Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R J Summers.
The reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction was used to demonstrate beta 3-adrenoceptor mRNA in rat brain regions. Levels were highest in hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum and lower in hypothalamus, brainstem and cerebellum.
1. Homogenate binding studies and receptor autoradiography have been used to examine the binding characteristics and localization of propranolol-resistant (-)-[125I]-cyanopindolol (CYP) binding sites in rat ileum. 2. Saturation studies with (-)-[125I]-CYP and homogenates of rat ileum identified a site with pKD 8.89 +/- 0.08 and Bmax = 50.3 +/- 4.1 fmol mg-1 protein (n = 6). Both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors (AR) were not detected in these preparations. 3. (-)-Isoprenaline infusion (400 micrograms kg-1 h-1) for 14 days caused no significant change in the density of (-)-[125I]-CYP binding which was 48.9 +/- 12.8 and 40.6 +/- 12.3 fmol mg-1 protein in control and isoprenaline-treated animals respectively (n = 6) (P = 0.97). 4. Competition for (-)-[125I]-CYP binding in the presence of 0.1 microM (-)-propranolol gave affinity values for CYP, tertatolol, alprenolol, ICI 118551 and CGP 20712A that correspond to known affinities at atypical beta-ARs. Stereoselectivity ratios for tertatolol and alprenolol were low. 5. Autoradiographic localization of propranolol resistant (-)-[125I]-CYP binding showed sites associated with the mucosa and to a lesser extent to the muscularis. A small population of beta 2-ARs were detected located predominantly in the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers. 6. This study identifies an (-)-[125I]-CYP binding site in rat ileum that is resistant to blockade by propranolol (0.1 microM), is located predominantly in the mucosa, shows resistance to downregulation by isoprenaline and has binding characteristics of the atypical beta-AR.
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Afferents to the nucleus tractus solitarius utilizing excitatory amino acid transmitters were described in rat brain by autoradiography following microinfusion and retrograde transport of D-[3H]aspartate. Parallel experiments with the injection of [3H]GABA were employed to establish the transmitter-selective nature of the retrograde labelling found with D-[3H]aspartate. Following infusion of D-[3H]aspartate, perikaryal labelling was heaviest in myencephalon, where at least 16 discrete nuclei were labelled. Heaviest labelling was localized bilaterally in the trigeminal nucleus with cells extending through its subdivisions and the entire rostrocaudal axis. Intense labelling was also obtained in the inferior olive, predominantly contralaterally, and non-perikaryal labelling noted. Vestibular, reticular and raphe nuclei contained heavily labelled perikarya. In cervical spinal cord, a moderate density of labelled cells was found in dorsal horn, adjoining the central canal (lamina X) and in the central cervical nucleus, along with appreciable labelling of processes and non-perikaryal labelling. The relative density of labelled perikarya in mesencephalic nuclei was much lower than found in myencephalon, although D-[3H]aspartate produced topographic and precise labelling of a small number of cells in the periaqueductal gray, medial parabrachial nucleus and Koelliker-Fuse nucleus. Only weak labelling was found in cortex and hypothalamus. Labelled cells were not consistently observed in other regions (stria terminalis, amygdala, fastigial nucleus, locus coeruleus and rostral ventrolateral medulla) known to innervate the nucleus tractus solitarius. Lower densities of labelled perikarya were found after the microinjection of [3H]GABA, and the only regions in which a small number of cells were labelled by both D-[3H]aspartate and [3H]GABA were trigeminal nucleus, reticular nuclei and raphe obscurus. An exception was the ventrolateral medulla, where [3H]GABA produced precise labelling in the nucleus ambiguus and facial nucleus consistent with previous evidence for a GABAergic pathway from this area to the nucleus tractus solitarius. Our findings confirm the selectivity of the retrograde transport of D-[3H]aspartate and [3H]GABA. Overall, the transport of D-[3H]aspartate revealed a complex topographic and convergent network of afferent pathways to the nucleus tractus solitarius likely to utilize an excitatory amino acid transmitter.
The density and distribution of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the atrioventricular conducting system and interatrial and interventricular septa from human hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease was determined by quantitative autoradiography using (-)[125I]cyanopindolol and the selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist CGP 20712A and the selective beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551. Both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors were present in the atrioventricular node, bundle of His, interatrial and interventricular septa. No differences in the density or proportions of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the atrioventricular node, bundle of His, interatrial septum and interventricular septum were observed between hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or ischemic heart disease (P > 0.05) so further analysis did not distinguish between the two aetiologies. The density of beta 1-adrenoceptors was lower in the bundle of His (5.0 +/- 1.7 fmol/mg protein) than in the atrioventricular node (22.2 +/- 5.7 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.05), the interatrial septum (29.6 +/- 4.5 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.001) and interventricular septum (24.9 +/- 5.2 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.005, n = 8 for all values). The atrioventricular node, interatrial and interventricular septa had similar densities of beta 1-adrenoceptors (P = 0.60, ANOVA). The distribution of beta 2-adrenoceptors in the atrioventricular node (21.5 +/- 4.1 fmol/mg protein), bundle of His (12.9 +/- 2.6 fmol/mg protein) and atrial (16.7 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg protein) and septal myocardium (13.8 +/- 2.5 fmol/mg protein, n = 8 for all values) was uniform (P = 0.18, ANOVA). The percentage of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the atrioventricular node, bundle of His, interatrial and interventricular septa was uneven (P < 0.001, ANOVA). There was a higher proportion of beta 2-adrenoceptors in the bundle of His (72 +/- 6%) than in the atrioventricular node (51 +/- 3%, P < 0.01), interatrial septum (36 +/- 1%, P < 0.001) and interventricular septum (36 +/- 1%, P < 0.001).
This study examined the changes of beta-adrenoceptors in the guinea-pig sinoatrial nodal region following 7 day (-)-isoprenaline (400 micrograms/kg/h s.c.) infusion and the relationship between beta-adrenoceptor desensitization and receptor down-regulation. Changes in beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor density were measured using quantitative autoradiography and function in organ bath studies. (-)-Isoprenaline treatment produced a marked decrease in total (from 57.5 to 33.9 fmol/mg protein), beta 1- (from 49.4 to 32.8 fmol/mg protein), and beta 2-adrenoceptor density (from 8.1 to 1.05 fmol/mg protein) in the sinoatrial node. In adjacent right atrium, treatment produced no change in total (39.5 and 36.7 fmol/mg protein) or beta 1-adrenoceptors (35.9 and 36.4 fmol/mg protein) but did decrease beta 2-adrenoceptors (from 3.7 to 0.3 fmol/mg protein). Chronotropic effects were measured in spontaneously beating right atrium. Procaterol, a selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, caused a biphasic chronotropic response in control right atria, the first part of which was abolished in the tissue from treated animals. The maximum increase in right atrial rate to RO363, a beta 1-adrenoceptor selective partial agonist, was reduced from 114 bpm in control to 43 bpm in treated animals. In electrically driven right atrium with the sinoatrial node removed procaterol failed to produce a positive inotropic response via beta 2-adrenoceptors, but the maximum response to RO363 was reduced from 0.75 g in the control tissue to 0.12 g in the treated tissue. This study showed that changes in beta 2-adrenoceptor density following 7 day (-)-isoprenaline infusion are compatible with reduced functional responsiveness in the SA node. The reduction of beta 1-adrenoceptor number in the SA node was also compatible with the reduced chronotropic response in this tissue. However the lack of effect on beta 1-adrenoceptor density in the right atrium was not consistent with the decrease in beta 1-adrenoceptor mediated inotropic response in this tissue. This suggests that beta-adrenoceptor desensitization is not always associated with receptor down-regulation but depends also on the changes in the cell signalling system beyond the level of the receptor which differ according to the cardiac location.
Quantitative autoradiography was used to determine the density and distribution of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the atrioventricular (AV) conducting system and surrounding myocardium of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after chronic infusion of perindopril (1 mg/kg/day) for 14 days by osmotic mini-pumps. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured for a period of 4 weeks (2 weeks before and 2 weeks during perindopril infusion) in control and treated animals. Animals infused with vehicle (water) had a mean SBP of 248 mm Hg (measured on day 29); animals treated with perindopril had lower SBP (121 mm Hg, day 29). Perindopril treatment also prevented development of cardiac hypertrophy in SHR. beta-Adrenoceptor densities were measured in the AV node, His bundle, left and right bundle branches (LB, BB), interventricular and interatrial septa (IVS, IAS), mitral valve (MV), right papillary muscle, left and right ventricles (LV, RV), left and right atria (LA, RA), and apex. Perindopril produced no significant change in beta-adrenoceptors in any cardiac region examined. The results suggest that under experimental conditions in which perindopril treatment prevented cardiac hypertrophy and decreased SBP, there was no significant interaction between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and beta-adrenoceptor system in rat heart.
1. Quantitative autoradiography was used to determine beta-adrenoceptor densities in cardiac regions of guinea-pigs and rats after chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine, and to examine how chemical sympathectomy affected beta-adrenoceptor changes following infusion of (-)-isoprenaline (400 micrograms kg-1 hr-1, 7 days). 2. Seven days after 6-hydroxydopamine (100 mg kg-1, i.v.), cardiac tissue levels of noradrenaline were reduced by 94.0 +/- 3.5% (guinea-pig) and 86.0 +/- 7.0% (rat). The blood pressure increase in rats to tyramine (0.5 mg, i.v.) was reduced from 118 mmHg in controls to 4.4 mmHg in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals. 3. There were no changes 7 and 14 days after 6-hydroxydopamine treatment in total, beta 1-and beta 2-adrenoceptor density in the atrioventricular conducting system and atrial and ventricular myocardium in both species. 4. In control animals, (-)-isoprenaline infusion produced selective reductions in beta 2-adrenoceptor density, whilst beta 1-adrenoceptor density remained unchanged. 5. In 6-hydroxydopamine treated guinea-pigs or rats, (-)-isoprenaline infusion caused no change in beta 1-adrenoceptors except in the right bundle branch whilst beta 2-adrenoceptors were reduced in the atrioventricular conducting system (atrioventricular node, bundle of His, right and left bundle branches) and myocardium (interventricular septum and atria). 6. The differential effect of (-)-isoprenaline on beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors is not therefore due to the occupation of beta 1-adrenoceptors by noradrenaline or to prior down-regulation of beta 1-adrenoceptors by noradrenaline, since it persists after depletion of noradrenaline.
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1. The characteristics of a propranolol-resistant (-)-[125I]-cyanopindolol (CYP) binding site in rat soleus muscle were determined. 2. Saturation studies performed on homogenates of rat soleus muscle showed two phases of (-)-[125I]-CYP binding, a high affinity site (KD1 30.5 +/- 16.3 pM, Bmax 9.4 +/- 1.38 fmol mg-1 protein) and a lower affinity site (KD2 522.5 +/- 29.1 pM, Bmax 62.19 +/- 11.76 fmol mg-1 protein, n = 4). 3. In rat soleus muscle homogenates labelled with (-)-[125I]-CYP (500 pM), (-)-propranolol competition curves were biphasic with pKD values of 8.30 +/- 0.19, and 5.33 +/- 0.08, n = 7. 4. Competition between (-)-[125I]-CYP (500 pM) and (+/-)-tertatolol, (+/-)-nadolol, (+/-)-alprenolol, (+/-)-CYP, and (-) and (+)-pindolol showed that these compounds competed for binding at the propranolol-resistant site with affinities lower than those displayed at typical beta-adrenoceptors. The atypical beta-adrenoceptor agonists BRL 37344, SR58611A and ICI D7114 and the partial agonist (+/-)-CGP 12177 also competed for (-)-[125I]-CYP binding. 5. Stereoselectivity was demonstrated for the stereoisomers of alprenolol and tertalolol. The (-)-isomers of alprenolol and tertalolol had higher affinity than their corresponding (+)-isomers (3.1 and 2.6 fold respectively). These low stereoselectivity values are a characteristic of atypical beta-adrenoceptors. 6. The beta-adrenoceptor agonists, (-)-adrenaline, (-)-isoprenaline and (-)-noradrenaline, all showed lower affinity than the atypical beta-adrenoceptor agonists and competition curves appeared biphasic in nature. 7. These results confirm the presence of a propranolol-resistant (- )-[125I]-CYP binding site in rat soleus muscle. The affinities of the tested compounds at the propranolol-resistant (- )-[125I]-CYP binding site show similarities to their affinities at 'atypical' beta-adrenoceptors in adipocytes and gastrointestinal tissues and at the cloned beta 3-adrenoceptor.
Relaxin is a polypeptide hormone that has a variety of physiological effects both on remodelling of collagen and on uterine contractility. These are most apparent during pregnancy. The sequences of relaxin cDNAs derived from ovaries of late-pregnant random-bred Swiss mice have been established. Multiple subclones obtained from three independent polymerase chain reaction experiments were found to encode relaxins which were identical except at position 11 in the A chain (Ile or Val). All mouse relaxin cDNAs expressed in the ovary during pregnancy had an extra tyrosine inserted prior to the final A chain cysteine residue, a result confirmed by direct sequencing of relaxin peptides. Whilst this tyrosine insertion must have local effects on the folding of the A chain, structure-activity studies will clarify whether it perturbs functional interaction with the relaxin receptor. We have shown that there is a single relaxin gene in the mouse genome, and that expression during pregnancy occurs in the ovary but is not detectable in the placenta, uterus or fetus.
Relaxin is usually considered to be a hormone of pregnancy, but porcine relaxin has been shown to increase heart rate in rats. We investigated the cardiac effects of synthetic human gene-2 relaxin (hRlx-2) in vitro in isolated rat atria. Synthetic hRlx-2 produced concentration-dependent positive chronotropic effects in spontaneously beating right atria (EC50 [concentration required to produce 50% of the maximal response] = 0.09 [SE 0.03] nmol/l) and concentration-dependent positive inotropic effects in electrically driven left atria (EC50 = 0.31 [0.02] nmol/l). The potency of hRlx-2 is greater than that of endothelin, angiotensin II, and (-)-isoprenaline in isolated rat atria. Relaxin has powerful chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart that are probably mediated through a direct action on relaxin receptors.
Receptor autoradiography was used in guinea-pig heart to locate binding sites for the beta-adrenoceptor ligand (-)[125I]cyanopindolol (CYP) resistant to blockade by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (-)-propranolol (1 microM). Highly localized binding was observed to regions closely associated with the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node and bundle of His but was not observed on myocardial, pacemaker, conducting cells or adipose tissue. Free [125I] also bound to identical sites. Binding was enhanced in the presence of ascorbic acid but was completely inhibited by (-)-isoprenaline (100 microM), serotonin (5-HT) (10 microM) and phentolamine (10 microM).
1. Binding sites in guinea pig myocardial tissue labelled by (-)-[125I] cyanopindolol (CYP) were investigated using differential centrifugation and autoradiographic techniques. Autoradiographs of myocardial sections (0.1 microns) indicated (-)-[125I]CYP binding to sarcolemmal membrane. A low density of binding sites was observed to mitochondria. 2. Binding studies were performed in subcellular fractions. The density of binding sites in the mitochondrial fraction (36.1 +/- 9.4 fmol/mg protein) was less than 10% that in the sarcolemmal membrane (371.7 +/- 38.2 fmol/mg protein). The beta 1/beta 2-adrenoceptor subtype ratio in the mitochondrial fraction (83.3/16.7) was similar to that in the sarcolemmal fraction (87.1/12.9). 3. Ouabain (100 microM), in the presence of sodium azide (0.4 mM), inhibited a Na+K+ stimulated ATPase activity (1.0 +/- 0.2 mumol Pi/mg protein/hr reduction), indicating a low but significant level of sarcolemmal contamination of the mitochondrial fraction. 4. The study showed beta-adrenoceptors in guinea pig heart are located primarily on the sarcolemmal membrane of myocardium. No evidence was obtained for beta-adrenoceptors over mitochondria, as has been suggested in other tissues and species, but that this binding was to sarcolemmal inclusions in the mitochondrial fraction.
Interactions between the beta-adrenoceptor agonist cimaterol and beta-adrenoceptors on rat skeletal muscle membranes were examined in two studies. In Exp. 1, muscle samples from eight Sprague-Dawley rats (female, approximately 200 g) were used for competition binding and autoradiographic studies using [125I]cyanopindolol (ICYP) as a radioligand. The affinities or dissociation constants for binding (KD values) for cimaterol in plantaris and soleus muscles were .68 and .92 microM, respectively. Muscle areas stained for succinic dehydrogenase had propranolol-resistant ICYP binding sites; cimaterol did not seem to compete for these sites. In Exp. 2, 60 Sprague-Dawley rats (female, approximately 218 g) were fed 0 or 10 ppm of cimaterol in rat diet that was ground. Groups were killed after 1, 3, 7, 14, or 28 d of treatment. Cimaterol increased BW gain up to 14 d after commencement of treatment, with little or no improvement thereafter. Enhanced weight gain in skeletal muscles also occurred up to 14 d of cimaterol treatment. Densities of beta-adrenoceptors in plantaris and soleus muscle membrane homogenates were estimated using a radioligand binding assay with ICYP. A significant reduction in the number of binding sites (Bmax) was observed after 3 d of cimaterol treatment in plantaris muscle without a change in the KD of ICYP binding. The percentage reductions in Bmax were 26.8, 42.2, 37.7, and 37.8% at 3, 7, 14, and 28 d after cimaterol administration, respectively. In the soleus muscle, significant reductions (44.1 and 29.8%) in Bmax were observed after 3 and 14 d of cimaterol treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
BACKGROUND: A history (or lack thereof) of penicillin allergy is known to be unreliable in predicting reactions on subsequent administration of the drug. This study tests the usefulness of four penicillin allergen skin tests in the prediction of IgE-mediated reactions subsequent to administration of penicillin. METHODS: Eight centers cooperated in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases trial of the predictive value of skin testing with major and minor penicillin derivatives. Hospitalized adults were tested with a major determinant (octa-benzylpenicilloyl-ocytalysine) and a minor determinant mixture and its components (potassium benzylpenicillin, benzylpenicilloate, and benzylpenicilloyl-N-propylamine). Patients then received a therapeutic course of penicillin and were observed, for 48 hours, for adverse reactions compatible with an IgE-mediated immediate or accelerated allergy. RESULTS: Among 726 history-positive patients, 566 with negative skin tests received penicillin and only seven (1.2%) had possibly IgE-mediated reactions. Among 600 history-negative patients, 568 with negative skin tests received penicillin and none had a reaction. Only nine of the 167 positive skin test reactors received a penicillin agent and then usually by cautious incremental dosing. Two (22%) of these nine patients had reactions compatible with IgE-mediated immediate or accelerated penicillin allergy; both were positive to the two determinants. CONCLUSIONS: These data corroborate previous data about the negative predictive value of negative skin tests to these materials. The reaction rate in skin test-positive patients was significantly higher than in those with negative skin tests, demonstrating the positive predictive value of positive tests to both major and minor determinants. The number of patients positive only to the major determinant or only to the minor determinant mix was too small to draw conclusions about the positive predictive value of either reagent alone.
Autoradiographic studies were performed in sections of rat gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus muscle bundles with (-)-[125I]cyanopindolol (59-69 pM) in the presence of (-)-propranolol (1 microM) to block beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors. Two distinct populations of binding sites remained, one evenly distributed over the muscle bundles and the other localized in discrete patches. Evenly distributed binding was highest in the soleus muscle and inhibited by (+/-)-, (-)- and (+)-alprenolol (20 microM), tertatolol (1 microM), BRL 37344 (2-20 microM), (-)-isoprenaline (100 microM), phentolamine (10 microM) and haloperidol (250 microM) but not ICI 118,551 (70 nM), CGP 20712A (100 nM), (+)-isoprenaline (100 microM), pindolol (2 microM), cimaterol (100 microM) or serotonin (10 microM). Stereoselectivity for the optical isomers of alprenolol was displayed in the soleus muscle only. Highly localized binding was inhibited by serotonin (10 microM), (-)- and (+)-isoprenaline (100 microM) and phentolamine (10 microM).