A kinetic analysis of the extraneuronal uptake and metabolism of catecholamines

Heterogeneity in endothelium-derived nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of different sized pulmonary arteries of newborn lambs

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) plays a pivotal role in regulating pulmonary circulation. To determine whether there is a heterogeneity in EDNO-mediated responses of different sized pulmonary vessels, we studied small and large isolated pulmonary arteries of newborn lambs (diameter, 0.4-0.7 and 1.5-2.5 mm, respectively). The isometric tension of vessel rings were recorded while suspended in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (95% O2-5% CO2, 37 degrees C). In vessels preconstricted with norepinephrine, acetylcholine and bradykinin induced a greater relaxation of small pulmonary arteries than of large pulmonary arteries. Acetylcholine, bradykinin, and nitric oxide also induced a greater increase in cGMP content in small arteries than in large ones. The responses to acetylcholine and bradykinin were endothelium-dependent and inhibited by nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. In vessels without endothelium, the response to nitric oxide was inhibited by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. The activity of soluble guanylyl cyclase of small arteries was greater than that of large arteries under basal conditions and after stimulation with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, a nitric oxide donor. These results demonstrate that heterogeneity exists in EDNO-mediated relaxation of small and large pulmonary arteries in newborn lambs. A difference in the soluble guanylate cyclase activity of vascular smooth muscle may have contributed to this phenomenon.

Role of dopamine uptake in NMDA-modulated K(+)-evoked dopamine overflow in rat striatum: an in vivo electrochemical study

An involvement of dopamine uptake in the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-modulated dopaminergic transmission in rat striatum was studied using the technique of in vivo electrochemical detection. Microinjection of potassium (K+) evoked dopamine overflows from the dopamine-containing nerve terminals in the striatum. While application of NMDA did not evoke any dopamine overflow, co-application of NMDA and K+ induced larger dopamine overflows than those by K+ alone. Furthermore, dynamic analysis showed that the rate of clearance (Tc) was reduced by NMDA. Indeed, our uptake study demonstrated an NMDA-induced inhibition of dopamine clearance. The time course of electrochemical signals evoked by microinjection of exogenous dopamine was increased and Tc was reduced following NMDA application. In order to delineate the effects of NMDA on K(+)-evoked dopamine overflows and/or on dopamine uptake, nomifensine, a dopamine uptake inhibitor was used. Application of nomifensine potentiated K(+)-evoked dopamine overflows. Co-administration of NMDA further augmented dopamine overflows by the K+ and nomifensine mixture. Taken together, our data suggest that NMDA concomitantly potentiated dopamine overflows in response to depolarizing stimuli and attenuated dopamine uptake. The increment by NMDA of K(+)-evoked dopamine overflows may partially result from an attenuated dopamine uptake in rat striatum.

Developmental change in isoproterenol-mediated relaxation of pulmonary veins of fetal and newborn lambs

beta-Adrenergic agonists are important regulators of perinatal pulmonary circulation. They cause vasodilation primarily via the adenyl cyclase-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) pathway. We examined the responses of isolated fourth-generation pulmonary veins of term fetal (145 +/- 2 days gestation) and newborn (10 +/- 1 days) lambs to isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist. In vessels preconstricted with U-46619 (a thromboxane A2 analog), isoproterenol induced greater relaxation in pulmonary veins of newborn lambs than in those of fetal lambs. The relaxation was eliminated by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist. Forskolin, an activator of adenyl cyclase, also caused greater relaxation of veins of newborn than those of fetal lambs. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, a cell membrane-permeable analog of cAMP, induced a similar relaxation of all vessels. Biochemical studies show that isoproterenol and forskolin induced a greater increase in cAMP content and in adenyl cyclase activity of pulmonary veins in the newborn than in the fetal lamb. These results demonstrate that beta-adrenergic-agonist-mediated relaxation of pulmonary veins increases with maturation. An increase in the activity of adenyl cyclase may contribute to the change.

Extraneuronal uptake inhibitor U-0521 decreases contractile responses in rat vas deferens

1. The influence of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor U-0521 on isotonic contraction of isolated rat vas deferens was examined to determine optimal concentration and nonspecific effects. 2. Maximum responses to (-)-epinephrine were increased at 0.4 microM and 1 microM concentrations of U-0521. Epinephrine responses were progressively decreased in the presence of higher concentrations (10 microM, 30 microM and 100 microM) of U-0521. 3. The response to the nonadrenergic agonist neurokinin A was similarly depressed in the presence of 100 microM U-0521. 4. U-0521 not only inhibits COMT, at concentrations above 1 microM it nonspecifically depresses contraction of the rat vas deferens by both adrenergic and nonadrenergic agonists.

Comparison of post-junctional alpha-adrenoceptors in iris dilator muscle of humans, and albino and pigmented rabbits

The relative potency of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and the dissociation constants of competitive antagonists were studied to characterize the post-junctional alpha-adrenoceptor of the human iris dilator muscle. The data obtained from human iris dilator tissue was compared to that from rabbit. The iris dilator muscle was mounted in an organ bath and tension changes were recorded. (-)-Norepinephrine, (-)-phenylephrine (PE), oxymetazoline and p-aminoclonidine caused contractile responses in albino rabbit, pigmented rabbit and human iris dilator muscle in a concentration-dependent manner. The imidazoline molecules were partial agonists. In rabbit iris dilator, desensitization occurred to repeated oxymetazoline application at an interval of 1 h but recovery to the agonist activity was complete in about 3 h. Exposure to cocaine (10 mumol/l), hydrocortisone (100 mumol/l) and U-0521, a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor (100 mumol/l), significantly potentiated the response to norepinephrine by 92-, 32- and 7 fold in iris dilator tissue of albino rabbit, pigmented rabbit and human, respectively. After block of "uptake1" and "uptake2", the EC50 values of norepinephrine in the albino rabbit, pigmented rabbit and human iris dilator did not differ and ranged from 99 to 195 nmol/l. Small but significant potentiation by uptake blockers was also observed in the responses to PE in the albino rabbit or pigmented rabbit iris dilator. The average maximum tension induced by 100 mumol/l PE was 96 +/- 11 mg (n = 10), 197 +/- 11 mg (n = 11), 45 +/- 5 mg (n = 27) in albino rabbit, pigmented rabbit and human iris dilator, respectively. In human iris dilator, the responses to PE were competitively antagonized by prazosin, 5-methylurapidil and phentolamine with apparent pKB values of 7.3, 6.6 and 7.5, respectively. The pKB values of the prazosin-PE interaction in iris dilator of albino and pigmented rabbit were 8.6 and 6.4, respectively. These results suggest that the post-junctional alpha-adrenoceptors in iris dilator may be similar to that in pigmented rabbit iris. The alpha-adrenoceptor of the human or pigmented rabbit iris dilator may be characterized as alpha 1L-adrenoceptor subtype. The alpha-adrenoceptor of albino rabbit iris dilator appears to be a high affinity subtype. Furthermore, albino rabbit may not be the best strain for the drug research which is relevant to human ocular therapeutics.

Pharmacological activities of trimetoquinol and 1-benzyl halogen-substituted analogues on rat beta-adrenoceptor subtypes

The beta-adrenoceptor activity profile of trimetoquinol and its 1-benzyl halogen-substituted analogues was studied in rat tissues containing primarily beta 1 (atria)-, beta 2 (trachea)- and atypical beta/beta 3 (distal colon and brown adipose tissue)-adrenoceptors. Functional biological activity resided in the (-)-isomer of trimetoquinol which was 112-, 275-, 372- and 513-fold more potent than (+)-trimetoquinol in trachea, right atria, distal colon and brown adipose tissue, respectively. (+/-)-Trimetoquinol was equally or slightly less active than (-)-trimetoquinol. The 1-benzyl halogen-substituted analogues of trimetoquinol exhibited differential activation of beta-adrenoceptor subtypes. In functional assays, 3'-iodotrimetoquinol was a potent activator of all beta-adrenoceptor subtypes. 3',5'-Diiodotrimetoquinol was 10-fold more potent as an agonist in tissues containing atypical beta/beta 3-adrenoceptors than those tissues containing beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor sites. Furthermore, this drug was a partial agonist as compared to (+/-)-trimetoquinol and 3'-iodotrimetoquinol on beta 1-adrenoceptors. Pharmacological properties of the compounds on rat beta 3-adrenoceptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were consistent with results observed in functional assays. 3',5'-Diiodotrimetoquinol possessed the greatest potency for activation of adenylyl cyclase. Rank order of affinity for rat beta 3-adrenoceptor was 3'-iodotrimetoquinol = 3',5'-diiodotrimetoquinol > (+/-)-trimetoquinol > (-)-isoprenaline. These results suggest that 3',5'-diiodotrimetoquinol is a promising drug for further chemical modification in the development of selective beta 3-adrenoceptor ligands.

Aldosterone escape during angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy in chronic heart failure

In chronic heart failure, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors produce an acute decrease in aldosterone levels. Long-term angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition is, however, associated with aldosterone suppression that is weak, variable, and unsustained (ie, aldosterone escapes). The possible harmful effects of this residual aldosterone are multiple Magnesium loss caused by aldosterone and by diuretics could contribute to coronary artery spasm and arrhythmias. Aldosterone blocks norepinephrine uptake by the myocardium; extracellular catecholamines may, therefore, lead to arrhythmias and ischemia. Aldosterone has been shown to have an acute arrhythmogenic effect as well as a detrimental effect on parasympathetic and baroreflex function. Both angiotensin II and aldosterone stimulate myocardial fibrosis, which may lead to a higher incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Spironolactone therapy added to the regimen of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and diuretic has been shown to cause natriuresis, magnesium retention, increased myocardial norepinephrine uptake, and reduced incidence of ventricular arrhythmias. It may well be that residual aldosterone mediates many harmful effects in chronic heart failure and that to optimize the benefit of blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may require specific blockade of residual aldosterone as well as traditional angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.

Dynamic analysis of ethanol effects on NMDA-evoked dopamine overflow in rat striatum

This study was undertaken to dynamically examine the effects of ethanol on the striatal dopaminergic transmission, in terms of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked dopamine release and dopamine uptake. In the striatum of urethane-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats, extracellular dopamine was measured using in vivo electrochemical detection coupled with a nafion-coated carbon fiber working electrode. Micro-ejection of NMDA evoked a transient dopamine release from the dopamine-containing nerve terminals in striatum. Local application of ethanol by pressure ejection did not elicit significant changes in spontaneous dopamine release. However, with ethanol pretreatment, the time course of NMDA-induced dopamine release was markedly prolonged while the magnitude and the rate of clearance were significantly reduced. These effects were compared to those of nomifensine, a dopamine uptake blocker. Nominfensine pretreatment was found to augment the time course of NMDA-evoked dopamine release analogous to those by ethanol pretreatment. Furthermore, pretreatment with ethanol did not increase the time course parameters of dopamine signals if dopamine releases were induced by co-application of NMDA and nominfensine. These data suggest that in addition to the attenuation of NMDA-evoked dopamine release, ethanol inhibits dopamine uptake in a similar fashion to that observed with nomifensine in situ in the striatum. Indeed, ethanol altered the uptake of exogenous dopamine from the extracellular space of striatal cortex. The time course of dopamine signals was prolonged and the rate of clearance was reduced after ethanol treatment. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ethanol simultaneously inhibits NMDA-evoked dopamine release and dopamine uptake in the striatum, suggesting the importance of the interplay between release and uptake in ethanol effects on striatal dopaminergic transmission.

Evidence for uptake2-mediated O-methylation of noradrenaline in the human amnion FL cell-line

The uptake and metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline has been examined in the FL cell-line derived originally from human amnion. Cell cultures metabolised 3H-noradrenaline (1.0 mumol/l) to 3H-normetanephrine and, to a lesser extent, to metabolites (not distinguished) of the O-methylated deaminated fraction; primary deaminated metabolites were not detected. 3H-normetanephrine formation a) was not saturable in the noradrenaline concentration range 0.2-150 mumol/l, b) was decreased to 20%-30% of control levels by uptake2 inhibitors (O-methylisoprenaline, 20 and 100 mumol/l; cimetidine, 10 mumol/l; hydrocortisone, 200 mumol/l) and c), was almost insensitive to uptake1 inhibitors (cocaine, 30 mumol/l; desipramine, 3 mumol/l). Uptake of noradrenaline was manifested after 30 minutes as a 6-fold increase in the cell content of the amine following inhibition of catechol-O-methyl transferase, either alone or in conjunction with inhibition of monoamine oxidase. Uptake was decreased maximally to 40% of control levels by O-methylisoprenaline. IC50 values for inhibition of the O-methylisoprenaline-sensitive component of uptake were (in mumol/l): corticosterone (0.3), papaverine (1.1), O-methylisoprenaline (3.0), cimetidine (6.0), (-)noradrenaline (460), and tetraethylammonium (2230). Except for the last agent, for which a comparative value is not available, the IC50's are in good agreement with those for inhibition of uptake2 in the Caki-1 cell-line reported by other investigators. The component of uptake resistant to O-methylisoprenaline was depressed by papaverine (a 50% decrease at 50 mumol/l), but was not affected by the other uptake2 inhibitors or by cocaine (30 mumol/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline in rabbit dental pulp: evidence of identity with uptake1

The extraneuronal removal and disposition of noradrenaline in rabbit dental pulp was examined in view of earlier evidence that the tissue possessed an extraneuronal uptake process resembling neuronal uptake1. Pulp, which had been depleted of sympathetic nerves by homolateral superior cervical ganglionectomy, was incubated in vitro with 3H-noradrenaline in low concentrations (0.025 or 0.18 mumol/l). When the metabolising enzymes (monoamine oxidase, catechol-O-methyl transferase) were active, 3H retention by the denervated pulp, as indicated by the 3H content after the tissue had been washed for 30 min following incubation with 3H-noradrenaline, was less than 3% of that of the innervated pulp. When the enzymes were inhibited, retention rose to approximately 30% of that of the innervated pulp. Analysis of the time course of the 3H efflux indicated that the 3H-noradrenaline in the denervated pulp had accumulated in a single compartment characterised by a t1/2 for efflux of several hours. Accumulation did not occur under Na(+)-free conditions, and was inhibited by desipramine (IC50 less than 0.03 mumol/l) and by substrates of neuronal uptake1. Mean IC50 values of the latter were very similar to those for inhibition of neuronal uptake1 and comprised (in mumol/l): (+)amphetamine (0.29), dopamine (0.31), tyramine (0.39), (-)noradrenaline (0.70), (-)adrenaline (1.50), 5-hydroxytryptamine (20) and bretylium (35). Uptake2 inhibitors were less active (O-methyl isoprenaline, IC50 = 60 mumol/l) than uptake1 inhibitors, or were without inhibitory effects at the concentrations tested (hydrocortisone, 210 mumol/l; 2-methoxy oestrone, 10 mumol/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accumulation and release of adrenaline, and the modulation by adrenaline of noradrenaline release from rabbit blood vessels in vitro

The accumulation of (-)-3H-adrenaline (3H-A) by rabbit isolated aorta was studied. In all experiments, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase were inhibited by treatment with pargyline and 3',4'-dihydroxy-2-methyl-propiophenone, respectively. The relationship between the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A and the duration of incubation was linear. The 3H-accumulation after 3 h incubation was 22.5 ml/g. In reserpine-treated tissue, the 3H-accumulation levelled off after 30 min and was 8.5 ml/g after 3 h. The concentration of 3H-A or (-)-3H-noradrenaline (3H-NA) and the 3H-accumulation (ml/g) were inversely related. At 10(-8) M, the 1-hour accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A and 3H-NA was 7.8 and 15.2 ml/g, respectively. With increasing concentrations the accumulation values approached each other. The accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A by reserpine-treated tissue also showed an inverse relationship with concentration. The accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A was dependent on the bath temperature. Storage of tissue (0-5 days in salt solution without equilibration with 95% O2/5% CO2; 4 degrees C) did not affect the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Thereafter (7-14 days), the accumulation decreased. The inhibitory potency (IC50; -log M) of desipramine, cocaine, propranolol, isoprenaline, and normetanephrine on accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A was found to be 8.26; 6.50; 5.48; 4.88, and 4.02, respectively. The maximal degree of inhibition was almost the same for these drugs, while that of clonidine and corticosterone was 50 and 20%, respectively. In the presence of desipramine, either clonidine, corticosterone or isoprenaline reduces the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Ouabain and iodoacetic acid, but not sodium cyanide and 2,4-dinitrophenol, reduced the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Anoxia (95% N2/5% CO2; 37 degrees C; 1-24 h) did not alter the accumulation of 3H derived from 3H-A. Glucose deprivation alone or combined with anoxia markedly reduced the 3H-accumulation. The release of 3H-A from rabbit isolated aorta was studied. This release was compared with that of 3H-NA. The stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow from aorta preloaded with 3H-A decreased with repeated stimulation. In contrast, prestimulation enhanced subsequent stimulation-evoked 3H-overflows. For both 3H-amines, the 3H-overflow increased concomitantly to the same degree with the number of pulses. The time course of 3H-overflows with either 3H-A or 3H-NA was compared.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Immunocytochemical evidence for the site of O-methylation in rat dental pulp

Immunocytochemical observations by light and electron microscopy of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) were conducted in dental pulp by use of a specific antibody to soluble rat-liver COMT and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Immunoreactive deposits were found in macrophages. The pattern of localization suggests that COMT may function in extraneuronal inactivation of catecholamines in dental pulp.

Effects of extraneuronal accumulation of isoprenaline on cAMP production in perfused rat heart

The effects of extraneuronal accumulation of isoprenaline on the level of cAMP in perfused rat hearts were investigated. When catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) was intact, perfusion with isoprenaline (10(-6) M) for 5 min and 30 min (low accumulation of isoprenaline in the heart) enhanced the cAMP level. Propranolol (10(-6) M) significantly decreased the high level of cAMP produced by the perfusion with isoprenaline for 5 min and 30 min (low accumulation of isoprenaline). When COMT was inhibited by tropolone, perfusion with isoprenaline (10(-6) M) for 5 min (slight accumulation of isoprenaline in the heart) slightly increased the level of cAMP, while perfusion for 30 min (high accumulation of isoprenaline in the heart) did not increase the level of cAMP. Propranolol (10(-6) M) significantly decreased the cAMP level produced by 5 min perfusion with isoprenaline, but did not change the level by 30 min perfusion. The perfusion length (5 min and 30 min) and COMT inhibition by tropolone (10(-4) M) in the absence of isoprenaline did not affect cAMP levels. These results suggest that extraneuronally accumulated isoprenaline may inhibit the adenylate cyclase in perfused rat hearts.

The interaction of transport mechanisms and intracellular enzymes in metabolizing systems

The life span of extracellular catecholamines is limited by the combination of uptake and subsequent intracellular metabolism by either monoamine oxidase (MAO) and/or catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT). Three such "metabolizing systems" are involved in the inactivation of noradrenaline: 1) Neuronal uptake (high-affinity uptake1) in association with neuronal MAO (and vesicular uptake), 2) extraneuronal uptake (low affinity uptake2) in association with intracellular COMT and MAO (in smooth muscles, myocardial cells, glands), and 3) uptake1 of non-neuronal cells in association with intracellular COMT and/or MAO (in vascular endothelium of rat lung). Such systems function as "pump and leak systems with enzyme(s) inside". The analysis of either uptake or enzyme fails to reveal the characteristics of such systems; they are determined by the interaction of both components. Because of the high activity of these intracellular enzymes, it is unlikely that either COMT or MAO is ever saturated in vivo. However, in vitro saturation of extraneuronal COMT and MAO reveals that extraneuronal COMT is a high-affinity, but extraneuronal MAO a low-affinity enzyme. Hence, membrane-bound COMT appears to be responsible for the extraneuronal O-methylation of noradrenaline. If intracellular enzymes remain unsaturated, the determination of the rate constants describing the unsaturated enzyme (KENZYME = Vmax/Km) is of particular interest. KENZYME can be determined for metabolizing systems, since this rate constant is not affected by the (usually unknown) fractional size of the metabolizing system.

Oxidative deamination of noradrenaline in human blood vessels

Human vascular tissue (saphenous vein and uterine artery) was incubated with tritiated noradrenaline. In both vessels, oxidative deamination predominated over O-methylation. Deamination was due to the action of MAO type A and B, as well as of a semicarbazide-sensitive oxidase. Whereas DOPEG was a good index of intraneuronal deamination, NMN, DOMA and OMDA appeared to be entirely extraneuronal in origin. Extraneuronal deamination plays an important role in human vascular tissue and may contribute to the inactivation of circulating catecholamines.

Intracellular accumulation of isoproterenol enhances the lactate production in the perfused rat heart

Effects of intracellular accumulation of isoproterenol (ISO) on lactate production were examined in perfused rat heart. The lactate production during ISO perfusion in rat heart was increased and subsequent addition of an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) further enhanced the production, and the enhanced production was significantly reduced by uptake2 inhibitor. The perfusion with ISO free-medium in the heart with high intracellular accumulation of ISO produced lactate more than that in the low intracellular accumulation. The present experiments demonstrated that the enhanced lactate production is accompanied by intracellular accumulation of ISO in the perfused rat heart, and suggested that the accumulated ISO may activate intracellular beta-adrenoceptors in the rat heart.

Effects of specific alpha-adrenoceptive agents on extraneuronal uptake (uptake2) of isoproterenol in perfused rat heart

Effects of specific alpha-adrenoceptive agents (alpha 1-agonist, alpha 1-antagonist, alpha 2-agonist and alpha 2-antagonist) on the extraneuronal accumulation of 3H-isoproterenol in the perfused rat heart were examined. The extraneuronal accumulation of 3H-isoproterenol in the hearts perfused with 3H-isoproterenol (10(-6)M) under COMT inhibition by tropolone (10(-4)M) was about 6 times higher than that of intact COMT. The increase in the accumulation by COMT inhibition was regarded as 100% and the effects of specific alpha-adrenoceptive agents on the accumulation was evaluated. alpha 1-agonists, methoxamine and phenylephrine, did not affect the accumulation. alpha 1-antagonists, prazosin, bunazosin and YM-12617, significantly decreased the accumulation of 3H-isoproterenol and these IC50 values were 2 x 10(-6)M, 3.5 x 10(-6)M and 2.3 x 10(-5)M, respectively. alpha 2-agonists, clonidine and guanabenz, significantly reduced the accumulation and these IC50 values were 3.4 x 10(-5)M and 2.9 x 10(-7)M, respectively. The alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine, did not affect the accumulation. The present experiments clearly demonstrated that the tested alpha 1-antagonists and alpha 2-agonists inhibited uptake2 in rat heart but the tested alpha 1-agonists and an alpha 2-antagonist did not inhibit it.

Sensitivity of caudal arteries and the mesenteric vascular bed to norepinephrine in DOCA-salt hypertension

This study was undertaken to determine what factors might contribute to arterial supersensitivity to norepinephrine associated with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension in the rat. Experimental groups of male rats were uninephrectomized and 1 week later began receiving twice weekly injections of DOCA (20 mg/kg s.c. in sesame oil) plus 1% NaCl and 0.2% KCl in their drinking water. For each experimental group, a group of age-matched male rats underwent a sham operation and received injections of sesame oil and the NaCl-KCl drinking water. Perfused caudal arteries from 3-week-hypertensive rats were supersensitive to intraluminal and extraluminal norepinephrine administration. However, this difference in sensitivity between hypertensive and control caudal arteries was demonstrable at low rates of perfusion, 0.5 to 1.0 ml/min, but not at rates of 2.0 to 2.6 ml/min. The supersensitivity was not due to differences in neuronal uptake or to inhibition of extraneuronal uptake by DOCA. The perfused mesenteric vascular bed from 3- or 6-week-hypertensive rats was also supersensitive to intraluminal norepinephrine. However, the demonstration of supersensitivity in the mesenteric vasculature was independent of perfusion rate (2.3-6.8 ml/min) and perfusion pressure in the range of 30 to 60 mm Hg. There was little or no supersensitivity to transmural nerve stimulation in either the caudal artery or the mesenteric vasculature, a finding consistent with the observed decrease in endogenous norepinephrine content. Microelectrodes were used to determine resting membrane potential in the smooth muscle cells. No differences in resting membrane potential were detected between caudal or mesenteric arteries from hypertensive compared with control rats 2, 3, or 6 weeks after initiation of the DOCA-salt regimen. It is concluded that 1) the perfusion rate is a critical factor in designing experiments to test the sensitivity of caudal arteries to drugs, 2) the perfused mesenteric vascular bed is a useful preparation for studying sensitivity of blood vessels in hypertension, 3) the supersensitivity of blood vessels in the DOCA-salt model may be of greater importance relative to circulating catecholamines than to sympathetic innervation, and 4) the supersensitivity of blood vessels to norepinephrine in the DOCA-salt model is not due to changes in neuronal uptake, extraneuronal uptake, or membrane potential of the vascular smooth muscle cells.

Possible activation of intracellular beta-adrenoceptors by extraneuronally accumulated isoprenaline in perfused rat heart

Two rat hearts were perfused in series by a modified Loewi's method. The recipient heart was perfused with the perfusate collected from the donor heart. 1. After perfusion with 3H-isoprenaline in the presence of tropolone, an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase, the donor heart was washed out with amine-free medium containing tropolone and corticosterone. The heart rate of the recipient heart increased after the change to the perfusate from the donor heart during the wash-out. After wash-out the heart rate of the donor heart (which had accumulated 43.4 pmol.g-1 3H-isoprenaline) was higher than that of the recipient heart (which had accumulated 0.44 pmol.g-1 3H-isoprenaline), and the rates of efflux of 3H-isoprenaline from both hearts were similar. 2. After perfusion with 3H-isoprenaline and corticosterone in the absence of tropolone, the enhanced heart rate of the donor heart decreased during wash-out with amine-free medium in the presence of corticosterone. The heart rate of the recipient heart increased after the medium change to the perfusate from the donor heart, and the heart rates in both hearts were similar after wash-out. Only small amounts of 3H-isoprenaline remained in both hearts after wash-out, and the rates of efflux of 3H-isoprenaline from both hearts were similar. 3. After perfusion with 3H-isoprenaline in the presence of tropolone, the effects of propranolol and atenolol on the heart rate during wash-out with amine-free medium containing tropolone and corticosterone were compared. The inhibitory effect of propranolol on the heart rate was significantly greater than that of atenolol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Extraneuronal accumulation of isoproterenol in atria and ventricle of perfused rat heart

Extraneuronal accumulation of isoproterenol in atria and ventricle of perfused rat heart was investigated. Rat hearts were perfused with various concentrations of 3H-isoproterenol for 30 min in the absence and the presence of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor (tropolone). When COMT was intact, the accumulation of 3H-isoproterenol in both atria and ventricle after perfusion with low concentration of 3H-isoproterenol (0.01 to 1 mumol/l) was less than that of perfusing concentration; the tissue/medium ratio (T/M) of isoproterenol for artia was lower than that for ventricle. The T/M of isoproterenol after perfusion with 10 and 20 mumol/l of 3H-isoproterenol were 0.94 and 1.76 for atria and 3.25 and 2.95 for ventricle, respectively. When COMT was inhibited by tropolone, the T/M increased 6.3-9.0 folds for atria and 5.1-6.7 folds for ventricle after perfusion with 3H-isoproterenol (0.01 to 1 mumol/l). From these results, it was concluded that both atria and ventricle of the rat heart have an extraneuronal O-methylating system as reported in rat whole heart, and was suggested that there might be different capacities of extraneuronal uptake and COMT between them.

Cocaine inhibits extraneuronal O-methylation of exogenous norepinephrine in nasal and oral tissues of the rabbit

Nasal mucosa (respiratory and olfactory) and lingual gingiva of the rabbit were depleted of their sympathetic nerves by superior cervical ganglionectomy. In the innervated nasal mucosa, exogenous tritiated norepinephrine (3H-NE) was metabolised mainly to tritiated 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol (3HDOPEG) and 3,4-dihydroxy mandelic acid (3HDOMA), whereas after denervation it was metabolised mainly to tritiated normetanephrine (3HNMN). In the denervated mucosa, cocaine (30 umol/1) inhibited 3HNMN formation by 50-60%. Cocaine also inhibited 3HNMN formation by 60% in the denervated lingual gingiva. It is concluded that the tissues metabolise 3H-NE via a cocaine-sensitive extraneuronal uptake and O-methylating system similar to that which has been shown to be present in dental pulp.

Effects of anoxia and ischemia on uptake2 of catecholamines in perfused rat heart

The effects of 30 min periods of either anoxia or ischemia (stop-flow) on the uptake2 of isoprenaline and on the production of O-methyl-isoprenaline, a major metabolite of isoprenaline formed by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), were examined in the perfused rat heart. After either glucose deprivation or anoxia, the uptake2 of isoprenaline in hearts subsequently perfused with isoprenaline and 3',4'-dihydroxy-2-methyl-propiophenone, a COMT inhibitor, was similar to control values. However, uptake2 was decreased following either anoxia in association with glucose deprivation or ischemia. In the absence of the COMT inhibitor, neither glucose deprivation nor anoxia alone had any effect on the production of [3H]3-O-methyl-isoprenaline from [3H]isoprenaline, but both anoxia together with glucose deprivation and stop-flow ischemia decreased it. These findings indicate that both anoxia coupled with glucose deprivation and ischemia inhibit both uptake2 and COMT activity and suggest that such inhibition may be responsible for the high concentration of catecholamines released locally following myocardial infarction.

Characteristics of the cocaine-sensitive accumulation and O-methylation of 3H-(-)-noradrenaline by rabbit endometrium

1. The extraneuronal uptake and O-methylation of 2,5,6 3H-(-)-noradrenaline was studied in segments of uterine endometrium from rabbits pretreated with 17 beta-oestradiol and progesterone. 2. The uptake of 3H-noradrenaline was measured in MAO- and COMT-inhibited tissues and obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 78 mumol/l and a Vmax of 5.4 nmol/g min. Uptake was inhibited by low Na+, and by potential substrates in the order dopamine greater than (-)adrenaline greater than (-)isoprenaline = 5-hydroxytryptamine. 3. Following uptake at 1.2 mumol/l, efflux of 3H-noradrenaline was slow and appeared to be from two compartments, of which the first (I) had a t1/2 of 53 min and a capacity of 1.8 nmol/g. The presence of the second compartment (II) was inferred from the tissue content of 3H after 60 min of efflux, which was 3-4 times greater than predicted if the 3H was present in compartment I only. Following incubation with 3H-noradrenaline in the presence of cocaine 30 mumol/l the 3H efflux was rapid and the combined capacities of compartments I and II were greatly decreased. 4. 3H-NMN formation, measured in MAO-inhibited tissues, obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a half-saturating outside concentration of 12 mumol/l and a Vmax of 0.9 nmol/g X min. The formation was inhibited by the neuronal uptake inhibitors, desipramine 3 mumol/l and metaraminol 100 mumol/l (each by 80%), but was unaffected by the extraneuronal uptake inhibitor, NMN 100 mumol/l, and by oxytetracycline 100 mumol/l and methoxamine 10 mumol/l. 5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of isoprenaline on noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurones in rabbit isolated pulmonary artery

The aim of the present work was to demonstrate the presence of presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors in the rabbit isolated pulmonary artery by investigating the effect of isoprenaline on 3H-noradrenaline (3H-NA) release evoked by electrical field stimulation. (-)-Isoprenaline (10(-7)-10(-6) mol/l) had no effect on the 3H-overflow evoked by stimulation (3 Hz) of the pulmonary artery preloaded with 3H-NA. At 10(-5) mol/l, (-)-isoprenaline reduced the 3H-overflow by maximally 39%. (-)-Isoprenaline (10(-5) mol/l) caused an inhibition that remained almost constant with time. The same results were obtained with (-)-isoprenaline (10(-7)-3 X 10(-5) mol/l) in the presence of cocaine (3 X 10(-5) mol/l), corticosterone (4 X 10(-5) mol/l), and the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor U-0521 (3',4'-dihydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone) (10(-4) mol/l). In the presence of cocaine plus corticosterone, (-)-isoprenaline (3 X 10(-10)-10(-7) mol/l) had no effect on the 3H-overflow evoked by stimulation at 1 Hz. At 10(-6) mol/l, (-)-isoprenaline slightly reduced the 3H-overflow. At 10 Hz, (-)-isoprenaline (10(-6)-3 X 10(-5) mol/l) decreased the 3H-overflow and had no effect at 10(-7) mol/l. In the presence of either rauwolscine (10(-6) mol/l), phentolamine (10(-6) mol/l) or the phosphodiesterase inhibitor ICI 63,197 (3 X 10(-5) mol/l), (-)-isoprenaline (10(-7)-10(-6) mol/l) did not enhance the stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow. (+/-)-Propranolol (10(-7)-10(-5) mol/l) did not alter the stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The activity of the neuronal and extraneuronal catecholamine-metabolizing enzymes of the perfused rat heart

In a comparative study the neuronal and extraneuronal metabolism of several 3H-catecholamines (all of which were tritiated in the C-7 position of the side chain only) was determined in isolated rat hearts perfused at a concentration of the 3H-amines of 50 nmol/l. While the neuronal MAO activity was determined after inhibition of extraneuronal uptake (100 mumol/l OMI) and COMT (10 mumol/l U-0521), the extraneuronal MAO activity was estimated after inhibition of neuronal uptake (30 mumol/l cocaine) and COMT. The extraneuronal COMT activity was determined under conditions of inhibition of both neuronal uptake and MAO (pretreatment with pargyline). Hearts were perfused with the 3H-catecholamines until the rate of appearance of the various 3H-metabolites in the venous effluent has reached a steady state. From these rates (vst-st) and the steady-state content of the unchanged 3H-catecholamines in the tissue (Si), the rate constants (Vmax/Km) for the unsaturated intracellular enzymes COMT (kCOMT) and MAO (kMAO) were calculated. The kCOMT values for all four catecholamines, (-)-noradrenaline, dopamine, (-)-adrenaline and (+/-)-isoprenaline exhibit a range from 0.24 to 0.78 min-1; the metabolism of the catecholamines by the COMT differs: (-)-noradrenaline = dopamine less than (-)-adrenaline less than (+/-)-isoprenaline. The extraneuronal MAO activity was low for all three catecholamines, (-)-adrenaline, (-)-noradrenaline and dopamine (range of kMAO from 0.05 to 0.28 min-1) and declined in the order.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Demonstration of neuronal and extraneuronal uptake of circulating norepinephrine in the forearm

Disturbances in peripheral norepinephrine release or removal by neuronal and extraneuronal uptake may have pathogenetic significance in cardiovascular disease states. We investigated the mechanisms of removal of norepinephrine in the forearm of healthy subjects under basal conditions, using measurements of arterial and venous plasma norepinephrine concentrations, blood pressure, heart rate, and forearm blood flow. The specific inhibitor of neuronal uptake, desipramine, was infused intra-arterially into the brachial artery of five subjects. Net norepinephrine overflow from the forearm increased markedly, revealing considerable local release of norepinephrine. Six other subjects received four intra-arterial infusions of norepinephrine, 1.18 pmol/kg/min, with various doses of desipramine and the extraneuronal uptake-inhibiting drug hydrocortisone. The forearm extraction rate for circulating norepinephrine decreased with increasing doses of desipramine (from 69.4 +/- 3.0 [SEM] to 35.3 +/- 8.4%; p less than 0.001). Increasing doses of hydrocortisone during continued inhibition of neuronal uptake resulted in decreased forearm extraction of norepinephrine (from 63.3 +/- 4.9 to 40.6 +/- 4.4%; p less than 0.01). In six other subjects who received the highest dose of hydrocortisone without concomitant inhibition of neuronal uptake, forearm extraction of norepinephrine decreased from 57.1 +/- 4.9 to 51.5 +/- 4.7% (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that neuronal uptake contributes markedly to the removal of circulating and endogenously released norepinephrine in the forearm. For circulating norepinephrine, a corticosteroid-sensitive mechanism of extraneuronal uptake was also demonstrated. These results indicate that neuronal and extraneuronal uptake can be estimated separately in this vascular bed. Similar organ-specific studies in patients may reveal disturbances in mechanisms of norepinephrine removal.

A role for corticosterone in the in vivo regulation of the extraneuronal uptake of [3H]-isoprenaline into rat atria

The role of corticosterone, a potent in vitro inhibitor of extraneuronal uptake, in the regulation of the extraneuronal accumulation of [3H]-isoprenaline into rat atria was examined. Procedures which increased plasma corticosterone levels resulted in a decrease in the corticosterone-sensitive component of extraneuronal accumulation of [3H]-isoprenaline (64% after reserpine treatment and 25% after chronic cold exposure). Procedures which decreased levels of plasma corticosterone resulted in an increase in the corticosterone-sensitive component of extraneuronal accumulation of [3H]-isoprenaline (approximately 20% after adrenalectomy and 32% after hypophysectomy). This increase was partially prevented by the in vivo administration of dexamethasone (40 micrograms kg-1). There was a strong inverse correlation between the plasma corticosterone concentration and the level of extraneuronal uptake into atria (P less than 0.01). Corticosterone appears to play a major role in the regulation of extraneuronal uptake into tissues of the rat.

Effect of chlorpromazine on the metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline released from rabbit aorta

The effect of chlorpromazine on the metabolism of 3H-noradrenaline (3H-NA) released spontaneously or by electrical-field stimulation was studied on the rabbit isolated aorta preloaded with 3H-NA. Chlorpromazine (10(-6) M) neither altered the spontaneous outflow of total tritium nor had any major effect on the distribution of the 3H-outflow on 3H-NA and its 3H-metabolites. Chlorpromazine (10(-6) M) altered the distribution in stimulation-evoked 3H-overflow. Thus, 3H-NA and 3H-NMN were increased, 3H-DOPEG was markedly decreased and 3H-DOMA and 3H-OMDA were unchanged. It is concluded that chlorpromazine is an inhibitor of uptake-1.

Interaction of enantiomers of hydroxy tolazoline with adrenoceptors

Adrenoceptor-mediated effects of the enantiomers of hydroxytolazoline and tolazoline (i.e., desoxy derivative) have been investigated in vitro. The enantiomers and tolazoline were partial agonists of postjunctional alpha 1-adrenoceptors in rat aorta. The rank order of potencies of the compounds in this system was as follows: tolazoline greater than R(-)-hydroxytolazoline greater than S(+)-hydroxytolazoline. The efficacy of R(-)-hydroxytolazoline was higher than that of tolazoline, though its affinity for the receptor was less. The KB values for prazosin against these agonists were nearly equal, which indicated that these imidazolines activate the same type of receptor in rat aorta. The S(+)-isomer, however, produced both a prazosin sensitive and resistant component of the response. The interactions of the derivatives with presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors were studied in field-stimulated myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle of guinea-pig ileum. These substances were blockers at presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Based on KB values, the order of affinity in this system was as follows: tolazoline greater than S(+)-isomer greater than or equal to R(-)-isomer. beta-Adrenoceptor mediated activity was quantitated in guinea-pig and rat atria. R(-)-hydroxytolazoline lacked chronotropic effects either in guinea pig or rat atria. At 3 X 10(-4) M the isomer did not antagonize the effect of isoproterenol in the atria. On the other hand, S(+)-hydroxytolazoline produced a variable chronotropic effect in guinea-pig atria, but failed to show any significant activity in rat atria. Thus, the beta-adrenoceptor mediated action appears to be insignificant. Steric aspects of alpha-adrenoceptor mediated events are discussed.

Cocaine-sensitive O-methylation of noradrenaline in dental pulp of the rabbit: comparison with the rabbit ear artery

Incisor pulp from the rabbit metabolises exogenous noradrenaline in concentrations between 0.12 and 1.2 mumol/l mainly to NMN. Effects of chronic sympathetic denervation indicated that in incisor pulp the NMN is extraneuronal in origin, and that DOPEG and DOMA formation, as well as a major part of the noradrenaline which accumulates in the tissue, are associated with the sympathetic nerves. NMN formation was unaffected by hydrocortisone 210 mumol/l, but was strongly inhibited by cocaine 30 mumol/l. These effects contrasted with those in the rabbit ear artery, where NMN formation was increased by cocaine 30 mumol/l and decreased by hydrocortisone 210 mumol/l. In COMT-inhibited denervated pulp, cocaine inhibited the accumulation of noradrenaline. Monoamine fluorescence histochemistry of pulp exposed to noradrenaline 50 mumol/l indicated that cocaine-sensitive uptake occurred in fibroblasts. It is concluded that O-methylation of noradrenaline in dental pulp involves prior uptake of the amine by a process resembling uptake1 but which is distinguished from uptake1 by its extraneuronal location.

The effects of thyroxine treatment of rats on neuronal and extraneuronal uptake and metabolism of catecholamines in the heart

The effects of thyroxine (T4) treatment of rats on the neuronal and extraneuronal uptake and subsequent metabolism of catecholamines in the heart were examined, to determine whether changes in the local dissipation of catecholamines might contribute to the enhanced sympathetic cardiac responses that occur when thyroid hormone levels are elevated. T4-treated rats were injected subcutaneously with L-thyroxine sodium 1 mg kg(-1) on days 1, 3 and 5, and controls were injected with the normal saline vehicle on the same days. The experiments on isolated, perfused hearts were carried out on day 8. The T4-treated rats had only 50% of the growth rate of the controls and their heart weights were 18% greater than the controls. The experimental data were adjusted to allow for the increase in heart weight caused by the T4 treatment. The initial rates of neuronal uptake of noradrenaline and of extraneuronal uptake of noradrenaline and isoprenaline in the hearts from T4-treated rats were not significantly different from those in hearts from control rats. The steady-state rates of extraneuronal O-methylation of isoprenaline and of extraneuronal deamination of noradrenaline in hearts from T4-treated rats were not significantly different from those in hearts from control rats. The steady-state rate of neuronal deamination of noradrenaline was significantly lower and the accumulation of unmetabolized noradrenaline in the hearts was significantly greater in T4-treated rats than in the controls. These findings could be explained by a decrease in neuronal monoamine oxidase activity or by an increase in intraneuronal binding of noradrenaline in hearts from T4-treated rats. 6 The study has shown that it is unlikely that increased plasma thyroid hormone levels cause cardiac supersensitivity to catecholamines by affecting the local dissipation processes for those amines in the heart.

Changes in the incidence and duration of ventricular fibrillation in dependence on the extraneuronal accumulation of isoprenaline in the perfused rat heart

The relationship between the accumulation of isoprenaline and the incidence and duration of ventricular fibrillation was investigated in the perfused rat heart. Isolated rat hearts were perfused with 3H-isoprenaline (1 mumol/l) for 30 min at a constant flow rate of 6.5 ml/min at a temperature between 40 and 41 degrees C. Electrocardiograms were recorded during the perfusion period and the isoprenaline content of the tissue was measured after the perfusion. The accumulation of isoprenaline was significantly increased and the duration of ventricular fibrillation was significantly prolonged by the presence of tropolone (100 mumol/l). When extraneuronal uptake inhibitors such as normetanephrine (100 mumol/l), 3-O-methylisoprenaline (100 mumol/l) or phenoxybenzamine (1 mumol/l) were added to the perfusion fluid containing 3H-isoprenaline (1 mumol/l) and tropolone (100 mumol/l), the accumulation of isoprenaline was significantly decreased, the incidence of ventricular fibrillation was significantly reduced and the duration of ventricular fibrillation was significantly shortened. There was a significant correlation for dependence of duration of ventricular fibrillation on the isoprenaline content of rat hearts perfused with various extraneuronal uptake inhibitors in the presence of tropolone (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.62, P less than 0.001). These results indicate that the accumulation of isoprenaline in perfused rat hearts relates to the occurrence and duration of ventricular fibrillation.

The effect of reserpine treatment on the extraneuronal uptake of [3H]-isoprenaline into rat atria

Treatment of rats with reserpine (1 mg kg-1 day-1) for up to 7 days resulted in a marked decrease in a corticosterone-sensitive component of the extraneuronal accumulation of [3H]-isoprenaline into their atria. The change in extraneuronal uptake did not appear to be due to a direct action of reserpine on the uptake mechanism, since it was several days before the treatment had a significant effect on the accumulation of [3H]-isoprenaline. Further, reserpine in vitro did not inhibit extraneuronal uptake. The reserpine-induced change in the accumulation of [3H]-isoprenaline was not an artifact due to changes in water balance, ion distribution, extracellular space or tissue atrophy. Nor was the change due to an increase in the efflux of [3H]-isoprenaline from the tissue. These experiments support the suggestion that the extraneuronal uptake is dependent upon a functional adrenergic innervation.

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).

The stereoselective O-methylation of isoprenaline in the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta

This investigation examined the stereoselective nature of the steroid-sensitive extraneuronal O-methylation process for the isomers of isoprenaline in the rabbit aorta. The rate of O-methylation of (-)- and (+)-isoprenaline was linear with substrate concentration in the range 0.24 to 4.7 mumol X 1(-1). There was marked preference for the O-methylation of (-)-isoprenaline rather than (+)-isoprenaline at low (less than 0.94 mumol X 1(-1) substrate concentrations. In contrast, at concentrations equal to or greater than 9.4 mumol X 1(-1) the rates of O-methylation of (-)- and (+)-isoprenaline were similar. Phenoxybenzamine (30 mumol X 1(-1) inhibited but did not abolish the O-methylation of both (-)- and (+)-isoprenaline when the isomers were present in a concentration range of 0.24 mumol X 1(-1) to 9.4 mumol X 1(-1). Phenoxybenzamine did not significantly influence the O-methylation of either (-)- or (+)-isoprenaline when the isomers were present at a concentration of 24 mumol X 1(-1). Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) produced an equipotent and marked inhibition of the O-methylation of both (-)- and (+)-isoprenaline at a low (0.24 mumol X 1(-1) substrate concentration. When higher substrate concentrations were used, there was a significantly greater resistance to the inhibition of O-methylation of (-)-isoprenaline than was the case for (+)-isoprenaline. At a concentration of 9.4 mumol X 1(-1), the steroid failed to inhibit the O-methylation of (-)-isoprenaline but was effective in inhibiting the O-methylation of (+)-isoprenaline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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.

Stereoselectivity of extraneuronal uptake of catecholamines in rabbit aorta

In incubated rabbit aorta, stereoselective preference of (-)isoprenaline and (-)adrenaline, but not of (-)noradrenaline, was observed with respect to extraneuronal (corticosterone-sensitive) catecholamine accumulation at relatively low amine concentrations. The ranking order (isoprenaline greater than adrenaline greater than noradrenaline) and the degree of stereoselectivity were similar to those described for the perfused rat heart. Thus, stereoselectivity of the carrier-mediated extraneuronal uptake process is demonstrable for different species and under conditions of incubation as well as of perfusion. On the other hand, amine distribution into the tissue that is linked neither to uptake2 nor to uptake1 (but which might be rather important under incubation conditions) showed no stereoselectivity in rabbit aorta.

Kinetics of the efflux of 3H-norepinephrine from rabbit irides

The pigment cell dependent accumulation of 3H(-)-norepinephrine (1 mumol/l) was studied in rabbit irides. Albino irides served as controls. Neuronal uptake, deamination and O-methylation of 3H(-)-norepinephrine were reduced by desipramine, pargyline and U-0521, respectively. Both albino and pigmented irides accumulated the catecholamine from the incubation medium. At 37.5 degrees C and 120 min of incubation, tissue/medium ratios for pigmented and albino irides were 10.70 and 4.30 ml/g respectively. At 0 degrees C, the accumulation of 3H(-)-norepinephrine in the albino iris was abolished, while the pigmented iris accumulated significant amounts. The tissue/medium ratio was approximately 3 ml/g. When irides were loaded with 1 mumol/l of 3H(-)-norepinephrine for 60 min the drug distributed into four different compartments. Most of the pigment cell dependent binding was associated with compartments III and the "bound fraction". The amount bound in these compartments was 73% of total accumulation. In pigmented irides obtained from reserpine-pretreated rabbits the total binding was reduced to 64% of that in pigmented control irides. The half times for efflux from pigmented iris were 1.2 min, 10.7 min and 94.8 min, respectively, for compartments I, II, and III. Irides were loaded with 3H(-)-norepinephrine in normal physiological salt solution and rates of efflux were studied in Ca2+-free medium. In either albino or pigmented iris, the late efflux declined more slowly compared to that from the control irides. When pigmented irides were loaded with a low concentration of 3H(-)-norepinephrine, the displacement of the labeled amine was equal by each stereoisomer of norepinephrine. Results are discussed in relationship to the pigment cell-dependent uptake of the catecholamine.

The contribution of diffusion to the entry of catecholamines into guinea-pig trachealis smooth muscle cells

In smooth muscle or cartilage preparations of guinea-pig trachea incubated in 0.1 mumol/l 3H-isoprenaline, extraneuronal uptake inhibitors (corticosterone, normetanephrine, phenoxybenzamine) caused only partial inhibition (64-75%) of the formation of 3-O-methylisoprenaline. Thus, isoprenaline appeared to be exposed to catechol-O-methyltransferase by diffusional entry as well as by extraneuronal uptake in both the smooth muscle and cartilage regions of the trachea. Fluorescence microphotometric measurements of catecholamine uptake in trachealis smooth muscle cells, when tissues were incubated in 200 or 1,200 mumol/l isoprenaline, adrenaline or noradrenaline in the absence and presence of extraneuronal uptake inhibitors (corticosterone, normetanephrine, phenoxybenzamine), showed that the contribution of diffusional entry to the uptake of the amines into the cells fitted with the order of their lipophilicities, viz. isoprenaline much greater than adrenaline greater than noradrenaline. A kinetic analysis of the uptake of isoprenaline into the trachealis smooth muscle cells was carried out in the absence and presence of 100 mumol/l corticosterone. The kinetic analysis (a) showed that the corticosterone-resistant component of total uptake was not saturable, supporting the view that it represented diffusional entry of isoprenaline into the cells, and (b) provided Km and Vmax values (112 mumol/l and 101 F/min, respectively) for the saturable extraneuronal uptake of isoprenaline into the cells. The study provided evidence for marked diffusional entry of the lipophilic amine isoprenaline into guinea-pig trachealis smooth muscle cells. The diffusional entry of adrenaline was much less and that of noradrenaline negligible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The kinetic characteristics of the extraneuronal Q-methylating system of the dog saphenous vein and the supersensitivity to catecholamines caused by its inhibition

The "half-saturating outside concentration" and the Vmax of the extraneuronal O-methylating system of the dog saphenous vein were determined in vitro for 3 catecholamines: isoprenaline, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Strips pretreated with 1 mmol/l pargyline were exposed to 30 mumol/l cocaine for 30 min before and during the 30 min incubation with the amines. Two methods were used to reach our aims: a) the classical one in which the 3H-O-methylated metabolites formed from a mixture of unlabelled and labelled amine were determined by using final concentrations of the substrate ranging from 0.2 and 12.8 mumol/l and b) an indirect one in which 0.2 mumol/l 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline was used to assess the extraneuronal O-methylation of the tracer amine, and then those concentrations of unlabelled amines were determined which reduce the O-methylation of 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline by 50% (IC50). The "half-saturating outside concentrations" and the Vmax obtained by the first method were: 1.3, 2.5 and 3.4 mumol/l and 241, 317 and 294 pmol/g/min for 3H-(+/-)-isoprenaline, 3H-(+/-)-adrenaline and 3H-(-)-noradrenaline, respectively. The IC50s obtained by the second method used were: 1.1, 0.6, 0.7 and 1.4 mumol/l for (+/-)-isoprenaline, (-)-isoprenaline, (-)-adrenaline and (-)-noradrenaline, respectively. It was observed that the contraction of the strips caused by adrenaline and noradrenaline distorted IC50 values. In the presence of 1 mumol/l phentolamine the IC50 for adrenaline and noradrenaline was about 2.5 times higher than in its absence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structural and functional alterations caused at the extraneuronal level by sympathetic denervation of blood vessels

The lateral saphenous vein of the dog and the rabbit ear artery were surgically denervated, by clamping the vessel or by removal of the superior cervical ganglion, respectively. Both procedures resulted in denervation of the vessels. The denervated, lateral saphenous vein was supersensitive to exogenous noradrenaline and inactivation of the amine (in oil immersion experiments) was slower in denervated vein strips than in control strips treated with cocaine. Incubation experiments with 3H-noradrenaline confirmed that denervated strips formed considerably fewer metabolites than control ones (in the absence or presence of cocaine) and that O-methylation of noradrenaline was reduced by about 50%. When the strips were incubated with 3H-isoprenaline, the denervated ones accumulated and metabolized isoprenaline to a lesser degree than control strips. Hydrocortisone did not reduce the accumulation of isoprenaline in the denervated vein and had only minor effects on O-methylation. The metabolism of noradrenaline and isoprenaline gradually recovered with time. In the ear artery, denervation was accompanied by a marked reduction in O-methylation, but not in accumulation, of isoprenaline. In both vessels there was a highly significant positive correlation between noradrenaline content and O-methylating capacity; in the saphenous vein accumulation of isoprenaline was also positively correlated to noradrenaline content. Morphological changes observed in the denervated vessels consisted essentially in dedifferentiation of smooth muscle cells (which attained larger dimensions, had an indented, large nucleus, augmented euchromatin and an increased amount of ribosomes), abundance of extracellular material and fibroblasts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

On the recovery of [3H]noradrenaline from different metabolic compartments of rat brain with respect to the role of catechol-O-methyltransferase

Rats were treated with reserpine, desmethyl-imipramine, or carrier, either alone or in combination with tropolone. Either 10 min (t1) or 1 h (t2) after intraventricular injection of [3H]noradrenaline, they were decapitated. The total 3H activity and the recovery of [3H]noradrenaline were determined in tissue extracts from various brain regions. Maximum total 3H activity was measured at t1 in all tropolone-treated rats; the mean sum of these results served as an estimate of the initial tissue concentration of [3H]noradrenaline. At t1, 40-50% of the sum of [3H]noradrenaline and its metabolites was recovered unchanged in normal rats; reserpine and DMI reduced the recovery to 18-27%. In all groups, the decline of [3H]noradrenaline was retarded after t1. Inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase by tropolone caused consistently elevated [3H]noradrenaline levels, but did not affect the metabolic rate after t1 when compared with similarly pretreated, but tropolone-free rats. Thus, if catechol-O-methyltransferase was inhibited during the injection of [3H]noradrenaline, a higher percentage of the amine had been taken up into spaces with a slow noradrenaline turnover. The maximum increase was seen when the neuronal uptake1 was inhibited by desmethylimipramine. This supported the hypothesis that an additional extraneuronal space exists, in addition to the known intraneuronal and extraneuronal compartments, which has a slow noradrenaline turnover. The tropolone effect on the noradrenaline recovery possibly shows that there might be a saturable "methylating system," similar to that described for the periphery, in which catechol-O-methyltransferase is linked to the extraneuronal uptake2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)