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U Trendelenburg

Publications and source records attributed to U Trendelenburg.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The handling of five amines by the extraneuronal deaminating system of the rat heart.

The handling of five amines by the extraneuronal deaminating system was studied in perfused hearts of rats (pretreated with reserpine; COMT and neuronal uptake inhibited). Hearts were perfused with 50 nmol/l 3H-noradrenaline for 30 min, in the presence of increasing concentrations of unlabelled (-)-adrenaline, (-)-noradrenaline, dopamine, tyramine and 5-HT. IC50's were determined as those concentrations of unlabelled amines which halved the steady-state rate of deamination of 3H-noradrenaline. After correction for changes in the tissue/medium ratio for 3H-noradrenaline, "half-saturating outside concentrations" were obtained. They increased in the order (-)-adrenaline (15 mumol/l) - tyramine - dopamine - noradrenaline - 5-HT (53 mumol/l). The Vmax for extraneuronal deamination was determined for 3H-(-)-adrenaline, 3H-(-)-noradrenaline and 3H-dopamine, as well as (by HPLC and electrochemical detection) for tyramine and 5-HT. It was low for (-)-adrenaline, intermediate for (-)-noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-HT, high for tyramine. For the three catecholamines the half-saturating outside concentrations of the extraneuronal deaminating system clearly exceeded those for the extraneuronal O-methylating system of the same organ (see Grohmann and Trendelenburg 1985), although the two enzymes appear to co-exist in the same cells, so that the same transport system is involved.

Animals↗

The uptake and O-methylation of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline in rat cerebral cortex slices.

The O-methylation and accumulation of 3H-isoprenaline in slices of the rat cerebral cortex were studied before and after inhibition of COMT. 1. Inhibition of COMT by 30 mumol/l U-0521 virtually abolished the O-methylation and increased the accumulation of 3H-isoprenaline; hence, there is evidence for the existence of a central O-methylating system (with a transport mechanism and intracellular COMT). 2. Experiments were carried out with selective uptake inhibitors for uptake1 (cocaine and desipramine) or uptake2 (corticosterone and OMI), with phenoxybenzamine (known to inhibit both carriers) and with changes in the ionic composition of the incubation medium. They revealed that the central carrier differed from both, uptake1 and uptake2, although exhibiting some resemblance with uptake2 (lack of dependence on Na+ and Cl-, sensitivity to K+ and phenoxybenzamine, ability to transport 3H-isoprenaline). 3. Although the central carrier was rather sensitive to inhibition by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (propranolol, carteolol), the effect of propranolol was not stereoselective; hence, beta-adrenoceptors do not seem to be involved. 4. Virtually identical IC30-values were obtained for inhibitors, when determined with or without inhibition of COMT. Only OMI was found to inhibit COMT as well as the central transport system; hence it was more potent in inhibiting the O-methylation than the accumulation of 3H-isoprenaline. 5. IC50-values (against initial rates of accumulation of 3H-isoprenaline; COMT inhibited) were determined for various substrates and inhibitors of peripheral uptake2. There was no correlation with the IC50-values determined earlier for uptake2 in rat heart (Grohmann and Trendelenburg 1984).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The functional coupling of neuronal and extraneuronal transport with intracellular monoamine oxidase.

"Metabolizing systems" are responsible for the quick inactivation of noradrenaline released from adrenergic nerve endings: a transport mechanism (uptake1 or uptake2) is arranged in series with the intracellular enzyme (monoamine oxidase, MAO; catechol-O-methyltransferase, COMT). In the perfused rat heart, kenzyme-values were determined, i.e., those rate constants which characterize the unsaturated intracellular enzymes. In the extraneuronal metabolizing system kcomt greater than kmao for noradrenaline and adrenaline, while rather similar rate constants were obtained for dopamine. However, for the neuronal deaminating system, kmao is considerably higher than kmao for the extraneuronal system. Second, in the rat vas deferens it is demonstrated that inhibition of neuronal MAO leads to very pronounced rises of the axoplasmic noradrenaline concentration--and this is again a reflection of the high activity of neuronal MAO. In a third series of experiments (with the rat vas deferens), the evidence indicates that the neuronal inward transport of substrates of MAO fails to saturate the enzyme. This is the functional consequence of the high activity of neuronal MAO. It is concluded that a) neuronal MAO activity is very high, and--as a consequence--b) axoplasmic noradrenaline levels are very low.

Animals↗

The mechanism of the 3H-noradrenaline releasing effect of various substrates of uptake1: multifactorial induction of outward transport.

The mechanism of action of indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines was studied in the rat vas deferens, after inhibition of vesicular uptake (by reserpine), of MAO (by pargyline) and of COMT (by U-0521). 1. Km-values for the neuronal uptake of 12 substrates were determined as the IC50 of the unlabelled substrate inhibiting the initial rate of neuronal uptake of 0.2 mumol/l 3H-(-)-noradrenaline. The IC50 ranged from 0.35 mumol/l (for(+)-amphetamine) to 44.3 mumol/l (for 5-HT). The Vmax (determined for 8 substrates) was substrate-dependent. 2. Tissues were loaded with 0.2 mumol/l 3H-(-)-noradrenaline and then washed out with amine-free solution. All 12 substrates of uptake1 induced an outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline, and equieffective concentrations were positively correlated with Km. Moreover, the EC50 for release greatly exceeded Km. It is proposed that this discrepancy between EC50 and Km is indicative of the fact that at least four factors (each one in strict dependence on Km) contribute to the initiation of outward transport of 3H-noradreanline: a) the appearance of the carrier on the inside of the axonal membrane (facilitated exchange diffusion), b) the co-transport of Na+, c) the co-transport of Cl- (both lowering the Km for 3H-noradrenaline at the inside carrier), and d) inhibition of the re-uptake of released 3H-noradrenaline (through competition for the outside carrier). 3. At least for amezinium, Vmax appears to limit the maximum rate of outward transport. 4. For some substrates (especially for the highly lipophilic ones) bell-shaped concentration-release curves were obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The mechanism of the 3H-noradrenaline releasing effect of various substrates of uptake1: role of monoamine oxidase and of vesicularly stored 3H-noradrenaline.

The mechanism of action of indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines was studied in vasa deferentia of unpretreated rats (COMT inhibited), preloaded with 3H-noradrenaline. 1. Concentration-release curves were obtained for 12 unlabelled indirectly acting amines. From differences between these results and those in an accompanying report (involving tissues from rats pretreated with reserpine and pargyline), it is concluded that a "mobilisation" of vesicular 3H-noradrenaline is required for high and sustained rates of outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline from intact adrenergic varicosities. 2. Experiments with a reserpine-like compound (Ro 4-1284) supported the view that a "mobilisation" of vesicular 3H-noradrenaline is required for substantial release. 3. An atypical time course of release and abnormally high rates of release were observed in the presence of excessive concentrations of (+)-amphetamine. Such atypical effects are ascribed to the of basic amines to increase the intravesicular pH. 4. Analysis of the ratio NA/DOPEG (rate of efflux of 3H-noradrenaline/rate of efflux of 3H-DOPEG) indicated that the inward transport (by uptake) of substrates of MAO fails to achieve axoplasmic concentrations which saturate MAO. Inhibition (or saturation) of MAO is not a prerequisite for the initiation of outward transport. 5. A larger fraction of vesicular 3H-noradrenaline is accessible to equireleasing concentrations of (+)-amphetamine (an inhibitor of MAO) than of tyramine (a substrate of MAO). 6. From the present and the accompanying report it is concluded that "substantial and sustained indirect sympathomimetic effects" are to be expected for substrates of uptake which additionally mobilise vesicular noradrenaline. However, this "mobilisation" does not seem to involve a change in intravesicular pH, except at excessive concentrations.

2H-Benzo(a)quinolizin-2-ol, 2-Ethyl-1,3,4,6,7,11b-↗

Veratridine-induced outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline from adrenergic nerves of the rat vas deferens.

1. The neuronal release by 100 mumol/l veratridine of preloaded 3H-noradrenaline was studied in the rat vas deferens, the MAO, COMT and vesicular uptake of which were inhibited. To prevent any exocytotic release of the 3H-amine, all solutions were calcium-free. Veratridine induced an early and a late peak of tritium efflux. The early peak was abolished by the presence of 1 mumol/l desipramine, the late peak was abolished by 1 mumol/l tetrodotoxin (administered subsequently to the first peak). The administration of veratridine plus 1 mmol/l ouabain resulted in only the early peak of efflux. 2. The peak response to veratridine plus ouabain was increased by a very early administration of veratridine plus ouabain (after 40 min of wash-out instead of the usual 130 min) (i.e., when the relative size of the axoplasmic distribution compartment was increased). However, very high axoplasmic 3H-noradrenaline levels (after loading with 37 instead of the usual 0.2 mumol/l) reduced the height of the peak (when expressed as a FRL). 3. Substantially similar responses to veratridine plus ouabain were obtained after loading with 3H-noradrenaline, 3H-adrenaline or 3H-dopamine. 4. As the second peak of veratridine-induced release is ouabain-sensitive, it appears to be caused by exhaustion of neuronal ATP stores; this, in turn, raises the intravesicular pH and induces efflux of 3H-noradrenaline from the vesicles into the axoplasm. The first peak, on the other hand, represents outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline from the axoplasmic compartment. Evidently, a pronounced vesicular distribution of 3H-noradrenaline takes place even after inhibition by reserpine of the vesicular uptake. 5. In preparations with intact vesicular uptake (MAO and COMT inhibited) a plateau-response was obtained; in the presence of 10 mumol/l Ro 4-2184 (a reserpine-like compound) a peak response was restored after loading with 0.2 mumol/l 3H-noradrenaline, less so after loading with 37 mumol/l. 6. It is confirmed that veratridine (plus ouabain) exerts a reserpine-like effect when applied to tissues with intact vesicular uptake and intact MAO.

Animals↗

Simulation of outward transport of neuronal 3H-noradrenaline with the help of a two-compartment model.

In order to simulate the outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline induced by veratridine from adrenergic varicosities, a mathematical two-compartment model was developed in which the two compartments (representing axoplasm and storage vesicles) are arranged in series. Simulated results were compared with experimental results obtained with 100 mumol/l veratridine + 1 mmol/l ouabain and rat vasa deferentia kept in calcium-free solution (Bönisch and Trendelenburg 1987). As in experiments, the time course of efflux of 3H-noradrenaline had a pronounced and early peak under RPU-conditions, a minor peak under PU-conditions, and solely a plateau under U-conditions (where R stands for pretreatment with reserpine, P for pretreatment with pargyline, and U for inhibition of COMT by U-0521). From the width of the peak of release, it was deduced that--under RPU-conditions--about 40% of neuronal 3H-noradrenaline are distributed into the axoplasm, about 60% into the storage vesicle. However, this estimate represents an average value; the results are compatible with the view that the ratio "axoplasmic/vesicular 3H-noradrenaline" is quite variable from rat to rat. Under U-conditions, calculations confirm that reserpine-like compounds induce an efflux of tritium that consists predominantly of deaminated 3H-metabolites. The stimulation of outward transport, on the other hand, causes an efflux of tritium that consists predominantly of 3H-noradrenaline; indeed, the efflux of deaminated 3H-metabolites declines (as it did in experiments). Simulations showed further that the highest rates of outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline were achieved when there was a simultaneous induction of outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline and a reserpine-like effect (as it is known to occur when tissues are exposed to veratridine; Bönisch and Trendelenburg 1987). While there was satisfactory agreement between simulated and experimental results under various conditions, there were also two discrepancies that may be caused by a) inhomogeneous labelling of the storage vesicles in individual varicosities (RPU less than PU less than U) and b) saturation of outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline when a reserpine-like compound greatly increases the axoplasmic level of total noradrenaline (under U-conditions).

Biological Transport↗

Early intraneuronal mobilization and deamination of noradrenaline during global ischemia in the isolated perfused rat heart.

Isolated rat hearts were perfused according to the Langendorff technique and both extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline and COMT were inhibited. The noradrenergic neurones were first prelabelled with 3H-(-)-noradrenaline (13 nmol/l). Thereafter the hearts were submitted to global ischemia (perfusion rate reduced from 5 up to 0.5 ml/min) for 60 min and subsequently reperfused for 5 min. The coronary effluent was continuously collected and analyzed for the appearance of 3H-noradrenaline and its metabolites. 1. Global ischemia was associated with an early release of 3H-noradrenaline. At reperfusion a brisk increase in the FRL of 3H-noradrenaline was observed which may indicate that, on severe restriction in coronary flow, perfusion of the tissue became heterogenous and thus partially masked the amount of 3H-noradrenaline released from the noradrenergic nerve terminals. Gradual reduction in coronary flow also progressively reduced (but did not abolish) the total formation of 3H-DOPEG. 2. The maximal efflux of 3H-noradrenaline was observed during the 1st min of reperfusion whereafter the efflux declined rapidly, indicating a wash-out of transmitter trapped in the extracellular space. The efflux of the lipophilic metabolite 3H-DOPEG, on the other hand, continuously increased during the reperfusion. This was due to both new formation and "wash-out" of 3H-DOPEG retained and/or distributed into the tissue during the period of restricted flow. 3. Neither a reduction of the extracellular calcium concentration (from 2.6 mmol/l to 0.1 mmol/l) nor the presence of the calcium entry blocker verapamil (250 nmol/l) reduced the efflux of 3H-noradrenaline seen during ischemia and reperfusion. 4. Desipramine (100 nmol/l) markedly reduced the ischemia-induced release of 3H-noradrenaline and simultaneously attenuated the formation of 3H-DOPEG. 5. A moderate reduction in the ischemia-induced mobilization of 3H-noradrenaline was seen in hearts perfused with 1 mumol/l reserpine, whereas the formation of 3H-DOPEG from such hearts was markedly higher than in corresponding controls. Only minor deviations from this pattern was observed when desipramine was present in addition to reserpine. It is concluded that a severe restriction in myocardial perfusion rate is associated with an enhanced net leakage of vesicular noradrenaline. This results in a rise of the free axoplasmic noradrenaline concentration which, in combination with an altered transmembrane sodium gradient, induces an increased local release of noradrenaline partly mediated by a calcium-independent, carrier-mediated outward transport.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

The membrane potential of vascular smooth muscle appears to modulate uptake2 of 3H-isoprenaline.

Segments of the rabbit main pulmonary artery and of its two branches were exposed for 10 min to 50 nmol/l 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline, and the accumulation of tritium in the tissue was determined; COMT was inhibited in all experiments. 1. The accumulation of the tritium label was sensitive to 3-O-methyl-isoprenaline (OMI), showing that this vascular smooth muscle possesses uptake2. 2. In the presence of 0.01 to 1 mumol/l (-)-noradrenaline, the accumulation of tritium was depressed (in a concentration-dependent manner). This decline involved the OMI-sensitive accumulation of 3H-isoprenaline. 3. The presence of any one of three selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists (1 mumol/l prazosin, 1 mumol/l WB4101, 10 mumol/l corynanthine) prevented the effect of 1 mumol/l (-)-noradrenaline on the accumulation of tritium. However, in the absence of (-)-noradrenaline, the three antagonists failed to affect the accumulation of tritium. 4. 10 mumol/l nicorandil caused the accumulation of tritium to increase. 5. As stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors is known to result in depolarization, and as nicorandil is known to hyperpolarize this smooth muscle, it is concluded that the resting membrane potential modulates uptake2.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Mechanism of action of indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines.

The mode of action of indirectly acting sympathomimetic amines was analysed in the rat vas deferens (preloaded with 3H-(-)-noradrenaline). When monoamine oxidase (MAO), catechol-O-methyltransferase and vesicular uptake were inhibited (i.e., when the concentration of 3H-noradrenaline in the axoplasm was high), all substrates of neuronal uptake induced a carrier-mediated outward transport of 3H-noradrenaline, in strict dependence on the Km for neuronal uptake of the substrate. However, when MAO and vesicular uptake were not inhibited, some of the substrates of neuronal uptake were better releasers of 3H-noradrenaline than others; obviously, when the axoplasmic 3H-noradrenaline concentration is very low (intact vesicular uptake, intact MAO), a 'mobilization' of vesicular 3H-noradrenaline is a prerequisite for substantial release.

Animals↗

The effect of partial inhibition of monoamine oxidase on the steady-state rate of deamination of 3H-catecholamines in two metabolizing systems.

Two different "deaminating systems" were compared (i.e., intact tissues in which an uptake process translocates the 3H-catecholamine from the extracellular space to the intracellular MAO): the adrenergic nerve endings of the rat vas deferens exposed to 10 nmol/l 3H-(-)-noradrenaline, and the extraneuronal deaminating system of the rat heart perfused with 50 nmol/l 3H-(-)-adrenaline. Vesicular uptake and COMT were inhibited. In both systems MAO was partially inhibited by pargyline, and the steady-state tissue content of the 3H-catecholamine was determined as well as the steady-state rate of deamination. Rat vas deferens (preincubated with 10-40 nmol/l pargyline for 30 min). Inhibition of neuronal MAO caused not more than a moderate decrease of the steady-state rate of deamination of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline, but the steady-state tissue content was greatly increased. Determinations of the activity of MAO in homogenates of vasa deferentia showed that preincubation with 10 and 20 nmol/l pargyline inhibited the enzyme by 80 to 95%. Rat heart (of animals pretreated with 1 to 30 mg/kg pargyline). Inhibition of extraneuronal MAO caused a steep decline of the steady-state rate of deamination of 3H-(-)-adrenaline, but only a small rise in the steady-state tissue content. The decisive difference between the two deaminating systems lies in the fact that the ratio "kmao/kout" (where the two k-values characterize the activity of the unsaturated intracellular MAO and the ability of the 3H-catecholamine to leave the relevant cells, respectively) is much higher for the neuronal deaminating system exposed to 3H-(-)-noradrenaline than for the extraneuronal deaminating system exposed to 3H-(-)-adrenaline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Modulation of uptake2 of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline by isoprenaline-induced depolarization of rat salivary gland cells.

Previous observations by Almgren and Jonason (1974) showed that propranolol is able to increase the extraneuronal accumulation of 3H-isoprenaline in rat salivary gland slices. The present experiments were carried out in order to test the hypothesis that 3H-isoprenaline, by acting on beta-adrenoceptors, might depolarize the gland cells and thereby hinder its own uptake2 and that this hindrance might be prevented by propranolol. After inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase the extraneuronal accumulation of the 3H-catecholamine in slices of rat salivary glands was determined subsequent to 20 min of exposure of the tissue to 0.5 to 5,000 nmol/l 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline. Expressed as a tissue/medium ratio, accumulation decreased with increasing amine concentration, although all amine concentrations were well below those saturating uptake2. The 3H-isoprenaline-induced decrease of the tissue/medium ratio was antagonized by (-)-propranolol, and increasing concentrations of the antagonist were needed to antagonize the effect of increasing concentrations of 3H-isoprenaline. In parallel experiments K+-induced (60 mmol/l) depolarization reduced the tissue/medium ratio observed for 0.5 nmol/l 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline. Gland slices were preloaded with 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline and then washed out for 60 min with solution not containing labelled amine. When 500 nmol/l (+/-)-isoprenaline were present in the wash-out solution, the addition of 10 mumol/l (-)-propranolol impeded the efflux of 3H-isoprenaline. In parallel experiments, K+-induced (60 mmol/l) depolarization facilitated the efflux of 3H-isoprenaline [in the presence of 10 mumol/l (-)-propranolol]. The results support the working hypothesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Inhibition by K+ of uptake2 of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline in the perfused rat heart.

The kinetics of the inhibitory effect of extracellular K+ on uptake2 of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline were determined in isolated hearts obtained from reserpine-pretreated rats; catechol-O-methyl transferase was inhibited. Initial rates of uptake2 of a very low concentration of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline (10 nmol/l) were determined in the presence of various extracellular concentrations of K+ (2.7 to 60 mmol/l). The inhibitory effect of K+ was concentration-dependent with an IC50 of about 20 mmol/l. - In these experiments KCl was added to the perfusion solution, and some hypertonicity resulted. In some experiments NaCl was added to a solution containing 5 mmol/l K+ to result in the same degree of hypertonicity as that obtained for 60 mmol/l K+; hypertonicity increased the initial rate of uptake2 of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline. Thus, the inhibitory effect of K+ had been slightly underestimated. In subsequent experiments the increase of the concentration of K+ in the perfusion fluid to 30 mmol/l was compensated for by a corresponding reduction of Na+. Initial rates of uptake2 of 10 nmol/l 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline were determined in the absence and presence of various concentrations of unlabelled (+/-)-isoprenaline. At 30 mmol/l K+ the IC50 (= Km for uptake2) did not significantly differ from that determined in an earlier study at 2.7 mmol/l K+ (Grohmann and Trendelenburg 1984). Finally, the Vmax for uptake2 of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline was determined at either 2.7 or 30 mmol/l K+. At 30 mmol/l K+ the Vmax was only about 1/4 of that observed at 2.7 mmol/l K+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Errors introduced by a tritium label in position 8 of catecholamines.

The neuronal and extraneuronal disposition of 3H-7,8- and 3H-7-labelled (-)-noradrenaline and dopamine was compared in in vitro studies. In agreement with earlier studies, the present results show that the presence of a tritium label in position 8 (i.e., on the alpha-carbon) has two consequences: a) the rate of deamination declines and b) part of the deamination results in the formation of an unlabelled aldehyde plus tritium water; tritium water is recovered from the OMDA-fraction of the column chromatographic procedure of Graefe et al. (1973). Whenever the deamination of a 3H-catecholamine is reduced (by tritium in position 8), the intraneuronal 3H-catecholamine concentration is increased. This increase, in turn, partly masks the decline in neuronal deamination (rat vas deferens). Irrespective of whether one determines the spontaneous efflux, the release of 3H-noradrenaline by nerve stimulation or the release of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline by the reserpine-like compound Ro 4-1284, the presence of tritium in position 8 distorts the results (experiments with rat vasa deferentia and/or rabbit aorta). In the extraneuronal system of the rat heart, two intracellular enzymes inactivate 3H-(-)-noradrenaline and 3H-dopamine: catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO). Any hindrance of deamination (by tritium in position 8, COMT intact) leads to a shift of the metabolism of the 3H-catecholamines from the exclusively deaminated to the exclusively O-methylated metabolites. No differences between 3H-7,8- and 3H-7-labelled catecholamines were found after inhibition of MAO and COMT (extraneuronal accumulation and rate constant for efflux from the extraneuronal compartment III of the rat heart).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2H-Benzo(a)quinolizin-2-ol, 2-Ethyl-1,3,4,6,7,11b-↗

The handling of five catecholamines by the extraneuronal O-methylating system of the rat heart.

In a comparative study, the handling of five catecholamines by the extraneuronal O-methylating system of the rat heart was determined; all rats were pretreated with reserpine, monoamine oxidase and neuronal uptake were inhibited in all experiments. Hearts were perfused for 7 min with a tracer concentration of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline, either in the absence or in the presence of unlabelled catecholamines (which reduced the O-methylation of the tracer amine). IC50's were determined for unlabelled catecholamines and then converted to "half-saturating outside concentrations", i.e., to those concentrations in the perfusion fluid that half-saturate the intracellular catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT). The values for the (-)-isomers of dobutamine, isoprenaline, adrenaline and noradrenaline and that for dopamine were low and rather similar (between 0.67 and 2.7 mumol/l). Stereoselectivity for isoprenaline probably reflected the preference of uptake2 for the (-)-isomer. The effects of (-)- and (+)-dobutamine indicated that both isomers are a) transported by uptake2 and b) good substrates of COMT. The Vmax for O-methylation [determined for 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline, 3H-(+/-)-adrenaline, 3H-(+/-)-noradrenaline and 3H-dopamine] was rather similar for all four catecholamines. It is concluded that the extraneuronal O-methylating system of the rat heart handles the five catecholamines in a similar manner, although the Km for uptake2 had been found to increase substantially in the order: dobutamine less than isoprenaline less than adrenaline less than noradrenaline less than dopamine (Grohmann and Trendelenburg 1984b).

Animals↗

The outward transport of catecholamines mediated by uptake2 of the rat heart.

The efflux of 3H-catecholamines from the extra-neuronal tissue of the rat heart was analysed (after inhibition of vesicular and neuronal uptake, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase). In most experiments, hearts were first loaded with a tracer concentration of a 3H-catecholamine and then washed out. For all four catecholamines [3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline, 3H-(+/-)-adrenaline, 3H-(-)-noradrenaline, and 3H-dopamine] the loading period resulted in virtually the same distribution pattern: most of the radioactivity distributed into "compartment III". However, the rate constants for efflux from compartment III increased in the order 3H-(-)-noradrenaline less than 3H-dopamine less than 3H-(+/-)isoprenaline = 3H-(+/-)-adrenaline. O-methyl-isoprenaline (OMI, a potent inhibitor of uptake2) caused a concentration-dependent and partial inhibition of the efflux of all 3H-catecholamines; its IC50 (half-maximal inhibition of OMI-sensitive efflux) was very close to that for half-maximal inhibition of inward transport by uptake2. It is concluded that there is not only (OMI-resistant) diffusional efflux of 3H-catecholamines, but also (OMI-sensitive) outward transport of 3H-catecholamines. The contribution by each of these processes to total efflux differed considerably from one 3H-catecholamine to the next. U-0521 (the COMT inhibitor used in this study) inhibited the OMI-sensitive efflux of 3H-noradrenaline with an IC50 of about 100 mumol/l. However, no inhibitory effect was found for 10 mumol/l U-0521. During the wash-out period (see above) various unlabelled substrates of uptake2 were added to the perfusion fluid at a concentration equalling 2 X Km.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effect of various ions on uptake2 of catecholamines.

The effects of a decrease of the K+ gradient on the extraneuronal inward transport and outward movement of catecholamines were studied in rat heart, rabbit aortic rings and guinea-pig trachealis smooth muscle. Elevation of the extracellular K+ concentration caused a) inhibition of the corticosteroid-sensitive extraneuronal uptake (uptake2) of 3H-isoprenaline in rat heart and of 3H-noradrenaline in rabbit aorta, and b) acceleration of efflux of 3H-isoprenaline from rat heart, 3H-noradrenaline from rabbit aorta and adrenaline (measured by microphotometry) from guinea-pig trachealis muscle. In rat heart and rabbit aorta, the acute omission of one or the other of the ions Na+, Cl-, K+ or Ca2+ from the perfusion of incubation medium had no effect on initial rates of uptake2 of catecholamines, except that the absence of K+ had a small inhibitory effect in the rat heart. The prolonged absence of Na+, Ca2+ or K+ from the perfusion or incubation medium caused a marked inhibition of uptake2 of catecholamines. These inhibitory effects developed more quickly in rat heart than in rabbit aorta. These results are compatible with the possibility that either the K+ gradient across the cell membrane or the resting membrane potential is the force driving uptake2.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗