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S Z Langer

Publications and source records attributed to S Z Langer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor by the antiepileptic drugs carbamazepine and phenytoin.

We report here that carbamazepine and phenytoin, two widely used antiepileptic drugs, potentiate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced Cl- currents in human embryonic kidney cells transiently expressing the alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2 subtype of the GABAA receptor and in cultured rat cortical neurons. In cortical neuron recordings, the current induced by 1 microM GABA was enhanced by carbamazepine and phenytoin with EC50 values of 24.5 nM and 19.6 nM and maximal potentiations of 45.6% and 90%, respectively. The potentiation by these compounds was dependent upon the concentration of GABA, suggesting an allosteric modulation of the receptor, but was not antagonized by the benzodiazepine (omega) modulatory site antagonist flumazenil. Carbamazepine and phenytoin did not modify GABA-induced currents in human embryonic kidney cells transiently expressing binary alpha 1 beta 2 recombinant GABAA receptors. The alpha 1 beta 2 recombinant is known to possess functional barbiturate, steroid, and picrotoxin sites, indicating that these sites are not involved in the modulatory effects of carbamazepine and phenytoin. When tested in cells containing recombinant alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2, alpha 3 beta 2 gamma 2, or alpha 5 beta 2 gamma 2 GABAA receptors, carbamazepine and phenytoin potentiated the GABA-induced current only in those cells expressing the alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2 receptor subtype. This indicates that the nature of the alpha subunit isoform plays a critical role in determining the carbamazepine/phenytoin pharmacophore. Our results therefore illustrate the existence of one or more new allosteric regulatory sites for carbamazepine and phenytoin on the GABAA receptor. These sites could be implicated in the known anticonvulsant properties of these drugs and thus may offer new targets in the search for novel antiepileptic drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

In vivo and in vitro interaction of the novel selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist mizolastine with H1 receptors in the rodent.

The interaction of mizolastine (CAS 108612-45-9, SL 85.0324) with histamine H1 receptors has been evaluated in the rodent. Mizolastine inhibited with high affinity (IC50 = 47 nmol/l) the binding of [3H]pyrilamine to histamine H1 receptors in guinea pig cerebellar membranes and sections. The order of potency of mizolastine and various H1 antagonists in this binding assay was the following: cyproheptadine > pyrilamine > mequitazine > mizolastine > astemizole > terfenadine > cetirizine > loratadine. Mizolastine also potently antagonized the contractile effects of histamine in the guinea pig ileum (pA2 = 8.5) and histamine-induced stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover in rat cortical slices (IC50 = 0.35 mumol/l). In contrast, this compound displayed very low affinity for serotonergic, noradrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors as evidenced in both binding assays and functional tests. In guinea pig cerebellar membranes, [3H]mizolastine labelled in a saturable and reversible manner a single population of binding sites with Kd and Bmax values of 1.1 nmol/l and 635 fmol/mg protein, respectively. [3H]Mizolastine binding in guinea pig cerebellar membranes was inhibited by histamine (IC50 = 30 mumol/l) and by drugs that possess affinity for the H1 receptor such as pyrilamine (IC50 = 1 nmol/1), DL-chlorphenyramine (IC50 = 6.4 nmol/l) terfenadine (IC50 = 6 nmol/l) and loratadine (IC50 = 50 nmol/l). At concentrations lower than 10 mumol/l, the H2 receptor ligands dimaprit and cimetidine and the H3 receptor ligands burimamide and 4-methyl-histamine failed to displace [3H]mizolastine binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Expression of alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat tissues: implications for alpha 1-adrenoceptor classification.

We report here the mapping of the mRNA distribution of three different alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes (alpha 1b, alpha 1c and alpha 1d) in various rat tissues. cDNA fragments covering the region from the fifth to seventh putative transmembrane spanning domains of these three alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes were generated from rat hippocampus using reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These three alpha 1-adrenoceptor cloned cDNA fragments were then used as subtype-selective cDNA probes in Northern blot analysis. Of the three specific DNA probes only the rat alpha 1b-adrenoceptor probe hybridized to mRNA of rat liver. The rat alpha 1c-adrenoceptor probe hybridized to a mRNA species of 3.7 kb in tissues that have been reported to contain the classical pharmacologically-defined alpha 1A-adrenoceptor such as hippocampus, vas deferens, lung and salivary gland. Also, a major mRNA transcript of 2.7 kb was detected in hippocampus, vas deferens and lung, using the rat alpha 1d-adrenoceptor probe. In addition, pharmacological characterization of [3H]prazosin binding to three stably transfected mammalian cell-lines expressing one of the three alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes cloned to date (namely, alpha 1b--of the hamster smooth muscle DDT1-MF2 cell-line, the bovine brain alpha 1c--and the rat cerebral cortical alpha 1d-adrenoceptors) was performed. Of the three cloned alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes that alpha 1c-adrenoceptor showed a similar pharmacological profile to that of the classical alpha 1A-adrenoceptor of rat salivary gland. Our data on the pharmacological profile and expression pattern of the alpha 1c-adrenoceptor indicate, in contrast to earlier claims (Schwinn et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 1990), that this subtype is in fact the classical pharmacologically-defined alpha 1A-adrenoceptor subtype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

In vitro stimulation of insulin release by SL 84.0418, a new alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist.

SL 84.0418 (2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-propyl-pyrrolo[3, 2,1- hi]-indole hydrocholoride) is a novel alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist which possesses anti-hyperglycaemic properties in vitro study, we tested its effects on insulin release from isolated mouse islets. In the presence of 15 mM glucose, SL 84.0418 produced a concentration-dependent (0.1-100 microM) increase of insulin release with a slightly higher potency than tolbutamide. SL 84.0418 antagonized the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release caused either by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine or by diazoxide, a selective opener of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the beta-cell membrane. Its potency was greater on the inhibition by clonidine than on that by diazoxide, complete antagonism of the inhibition being achieved by 0.9 microM and 6 microM SL 84.0418 respectively. When alpha 2-adrenoceptors were blocked by the antagonist idazoxan, the low concentrations of SL 84.0418 (0.1-0.3 microM) no longer increased insulin release, whereas the effect of higher concentrations (> or = 1 microM) was not affected. SL 84.0418 (> or = 1 microM) inhibited 86Rb efflux from islets perifused with a medium containing 3 mM glucose, i.e. under conditions where many ATP-sensitive K+ channels are open. It also reduced the acceleration of 86Rb efflux that diazoxide caused in the presence of 6 mM glucose. Moreover, SL 84.0418 directly inhibited ATP-sensitive K+ currents measured in single beta-cells by the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed1994

Identification of alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes present in the human prostate.

alpha 1-Adrenoceptors (ARs) play an important role in mediating human prostatic smooth muscle contraction. In the present study cDNA fragments covering different domains of 3 alpha 1-AR subtypes (alpha 1b, alpha 1c and alpha 1d) were generated from human prostate by reverse transcription coupled to the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The reconstituted partial sequence (349 amino acids) of the human prostatic alpha 1c-AR PCR products showed 94% identity at the amino acid level with that of the corresponding region of the cloned bovine brain alpha 1c-AR. Using human alpha 1-AR subtype selective cDNA probes in Northern blot analysis, the co-expression of mRNA transcripts corresponding to alpha 1b-, alpha 1c- and alpha 1d-AR subtypes was detected in 4 different regions (apex, base, periurethra and lateral lobe) of the human prostate. Competitive inhibition experiments of [3H]-prazosin binding to membrane preparations of human prostate revealed that the non-selective alpha 1-subtype antagonist, alfuzosin, produced a monophasic inhibition curve, whereas oxymetazoline produced a 2-component inhibition curve with pKi values of 8.54 and 5.46. The high-affinity alpha 1-AR component of the oxymetazoline inhibition curve was predominant (57%-66%) and showed an affinity for oxymetazoline comparable to that of the alpha 1c-AR subtype. As such our results illustrate the expression of different alpha 1-AR subtypes in human prostate and importantly that alpha 1c represents the predominant alpha 1-AR subtype present in this tissue.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1993

Expression and properties of recombinant alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2 and alpha 5 beta 2 gamma 2 forms of the rat GABAA receptor.

The interaction of omega (benzodiazepine) modulatory drugs with transiently expressed alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2 and alpha 5 beta 2 gamma 2 forms of the rat GABAA receptor was investigated using [3H]flumazenil as a probe in in vitro radioligand binding assays. The imidazopyridines alpidem and zolpidem exhibited pronounced selectivity for the alpha 1- compared to the alpha 5-containing construct, whereas omega (benzodiazepine) site modulatory compounds from other chemical series including diazepam, tetrazepam, zopiclone, triazolam, bretazenil and midazolam behaved as relatively non-selective drugs. In the presence of 10 microM gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) the potencies of diazepam, flunitrazepam and midazolam to inhibit [3H]flumazenil binding to the alpha 1-construct were increased 3 to 5 fold, whereas with 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate methyl ester a 2.5-fold reduction in potency was observed. Similar modulatory effects of GABA were obtained with these drugs, using the alpha 5-construct. We suggest that these GABA shift determinations of [3H]flumazenil binding can be used as a rapid test to evaluate the intrinsic activities of omega modulatory compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

In vivo pharmacological profile of SL 84.0418, a new selective, peripherally active alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist.

SL 84.0418 is a novel pyrrolo-indole derivative with potent and selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist activity in vitro and anti-hyperglycemic properties in vivo. In the present study we demonstrated that SL 84.0418 and its active (+) enantiomer, SL 86.0715, show a high degree of selectivity for alpha 2-adrenoceptors in vivo, preferentially blocking alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the periphery. While having no effects on basal blood pressure and heart rate, p.o. (3 and 10 mg/kg) or i.v. (0.3 mg/kg) administered SL 84.0418 or SL 86.0715 antagonized the hypertensive responses mediated by postsynaptic vascular alpha 2-adrenoceptors after the administration of UK 14304 or norepinephrine to pithed rats. The (-) enantiomer of SL 84.0418, SL 86.0714, was devoid of alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist properties in vivo, while the (+) enantiomer of SL 84.0418, SL 86.0715, showed alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist activity similar to that of the racemate. SL 84.0418 (3 mg/kg p.o.) did not modify the centrally mediated hypotensive and bradycardic effects of i.c.v. administered clonidine. Furthermore, in the mouse, SL 84.0418 potently antagonized the hyperglycemic responses to epinephrine or UK 14304, which are mediated by peripheral alpha 2-adrenoceptors, but failed (in doses up to 30 mg/kg i.p.) to antagonize the clonidine-induced hypolocomotion, which is mediated by central alpha 2-adrenoceptors. These results suggest that SL 84.0418 preferentially antagonizes peripheral alpha 2-adrenoceptors. SL 84.0418 administered to pithed rats (3 mg/kg p.o. or 0.3 mg/kg i.v.) did not modify the vasoconstriction induced by cirazoline (effect mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors) nor the tachycardia induced by norepinephrine (effect mediated by beta-adrenoceptors).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1993

Litoxetine: a selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor with concomitant 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and antiemetic properties.

The selective 5HT uptake inhibitor, litoxetine (SL 81.0385), currently under development as an antidepressant was shown to have antiemetic properties in the ferret. Litoxetine (at 1 and 10 mg/kg i.v.) dose dependently reduced the number of retches and vomiting as well as the number of emetic episodes induced by cisplatin (10 mg/kg i.v.) and delayed the onset of emesis. Fluoxetine (at 1 or 10 mg/kg i.v.) failed to inhibit cisplatin-induced emetic responses and, in contrast, significantly increased the number of retches and vomiting and accelerated the onset of emesis. The possibility that the antiemetic effects of litoxetine may be mediated through an interaction with 5HT3 receptors was studied using [3H]quipazine or [3H]BRL 43694 to label the 5HT3 receptor. Litoxetine has moderate affinity for cerebral 5HT3 receptors (Ki = 85 nM), while fluoxetine, similar to other 5HT uptake inhibitors, has only negligible affinity for this receptor (Ki = 6.5 microM). It is proposed that litoxetine inhibits cisplatin-induced emetic responses due to its moderate 5HT3 antagonist properties. The clinical use of the majority of serotonergic antidepressants (e.g. fluoxetine, fluvoxamine etc.) is associated with gastrointestinal discomfort (particularly nausea and vomiting) as a major side-effect. If nausea and vomiting associated with the use of 5 HT uptake inhibitors are due to stimulation of 5HT3 receptors, the concomitant 5HT3 antagonism of litoxetine may limit the gastrointestinal side-effects of this novel antidepressant and thus offer an important advantage.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Alfuzosin, a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist in the lower urinary tract.

1. Phenylephrine-induced contractions of rabbit isolated trigone and urethra were antagonized in a competitive manner by alfuzosin (pA2 7.44 and 7.30, respectively) and prazosin. 2. The characteristics of [3H]-prazosin binding to human prostatic adenoma tissue were evaluated. [3H]-prazosin was potently displaced by alpha 1-adrenoceptor specific agents including alfuzosin, its (+)- and (-)-enantiomers and prazosin (IC50 0.035, 0.023, 0.019 and 0.004 microM, respectively), but only weakly by alpha 2-adrenoceptor selective agents, for example, yohimbine (IC50 = 6.0 microM). 3. In the pithed rat, alfuzosin (0.03-0.3 mg kg-1, i.v.) markedly inhibited pressor responses produced by the alpha 1-selective agonist, cirazoline but inhibited only slightly responses to the alpha 2-selective agonist, UK 14,304. Alfuzosin (1 mg kg-1, i.v.) had minimal effects against responses mediated by stimulation of prejunctional alpha 2-receptors (UK 14,304-induced inhibition of sympathetic tachycardia). 4. In the anaesthetized cat, alfuzosin (0.001-1 mg kg-1, i.v.) and prazosin (0.001-0.3 mg kg-1, i.v.) produced dose-related inhibition of the increases in urethral pressure caused by stimulation of sympathetic hypogastric nerves. Prazosin was approximately 5 fold more potent than alfuzosin. When phenylephrine was employed to induce urethral and vascular alpha 1-mediated tone simultaneously, prazosin inhibited both stimuli with similar potency whereas alfusozin was 3-5 fold more potent against elevated urethral pressure. This functional uroselectivity of alfuzosin was more evident by the intraduodenal route, since doses of 0.03 and 0.1 mg kg-1 alfuzosin inhibited urethral pressure with minimal effects on arterial blood pressure. 5. Alfuzosin is a potent selective alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist in tissues of the lower urinary tract including the human prostate. This provides a pharmacological basis for its use in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of insulin release induced by galanin in the dog is not exclusively mediated by activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

Exogenous galanin (9 pmol/min during 20 min i.a.) decreased insulin levels in the plasma sampled from the pancreatic vein of the blood-perfused pancreas of dogs in which ganglionic transmission and beta-adrenoceptors had been blocked. This effect was not modified by idazoxan (1 mg/kg followed by 0.02 mg/kg/min i.v.) but was partially reduced (50%) by glibenclamide (1 mg/kg followed by 0.02 mg/kg/min i.v.). This dose of glibenclamide blocked entirely the hypoinsulinemic activity of diazoxide, an activator of pancreatic ATP-modulated K+ channels, whereas the dose of idazoxan prevented the effect of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist UK-14,304. Therefore, in dogs, the decrease in insulin secretion produced by exogenous galanin is only partially mediated by activation of glibenclamide-sensitive ATP-gated K+ channels and is independent of alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Partial purification and characterization of the sodium-ion-coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter of rat cerebral cortex.

A procedure for the extensive purification of the Na(+)-coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter of rat cerebral cortex has been developed. The 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter was solubilized with the non-ionic detergent digitonin, and the detergent extracts were subjected to sequential affinity chromatography on a citalopram-based agarose support and wheat-germ-agglutinin-Sepharose. 5-Hydroxytryptamine transporters in the affinity-purified preparation were identified by using the selective 5-hydroxytryptamine-uptake inhibitor [3H]paroxetine, and were shown to display a similar pharmacological profile to those present in particulate preparations. An overall transporter purification of around 2000-fold was achieved with a 9% recovery. SDS/PAGE of affinity-chromatographed material starting from detergent extracts incubated in the presence or absence of 1 mM-citalopram indicated that a polypeptide of M(r) 73,000 corresponded to the 5-hydroxytryptamine-transporter protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The neuroprotective properties of ifenprodil, a novel NMDA receptor antagonist, in neuronal cell culture toxicity studies.

We investigated the effect of ifenprodil on excitotoxic cell death induced by acute exposure to glutamate receptor agonists in primary cultures of foetal mouse cerebral cortex. L-Glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) but not kainate and quisqualate-induced toxicity was attenuated in the presence of ifenprodil. In addition, ifenprodil and MK-801 blocked NaCN-induced toxicity. It is concluded that the cerebro-protective properties of ifenprodil in these models are mediated by NMDA receptor antagonism.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Advances in sodium-ion coupled biogenic amine transporters.

The sodium-ion coupled transporters for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), noradrenaline and dopamine function to reduce extracellular levels of biogenic amines. Over the past fifteen years selective inhibitors of these transport systems have been developed including fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine, litoxetine (for 5HT), nisoxetine, desipramine, maprotiline (for noradrenaline) and GBR-12935 (for dopamine). Some of these inhibitors, including drugs selective for noradrenaline transport and particularly those selective for the 5HT transport system are currently widely used in the clinical management of affective disorders. Selective biogenic amine uptake inhibitors have, in addition, provided tools to undertake molecular pharmacological and biochemical studies of their respective transporters. By this means, the rat brain 5HT and dopamine transporters have been identified as polypeptides with relative molecular masses of 73,000 and 80,000, respectively, using affinity-chromatographic purification and photoaffinity-labelling techniques. Recently, the biogenic amine transporters have been cloned and a comparison of their predicted amino acid sequences reveals that these proteins share a considerable degree of similarity with notably 12-13 transmembrane spanning domains. Perspectives for future fundamental and clinical research on biogenic amine transport systems using molecular biological techniques are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor modulating the release of 5-[3H]hydroxytryptamine in slices of the human neocortex.

In the rat brain, the presynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) autoreceptors located on 5-HT terminals correspond to the 5-HT1B subtype. The presence of a 5-HT receptor probably located on 5-HT nerve endings and modulating transmitter release in the human neocortex has been reported, but its detailed pharmacological characterization is not yet available. On the other hand, receptor binding and autoradiographic results indicate that the 5-HT1B receptor subtype is not present in the human brain. We, therefore, studied the modulation of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT by various 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists in preloaded slices of human neocortex obtained from 18 patients undergoing neurosurgery. The nonselective 5-HT1A/1B/1D receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine produced a potent inhibition (70% at 0.03 microM) of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT which was blocked by 5-HT receptor antagonists with the following relative order of potency: methiothepin greater than metergoline = methysergide greater than propranolol. The selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin at 0.1 microM did not modify the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT. The 5-HT1A/1B receptor agonist RU 24969 was 10 times more potent at inhibiting [3H]5-HT overflow in the rat frontal cortex than in the human neocortex. The potent 5-HT1B receptor antagonist cyanopinodolol did not modify the 5-carboxamidotryptamine-induced inhibition of the electrically evoked release of [3H]5-HT in slices of the human neocortex, but produced by itself a small inhibition of [3H]5-HT overflow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Adrenergic and nonadrenergic cotransmitters inhibit insulin secretion during sympathetic stimulation in dogs.

Vascular and biochemical responses to pancreatic sympathetic nerve stimulation were investigated in the blood-perfused pancreas of anesthetized dogs. During sympathetic nerve stimulation, pancreatic perfusion pressure and norepinephrine release increased, whereas insulin secretion decreased. The latter effect did not occur after pretreatment with the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan. However, after beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol, neither single administration of idazoxan nor the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin or glibenclamide, a blocker of ATP-modulated K+ channels, affected the decrease in insulin secretion induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation. In contrast, the combination of glibenclamide with idazoxan markedly antagonised the decrease in insulin release evoked by the latter procedure. After depletion of catecholamines with syrosingopine, the stimulation-induced inhibition of insulin secretion remained unchanged even though no increases in pancreas perfusion pressure or norepinephrine release were observed. In this preparation, glibenclamide inhibited the decrease in insulin release by 50%. In animals pretreated with the neuronal blocking agent bretylium, all of the responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation were abolished. These results indicate that the inhibitory effects exerted by the sympathetic nervous system on insulin secretion are mediated not only by the classical neurotransmitter norepinephrine acting on alpha 2-adrenoceptors but also by a nonadrenergic cotransmitter that can maintain transmission under conditions of catecholamine deficiency. The postulated nonadrenergic cotransmitter(s) acts, at least partly, via the opening of ATP-modulated K+ channels blockable by glibenclamide, and its release can be prevented by the neuronal blocking agent bretylium.

Animals↗