Effects of external Na + and K + on the initial rates of noradrenaline uptake by synaptosomes prepared from rat brain

Regulation of the functional activity of the human dopamine transporter by protein kinase C

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) was examined in the regulation of dopamine transport in C6 glioma cells stably expressing the human dopamine transporter. The PKC activating phorbol esters phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 4 beta-12,13-dibutyrate phorbol-ester (PDBu) inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake concentration dependently. These effects were attenuated by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine but were unaltered by another inhibitor, chelerythrine, or the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. The potency of PMA in inhibiting [3H]dopamine uptake was similar to that in inhibiting the binding of 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane ([3H]WIN 35,428), and again staurosporine, but not chelerythrine, weakened the effect of PMA. The reduction in dopamine transporter activity by PMA was caused by a decrease in the Vmax value of [3H]dopamine uptake, opposed by a smaller reduction in the Km value, whereas the effect of PMA on [3H]WIN 35,428 binding was caused by a reduction in the Bmax value without a change in the Kd value. The lower Km value in the presence of PMA was accompanied by a higher IC50 of dopamine in inhibiting [3H]WIN 35,428 binding; the latter effect was attenuated by the co-presence of staurosporine. The results are discussed in the context of transporter loss from the cell surface, or a model with phosphorylation affecting the shared dopamine and WIN 35,428 binding domain on the transporter as well as affecting a part of the dopamine binding domain lying outside that for WIN 35,428.

Cation requirements of basal and ATP-regulated dopamine transport in rat pheochromocytoma cells

The transport of dopamine into presynaptic nerve terminals is the primary mechanism for the termination of dopaminergic neurotransmission. This transport process has recently been found to be composed of two components, a basal dopamine transport pathway which exists in the absence of extracellular ATP and an ATP-regulated moiety which comprises approximately 66% of the total transport system [Cao C. J. et al. (1990) Biochem. Pharmac. 39, R9-R14; Cao C. J. et al. (1989) Biochemistry 8, 207-220; Dunigan C. D. and Shamoo A. E. (1995) Neuroscience 65, 1-4; Eshleman A. et al. (1995) Life Sci. 56, 1613-1621]. Using a rat pheochromocytoma cell line and a Krebs bicarbonate buffering system, the present study examined the effect of several cations on both basal and ATP-regulated dopamine transport. In the absence of extracellular ATP, dopamine transport had an absolute dependence on the presence of Na+, but exhibited no requirement for Mg2+. Kinetically, the addition of 120 mM NaCl increased the Vmax of basal dopamine transport by approximately 150%. In contrast, the ATP-regulated dopamine transport pathway displayed a different sensitivity to Na+ and was completely dependent upon the presence of Mg2+. The addition of 1.2 mM MgSO4 increased the Vmax of transport in the presence of 0.7 mM extracellular ATP by 222%. Both basal and ATP-regulated transport were unaffected by the removal of either Ca2+ or K+ from the assay buffer. When the effects of ouabain, a potent inhibitor of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, were tested in the rat pheochromocytoma cell model, it was found that concentrations of ouabain as high as 1 mM were ineffective at inhibiting either the basal or ATP-regulated dopamine transport components. These results imply that the Na+ gradient supplied by Na+, K(+)-ATPase is not the sole provider of energy needed to drive either transport process. The ionic requirements of the basal and ATP-regulated dopamine transport pathways demonstrate the distinction between the two transport processes. In addition, the ionic dependency profile of the ATP-regulated moiety has provided some mechanistic insights into ATP-regulated catecholamine uptake, as the absolute Mg2+ requirement and the ineffectiveness of Ca2+ argues against the involvement of either purinergic receptors or a Ca(2+)-dependent, Mg(2+)-independent ectokinase in the ATP-regulated transport system.

Allosteric regulation by sodium of the binding of [3H]cocaine and [3H]GBR 12935 to rat and bovine striata

Sodium regulation of ligand binding to the dopamine transporter of rat and/or bovine striata was investigated using a filtration binding assay. In low Na+ phosphate or bicarbonate-buffered sucrose (300 mOsm), the tissue exhibited high affinity for [3H]cocaine which was reduced by the addition of Na+ in a dose-dependent manner. However, [3H]GBR 12935 binding was insensitive to Na+ in these physiological buffers. Although binding of [3H]GBR 12935 was displaced by cocaine in a manner consistent with competitive displacement, a non-linear affinity shift of the displacement of [3H]GBR 12935 by cocaine suggests that the two ligands bind to distinct sites. Binding of both radioligands was suppressed when measured in sodium-free 50 nM Tris-sucrose and increased with the addition of Na+. Scatchard analysis indicated that Bmax for [3H]cocaine binding in Tris plus 120 mM NaCl reached the same level as in the physiological buffers. In Krebs-Ringer buffer with phosphate, bicarbonate or Tris, which contained 120 nM NaCl, both [3H]cocaine and [3H]WIN 35428 binding exhibited lower affinities than in Na(+)-deficient phosphate buffer. It is suggested that the cation form of Tris binds to the dopamine transporter and that the Tris-receptor complex does not bind [3H]cocaine or [3H]GBR 12935. Na+ displaces Tris, forming a Na(+)-receptor complex which binds these ligands. Thus, it is suggested that the Na(+)-dependent binding of cocaine to the dopamine transporter is observed only in Tris.

Norepinephrine release and reuptake by hypothalamic synaptosomes of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We compared the overflow of endogenous norepinephrine during electrical field stimulation, the norepinephrine content, and the rate of initial neuronal uptake of [3H]norepinephrine in synaptosomes isolated from hypothalamus and brainstem of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at 7 and 13 weeks of age. The synaptosomes of two rats, a SHR and a WKY rat control, were simultaneously processed and subjected to the same electrical field stimulation. The overflow of endogenous norepinephrine during electrical stimulation (2 Hz, 2 minutes) in the hypothalamic synaptosomes of 7-week-old SHR was significantly greater, whereas the overflow of 13-week-old SHR was equivalent to the age-matched WKY rat. The norepinephrine content of synaptosomes was about the same in SHR and age-matched controls. There was also significantly enhanced [3H]norepinephrine uptake in the hypothalamic synaptosomes of young SHR, but neither the hypothalamic nor the brainstem samples of 13-week-old SHR showed any significant difference in their rate of [3H]norepinephrine uptake. These data are similar to those we observed (unpublished observations) in perfused mesenteric artery system in which norepinephrine release was significantly elevated during periarterial nerve stimulation only in young SHR. Thus, these results suggest that a parallel enhancement of norepinephrine release in hypothalamus with that of peripheral nervous system may play an important role during development of hypertension in young SHR.

Regulation of norepinephrine uptake by adenine nucleotides and divalent cations: role for extracellular protein phosphorylation

This study examined the hypothesis that ATP, released together with norepinephrine (NE) from brain noradrenergic nerve terminals, may serve as a cosubstrate for an extracellular protein phosphorylation system that regulates the reuptake of the transmitter, NE. The possible regulation of high-affinity uptake (uptake 1) of [3H]NE by divalent cations and ATP, both of which are involved in protein phosphorylation, was examined in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes. A marked inhibition of uptake 1 by 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate [App(NH)p], a nonhydrolyzable, competitive antagonist of ATP, was observed. A similar inhibition of uptake was observed when Ca2+ and Mg2+ were both omitted from the incubation medium. App(NH)p distinguished the actions of Ca2+ from those of Mg2+: Ca2+-stimulated uptake 1 was blocked by App(NH)p; Mg2+-stimulated uptake was not. In parallel experiments, the patterns of protein phosphorylation in crude and purified preparations of synaptosomes were examined under conditions similar to those used in uptake assays. A striking correlation was found between the inhibition of uptake 1, by either App(NH)p or Ca-omission, and inhibition of the phosphorylation of one specific, 39,000-dalton, Ca2+-dependent, protein component in synaptosomes. This 39K protein was distinct from the alpha subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial protein of similar electrophoretic mobility. These findings are consistent with the possibility that an ectokinase on synaptosomes utilizes extracellular ATP and Ca2+ in phosphorylating a protein(s) associated with the regulation of NE uptake.

The neuronal noradrenaline transport system of PC-12 cells: kinetic analysis of the interaction between noradrenaline, Na+ and Cl- in transport

The uptake of 3H-noradrenaline into reserpine-pretreated PC-12 cells (a clonal cell line which possesses "uptake1") was abolished when at high extracellular Cl- all the extracellular Na+ was replaced by Tris+ and when at high extracellular Na+ all the extracellular Cl- was replaced by isethionate. Increases in the external Cl- concentration (at a fixed high Na+ concentration) progressively increased the uptake of 3H-noradrenaline. The same was found with increase in the external Na+ concentration (at a fixed high Cl- concentration). From the anions tested only Br- and SCN- were able to partially mimic the transport-stimulating effect of Cl- (with about 40% and 20% effectiveness, respectively). When chloride was replaced by nitrate or larger anions such as sulphate, methylsulphate or isethionate, virtually no transport of 3H-noradrenaline was observed. The initial rate of uptake of 3H-noradrenaline showed saturation with increasing concentrations of noradrenaline when determined at several fixed concentrations of either Na+ or Cl-. The apparent Km for noradrenaline transport (KmNA) progressively decreased and the VmaxNA increased with increases in the concentration of Na+ (at a high concentration of Cl-) or Cl- (at a high concentration of Na+). The stimulation of the initial rate of uptake of 3H-noradrenaline by increasing concentrations of either Na+ or Cl- obeyed saturation kinetics when determined at several concentrations of noradrenaline. The concentration of Na+ (or Cl-) which caused half-maximal stimulation of uptake (i.e., the apparent KmNa+ and the apparent KmCl-) decreased with increases in the concentration of noradrenaline. These results strongly suggest that Na+ and Cl- are co-transported with noradrenaline.

Catecholamine uptake into isolated adrenal chromaffin cells: inhibition of uptake by acetylcholine

We have investigated the process of catecholamine uptake in guinea-pig chromaffin cells. Isolated guinea-pig chromaffin cells accumulate [3H]norepinephrine and [3H]epinephrine by a saturable transport system. Catecholamine uptake is dependent upon temperature, energy, and extracellular Na+. The apparent KmS for norepinephrine and epinephrine transport are approximately 1 and 3.5 microM, respectively; the transport maximum (Vmax) for both compounds is about 100 pmol/min/mg protein. The uptake of norepinephrine into chromaffin cells is inhibited by imipramine (Ki = 50 nM) and by desmethylimipramine (IC50 = 20 nM). In both its substrate specificity and its sensitivity to pharmacological inhibition, the catecholamine uptake system in chromaffin cells is similar to the catecholamine transport system previously described in sympathetic neurons. Decreasing external Na+ from 130 to 19 mM increases the apparent Km for norepinephrine to 2.8 microM. Decreasing external norepinephrine increases the Na+ concentration required for half-maximal transport. Agents that depolarize chromaffin cells, such as acetylcholine and veratridine, significantly inhibit [3H]norepinephrine uptake. This decrease in uptake is due to an increase in the apparent Km for norepinephrine. The inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake by depolarizing agents cannot be accounted for by the preferential release of newly-accumulated [3H]norepinephrine, or by the competitive inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake by secreted catecholamines. The inhibition of catecholamine uptake by depolarizing agents suggests that the transport system may be regulated by the membrane potential. Norepinephrine and epinephrine that are spontaneously released from the adrenal medulla may be recaptured in vivo. The inhibition of transport by acetylcholine may prevent the re-uptake of catecholamine released during the physiological stimulation of secretion.

Breathing in the potassium depleted rat: the role of metabolic rate and body temperature

Rats with dietary potassium (K) depletion have an altered breathing pattern compared to age matched control rats. The K depleted rats also have a decreased body weight gain, basal metabolic rate and body temperature. In this study, age matched controls are underfed (UFC) to match for body weight gain and metabolic rate and controls are exposed to different ambient temperatures to alter metabolism and body temperature. Compared to UFC rats with the same body weight and basal metabolic rate the K depleted rats breathe slower and with a larger tidal volume in the basal state and in response to hypercapnia and hypoxia. With heat stress body temperature is increased in K depleted rats as is metabolic rate. While frequency is increased it is still slower than in controls at the same ambient and body temperatures. We conclude that the low metabolic rate and body temperature of K depleted rats is not the cause of the altered breathing pattern. In addition, it is shown that the hypothermia of K depletion is present only at ambient temperatures below the thermoneutral zone and that is is apparently due to an inability of the K depleted rat to increase metabolic heat production with cold stress.

Persistence of an amine uptake system in cultured rat sympathetic neurons which use acetylcholine as their transmitter

Cultures of dissociated rat superior cervical ganglion neurons (SCGN) were treated with the sympatholytic agent, guanethidine. When treated within the first couple of weeks in vitro, the neurons were rapidly destroyed. The cells grew less susceptible to the toxic effects of guanethidine with age in vitro. Moreover, the apparent affinity, Km, of the transport molecule for norepinephrine (NE) and guanethidine remained essentially unchanged between 2 and 7 wk in culture, as did the maximum velocity of transport (Vmax). This is at a time when previous studies have shown these neurons to be using acetylcholine (ACh) as their neurotransmitter. Cultures which were grown without supporting cells and from which cholinergic synaptic interactions were recorded physiologically were processed for autoradiography after incubation with [3H]NE. All cell bodies and processes seen had silver grains accumulated over them. These experiments show that sympathetic neurons in vitro maintain their amine uptake system relatively unchanged, even though they use ACh as their transmitter. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Effects of pH changes and charge characteristics in the uptake of norepinephrine by synaptosomes of rat brain

The pH dependence of the initial uptake of norepinephrine by rat whole brain synaptosomes was studied using short incubation times at 37 degrees C in order to examine the possible involvement of the phenolic OH group. The pH vs. uptake profile exhibits a maximum near pH 8.2 in H2O medium. When the medium was changed to 2H2O, the profile showed a shift of maximum corresponding to the pKa change of the phenolic OH group. The pH vs. uptake profile of tyramine was quite different from that of norepinephrine. These pH effects on uptake were explained as manifestations of the involvement of the phenolic OH group in the process. The amine and phenolic hydroxyl groups in norepinephrine were studied separately by employing two series of compounds structurally related to catecholamines, amphetamine-like and catechol-like, for their inhibitory effects on the uptake. The inhibitions were affected by changes in pH with changes in opposite directions found for the two series indicating the need for a positive charge in the side chain and suggesting an effect of the negative charge on the ring. These charge characteristics agreed with the pH profile observed in uptake. Consequently, the two groups with opposite charge characteristics in norepinephrine both appear to function in the uptake process.

Energy utilization in the uptake of catecholamines by synaptic vesicles and adrenal chromaffin granules

Several inhibitors of energy metabolism decreased the ATP-stimulated uptake of catecholamines by isolated synaptic vesicles from rat brain and by chromaffin granules from bovine adrenal medulla. Catecholamine uptake was inhibited by dinitrophenol, S-13 and oleic acid, which are known to block active transport by dissipating trans-membrane proton gradients. Thus a proton gradient appears to be involved in catecholamine transport. Both catecholamine uptake and vesicle-associated Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase were inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tributyltin, which had previously been shown to inhibit the Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase of mitochondria. However, mitochondrial ATPase was not involved in catecholamine uptake as oligomycin and aurovertin, more specific inhibitors of mitochondrial ATPase, did not affect catecholamine uptake. It is suggested that ATP stimulates catecholamine uptake by serving as a substrate for the ATPase. Activity of this enzyme causes translocation of protons across the vesicle membrane establishing a trans-membrane proton gradient. The proton gradient drives the transport of catecholamines.

Inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in peripheral organs of some mammalian species by ouabain

In order to demonstrate the possible involvement of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the high affinity uptake of [3H]-norepinephrine in the sympathetic nerve endings, the effect of ouabain on [3H]norepinephrine uptake in spleen and heart slices of five mammalian species was examined. The ouabain sensitivity of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in the heart slices form various species, as determined by the estimation of IC52, was, in increasing order, lamb (2,3 muM) less than calf (2.5 muM) less than guinea pig (4 muM) less than rabbit (10muM) less than rat (greater than 500 muM). The IC50 values in the spleen slices were: lamb (1 muM) less than calf (3.2 muM) less than rabbit (9.5 muM) less than guinea pig (25 muM) less than rat (greater than 500 muM). The IC50 values for the inhibition of specific [3H]ouabain binding in the microsomal fractions of spleen and heart of the five mammalian species by ouabain were similar to the IC50 values for the inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake by the cardiac glycoside. Since ouabain is known to bind exclusively to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of a microsomal fraction, these results suggest that the inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine uptake in the sympathetic nerve endings by ouabain is mediated by the inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

Evidence that the rapid binding of newly accumulated noradrenaline within synaptosomes involves synaptic vesicles

When rat brain synaptosomes were incubated with [3H]noradrenaline for 1 min and then exposed to osmotic shock, only about 20% of the newly accumulated [3H]noradrenaline was released. It would appear that most, but possibly not all of the newly accumulated [3H]noradrenaline is rapidly bound to some particulate cytoplasmic constituent within the synaptosome. [3H]Dopamine and [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine were also rapidly bound within synaptosomes but [3H]glycine and [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid were not. Reserpinization (5 mg/kg, i.p., 24 h before preparation) only slightly reduced the initial rate of [3H]noradrenaline uptake by synaptosomes. However, when reserpinized synaptosomes were osmotically shocked, most of the newly accumulated radioactivity was released; this radioactivity was identified chromatographically as [3H]noradrenaline. On the basis of the findings with reserpinized preparations, it seems likely that (1) the rapid intrasynaptosomal binding involves synaptic vesicles and (2) the neuronal membrane transport system itself may be capable of driving the uptake of noradrenaline by nerve-terminals. The rapid vesicular binding observed may not be essential for the accumulation of the amine by presynaptic terminals during brief exposures.

Site and mechanism of uptake of 3H--norepinephrine by isolated perfused rat lungs

The uptake of 3 H- l -norepinephrine was examined in isolated perfused rat lungs, and the mechanism of uptake was compared with that previously found for 5-hydroxytryptamine. Most of the norepinephrine taken up by the lungs was rapidly deaminated and O-methylated, and the metabolic products were subsequently returned to the perfusate. The presence of iproniazid and tropolone markedly inhibited this metabolism; because the metabolites were released from the lungs more rapidly than was norepinephrine itself, these inhibitors appeared to increase the rate of uptake of the amine. The uptake of norepinephrine was a saturable, temperature-dependent process with a K m of 1.11 x 10 -6 M and a V max measured during metabolic inhibition of 2.78 x 10 -9 moles/g min -1 . Uptake was inhibited by cocaine, imipramine, ouabain, and potassium-free medium as well as by decreasing the sodium concentration or increasing the potassium concentration of the medium. Although normetanephrine reduced the uptake of norepinephrine, metaraminol had no effect. Autoradiography indicated that norepinephrine was taken up into endothelial and smooth muscle cells, but the mechanism of the uptake appeared to combine features characteristic of both extraneuronal and neuronal uptake. The mechanism of uptake of norepinephrine by the lungs is compatible with a sodium-dependent, carrier-mediated transport, but several differences appear to exist between the transport and the site of uptake of norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Mechanism of efflux of noradrenaline from adrenergic nerves in rabbit atria

1. The mechanism of efflux of (-)-[(3)H]-noradrenaline was examined in rabbit atria, which were pretreated with reserpine and pargyline.2. Between 40 and 100 min, efflux occurred predominantly from a single intraneuronal compartment.3. Efflux was rapidy increased by (-)- and (+)-noradrenaline, tyramine and (+/-)-metaraminol, but not by (+/-)-isopropylnoradrenaline or (+/-)-normetanephrine. The increase in efflux produced by (-)-noradrenaline was inhibited by cocaine and desipramine but not by lidocaine.4. Spontaneous effluxes, and those accelerated by (-)-noradrenaline, were temperature-sensitive.5. Efflux was increased by ouabain, omission of K(+), metabolic inhibition and lowering of the external Na(+) concentration. These effects were significantly reduced by cocaine and desipramine but not by lidocaine.6. These findings provide evidence that the efflux of [(3)H]-noradrenaline from adrenergic nerves occurs by a cocaine-sensitive, carrier-mediated process. The characteristics of the efflux process are compatible with, but not conclusive proof for, the Na(+)-gradient hypothesis.