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An in vitro stimulatory effect of indoleamines on aldosterone biosynthesis in the rat.

The effect of the indoleamines, serotonin, 5-methoxy-tryptamine, 5-methoxytryptophol and melatonin on aldosterone biosynthesis by rat adrenals in vitro has been studied. In all experiments incremental doses of each of the indoleamines tested produced a progressive increase in aldosterone secretion. Serotonin (10(-6) mol/l) produced a 5-fold increase in aldosterone secretion by isolated perfused rat zona glomerulosa cells obtained from animals on a normal sodium diet compared to the basal levels. Higher (9-fold) responses were elicited when the cells were from sodium deficient rats and lower (3-fold) when the rats were sodium loaded. 5-methoxytryptamine (10(-6) mol/l) was a more potent aldosterone agonist (8-fold increase) and the aldosterone response was similarly affected by change in sodium intake. Smaller responses were found when cells were stimulated by 5-methoxytryptophol (10(-4) mol/l, 3.5-fold) or melatonin (10(-4) mol/l, 3-fold). The dopamine agonist serotonin antagonist Lisuride completely inhibited the aldosterone response to 5-methoxytryptamine (10(-8) mol/l) and serotonin (10(-7) mol/l). These results suggest that pineal indoles could play a role in aldosterone biosynthesis and indicate that changes in sodium balance affect the aldosterone response to indoles in the same way as has been described for other aldosterone secretagogues.

5-Methoxytryptamine↗

Butanol extracts from myelin fragments: identification of 5-hydroxytryptamine binding components.

To investigate the nature of 5-HT binding components originated from myelin butanol extracts (i.e. proteolipids), the recombinate experiments with acidic lipids were planned. Binding assay of 14C . 5-Ht to recombinates was carried out by Sephadex lh20 column chromatography. Among several recombinate fractions, recombinate of sulphatides, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol showed the same elution profile and binding capacity for 14C . 5-HT with those of the myelin extracts. The displacement studies with other neurotransmitters revealed that the recombinate of these three acidic lipids completely regenerated the specificity of the original myelin proteolipids. Namely, tryptamine, DA and ACh inhibited the 5-HT binding but NA had no effect. A double reciprocal plot of 5-HT binding represented a multiple binding mode, not a straight line. This observation suggested that, at least, three binding components (or sites) are implicated in the binding of 14C . 5-HT to this recombinate system having 3 Kds of 2.2 x 10(-7), 4.1 x 10(-7) and 4.2 x 10(-6) m. All these observations infer that the 5-HT binding components of myelin proteolipids are mainly three acidic lipids in nature.

Animals↗

Ability of tryptophan derivatives to mimic melatonin's action upon the Syrian hamster reproductive system.

The ability of 18 different tryptophan derivatives to induce gonadal regression in Syrian hamsters when injected daily at either midday or late evening has been examined. The compounds chosen have either been identified within mammalian pineal glands or are thought to be possible metabolic derivatives of melatonin. Of the compounds tested, only melatonin and 5-methoxytryptamine were found to possess antigonadotropic activity. 5-Methoxy-tryptamine's potency, however, was 1/10th that of melatonin and, like melatonin, 5-methoxytryptamine was effective when injected in the evening but not when injected during midday. In addition to the general survey of tryptophan derivatives for antigonadal capability when injected, 5-methoxytryptamine, melatonin, and 5-methoxytryptophol were compared relative to their abilities to prevent photo-induced gonadal regression when administered within beeswax implants. Again 5-methoxytryptamine and melatonin, but not 5-methoxytryptophol, were effective with 5-methoxytryptamine's potency being less than that of melatonin. These results indirectly support the contention that melatonin is the pineal product which mediates photoperiodic effects upon the Syrian hamster reproductive system.

5-Methoxytryptamine↗

pH-dependent modulation of agonist interactions with [3H]-ketanserin-labelled S2 serotonin receptors.

The effects of varying the pH on the properties of S2 serotonin receptors labelled by [3H]-ketanserin were examined. Between pH 7.0 and 8.2 the agonist affinities, as determined by competition experiments, increased dramatically. Serotonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, tryptamine, bufotenine and quipazine, demonstrated 15,16,8,6 and 5-fold increases in apparent affinity between pH 7.0 and 8.2. On the other hand the antagonists, ketanserin, cinanserin, and spiperone demonstrated little or no affinity changes between pH 7.0 and 8.2. The largest shift in affinity for an antagonist occurred with spiperone, which displayed a two-fold shift. Although changing pH is a rather non-specific manipulation, the selective affect on agonist interaction with S2 receptors indicates further investigation of this pH effect may aid in discovering the difference in receptor interactions between serotonin agonists and antagonists.

Animals↗

Peripheral receptor populations involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility and the pharmacological actions of metoclopramide-like drugs.

This minireview is concerned with a re-examination of the locus of action and the possible peripheral mechanisms involved in the gastrointestinal (GI) stimulant effects of metoclopramide. Such a re-evaluation is opportune given the increasing use of this drug in the therapy of certain GI tract disorders. To provide an orientation on this subject the location in the GI tract and function of several relevant receptor types have been reviewed. In the past metoclopramide has been reported to enhance contractions of a variety of GI preparations to electrical stimulation, acetylcholine, carbachol and ganglion stimulants, to inhibit responses to alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonists and 5-hydroxytryptamine, as well as blocking those to dopamine. Also in such preparations metoclopramide facilitates the release of acetylcholine to transmural stimulation. One important question is whether this effect is mediated via a specific prejunctional receptor. In this respect 2 suggestions have been made. Firstly that the drug may act as a preferential, prejunctional muscarinic antagonist thus inhibiting the negative feedback inhibition of acetylcholine release and secondly that metoclopramide may be a prejunctional agonist (partial) at 5-hydroxy-tryptamine receptors. Although the latter possibility appears most tenable at present, the involvement of a specific receptor remains to be confirmed. The important finding that dopamine receptors are probably not involved in the local stimulant effects of metoclopramide has important implications for future research orientated towards the discovery of a new generation of GI drugs lacking the side effects associated with central dopamine receptor blockade. Several compounds (cinitapride, BRL 20627A and cisapride) are now in the early stages of clinical evaluation.

Animals↗

Radioenzymatic analysis of neurotransmitters.

Since the late 1960's, radioenzymatic assays have gradually come to replace the less sensitive and less specific spectrofluorometric and bioassay procedures previously used to determine many of the neurotransmitters. These assays provide the means to measure picogram quantities of most of these substances, and have enabled determinations to be made in very small volumes of body fluids, in brain perfusates and individual brain nuclei, and in large individual cells of some simple animals. This paper reviews briefly some of the radioenzymatic techniques presently available for assaying norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), serotonin, and the trace amines octopamine (OA), phenylethanolamine (PEOHA), phenylethylamine (PEA), tyramine (TA) and tryptamine (T).

Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase↗

Characterization of a serotonin transporter and an adenylate cyclase-linked serotonin receptor in the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta.

[3H]5-HT exhibited specific binding in membrane preparations of Hymenolepis diminuta. The specific binding was saturable, reversible and temperature dependent. A non-linear Scatchard plot was obtained in a concentration range of 11 nM - 1000 nM [3H]5-HT, which could be resolved into sites having apparent dissociation constants (KD) of 0.10 microM and 6.25 microM for the high-affinity and low-affinity components, respectively. The latter could be selectively eliminated by binding [3H]5-HT to H. diminuta membranes in the presence of 10(-3) M nitroimipramine. Drug displacement studies, using 0.20 microM and 2.0 microM [3H]5-HT, revealed that while low-affinity [3H]5-HT binding was displaced by unlabelled 5-HT and inhibitors of 5-HT uptake, high affinity [3H]5-HT binding was affected only by tryptamine derivatives and, to a lesser extent, methysergide. In addition, high-affinity binding was stimulated by MgCl2 while low-affinity binding showed sodium-dependency. The data implicate the low-affinity site as a putative 5-HT transporter and the high-affinity site as a putative 5-HT 1 receptor. Exposure of H. diminuta membranes to 5-HT resulted in a 3-4 fold stimulation of cAMP levels. The EC 50 for the 5-HT-induced activation of adenylate cyclase (0.76 microM) was of the same order of magnitude as the apparent KD for high-affinity binding. Furthermore, the order of drug potency for the elevation of cAMP levels by 5-HT agonists and reversal by 5-HT antagonists was identical to the order of drug potency for the inhibition of high-affinity binding, suggesting linkage of the putative 5-HT 1 receptor to adenylate cyclase in H. diminuta.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

2[125I]iodomelatonin binding sites in spleens of guinea pigs.

2-[125I]Iodomelatonin was found to bind specifically to the membrane preparations of the spleens of guinea pigs with high affinity. The binding was rapid, stable, saturable and reversible. Scatchard analysis of the binding assays revealed an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 49.8 +/- 4.12 pmol/l and binding site density (Bmax) of 0.69 +/- 0.082 fmol/mg protein at mid-light (n = 10). There was no significant change in the Kd (41.8 +/- 3.16 pmol/l) or the Bmax (0.58 +/- 0.070 fmol/mg protein) at mid-dark (n = 10). Kinetic analysis showed a Kd of 23.13 +/- 4.81 pmol/l (mean +/- SE, n = 4), in agreement to that derived from the saturation studies. The 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding sites have the following order of potency: 2-iodomelatonin greater than melatonin greater than 6-chloromelatonin much greater than N-acetylserotonin, 6-hydroxymelatonin greater than 5-methoxytryptamine, 5 methoxytryptophol greater than serotonin, 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid greater than 5-hydroxytryptophol, 3-acetylindole, 1-acetylindole-3-carboxyaldehyde, L-tryptophan greater than tryptamine, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. Differential centrifugation studies showed that the binding sites are localized mainly in the nuclear fraction (65.5%), the rest are distributed in the microsomal fraction (17.4%), mitochondrial fraction (14.7%) and cytosolic fraction (0.3%). The demonstration of 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding sites in the spleen suggests the presence of melatonin receptors and a direct mechanism of action of melatonin on the immune system.

Animals↗

Influence of metabolic factors on the mutagenic effectiveness of cyclophosphamide in Drosophila melanogaster.

This paper describes the influence of changes in metabolic activity on the in-vivo mutagenic effectiveness of cyclophosphamide in Drosophila melanogaster. A dose-dependent increase in mutagenicity was observed until a plateau value is reached which was increased only slightly after enzyme induction with Aroclor 1254, whereas induction with phenobarbital resulted in a decrease, especially when cyclophosphamide was applied by injection. Treatment of the adult males with inhibitors of the monoamine oxidase (MAO, EC 1.4.3.4), such as iproniazid (Ipr), benzimidazole or tryptamine, led to a marked increase of the mutagenic effectiveness of cyclophosphamide especially in spermatocytes. This indicates the importance of metabolic de-activation processes for the limited mutagenicity of cyclophosphamide in Drosophila. The principal active metabolite of cyclophosphamide, phosphoramide mustard, is extensively de-activated by enzymes that can be inhibited by 1-phenylimidazole (PhI), presumably cytochrome P-450 (EC 1.14.14.1), but not by those blocked by MAO inhibitors. Inhibition of the FAD-containing dimethylaniline monooxygenase (FDMAM, EC 1.14.13.8) by N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (N,N-DMB) resulted in some increase in cyclophosphamide mutagenicity only in spermatids. The marginal mutagenicity of cyclophosphamide in Drosophila larvae could not be increased either by cytochrome P-450 induction with phenobarbital or by MAO inhibition with Ipr. In contrast to the failure of cyclophosphamide to induce rod-chromosome loss, a considerable activity was found when a ring-shaped chromosome was used. Similar to the sex-linked recessive lethal (SLRL) test, ring-X loss frequency could be enhanced by simultaneous treatment with MAO inhibitors. The observed ring-X loss frequency declined when males treated with cyclophosphamide were mated to DNA-repair deficient mei-9L1 females. Cyclophosphamide produces chromosome breaks, detected as 2-3 translocations, in Drosophila spermatocytes, the stage in spermatogenesis that is also the most sensitive to the induction of SLRL mutations.

Animals↗

Effects of quipazine on pre- and postsynaptic serotonin receptors: single cell studies in the rat CNS.

Many behavioural and biochemical studies have pointed to an agonistic activity of quipazine on serotonin (5-HT) receptors. In the present electrophysiological study, the effect of quipazine on pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT receptors in the rat was studied. Quipazine, administered intravenously, depressed the firing rate of 5-HT-containing dorsal raphe neurones (ED50 = 0.82 mg/kg). Microiontophoretic applications of quipazine on 5-HT-containing neurones in the dorsal raphe and on neurones of two forebrain regions receiving a 5-HT input (the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and the dorsal hippocampus) consistently depressed neuronal firing rate as did 5-HT and D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Quipazine was more potent on 5-HT neurones than on the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and hippocampal neurones: the post/presynaptic efficacy ratio for quipazine was similar to that of LSD. Following a selective denervation of 5-HT neurones with intraventricular injection of 5,7-di-hydroxy-tryptamine in desipramine-pretreated rats, the responsiveness of neurones in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus to quipazine, applied microiontophoretically, was increased as was that to 5-HT and to LSD. These results provide direct evidence for the agonistic activity of quipazine on both pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT receptors.

Animals↗

5-Hydroxytryptamine-mediated behaviour in male and female rats.

The responses of male and female rats to drugs causing the behavioural syndrome induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were compared. Preliminary experiments showed that females had largely similar responses to the releaser of 5-HT, p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) and the 5-HT receptor agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) at different stages of the oestrus cycle. The behavioural responses to 5-MeODMT (with and without the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline) or to p-chloroamphetamine were not significantly different to those of males except for tremor after p-chloroamphetamine which was more marked in the females. However, concentrations of p-chloroamphetamine in brain in these animals, when killed immediately after behavioural recording were greater in the females. When rats, pretreated with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, were given the precursor of 5-HT, tryptophan, the females showed substantially greater hypothermia and larger scores for components of the 5-HT syndrome than the males. This sex difference may have been due to the moderately but significantly higher levels of 5-HT (and possibly tryptamine) in brain attained by the female rats, than by similarly-treated males. The results as a whole therefore suggest that the greater behavioural response of female rats to pargyline and tryptophan reflects a greater effect of this treatment on the synthesis of indoleamines than that occurring in males.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial alterations in the brain of the rat caused by chlorphentermine.

The effects of chlorphentermine on the bioenergetics and activity of monoamine oxidase in mitochondria from the brain of the rat were examined. Oxidation rates of glutamate and succinate were investigated in the presence of chlorphentermine (0.1-5.0 mM). In small concentrations (0.1-1.0 mM), chlorphentermine decreased the respiratory control ratio and the adenosine diphosphate oxygen (ADP/O) ratio, and stimulated state four respiration. State three respiration and the uncoupled state were also decreased, but to a lesser degree. In the presence of larger concentrations of chlorphentermine (1.0-5.0 mM), the respiration in states four, three, and in the uncoupled state, as well as the respiratory control ratio and ADP/O ratio, were decreased significantly. These data indicate that chlorphentermine functions as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidation of norepinephrine, serotonin, octopamine, tyramine and dopamine by monoamine oxidase (MAO), an enzyme marker of the outer mitochondrial membrane, was inhibited in the presence of 0.01 to 0.1 mM of chlorphentermine. Oxidation of tryptamine and benzylamine was unaffected. A kinetic study of the oxidation of serotonin in the absence and presence of chlorphentermine (0.025-0.1 mM) indicated that both the Vmax and Km were affected. This drug is an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase of mitochondria of the brain with mixed type inhibition. These combined data show that chlorphentermine affects biochemical processes in both inner and outer mitochondrial membranes.

Animals↗

Neurochemical and autonomic pharmacological profiles of the 6-aza-analogue of mianserin, Org 3770 and its enantiomers.

The neurochemical and autonomic pharmacological profile of 1,2,3,4,10, 14b-hexahydro-2-methyl-pyrazino[2,1-a]pyrido[2,3-c]pyrido[2, 3-c] [2] benzazepine [+/-)Org 3770) and the related antidepressant drug, mianserin, have been compared. The uptake of [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) in vitro was weakly affected by (+/-)Org 3770 (pKi = 5.6) in contrast to mianserin (pKi = 7.4). Both (+/-)Org 3770 and mianserin facilitated the release of [3H]NA in slices of cortex. The effects of NA mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors on the release of both [3H]NA or [3H]serotonin ([3H]5-HT) were antagonized by (+)Org 3770 with pKi values of 8.4 and 8.1, respectively. However, (-)Org 3770 only antagonized the effect of NA on the release of [3H]5-HT (pA2 = 7.7). The binding of [3H]rauwolscine to alpha 2-adrenoceptors was inhibited by (+/-)Org 3770 and mianserin with identical affinity (pKi = 7.0), whereas the binding of [3H]prazosin to alpha 1-adrenoceptors was less potently affected by (+/-)Org 3770 (pKi = 6.4) than by mianserin (pKi = 7.1). A similar difference was found for alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in vas deferens of the rat. The binding of [3H]mianserin to 5-HT2 receptors was less potently blocked by (+/-)Org 3770 (pKi = 8.1) than by mianserin (pKi = 9.4) while the binding of [3H]mepyramine to histamine-1 receptors was more potently affected by (+/-)Org 3770 (pKi = 9.3) than by mianserin (pKi = 8.75). The binding of [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate to muscarinic cholinergic receptors was blocked equally by (+/-)Org 3770 (pKi = 6.1) and mianserin (pKi = 6.3). Similar data on tryptamine-D, histamine-1 and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in isolated organs were obtained. A prominent role for the blockade of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the therapeutic effects of mianserin and (+/-)Org 3770 in depression is suggested, probably excluding a role of inhibition of the uptake of NA.

Animals↗

The role of serotonin and dopamine in brain in the antidepressant-like effect of clonidine in the forced swimming test.

The effect of clonidine (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), as a three-injection course, on behaviour in the forced swimming test was studied in rats injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with 150 micrograms 5,7-dihydroxy-tryptamine (5,7-DHT) to destroy serotonin (5-HT) neurones or treated with 100 mg/kg (i.p.) (+/-)-sulpiride or 0.5 micrograms/0.5 microliter (-)-sulpiride in the nucleus accumbens. Clonidine significantly increased struggling and reduced floating and the effects were antagonized by both treatments with sulpiride but not by 5,7-DHT which markedly depleted 5-HT in brain. The results suggest that the mesolimbic dopaminergic system but not 5-HT neurones, plays a permissive role in the antidepressant-like effect of clonidine in the forced swimming test.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

Quantitative evaluation of the autoinhibitory feedback of release of 5-HT in the caudate nucleus of the rabbit where an endogenous tone on alpha 2-adrenoceptors does not exist.

Slices of caudate nucleus of the rabbit were preincubated with [3H]serotonin [( 3H]5-HT) in the presence of nomifensine, then superfused and twice stimulated electrically. The stimulation-evoked overflow of tritium, representing action potential-induced, exocytotic release of 5-HT, was inhibited concentration-dependently by 5-HT receptor ligands, the potencies of which were compatible with the assumption of a 5-HT1D-like autoreceptor. The inhibitor of the uptake of 5-HT, 6-nitroquipazine, markedly changed the shape of the concentration-response curve of the 5-HT autoreceptor agonist, 5-carboxamido-tryptamine (5-COHT). The maximum effects of the concentration-response curves of 5-COHT and of exogenous 5-HT became more pronounced in the additional presence of the 5-HT autoreceptor antagonists, metitepin or metergoline. Nonlinear regression analysis of these curves was used to estimate the pKd-value of endogenous 5-HT and the 5-HT biophase concentration at the autoreceptor, in the absence and in the presence of 6-nitroquipazine and in the additional presence of metitepin or metergoline. This revealed a highly operative autoinhibitory feedback, via a 5-HT1D type autoreceptor of release of 5-HT in tissue from the caudate nucleus. Also the inhibition by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine and UK-14,304, of release of 5-HT was concentration-dependent. There was neither an enhancement of release by rauwolscine, being a 5-HT autoreceptor agonist and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, in the presence of metitepin, or by the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine (10(-6) M).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Zetidoline, a specific dopamine antagonist devoid of antiserotonergic activity in rodent brain.

In the present study the interaction of zetidoline, a new antipsychotic, with the serotonergic system of the rodent brain was investigated in comparison with known neuroleptics. The pharmacological tests were L-5-hydroxytryptophan syndrome in mice and tryptamine-induced clonic seizures in rats. Biochemical tests were the in vitro binding of 3H-zetidoline to rat brain membranes and the serotonin metabolism and turnover in vivo in the rat cerebral cortex and brainstem. The results indicate that zetidoline, unlike haloperidol and chlorpromazine, at doses higher than those active on the dopaminergic system, shows no or very weak antiserotonergic activity in behavioral tests.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

(+)-8-OH-DPAT and 5-MeODMT induced analgesia is antagonised by noradrenaline depletion.

In experiments with both rats and mice the 5-HT agonists 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine (5-MeODMT) were shown to produce reliable analgesic effects after acute administration (1 mg/kg SC) in the tail-flick, hot-plate and shock-titration tests of nociception. Prior treatment with the noradrenaline neurotoxin, N-2-chloroethyl-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP4), systemically administered to both rats and mice abolished the analgesic effects of both the 5-HT agonist compounds in all the tests of nociception used. Intrathecal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment also abolished the analgesic effects of 8-OH-DPAT and 5-MeODMT; in the tail-flick test the analgesia induced by 8-OH-DPAT was reversed to an hyperalgesia. Biochemical analyses confirmed notable noradrenaline depletions in the spinal cord. It is concluded that an important interaction between presynaptic noradrenergic terminals and serotonergic receptor sites, possibly 5-HT1A, mediates spinal nociception processes.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Glycolic acid and tryptophan effects on feed intake and hypothalamic indoleamines in chicks.

The effect of intraperitoneal injections of glycolic acid, glycine or tryptophan on feed intake and hypothalamic levels of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) was examined in chicks. Glycolic acid significantly depressed feed intake in a dose-dependent manner in comparison to saline or glycine, but only in birds injected with a level higher than 150 mg/kg body weight. The injection of glycolic acid or tryptophan but not glycine inhibited feed intake, and increased hypothalamic 5-HT and 5-HIAA 2 hr post-injection, as compared with saline injected controls. Blood plasma total lipids were elevated by all 3 compounds but plasma glucose was unaffected. The reduced feed intake obtained by injection of glycolic acid appears to result from an effect on the serotonergic system.

Animals↗