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PubMed1995

Effects of tolcapone in Parkinson's patients taking L-dihydroxyphenylalanine/carbidopa and selegiline.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of tolcapone (RO 40-7592), a potent reversible inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), was performed in 10 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to determine single-dose safety and efficacy. All subjects were chronically treated with stable doses of selegiline and L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)/carbidopa. Tolcapone was administered in four single ascending doses (50-800 mg) randomly paired with placebo. Motor ratings were performed every 30 min for 6 h. At higher doses (400 mg and 800 mg), tolcapone prolonged the antiparkinson response of L-DOPA. Nausea was the most common adverse effect of the tolcapone-L-DOPA/carbidopa-selegiline combination. Adverse cardiovascular effects were not seen. The acute inhibition of amino acid decarboxylase, monoamine oxidase-B, and COMT is well tolerated and prolongs the L-DOPA response in PD patients. Tolcapone may be a safe and useful adjunct to L-DOPA/carbidopa in PD patients taking selegiline.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Distinct pharmacological regulation of evoked dopamine efflux in the amygdala and striatum of the rat in vivo.

The pharmacological regulation of evoked extracellular dopamine was compared in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BAN) and caudate-putamen (CP) of the urethane-anesthetized rat. The effects of drugs, which alter dopamine uptake, release or degradation, were examined. Dopamine efflux was elicited by electrical stimulation of ascending dopamine fibers and was monitored by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at Nafion-coated, carbon-fiber microelectrodes. Dopamine uptake inhibitors, nomifensine (25 mg/kg) and cocaine (20 mg/kg), and the dopamine receptor antagonist, haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg), robustly increased evoked extracellular dopamine in the CP. In sharp contrast, these drugs were much less effective in the BAN. The relative potencies of the uptake inhibitors varied between the two regions. Nomifensine was more potent than cocaine in the CP, whereas cocaine was more potent that nomifensine in the BAN. The monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline (75 mg/kg), and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, Ro 40-7592 (40 mg/kg), had small or negligible effects in either region. No electrochemical evidence was found for the formation of 3-methoxytyramine, the dopamine metabolite formed by the action of COMT on released dopamine, on the time scale of the measurements in control or after pharmacological manipulation of the degradative enzymes for dopamine. The conclusions reached are: (1) potent mechanisms for uptake and autoreceptor inhibition of release, which exist in the CP to tightly control the concentration of extracellular dopamine, are considerably weaker in the BAN; (2) the extracellular clearance of evoked dopamine in the BAN and CP is the result of cellular uptake and not degradation; and (3) these results support the view that the pharmacological regulation of extracellular dopamine is regionally distinct in the brain.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1995

Universal catalytic domain structure of AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases.

The DNA methyltransferases, M.HhaI and M.TaqI, and catechol O-methyl-transferase (COMT) catalyze the transfer of a methyl group from the cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) to carbon-5 of cytosine, to nitrogen-6 of adenine, and to a hydroxyl group of catechol, respectively. The catalytic domains of the bilobal proteins, M.HhaI and M.TaqI, and the entire single domain of COMT have similar folding with an alpha/beta structure containing a mixed central beta-sheet. The functional residues are located in equivalent regions at the carboxyl ends of the parallel beta-strands. The cofactor binding sites are almost identical and the essential catalytic amino acids coincide. The comparable protein folding and the existence of equivalent amino acids in similar secondary and tertiary positions indicate that many (if not all) AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases have a common catalytic domain structure. This permits tertiary structure prediction of other DNA, RNA, protein, and small-molecule AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases from their amino acid sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

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↗
PubMed1992

Vascular uptake of catecholamines in perfused lungs of the rat occurs by the same process as Uptake1 in noradrenergic neurones.

The aim of the study was to determine whether the uptake process for catecholamines in rat lungs is Uptake1, Uptake2 or a distinct process with some properties of both Uptake1 and Uptake2. The initial rate of uptake of noradrenaline was measured in isolated lungs of rats perfused with 2 nmol/l 3H-(-)-noradrenaline for 2 min with monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibited, in the absence or presence of drugs that are substrates or inhibitors of Uptake1 or Uptake2 or of alterations in the ionic composition of the Krebs solution. The rank order of the IC50 values for inhibition of uptake of noradrenaline in the lungs by drugs that are substrates or inhibitors of Uptake1 or Uptake2 is compatible with the conclusion that uptake of catecholamines in rat lungs occurs by Uptake1, and not by a process with the properties of Uptake2. Additional evidence was provided by the marked inhibition of uptake in the lungs when the Na+ concentration in the Krebs solution was decreased from 143 to 25 mmol/l and by the lack of inhibition when the K+ concentration was increased from 5.9 mmol/l to either 10.9 or 20.9 mmol/l. Further experiments were included in the study to obtain data additional to histological evidence (Hughes et al. 1969; Nicholas et al. 1974) regarding the site of Uptake1 in rat lungs. Pretreatment of rats with either 6-hydroxydopamine (to destroy noradrenergic neurones) or reserpine (to inhibit synaptic vesicle uptake) had no effect on the deamination or accumulation of noradrenaline in lungs perfused with 3H-noradrenaline (COMT inhibited).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The influence of oestrogen and oestrogen metabolites on the sensitivity of the isolated rabbit aorta to catecholamines.

In the present study the influence of oestradiol, catechol oestrogens, and O-methylated oestrogens was determined on the contractile responses of the isolated rabbit aorta to (-)-adrenaline. Oestradiol (40 mumol/l), 2-hydroxyoestradiol (2OHE2) (20 mumol/l), and 2-methoxyoestradiol (2MeOE2) (20 mumol/l) all sensitized the rabbit aorta to contractile responses to (-)-adrenaline. Similarly, the 2-hydroxy and 2-methoxy derivatives of oestrone and oestriol also sensitized the aorta to (-)-adrenaline-induced contractions. The largest degree of sensitization was seen in the presence of the 2-methoxysteroids. Oestradiol and 2OHE2 did not increase responses of the aorta to (-)-noradrenaline, while slight potentiation of contraction was seen in the presence of 2MeOE3. The potentiating effect of 2OHE2 on contractile responses to (-)-adrenaline was abolished by prior treatment of the tissue with a COMT inhibitor (U-0521, 55 mumol/l). Conversely, pretreatment of the tissue with 2OHE2 prevented the augmented aortic contraction to (-)-adrenaline usually seen after inhibition of COMT. The non-additive nature of the sensitization seen after combined treatment with 2OHE2 and U-0521 was qualitatively similar to that seen following combined exposure to maximally effective concentrations of U-0521 and an inhibitor of extraneuronal uptake (hydrocortisone 100 mumol/l). Oestradiol and 2MeOE2 reduced the formation of both the 3H-O-methylated, 3H-deaminated and the 3H-O-methylated deaminated metabolites of 3H-(-)-adrenaline (0.15 mumol/l) during exposure of the aorta to the tritiated catecholamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2-Methoxyestradiol↗
PubMed1994

Plasma normetanephrine for examination of extraneuronal uptake and metabolism of noradrenaline in rats.

The importance of neuronal reuptake for terminating the actions of noradrenaline is well established, but the role of extraneuronal uptake is less clear. This study used plasma concentrations of the extraneuronal noradrenaline metabolite, normetanephrine, to estimate rates of extraneuronal removal of noradrenaline in rats. Animals received infusions of 3H-noradrenaline, with and without inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO), to examine the extraneuronal removal of noradrenaline and formation of normetanephrine from infused and endogenous noradrenaline. Infusions of 3H-normetanephrine were also carried out to examine the plasma kinetics of normetanephrine before and after inhibition of MAO. Normetanephrine was cleared rapidly from the circulation and had a short plasma halflife (1 min). Spillover of normetanephrine into plasma (79 pmol kg-1 min-1) was a third that of noradrenaline, but increased 2.8-fold after inhibition of MAO; noradrenaline spillover remained unchanged. Combined inhibition of MAO and COMT decreased the plasma clearance of 3H-noradrenaline by 38%, reflecting removal of 3H-noradrenaline by extraneuronal uptake. Division of the rate of extraneuronal removal of 3H-noradrenaline by the specific activity of plasma 3H-normetanephrine during the 3H-noradrenaline infusion indicated that the rate of extraneuronal removal of endogenous noradrenaline was 250 pmol kg-1 min-1; this was close to the spillover of normetanephrine into plasma after inhibition of MAO (219 pmol kg-1 min-1). Forty-five% of plasma normetanephrine was derived from circulating noradrenaline and 55% from noradrenaline before entry into the circulation. Assuming that these proportions reflected the sources of noradrenaline metabolized extraneuronally indicated that the rate of extraneuronal metabolism of noradrenaline before entry into the circulation was 138 pmol kg-1 min-1. Comparison of this with the rates at which noradrenaline was recaptured by sympathetic nerves (2540 pmol kg-1 min-1) or spilled over into plasma (228 pmol kg-1 min-1), indicated that 87% of the noradrenaline released by sympathetic nerves was recaptured, 5% was metabolized extraneuronally and 8% escaped into plasma. Thus, extraneuronal uptake removes much less of the noradrenaline released by sympathetic nerves than neuronal reuptake.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A kinetic investigation of the pulmonary metabolism of dopamine in rats shows marked differences compared with noradrenaline.

The aim of this study was to investigate the deamination of dopamine in the intact pulmonary circulation of isolated lungs of the rat. The first part of the study showed that dopamine is not converted to noradrenaline by dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) when dopamine is perfused through isolated lung preparations with monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibited. Hence, it was not necessary to inhibit DBH in subsequent experiments. The metabolite profile for deamination of dopamine in the lungs was examined by determining whether MAO and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases (SSAO) contribute to the deamination of dopamine (and noradrenaline), and by determining the activity of MAO (kMAO) for the metabolism of dopamine. Lungs were perfused with 1 nmol/l 3H-dopamine or 3H-noradrenaline with COMT inhibited and, in experiments to determine the contribution of SSAO to deamination, with MAO inhibited. Inhibition of MAO reduced the deamination of dopamine and noradrenaline by 99.8% and 98.6%, respectively, indicating that MAO, and not SSAO, was responsible for deamination of the catecholamines in the lungs. The kMAO value for deamination of dopamine was 3.89 min-1. Further experiments were carried out to determine the contributions of MAO-A and MAO-B to the deamination of dopamine in lungs perfused with 1 nmol/l 3H-dopamine and 100 nmol/l lazabemide or 300 nmol/l Ro41-1049, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Inward transport of 3H-MPP+ in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes: evidence for interaction with catecholamines.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the neurotoxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), is efficiently taken up and accumulated by rat hepatocytes. However, the nature of the mechanism(s) involved in the hepatic uptake of MPP+ remains partially unknown. The aim of the present study was to further characterize the hepatic uptake of 3H-MPP+, namely by investigating the interactions of catecholamines (which are also efficiently taken up by rat hepatocytes) with MPP+ transport. The accumulation of 3H-MPP+ in isolated rat hepatocytes occurred through saturable and non-saturable mechanisms. The kinetics of the saturable component of 3H-MPP+ uptake was as follows: Vmax = 181.3 +/- 11.1 pmol mg protein-1 min-1 and Km = 47.1 microM (27.9, 66.3) (n = 5). The diffusion constant (in ml mg protein-1 min-1) for the non-saturable uptake of 3H-MPP+ was 0.00068 (0.00052, 0.00083) (n = 5). From the analysis of the time course of 3H-MPP+ accumulation at a substrate concentration of 100 nM 3H-MPP+, it was found that the rate constant of inward transport of 3H-MPP+ into hepatocytes (k(in)) was 15.7 +/- 3.8 microliters mg protein-1 min-1, the rate constant of outward transport of 3H-MPP+ from hepatocytes (kout) was 0.077 +/- 0.023 min-1 and the equilibrium accumulation (Amax) of 3H-MPP+ was 20.2 +/- 2.0 pmol mg protein-1 (n = 36). Decynium22 (1,1'-diethyl-2,2'-cyanide; 1 microM) significantly reduced kin to 6.1 +/- 1.8 microliters mg protein-1 min-1 (P < 0.05) and the equilibrium accumulation (Amax) of 3H-MPP+ to 9.6 +/- 1.3 pmol mg protein-1 (P < 0.005) (n = 36). 3H-MPP+ accumulation (in cells incubated with 200 nM 3H-MPP+) was sensitive to (-)-adrenaline, (-)-isoprenaline, (-)-dopamine, (+/-)-adrenaline and (-)-noradrenaline. The most potent catecholamine in inhibiting 3H-MPP+ uptake was (-)-adrenaline, with an IC50 of 99 (22, 449) microM (n = 6). (-)-Adrenaline competitively inhibited 3H-MPP+ uptake, as it significantly increased the Km value of 3H-MPP+ uptake (to 125.4 microM (63.6; 187.1); P < 0.02; n = 3) but did not change the Vmax value. The cyanine-derivatives decynium22 and cyanine863 (1-ethyl-2-([1,4-dimethyl-2-phenyl-6-pyrimidinylidene] methyl)quinolinium), which inhibit uptake2 as well as the apical type of the renal transporter for organic cations, potently inhibited 3H-MPP+ uptake with IC50's of 1.4 (0.4-5.3) (n = 6) and 6.5 (2.6-16) (n = 4) microM, respectively. Under conditions of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibition (with either pargyline (500 microM) + Ro01-2812 (3,5-dinitropyrocatechol; 2 microM) or pargyline (500 microM) + U-0521 (3,4-dihidroxy-2-methyl-propiophenone; 12 microM)), (-)-adrenaline (up to 1 mM) had no inhibitory effect on the uptake of 3H-MPP+. Moreover, the uptake of 3H-MPP+ in the presence of pargyline + Ro 01-2812 was significantly lower (66.9 +/- 30.4%; P < 0.05; n = 4) than in the absence of these compounds. Therefore, the effect of these MAO and COMT inhibitors on 3H-MPP+ uptake was examined. Interestingly enough, pargyline, Ro 01-2812 and U-0521 were found to inhibit the uptake of 3H-MPP+ (in cells incubated with 200 nM 3H-MPP+): 500 microM pargyline, 2 microM Ro 01-2812 and 100 microM U-0521 decreased the accumulation of 3H-MPP+ to 38.1 +/- 6.8 (n = 5), 60.5 +/- 10.1 (n = 7) and 71.3 +/- 14.5 (n = 7) % of control, respectively. It is concluded that 3H-MPP+ is efficiently taken up by rat hepatocytes by a carrier-mediated mechanism sensitive to catecholamines, decynium22 and cyanane863, and to the enzyme inhibitors pargyline, Ro 01-2812 and U-0521.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1989

The uptake and metabolism of 3H-catecholamines in rat cerebral cortex slices.

The accumulation and metabolism of 3H-catecholamines were studied in cerebral cortex slices obtained from rats pretreated with reserpine, during 30 min of incubation with 50 nmol/l of the 3H-amines. In some experiments neuronal uptake (uptake1) was inhibited by the presence of 0.3 mumol/l desipramine, in others COMT was inhibited by 30 mumol/l U-0521. When both MAO and COMT were intact, most of the metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline was neuronal (i.e., desipramine-sensitive). For 3H-adrenaline rates of neuronal metabolism were much lower than for 3H-noradrenaline, non-neuronal O-methylation accounting for about 50% of total metabolism. Rates of metabolism of 3H-dopamine were similar to those of 3H-noradrenaline, but with a predominance of non-neuronal metabolism, which involved O-methylation and deamination. - Under these conditions, very little 3H-catecholamine was recovered from the tissues; moreover, desipramine tended to increase tissue levels. Hence, tissue content then appears to partly reflect extracellularly distributed 3H-amines. After block of MAO rates of metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline and 3H-dopamine were greatly reduced, and tissue levels were increased. Desipramine now antagonized the accumulation of 3H-amines in the tissue, while U-0521 increased it. Rates of O-methylation (in the presence of desipramine) increased in the order 3H-noradrenaline less than 3H-dopamine. It is concluded that neuronal uptake is associated with MAO only, and rates of neuronal deamination increased in the order: 3H-adrenaline less than 3H-dopamine much less than 3H-noradrenaline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Lack of differences between the neuronal and extraneuronal handling of 3H-7- and 3H-ring-2,5,6-(-)noradrenaline.

The neuronal disposition of the side chain-labelled 3H-7-(-)noradrenaline and the ring-labelled 3H-2,5,6-(-)noradrenaline of relatively high specific activity was compared in the (incubated) rabbit aorta, the extraneuronal one in the (perfused) rat heart. Furthermore, the metabolism by monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) of the labelled amines was studied in rat heart homogenates. In addition, some of the experiments were also carried out with the side chain-labelled 3H-7,8-(-)noradrenaline that is an inferior substrate of MAO. 1. In agreement with several other studies, the present results revealed the known differences between the two side chain-labelled amines brought about by the poorer deamination of 3H-7,8-(-)noradrenaline. This finding also indicated that the 3H-7-(-)noradrenaline used in this study was of the desired quality, i.e. was labelled exclusively in position 7. 2. In contrast to earlier findings, no differences between the side chain-labelled 3H-7-(-)noradrenaline and the ring-labelled 3H-2,5,6-(-)noradrenaline were observed with regard to neuronal and extraneuronal amine handling (intact tissues) and metabolism by MAO and COMT in rat heart homogenates. Hence, there is no reason to avoid the ring-labelled amine with high specific activity and, consequently, with slightly more than one tritium substituent per catecholamine molecule in experiments designed to analyse the neuronal and extraneuronal fate of (-)noradrenaline.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The neuronal and extraneuronal uptake and metabolism of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline in the perfused rat heart.

1. Hearts were obtained from reserpine-pretreated rats and perfused with 0.95 micron 3H(-)-noradrenaline. The rate of removal of 3H-noradrenaline from the perfusion fluid was measured (from the arterio-venous difference) as well as the rate at which the 3H-metabolites appeared in the venous effluent. 2. When either 30micron corticosterone was added under steady-state conditions during perfusion with 3H-noradrenaline (to inhibit neuronal and extraneuronal uptake, respectively), each inhibitor reduced the removal of noradrenaline by about 50%; in the presence of both inhibitors removal was abolished. 3. Dihydroxymandelic acid (DOMA) was of neuronal, normetanephrine (NMN) of extraneuronal origin; dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG) and the OMDA fraction (containing methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol-MOPEG-and methoxyhydroxymandelic acid-VMA) were formed both neuronally and extra-neuronally. 4. The extraneuronal metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline was in quick equilibrium with the 3H-noradrenaline in the perfusion fluid; most of the total formation of DOPEG, MOPEG and NMN was recovered from the venous effluent. 5. Extraneuronally formed DOPEG, MOPEG and NMN distributed in the tissue with half times corresponding to their half time for efflux. 6. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) by pargyline increased the extraneuronal formation of NMN; MAO and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) appear to be contained in the same extraneuronal compartment. 7. The extraneuronal accumulation of 3H-noradrenaline required 30 min or more to reach a steady state; inhibition of one or both enzymes slowed this process. Inhibition of MAO increased the extra-neuronal accumulation of 3H-noradrenaline; inhibition of COMT failed to do so, since the enzyme inhibitor (U-0521) was a weak inhibitor of extra-neuronal uptake. 8. The rate constants for the efflux of the metabolites of noradrenaline decreased in the order of MOPEG greater than DOPEG greater than NMN greater than DOMA greater than VMA.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of the O-methylation of catechol oestrogens by intact rabbit thoracic aorta and subcellular fractions thereof.

In the present study we investigated the O-methylation of catechol oestrogens by intact rabbit thoracic aorta and subcellular fractions thereof. The O-methylation of 2-hydroxyoestradiol (2OHE2) and 2-hydroxyoestriol (2OHE3) displayed saturation kinetics in the intact tissue. The apparent Km and Vmax values for the O-methylation of 2OHE2 were determined to be 0.91 mumol/l and 104 pmol g-1 min-1, respectively, when 2OHE2 was used as substrate; and 1.14 mumol/l and 188 pmol g-1 min-1 when 2OHE3 was used as substrate. The inhibitors of the extraneuronal uptake process (viz; phenoxybenzamine 33 mumol/l; normetanephrine, 46 mumol/l; and deoxycorticosterone acetate 27 mumol/l) failed to inhibit the O-methylation of either 2OHE2 (3.4 mumol/l) or 2OHE3 (3.4 mumol/l) in intact segments of the rabbit thoracic aorta. (-)-Isoprenaline (40 mumol/l) abolished the O-methylation of 2OHE2 (3.4 mumol/l) and markedly reduced that of 2OHE3 (3.4 mumol/l). Pretreatment of tissues with phenoxybenzamine (33 mumol/l) partially restored the O-methylation of 2OHE2 and 2OHE3 in the presence of (-)-isoprenaline (40 mumol/l). The O-methylation of 2OHE2 (5 mumol/l) was significantly reduced in segments of aorta in which the endothelium was removed. The latter reduction could not be attributed to damage to components of the vessel media. The O-methylation of 2OHE2 and (-)-isoprenaline by subcellular fractions of the rabbit aorta also was examined. Both the microsomal and cytosolic fractions were shown to O-methylate 2OHE2 and (-)-isoprenaline, providing evidence for the existence of membrane-bound and soluble forms of COMT in the rabbit aorta. The O-methylation of 2OHE2 by cytosolic and microsomal fractions of the aorta was determined and compared to that of (-)-isoprenaline. The kinetic constants for the O-methylation of 2OHE2 by cytosolic (Km: 0.27 mumol/l; V max: 112 pmol g-1 min-1) and microsomal (Km: 0.15 mumol/l; Vmax: 161 pmol g-1 min-1) fractions were similar. In contrast, the kinetic constants for the O-methylation of isoprenaline by cytosolic (Km: 121 mumol/l; Vmax: 174 pmol g-1 min-1) and membranal (Km: 0.91 mumol/l; Vmax: 105 pmol g-1 min-1) fractions were very different. It is concluded that catechol oestrogens are excellent substrates for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in the rabbit aorta. Their O-methylation can occur in endothelial structures as well as in the smooth muscle-containing medial sections of the vessel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Kinetic constants for uptake and metabolism of 3H-(-)noradrenaline in rabbit aorta. Possible falsification of the constants by diffusion barriers within the vessel wall.

1. The neuronal uptake of 3H-(-)noradrenaline into aortic rings from reserpine-pretreated animals was a saturable process with a Km of 2.3 mumol X l-1 and a Vmax of 0.5 nmol X g-1 X min-1. Similar constants were obtained when the neuronal deamination of noradrenaline was taken as an index for neuronal uptake. When the tissue was incubated in the usual way, i.e., when the amine was allowed to enter the aortic rings via both the intimal and the adventitial surface, then there was no initial delay (tlag) for the neuronal uptake of noradrenaline (MAO and COMT inhibited). On the other hand, when the amine entry was restricted to the intimal surface, there was a tlag of 2 min, probably due to the slow equilibration of the extracellular space of the media with the incubation medium. Furthermore, for low amine concentrations the rate of uptake in the latter situation was about 10 times lower than that in the former one. Thus, the rate of uptake clearly depended on the way the amine entered the tissue. 2. The corticosterone-sensitive extraneural uptake of 3H-(-)noradrenaline determined in nerve-free aortic rings was characterised by a high Km (490 mumol X l-1) and Vmax (35 nmol X g-1 X min-1). For uptake2 a tlag of 1 min was observed. 3. The analysis of the extraneuronal O-methylating system in nerve-free aortic rings yielded a Km of 3.6 mumol X l-1 and a Vmax of 0.6 nmol X g-1 X min-1. The tlag for the O-methylation of noradrenaline was in the same order of magnitude as that for uptake2. At low amine concentrations the corticosterone-sensitive accumulation of noradrenaline was prevented by COMT, but not by MAO. The latter enzyme reduced the steady-state accumulation of noradrenaline by about 50%. When the amine entry was restricted to one surface only, the results indicated that the extraneuronal O-methylation of noradrenaline generated a steep concentration gradient of the parent amine within the extracellular space of the aorta. 4. All saturable processes fitted the Michaelis-Menten equation. However, kinetic constants determined in incubated organs may be falsified by poor diffusion of the substrate through the extracellular space.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

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↗
PubMed1975

Relation between the amount of smooth muscle of venous tissue and the degree of supersensitivity to isoprenaline caused by inhibition of catechol-O-methyl transferase.

The relation between the smooth muscle cell mass of dog saphenous vein strips and the degree of supersensitivity to isoprenaline caused by U-0521 (3,4-dihydroxy-2-methyl propiophenone), an inhibitor of the catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), was studied. For the quantitative determination of smooth muscle mass, the thickness of the muscle layer as determined by light microscopy and the maximal shortening induced by supramaximal concentration of phenylephrine were used. After the strips had been contracted by 3x10-6M phenylephrine, a concentration which was able to produce an about 90% maximal contraction, dose-response curves to the relaxant effect of isoprenaline were determined in the absence and in the presence of U-0521 (10-4M). It was observed that U-0521 caused marked supersensitivity to the relaxant effect of isoprenaline (varying between 3 and 81 times), as well as an increase of the maximal relaxation caused by this amine (varying between 7 and 120%). The correlation between these data and the smooth muscle cell mass shows that there was a direct proportionality between these parameters. Oxytetracycline (10-4M), an inhibitor of binding of catecholamines to collagen, did not produce any enhancement of the effects of isoprenaline. It is concluded that COMT is related to smooth muscle cells in this tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effects of CGP 28014 on the in vivo release and metabolism of dopamine in the rat striatum assessed by brain microdialysis.

The effects on rat striatal dopamine (DA) metabolism of systemic and local administration of CGP 28014, an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), were studied by in vivo microdialysis. CGP 28014 (30 mg/kg i.p.) significantly reduced the levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), but did not modify DA and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). The intrastriatal administration (via the microdialysis probe) of 5, 7.5, 10, and 20 mM of CGP 28014 elicited a concentration-dependent, several-fold increase in extracellular DA but did not alter the levels of HVA and DOPAC. Thus, the effects of CGP 28014 observed after i.p. injection (decrease in HVA levels) are different from those measured after intrastriatal administration (increase in DA release). Therefore, the inhibition of COMT is likely to be due to the action of a metabolite of CGP 28014 formed in the periphery and not in the brain.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1997

Catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype and susceptibility to Parkinson's disease in Japan. Short communication.

We report -108Met/Val polymorphism of the COMT gene in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The allele frequency for -108Val was higher in PD patients compared with controls, although the differences did not reach the statistical significance. However, the frequency of -108Val homozygotes was significantly higher in PD patients (56.8%) than in control subjects (44.2%), and heterozygotes of -108Met/Val were less in PD. COMT gene polymorphism may constitute a genetic risk factor for PD among Japanese.

Aged↗