chemical series were evaluated for their ability to reduce pentagastrin-induced increases in action potential firing rate. 3. All twenty compounds studies were found to be CCKB antagonists, with equilibrium constants spanning a concentration-range of several orders of magnitude. The rank order for their ability to block pentagastrin responses correlated well with values obtained for their relative affinities for the mouse cortex CCKB binding site. 4. It is concluded that the VMH preparation provides a good functional correlate to binding assays in the rodent central nervous system for a structurally diverse series of CCKB antagonists.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1992

Activation of kappa-opioid receptors depresses electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials on 5-HT-sensitive neurones in the rat dorsal raphé nucleus in vitro.

Intracellular recordings from dorsal raphé neurones in slices from rat brains were used to study the actions of kappa-opioid receptor agonists on an excitatory postsynaptic potential (epsp) evoked by local electrical stimulation of afferent terminals. The epsp was observed on all 5-HT-sensitive neurones and was blocked by 1 microM TTX. The epsp was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by the specific kappa-opioid receptor agonist [5R-(5 alpha,7 alpha,8 beta)]-N-methyl-N-[7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1- oxaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yl]-4-benzofuranacetamide monohydrochloride (CI-977) (1-100 nM). The effects of CI-977 were blocked by the specific kappa-opioid receptor antagonist norbinaltorphimine (NorBNI) (0.1-1 microM). In the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonists picrotoxin and bicuculline (30 microM), CI-977 still had its depressant action on the epsp. Application of the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists either kynurenic acid (0.5-1 mM) or 6-cyano-2,3-dihydro-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) (30 microM) and DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) reduced both the peak and area of the epsp suggesting that the main component of the epsp evoked by electrical stimulation was largely due to release of excitatory amino acids from afferent terminals. Using potassium chloride-filled recording electrodes an epsp which was only partially occluded by kynurenic acid or CNQX and APV was seen on some neurones, this residual epsp was insensitive to CI-977 but was blocked by 30 microM picrotoxin and bicuculline. The specific mu-opioid receptor agonist, DAGOL, had no consistent effect on the fast epsp. Longer duration electrical stimuli produced a slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential (ipsp) and a long duration increase in firing. CI-977 did not affect either the slow 5-HT-mediated ipsp which was blocked by spiperone or the slow noradrenaline-mediated increase in firing which was sensitive to prazosin. CI-977 did not change the depolarizing response to brief applications of either glutamic acid or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA). CI-977, NorBNI, naloxone, DAGOL, picrotoxin, bicuculline and kynurenic acid had no consistent effects on the resting postsynaptic membrane potential or conductance. Under voltage-clamp conditions CI-977 had no effect on a membrane current resembling IA. These results suggest that kappa-opioid receptors are present on the terminals of afferents which release excitatory amino acids onto the 5-HT-sensitive neurones in the raphé.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

PubMed1992

A highly selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, CI-977, reduces excitatory synaptic potentials in the rat locus coeruleus in vitro.

Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in a rat locus coeruleus slice preparation in vitro. A postsynaptic potential was evoked by electrical stimulation of afferents to the neurons. CI-977 ([5R-(5a,7a,8b)]-N-methyl-N-[7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec -8-yl[-4-benzofuranacetamide monohydrochloride) caused a depression of the evoked postsynaptic potential on locus coeruleus neurons. This action was reversed on washout. Bremazocine had a similar action on less than 50% of locus coeruleus neurons. Concentrations of CI-977 which depressed the postsynaptic potential did not affect either passive membrane conductance or a voltage-sensitive potassium current resembling IA. The depression of the excitatory postsynaptic potential caused by CI-977 remained in the presence of either 30 microM bicuculline and picrotoxin or when potassium acetate-filled recording electrodes were used. Using potassium chloride-filled recording electrodes and in the presence of 30 microM 6-cyano-2,3-dihydro-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and either 30 microM DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid or 500 microM kynurenic acid, CI-977 had no effect on the postsynaptic potential. The effects of CI-977 were reversed by 30-100 nM naloxone and 1-10 nM norbinaltorphimine but not by 1-10 nM naloxone. The hyperpolarizing response to the mu-opioid receptor-selective agonist D-Ala2,Nme Phe4,Gly-ol5 (DAGOL) was blocked by 1-10 nM naloxone but not by 1-100 nM norbinaltorphimine. The hyperpolarizing response to DAGOL was not affected by high doses of CI-977.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1992

The selective NK3 receptor agonist senktide excites a subpopulation of dopamine-sensitive neurones in the rat substantia nigra pars compacta in vitro.

Intra- and extracellular recordings were made from substantia nigra zona compacta neurones from an in vitro rat brain slice preparation. A subpopulation of dopamine-sensitive neurones were encountered which were potently excited by bath application of the NK3 receptor agonist, senktide. On these senktide-sensitive neurones, NK1 and NK2 receptor agonists were inactive. The excitatory action of senktide supports a role for tachykinins as putative neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Pharmacology of a cholecystokinin receptor on 5-hydroxytryptamine neurones in the dorsal raphe of the rat brain.

1. The effect of bath application of sulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) was studied on neurones in slices containing rat raphe nucleus. 2. Intracellular recordings were made from neurones in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Some of the neurones with the characteristics of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-containing cells which were inhibited by 5-HT and excited by noradrenaline were excited by cholecystokinin. The response to cholecystokinin was dose-dependent over the range 10 to 1000 nM. 3. The response to CCK-8 persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Either reduction of extracellular calcium or addition of 25 mM magnesium did not block the CCK response, suggesting it was mediated by receptors located on the membrane of the raphe neurones. 4. The agonist and antagonist specificity of the CCK response was determined. The CCKB selective agonist, pentagastrin, was inactive when applied at concentrations up to 10 microM. the CCKA receptor antagonist L-364,718 (1 to 100 nM) blocked the response to cholecystokinin. Much higher (1-10 microM) concentrations of the CCKB receptor antagonist L-365,260 were required for inhibition of the CCK response. 5. These data support the existence of a CCK receptor, located on raphe neurones in the rat, with a pharmacological profile very similar to that described for the CCKA type.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Bombesin excites a subpopulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-sensitive neurones in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus in vitro.

1. The effects on dorsal raphe neurones of the peptides bombesin, gastrin-releasing peptide and neuromedin B were studied using intracellular recording techniques from slices of rat brain maintained in vitro. The peptides were added to the solutions perfusing the slices. 2. The peptides bombesin, gastrin-releasing peptide and neuromedin B depolarized neurones in the dorsal raphe nucleus. The same neurones were depolarized by phenylephrine and hyperpolarized by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) but were insensitive to sulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK). 3. The responses to the peptides were not blocked by CCKA, CCKB and alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonists. 4. The response to the peptides persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and low-calcium, high-magnesium-containing artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). 5. Under voltage clamp conditions the peptides caused a decrease in membrane conductance accompanied by an inward current. The reversal potential for the event was the same as that for 5-HT. 6. The results of the present study demonstrate that bombesin and the structurally related peptides gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B depolarized a subpopulation of raphe 5-HT neurones by acting on a postsynaptically located receptor linked to potassium channels.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Development of a class of selective cholecystokinin type B receptor antagonists having potent anxiolytic activity.

PD134308 and PD135158 are potent and selective antagonists at the cholecystokinin type B (CCK-B) receptors with IC50 values of 1.6 nM and 3.5 nM, respectively, in the radioligand binding assay and Ke values of 7.82 and 12.9 nM, respectively, in their blocking action on CCK responses in the rat lateral hypothalamic slice. PD134308 and PD135158 produced potent anxiolytic effects in the mouse black/white box test after either subcutaneous or oral administration. There was no evidence of the development of tolerance to the anxiolytic action of either PD134308 or PD135158 in mice treated twice daily for 7 days, nor was there any sign of withdrawal anxiogenesis after abrupt termination of this treatment. Both CCK-B antagonists were able to suppress the withdrawal anxiogenesis and produce an anxiolytic effect in mice previously made tolerant to diazepam. PD134308 and PD135158 produced potent anxiolytic effects in the rat elevated plus maze test and the rat social interaction test. The effects were comparable in magnitude to those seen with diazepam. However, unlike diazepam, PD134308 and PD135158 did not produce sedation. The CCK-B antagonists also showed powerful anxiolytic activity in the "marmoset human threat test." These results provide evidence of a selective role for CCK-B receptors in the control of anxiety. PD134308 and PD135158 are members of a class of anxiolytic agents that have a greatly improved profile compared with benzodiazepines or serotonin-related anxiolytics.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Characterization of cholecystokinin octapeptide-stimulated endogenous dopamine release from rat nucleus accumbens in vitro.

1. The effect of cholecystokinin sulphated octapeptide (CCK8S) on endogenous dopamine release was examined in rat striatal and nucleus accumbens slices, by high performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) with electrochemical detection. 2. CCK8S was shown to increase dopamine release from slices of nucleus accumbens but not striatum in a dose-dependent manner between 0.1 and 10 microM. 3. Pentagastrin was without effect on dopamine release at doses up to 10 microM. 4. The dopamine release produced in the presence of CCK8S was abolished by preincubation of the slice with 1.0 or 10.0 nM L-364,718 (the CCKA-selective antagonist) while 1 microM L-365,260 (the CCKB-selective antagonist) had no action. 5. These results suggest that the CCK8S-evoked release of dopamine from the nucleus accumbens is mediated by a CCKA-receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Kappa-bungarotoxin blocks an alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive nicotinic receptor in the insect central nervous system.

Snake venom kappa-neurotoxins are selective antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine responses in avian, murine and bovine neurons, and have been used as probes for functionally defined vertebrate neuronal nicotinic receptors. The actions of kappa-bungarotoxin, a kappa-neurotoxin, have now been examined at a central invertebrate nicotinic receptor. kappa-Bungarotoxin is a potent antagonist (IC50 = 100 nM) of nicotinic responses, producing a long-lasting blockade of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The blockade appears to be competitive, and voltage-clamp experiments on an identified cockroach motorneuron indicate that the actions of kappa-bungarotoxin are not dependent on membrane potential. alpha-Bungarotoxin is also a potent antagonist at the cockroach central nicotinic receptor, and binds (Kd = 4.3 nM) to a nicotinic site in cockroach nervous tissue. kappa-Bungarotoxin recognizes this invertebrate nicotinic site with high affinity (Ki = 27 nM). A comparison of the pharmacological properties of insect nicotinic receptors with those of functionally defined receptors identified by kappa-neurotoxins in avian autonomic ganglia reveals several similarities. However, a striking exception is alpha-bungarotoxin, which is the most potent antagonist examined at cockroach nicotinic receptors, but fails to recognize functional autonomic ganglia nicotinic receptors even at very high concentrations. It is concluded that kappa-neurotoxins can be used as selective probes for neuronal nicotinic receptors in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Although invertebrates diverged from vertebrates over 600 million years ago, the results indicate that the neuronal nicotinic receptors found in species as diverse as cockroach and chick retain considerable structural similarity, and thus neuronal nicotinic receptors appear to be highly conserved membrane proteins.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1988

GABA receptors on the cell-body membrane of an identified insect motor neuron.

The pharmacology of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor on the cell body of an identified motor neuron of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana) was investigated by current-clamp and voltage-clamp methods. Iontophoretic application of GABA increased membrane conductance to chloride ions, and prolonged application resulted in desensitization. Hill coefficients, determined from dose-response data, indicated that binding of at least two GABA molecules was required to activate the chloride channel. Differences between vertebrate GABAA receptors and insect neuronal GABA receptors were detected. For the GABA receptor of motor neuron Df, the following rank order of potency was observed: isoguvacine greater than muscimol greater than or equal to GABA greater than 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen was inactive. Of the potent vertebrate GABA receptor antagonists (bicuculline, pitrazepin, RU5135 and picrotoxin), only picrotoxin (10(-7) M) produced a potent, reversible block of the response to GABA of motor neuron Df. Both picrotoxinin and picrotin also blocked GABA-induced currents. Bicuculline hydrochloride (10(-4) M) and bicuculline methiodide (10(-4) M) were both ineffective when applied at resting membrane potential (-65 mV), although at hyperpolarized levels partial block of GABA-induced current was sometimes observed. Pitrazepin (10(-4) M) caused a partial, voltage-independent block of GABA-induced current. The steroid derivative RU5135 was inactive at 10(-5) M. In contrast to the potent competitive blockade of vertebrate GABAA receptors by bicuculline, pitrazepin and RU5135, none of the weak antagonism caused by these drugs on the insect GABA receptor was competitive. Flunitrazepam (10(-6) M) potentiated GABA responses, providing evidence for a benzodiazepine site on an insect GABA-receptor-chloride-channel complex.

Androstanes↗

PubMed1988

Ionic events following GABA receptor activation in an identified insect motor neuron.

The ionic events underlying gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor activation on the cell body of a cockroach identified motor neuron were investigated by using current-clamp and voltage-clamp techniques. The reversal potential for GABA-induced hyperpolarization was -77.0 +/- 2.4 mV (mean +/- s.e.m.; n = 22). The reversal potential for GABA was highly sensitive to changes in external chloride, only weakly affected by changes in external potassium, and independent of changes in either sodium or calcium ion concentration. Intracellular ion-sensitive microelectrodes confirmed that an influx of chloride ions mediated the GABA response. Intracellular injection of acetate, citrate, sulphate, fluoride or ammonium caused no change in the reversal potential for GABA. Intracellular injection of chloride, bromide, chlorate, bromate, or methyl sulphate shifted the reversal potential for GABA to values more positive than resting membrane potential. Evidence for chloride accumulating and for extrusion mechanisms was examined by using putative inhibitors. However, internal application of ammonium ions, and external application of 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS), 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), acetazolamide, furosemide, ammonium, zinc and copper ions, were all without effect on the reversal potential for GABA.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Actions of potent cholinergic anthelmintics (morantel, pyrantel and levamisole) on an identified insect neurone reveal pharmacological differences between nematode and insect acetylcholine receptors.

Intracellular recording and current-clamp techniques were used to investigate the cholinergic activity of the anthelmintics, morantel, pyrantel and levamisole, applied to the fast coxal depressor motorneurone (Df) of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Application of these agents and acetylcholine to the bath resulted in dose-dependent changes in conductance and corresponding depolarization of the neuronal membrane. Relative potencies of the drugs were determined from dose-response relationships and the rank order of effectiveness was as follows: carbachol much greater than levamisole greater than pyrantel greater than morantel. Evidence that these drugs were acting at the same site of action was obtained with the antagonist, mecamylamine, which abolished the responses to all these agents. It is concluded that the weak insecticidal action of these potent anthelmintics may result in part from their weak cholinergic agonist action on insect neurones, which contrasts with their potent agonist actions on acetylcholine receptors of helminth nerve and muscle tissues. The striking differences in potency on different invertebrate tissues appears to reflect differences in the properties of acetylcholine receptors between insects and nematodes. Further characterization of neurotransmitter receptors in invertebrates is needed in order to facilitate the rational design of broad-spectrum antiparasitic agents with low toxicity in mammals.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Sensitivity of neuronal dopamine response in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmentum to clozapine, metoclopramide and SCH 23390.

The activity of neurones in the substantial nigra and ventral tegmentum was recorded extracellularly in vitro. Dopamine produced depression of spontaneous firing in a dose-dependent manner. Antagonism of these neuronal responses to dopamine by metoclopramide, SCH 23390 and clozapine was examined. Metoclopramide antagonised the responses to dopamine in the manner expected; SCH 23390 had little effect on the response to dopamine as would be predicted for a selective dopamine "D1" antagonist. Clozapine did not produce the expected antagonism of the response to dopamine. The results at the single neurone level are compared with behavioural and biochemical data.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1987

Dissociation and maintenance in vitro of neurones from adult cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and housefly (Musca domestica).

A method is described for dispersal and subsequent maintenance in acute culture of neurones dissociated from ganglia of the adult cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and brain of the adult fly (Musca domestica). The effects of different media on the survival and attachment to different substrates have been investigated. About 25% of dissociated neurones survived well for periods greater than 6 days in a cockroach saline supplemented with foetal calf serum and the antibiotics fungizone and gentamicin. Fly neurones were more difficult to disperse. Fly saline supplemented with foetal calf serum and the antibiotics fungizone and gentamicin proved a successful short-term culture medium. Survival times were shorter, most neurones dying after 5 days. The demonstrated viability of such neurones has considerable potential for insecticide mode of action studies using the patch-clamp technique.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Neurotensin depolarizes substantia nigra dopamine neurones.

Neurotensin and the C-terminal 8-13 amino acid fragment were found to excite substantia nigra compacta dopamine neurones in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The N-terminal 1-8 amino acid fragment was not active at the concentrations used. Desensitization was not observed. Intracellular recordings from the neurones responding to dopamine showed neurotensin-depolarized cells with an increase or no change in input resistance. These actions persisted in zero calcium, 8 mM magnesium artificial CSF suggesting a post-synaptic action.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Mammalian tachykinin-induced hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids in rat brain slices.

The mammalian tachykinins substance K, neuromedin K and substance P stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in paired coronal sections through the rat brain. In contrast, none of these peptides had any effect on either basal or forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP levels. The present results therefore implicate inositol phospholipid hydrolysis as a possible second messenger system mediating the effects of substance K and neuromedin K in addition to substance P.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Zetidoline blocks dopamine autoreceptors in the rat substantia nigra.

Zetidoline, applied microiontophoretically onto neurones in the substantia nigra, zona compacta of anaesthetized rats, reversibly blocked the depressant effect of iontophoretically-applied dopamine. The inhibitory actions of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine and the excitatory action of glutamate were unaffected by the antagonist. Zetidoline applied by bath perfusion, was similarly an antagonist of the inhibitory effect of bath applications of dopamine on neurones in the zona compacta of slices of substantia nigra; the pA2 for zetidoline in this preparation was 7.0.

Animals↗