Apomorphine-induced aggressive behaviour and post-mortem monoamine content in male Wistar rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the monoamine content in post-mortem brain samples of control, apomorphine-aggressive, and apomorphine-non-aggressive adult male Wistar rats. The repeated apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg, (s.c.) once daily during 2 weeks) gradually induced aggressive behaviour in 18 animals out of 24. No unidirectional changes in the brain monoamine contents in four regions (frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) were detected as measured by high pressure liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection. In conclusion, our present experiment demonstrates that the development and intensity of apomorphine-induced aggressive behaviour do not correlate with the brain post-mortem monoamine content.

(-)-N-[(11)C]propyl-norapomorphine: a positron-labeled dopamine agonist for PET imaging of D(2) receptors

Imaging neuroreceptors with radiolabeled agonists might provide valuable information on the in vivo agonist affinity states of receptors of interest. We report here the radiosynthesis, biodistribution in rodents, and imaging studies in baboons of [(11)C]-labeled (-)-N-propyl-norapomorphine [(-)-NPA]. (-)-[(11)C]NPA was prepared by reacting norapomorphine with [(11)C]propionyl chloride and a lithium aluminum hydride reduction. [(11)C]Propionyl chloride was prepared by reacting [(11)C]CO(2) with ethylmagnesium bromide, followed by reacting with phthaloyl chloride. The radiochemical yield of (-)-[(11)C]NPA was 2.5% at end of synthesis (EOS), and the synthesis time was 60 min. The specific activity was 1700+/-1900 mCi/micromol ( N=7; ranged 110-5200 mCi/micromol at EOS). Rodent biodistribution studies showed high uptake of [(11)C](-)-NPA in D(2) receptor-rich areas, and the striatum/cerebellum ratios were 1.7, 3.4, and 4.4 at 5 min, 30 min, and 60 min postinjection, respectively. Pretreating the animals with haloperidol (1 mg/kg) decreased the striatum/cerebellum ratio at 30 min postinjection to 1.3. (-)-[(11)C]NPA was also evaluated via baboon positron emission tomography (PET) studies. Under control conditions ( N=4), rapid uptake of the tracer was observed and the striatum/cerebellum ratio reached 2.86+/-0.15 at 45 min postinjection. Following haloperidol pretreatment (0.2 mg/kg IV), the striatum/cerebellum ratio was 1.29 at 45 min postinjection. The result demonstrated the existence of specific binding of this new tracer to the D(2) receptor. To our knowledge, the current finding of a striatum/cerebellum ratio of 2.8 in baboon was the highest reported with a radiolabeled D(2) agonist. (-)-[(11)C]NPA is a promising new D(2) agonist PET tracer for probing D(2) receptors in vivo using PET.

Chemical modification of apomorphine to discover sigma ligands: 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran and carbazole analogues

It seems that many sigma ligands have been designed from known sigma ligands. We focused on a difference in structural flexibility between haloperidol and apomorphine, and studied chemical modification of apomorphine, a compound with high affinity for dopamine D2 receptors but not for sigma receptors, for discovery of sigma ligands. The first modification yielded good results with 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran analogues with weak affinity for sigma receptors but not D2 receptors. Furthermore, carbazole analogues, compounds designed from 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran analogues, potentially acted at sigma receptors with high selectivity. This paper describes the design, synthesis and sigma/D2 selectivity of 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran and carbazole analogues.

Assay of R-apomorphine, S-apomorphine, apocodeine, isoapocodeine and their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in plasma and urine of patients with Parkinson's disease

Analytical methods are described for the selective, rapid and sensitive determination of R- and S-apomorphine, apocodeine and isoapocodeine and the glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugates in plasma and urine. The methods involve liquid-liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The glucuronide and sulfate conjugates are determined after enzymatic hydrolysis. For the assay of R- and S-apomorphine a 10 microm Chiralcel OD-R column is used and the voltage of the detector is set at 0.7 V. The mobile phase is a mixture of aqueous phase (pH 4.0)-acetonitrile (65:35, v/v). At a flow-rate of 0.9 ml min(-1) the total run time is ca. 15 min. The detection limits are 0.3 and 0.6 ng ml(-1) for R- and S- apomorphine, respectively (signal-to-noise ratio 3). The intra- and inter-assay variations are <5% in the concentration range of 2.5-25 ng ml(-1) for plasma samples, and <4% in the concentration range of 40-400 ng ml(-1) for urine samples. For the assay of apomorphine, apocodeine and isoapocodeine, a 5 microm C18 column was used and the voltage of the detector set at 0.825 V. Ion-pairing chromatography was used. The mobile phase is a mixture of aqueous phase (pH 3.0)-acetonitrile (75:25, v/v). At a flow-rate of 0.8 ml min(-1) the total run time is ca. 14 min. The detection limits of this assay are 1.0 ng ml(-1) for apomorphine and 2.5 ng ml(-1) for both apocodeine and isoapocodeine (signal-to-noise ratio 3). The inter-assay variations are 5% in the concentration range of 5-40 ng ml(-1) for plasma samples and 7% in the concentration range of 50-500 ng ml(-1) for urine samples. The glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugates of the various compounds are hydrolysed by incubation of the samples with beta-glucuronidase and sulfatase type H-1, respectively. Hydrolysis was complete after 5 h of incubation. No measurable degradation of apomorphine, apocodeine and isoapocodeine occurred during the incubation. A pharmacokinetic study of apomorphine, following the intravenous infusion of 30 microg kg(-1) for 15 min in a patient with Parkinson's disease, demonstrates the utility of the methods: both the pharmacokinetic parameters of the parent drug and the appearance of apomorphine plus metabolites in urine could be determined.

[123]IBZM binding predicts dopaminergic responsiveness in patients with parkinsonism and previous dopaminomimetic therapy

We investigated the cases of 55 patients with parkinsonism and prior dopaminomimetic therapy in whom the response to this treatment was questionable or reported to be negative. None of these patients had shown motor fluctuations prior to this study. We compared the results of imaging of dopamine-D2 receptors by using [123I]iodobenzamide-single-photon-emission computed tomography (IBZM-SPECT) with the improvement in motor signs following a subcutaneous injection of apomorphine and a subsequent increase in oral dopaminomimetic therapy. IBZM-SPECT accurately predicted a positive or negative response to apomorphine in 37 (84%) of 44 patients. The sensitivity/specificity was calculated as 96.3%/ 64.7%. The sensitivity/specificity of IBZM-SPECT for the response to oral treatment with levodopa (L-dopa) was calculated as 100%/75%. After a follow-up period of 2-4 years, 25 patients developed motor fluctuations. All of these patients had normal IBZM binding. Nine developed clinical signs indicating a basal ganglia disorder other than Parkinson's disease. Eight of these nine patients had reduced, and one patient had normal, IBZM binding. We conclude that normal IBZM binding is a useful predictor of a good response to dopaminergic drugs in patients with parkinsonism and a questionable response to previous dopaminomimetic therapy. Reduced IBZM binding seems to exclude a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, because none of the latter patients clearly benefited from L-dopa and 66.7% developed clinical signs indicating another disorder of the basal ganglia.

GTP regulation of (-)-stepholidine binding to R(H) of D1 dopamine receptors in calf striatum

(-)-Stepholidine (SPD) exhibits antagonist effects on normosensitive dopamine (DA) receptors, but it has an agonist action on rotation in unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats. The present work endeavors to further elucidate the mechanism of its agonist action on D1 receptors. [3H]R(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-be nzazepine ([3H]SCH-23390) and [3H]spiperone were used, respectively, as radioligands in D1 and D2 DA receptor binding assays in calf striatal membranes. Experimental data were analyzed by a non-linear regression computer program, GraphPAD InPlot 3.15. The competition curves were fitted first by a single-site equation and then by a two-site equation. The results showed that both apomorphine (APO) and SPD competitively inhibited [3H]SCH-23390 binding. Their competition curves fitted best to the two-site equation (P < 0.05) with a high-affinity site (R(H)) and a low-affinity site (R(L)) to DA receptors. The K(H) and K(L) values (nM) were 2.7 +/- 0.45 and 378 +/- 62 for APO, and 3.9 +/- 2.2 and 126 +/- 25 for SPD, respectively. In contrast, the competition curve of SCH-23390, a selective D1 DA receptor antagonist, fitted best to a single-site model with a Ki value of 1.7 +/- 0.5 nM. The R(H) of APO or SPD could be decreased by the addition of 450 microM GTP. In the [3H]spiperone binding test, the APO curve was modeled best by the two-site equation, while the SPD curve fitted best to a single-site model. In the rotational behavior test, APO induced 441 +/- 20 turns/30 min in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, and SPD induced 310 +/- 42 turns/30 min, while SCH-23390 antagonized the SPD-induced rotation but did not induce rotational behavior. These results suggest that SPD possesses agonist actions on D1 but antagonist effects on D2 DA receptors.

Perinatal asphyxia induces long-term changes in dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptor binding in the rat brain

We have investigated the long-term effects of 15-16 min or 19-20 min of perinatal asphyxia on D1, D2, and D3 receptors (analyzed by quantitative autoradiography) in the mesotelencephalic dopamine systems of the 4-week-old rat. Perinatal asphyxia reduced D1 antagonist binding ([3H]SCH 23390 in the presence of ketanserine) in the accumbens nucleus, the olfactory tubercle, and the substantia nigra and increased D1 agonist binding ([3H]dopamine in the presence of spiperone) in the accumbens nucleus and the olfactory tubercle. No changes in D2 antagonist binding ([123]iodosulpride) were found, whereas D2 agonist binding ([3H]N-propylnorapomorphine, [3H]NPA) was reduced in the posterior part of the caudate-putamen, and following 19-20 min of asphyxia it was also reduced in the accumbens nucleus. D3 agonist binding (R/S-(+/-)-2-(N,N-di[2,3(n)-3H] propylamino)-7-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, [3H]7-OH-DPAT) was increased in the anterior part of the caudate-putamen following 15-16 min but not 19-20 min of asphyxia. The results indicate that perinatal asphyxia reduced the number of D1 receptors and increased D1 agonist affinity in the accumbens nucleus and the olfactory tubercle and reduced the number of D1 receptors in the substantia nigra. The number of D2 receptors was unchanged by asphyxia, whereas the D2 agonist affinity was reduced in the caudate-putamen and in the accumbens nucleus. D3 agonist binding was increased in the caudate-putamen selectively following 15-16 min of asphyxia. In conclusion, asphyxia during birth induces long-term changes in the binding characteristics of dopamine receptors in the mesotelencephalic dopamine systems, which may contribute to previously reported behavioral changes.

In vivo reconstitution of dopamine D2S receptor-mediated G protein activation in baculovirus-infected insect cells: preferred coupling to Gi1 versus Gi2

Agonist binding of the human D2S receptor overexpressed in baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cells was of low affinity and GppNHp-insensitive, yet, dopaminergic agonists were able to partly inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In order to prove full functionality of the receptor, we used an "in vivo" reconstitution system, which is based on coinfection of Sf9 cells with the appropriate receptor and G protein encoding baculoviruses. In cells coexpressing the D2S receptor and either Gi1 or Gi2, the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine effectively stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding and GTPase activity. Agonist-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding was dependent on the ratio of G protein to receptor. Expression levels of receptor and G protein influenced each other reciprocally. G protein activation could be optimized by varying the multiplicity of infection of the receptor and G protein encoding baculoviruses. Coexpression of either Gi1 or Gi2 led to the appearance of GppNHp-sensitive high-affinity agonist binding. Detailed agonist competition binding analysis revealed that the percentage of high-affinity agonist binding sites was significantly higher in D2S receptor-expressing cells coinfected with Gi1 viruses than when coinfected with Gi2 viruses. Moreover, the coexpressed Gi proteins seemed to modulate the affinity of agonists for the high-affinity form of the receptor. In cells coexpressing Gi1, agonist high affinity was 2-4-fold higher than in cells coexpressing Gi2. Na+ increased the dissociation constant of apomorphine for the high-affinity site by 2-4-fold without affecting the percentage of high-affinity sites or the preference for Gi1. In some dopamine competition experiments with coinfected cells, displacement data were best fit assuming three noninteracting classes of sites in the absence and two independent classes of sites in the presence of GppNHp. Dopamine competition curves with cells highly overexpressing the D2S receptor or with membranes from such cells were best fit assuming two independent classes of sites which were insensitive to GppNHp and might reflect abnormal compartimentalization and/or different states of aggregation.

The effect of Yohimbine, an alpha2 adrenergic receptor antagonist, on the growth hormone response to apomorphine in normal subjects

Yohimbine HCl (16 mg po) administered 30 min before clonidine (CLON) (2 ug/kg infused over 10 min) (N = 5) or apomorphine HCl (Apo) (0.5 mg sc) (N = 10) antagonized the growth hormone (GH) response to CLON but had no effect on the GH response to Apo in normal men. This finding suggests that in humans, alpha2 adrenergic mechanisms do not modulate dopaminergic function, at least not in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and that the GH response to Apo is not mediated via an alpha2 adrenergic link.

The role of dopamine in epilepsy

The clinical benefits of dopamine agonists in the management of epilepsy can be traced back over a century, whilst the introduction of neuroleptics into psychiatry practice 40 years ago witnessed the emergence of fits as a side effect of dopamine receptor blockade. Epidemiologists noticed a reciprocal relationship between the supposed dopaminergic overactivity syndrome of schizophrenia and epilepsy, which came to be regarded as a dopamine underactivity condition. Early pharmacological studies of epilepsy employed nonselective drugs, that often did not permit dopamine's antiepileptic action to be clearly dissociated from that of other monoamines. Likewise, the biochemical search for genetic abnormalities in brain dopamine function, as predeterminants of spontaneous epilepsy, proved largely inconclusive. The discovery of multiple dopamine receptor families (D1 and D2), mediating opposing influences on neuronal excitability, heralded a new era of dopamine-epilepsy research. The traditional anticonvulsant action of dopamine was attributed to D2 receptor stimulation in the forebrain, while the advent of selective D1 agonists with proconvulsant properties revealed for the first time that dopamine could also lower the seizure threshold from the midbrain. Whilst there is no immediate prospect of developing D2 agonists or D1 antagonists as clinically useful antiepileptics, there is a growing awareness that seizures might be precipitated as a consequence of treating other neurological disorders with D2 antagonists (schizophrenia) or D1 agonists (parkinsonism).

Nafadotride, a potent preferential dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, activates locomotion in rodents

Nafadotride (N[(n-butyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-1-methoxy-4-cyano naphtalene-2-carboxamide) is a novel compound, which inhibits potently and stereoselectively [125I]iodosulpride binding at recombinant human dopamine D3 receptors. the levoisomer displays an apparent Ki value of 0.3 nM at the dopamine D3 receptor, but is 10 times less potent at the human recombinant dopamine D2 receptor. In comparison, the dextroisomer displays 20-fold less apparent affinity at the dopamine D3 receptor and reduced (2-fold) selectivity. l-Nafadotride displays iow, micromolar affinity at dopamine D1 and D4 receptors and negligible apparent affinity at various other receptors. In dopamine D3 receptor-transfected NG-108 15 cells, in which dopamine agonists increase mitogenesis, l-nafadotride has no intrinsic activity, but competitively antagonizes the quinpirole-induced mitogenetic response, monitored by [3H]thymidine incorporation with a pA2 of 9.6. In dopamine D2 receptor-transfected Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, l-nafadotride also behaves as a competitive antagonist of quinpirole-induced mitogenesis with an 11-fold lower potency. These studies establish nafadotride as a pure, extremely potent, competitive and preferential dopamine D3 receptor antagonist in vitro. l-Nafadotride displaces in vivo N-[3H]propylnorapomorphine accumulation at lower dosage and for longer periods in limbic structures, containing both dopamine D2 and D3 receptors than in the stratum, containing dopamine D2 receptor only. At low dosage (0.1-1 mg/kg), nafadotride, unlike haloperidol, a dopamine D2 receptor-preferring antagonist, increases spontaneous locomotion of habituated rats and climbing behavior of mice, at doses that do not modify striatal homovanillic acid levels. At high dosage (1-100 mg/kg), nafadotride, like haloperidol, produces catalepsy and antagonizes apomorphine-induced climbing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Production of melanin pigments by chemical and enzymatic oxidation of tetrahydroisoquinolines

Tetrahydropapaveroline (THP) oxidation was studied in various experimental conditions by absorbance spectroscopy. THP was found to be easily oxidized by mushroom tyrosinase, giving rise to the formation of a chromophore (THP-chrome) with absorption maxima at 308 and 470 nm. The oxidation further proceeds leading to the formation of a melanin-like pigment. The use of periodate as oxidant at pH 7.4 allows the visualization of the THP-chrome, as well. Other tetrahydroisoquinolines bearing a catechol moiety, such as salsolinol, laudanosoline and apomorphine, have been found to be easily oxidized in the same conditions, giving rise to pigmented derivatives. The products of THP oxidation are able to copolymerize with dopa or opioid peptides in the presence of tyrosinase, generating mixed-type melanins.

Dopamine receptor agonist potencies for inhibition of cell firing correlate with dopamine D3 receptor binding affinities

The potencies for in vivo inhibition of substantia nigra pars compacta dopamine single cell firing were determined for apomorphine, BHT 920, N-0923, (+/-)-7-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT), (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-propylpiperidine (3-PPP), pramipexole, quinelorane, quinpirole, RU 24926, U-86170, and U-91356. Significant correlation was obtained between the potencies of these 11 highly efficacious dopamine receptor agonists and the in vitro binding affinities at dopamine D3 receptors, but not at dopamine D2L receptors. These results support a functional role for the dopamine D3 receptor subtype in the autoreceptor-mediated regulation of dopamine cell activity, while a role for dopamine D2 receptors awaits further analysis. In addition, the results demonstrate the limitations of using currently available dopamine receptor agonists to delineate relative in vivo roles for the dopamine D2 and D3 receptor subtypes.

Alternative splicing of the dopamine D2 receptor directs specificity of coupling to G-proteins

Two isoforms of the dopamine D2 receptor have been characterized, D2L (long) and D2S (short), generated by alternative splicing from the same gene. They differ by an in-frame insert of 29 amino acids specific to D2L within the putative third intracytoplasmic loop of the receptor. We have previously demonstrated (Montmayeur, J.-P., Guiramand, J., and Borelli, E. (1993) Mol. Endocrinol. 7, 161-170) that D2S and D2L, although presenting very similar pharmacological profiles, couple differently to the alpha-subunit of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins). In particular, D2L, but not D2S, requires the presence of the alpha-subunit of the inhibitory G-protein (G alpha i2) to elicit greater inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity. The insert present in D2L must therefore confer the specificity of interaction with G alpha i2. Thus, we introduced substitution mutations within the D2L insert. These mutant receptors were expressed in JEG3 cells, a G alpha i2-deficient cell line, scoring for those presenting an increased inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by dopamine. Our analysis identified two mutants, S259/262A and D249V, with these properties. These results clearly show that the insert present in D2L plays a critical role in the selectivity for the G-proteins interacting with the receptor.

Time-dependent changes in sensitivity to apomorphine and monoamine receptors following withdrawal from continuous cocaine administration in rats

The effects of withdrawal from continuous administration of cocaine on behavioral sensitivity to apomorphine and monoamine receptor density were examined in rats. Subdermal minipumps that delivered either saline or 20 mg/kg/day cocaine hydrochloride were implanted for 2 weeks. Apomorphine-induced stereotypy (0.5 mg/kg, SC) was examined in separate groups of rats either 4 hr or 7, 28, or 60 days after removal of the minipumps. Transient enhanced sensitivity to apomorphine-induced stereotypy occurred during the course of withdrawal. Animals withdrawn from cocaine for 4 hours did not differ from controls in their sensitivity to apomorphine, whereas animals withdrawn from cocaine for 7 days exhibited an increase in apomorphine-induced oral stereotypy relative to controls. However, the enhanced stereotypy response was no longer evident in animals withdrawn for 28-60 days. The animals were sacrificed after behavioral testing, and their brains were assayed for changes in monoamine receptor density in the frontal cortex, caudate-putamen, and nucleus accumbens. The density of 3H-SCH-23390-labeled D1 receptors was altered in all three regions examined in a time-dependent manner that paralleled the changes in behavioral sensitivity to apomorphine. There was a transient decrease in D1 receptor density that was evident by 7 days following withdrawal from continuous cocaine administration and was no longer evident 28 or 60 days posttreatment. There were no changes in 3H-spiroperidol-labeled D2 receptors, 125-pindolol-labeled beta-adrenergic receptors, or 3H-ketanserin-labeled 5-HT2 receptors in any of the regions examined at both 4 hr and 7 days after termination of the cocaine infusion. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to developing pharmacologic treatments for withdrawal from cocaine.

Evidence that striatal synthesis-inhibiting autoreceptors are dopamine D3 receptors

The activation constants (KA; dose required to occupy 50% of receptors) for reversal of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)-induced elevation of striatal L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) levels via stimulation of presynaptic dopamine receptors were determined for apomorphine and two dopamine D3 receptor-selective agonists, quinpirole and LY163502 (quinelorane). The KA values correlated significantly with the affinities (Ki) of the agonists for the D3 (r = 0.999, P < 0.05) but not the D2 (r = -0.13) receptor, suggesting that striatal synthesis-inhibiting autoreceptors are of the D3 rather than the D2 subtype.

Correlation of clinical response in apomorphine test with D2-receptor status as demonstrated by 123I IBZM-SPECT

The knowledge of functional capacities of postsynaptic dopaminergic receptors in parkinsonian syndromes is important for differential diagnosis and for planning therapeutic approaches. Subcutaneous apomorphine challenges serve as a pharmacological tool in testing dopaminergic responsiveness, but discrepancies between results of the apomorphine test and long-term levodopa treatment remain. 123I IBZM (I-123 labeled iodobenzamide) as a dopaminergic receptor ligand allows depiction of D2-receptors by means of SPECT methods. The correlation between dopaminergic responsiveness and D2-receptor status as demonstrated by 123I IBZM-SPECT imaging was assessed by applying an apomorphine test to 41 patients with parkinsonian syndromes. All subsequently underwent an 123I IBZM-SPECT. Apomorphine responders showed a significantly higher binding of 123I IBZM than nonresponders, and patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) had higher D2-receptor density as visualized by SPECT than patients with other parkinsonian syndromes. The marked overlap between the groups allowed a reliable prediction only in patients with an abnormally low basal ganglia/frontal cortex ratio of 123I IBZM binding.

Identification of novel catecholamine absorbing proteins in the central nervous system

Several pharmacologically active catecholamines have been shown to react covalently with CNS proteins, namely species of 47, 40, 22, and 20 kDa. Of these, the 47-kDa protein showed the greatest incorporation of tritium following treatment with [3H]dopamine, [3H]ADTN, or [3H]N-propyl-norapomorphine. Labeling was accomplished by incubating the tritiated ligands with crude membrane preparations in the absence of reducing agents. These proteins displayed several unique characteristics: 1. The proteins are distributed throughout the CNS, but no evidence was found for their presence in other tissues; 2. The proteins have a unique pharmacological profile, interacting with dopamine, ADTN, N-propyl-norapomorphine, and apomorphine, but not with ligands specific for other proteins known to interact with these compounds; 3. The labeling of these proteins is not inhibited by several similar catecholamines and other catechols, suggesting specific structural requirements; and 4. These proteins exhibited stereoselectivity with respect to this labeling. These results demonstrate the existence of novel CNS proteins capable of covalently absorbing several physiologically important catecholamines in vitro.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors inhibit [3H]quinpirole binding in rat striatal membranes

This study describes interactions of monoamine oxidase inhibitors at binding sites labeled by [3H]quinpirole, a putatively selective ligand for dopamine D2-like receptors, in in vitro binding assays in rat brain. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors potently and competitively inhibited equilibrium binding of [3H]quinpirole in homogenate binding assays with the following rank order of potencies: clorgyline > or = Ro 41-1049 > pargyline > (-)-deprenyl > (+)-deprenyl > Ro 16-6491 > iproniazid. This rank order of potencies does not correlate with the potencies of these drugs at monoamine oxidase-A or monoamine oxidase-B, sigma site(s) or dopamine receptors. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors did not alter the ability of quinpirole to compete for [3H]spiperone binding. Quinpirole did not inhibit monoamine oxidase-A or monoamine oxidase-B activity and had low affinity (200 nM) for sigma site(s). These data suggest a potential novel binding site for [3H]quinpirole in rat brain and/or an alternative site of action for the antidepressant effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Neuromedin N is a potent modulator of dopamine D2 receptor agonist binding in rat neostriatal membranes

In the concentration range of 1-10 nM, neuromedin N produced a significant concentration-related increase in the Kd values of [3H]L-(-)-N-propylnorapomorphine binding sites in rat neostriatal membranes with a peak action at 10 nM (36% increase versus the control group mean value). The Bmax values were not affected by neuromedin N. Neurotensin at 10 nM induced an increase in the Kd values, which was not affected by a threshold concentration of neuromedin N (0.1 nM). In view of the higher potency of neuromedin N versus neurotensin to modulate neostriatal D2 receptors in contrast to the higher potency of neurotensin versus neuromedin N to bind to the cloned neurotensin receptors, it seems possible that the neuromedin N activated neostriatal neurotensin receptors controlling the D2 receptors represent a distinct subtype of neurotensin receptors.

Dopamine D4 versus D2 receptor selectivity of dopamine receptor antagonists: possible therapeutic implications

The dopamine D4 receptor, which is considered a close variant of the dopamine D2 receptor, has recently been cloned. Receptor binding studies demonstrated that clozapine, which is an effective antipsychotic agent but atypical in that it lacks the usual side effects of other antipsychotic agents, has high selectivity for the dopamine D4 receptor versus the dopamine D2 receptor. Comparative binding affinity studies have been carried out for a number of interesting dopaminergic agents using membranes prepared from cloned dopamine D2 and D4 receptor containing cells. It was found that clozapine is selective for the dopamine D4 vs. the D2 receptor by a factor of 2.8. Other compounds with dopamine D4 receptor selectivity were (+)-apomorphine (8.7), (+)-N-propyl-norapomorphine (NPA) (2.4) and melperone (1.3). Compounds with considerable selectivity for the dopamine D2 receptor were haloperidol (0.31), chlorpromazine (0.084), trifluoperazine (0.034) and raclopride (0.001). Overall, the results with the antipsychotic agents tested, support the concept that dopamine D4 receptor selectivity may confer clozapine-like antipsychotic efficacy and furthermore that dopamine D2 receptor selectivity may confer side effect liability (extrapyramidal side effects and tardive dyskinesia).

Persistent effects of subchronic toluene exposure on spatial learning and memory, dopamine-mediated locomotor activity and dopamine D2 agonist binding in the rat

The effects of subchronic inhalation exposure to toluene (80 ppm, for 4 weeks, 5 days/week, 6 h/day) was studied on spatial learning (postexposure days 3-6) and memory (postexposure day 14) using a water maze, on spontaneous and apomorphine-induced (1 mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.)) locomotor activity (postexposure day 17) and on the binding parameters of the dopamine D2 agonist S(-)[N-propyl-3H(N)]propylnorapomorphine ([H]NPA) in membrane preparations of the neostriatum of the rat. Toluene treatment was found to cause a statistically significant impairment in acquisition and retention of the spatial learning task. Furthermore, toluene significantly increased (2-fold) apomorphine-induced locomotion and caused a trend for a 50-60% increase in motility without any significant effect on rearing. Spontaneous locomotion, motility and rearing were not affected by toluene. Toluene treatment produced a significant 30-40% increase in the Bmax values of [3H]NPA and a trend for a 20-30% increase in the KD values. These results indicate that subchronic exposure to toluene in low concentrations causes a slight but persistent deficit in spatial learning and memory, a persistent increase in dopamine-mediated locomotor activity and an increase in the number of dopamine D2 receptors in the rat.