A comparison of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors coupled to phosphatidylinositol turnover and to adenylate cyclase in guinea-pig atria and ventricles

Characterization of the positive and negative inotropic effects of acetylcholine in the human myocardium

In the human isolated myocardium, acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-3) M) elicited a biphasic inotropic effect (a decrease in the lower and an increase in the higher concentration range) in atrial and a positive inotropic effect in ventricular trabeculae. However, under conditions of raised contractility achieved by exposure to noradrenaline (10(-5) M), only negative inotropic effects were observed in both atria and ventricles. Atropine (10(-6) M), but not propranolol (10(-6) M), antagonized both positive and negative inotropic effects of acetylcholine, thus showing that the responses were mediated by muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. The use of subtype selective muscarinic receptor antagonists (10(-7) to 10(-5) M), pirenzepine (M1 > M3 > M2), AF-DX 116 (11-([2-[(diethylamino)-methyl]-1-piperidyl]acetyl)-5,11-dihydro-6H- pyridol[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one base; M2 > M1 > M3) and HHSiD (p-fluorohexahydro-siladifenidol hydrochloride; M3 > or = M1 >> M2) revealed that the negative inotropic effect of acetylcholine in atrial as well as the positive inotropic effect in ventricular trabeculae were best antagonized by AF-DX 116 and not by pirenzepine, suggesting the involvement of the muscarinic M2 receptor subtype, possibly linked to different second messenger systems. On the other hand, the positive inotropic effect of acetylcholine (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) in the atrial tissue, observed only in preparation with depressed contractility, was not effectively antagonized by either AF-DX 116 or HHSiD, but was significantly reduced by pirenzepine. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of muscarinic cholinoceptors mediating phosphoinositide hydrolysis in guinea pig cardiac muscle

The muscarinic receptor mediating stimulation of PI hydrolysis in guinea pig atria and ventricles has been studied. The non-selective muscarinic agonist (+)-cis-dioxolane elicited this response, concentration-dependently, with a potency indicative of a low receptor reserve. The potency of a novel, M2-selective agonist, L-660,863 (-log EC50 = 6.3, atria; 6.0, ventricles) was observed to be lower than its apparent affinity (-log KA = 7.6) for M2 receptors, indicating an action probably mediated by a population distinct from that producing negative inotropy in the same tissue. The inhibition of the response to (+)-cis-dioxolane by several muscarinic antagonists (atropine, pirenzepine, AF-DX 116, methoctramine, HHSiD and pFHHSiD) generated an affinity profile for this receptor also dissimilar to that described for the receptor mediating the classical cardiac 'M2' response. Although no other muscarinic receptor mRNA has been detected in this tissue, these data suggest the presence of a second population of muscarinic sites, which may signify an M2 receptor diversity.

Mixed competitive and allosteric antagonism by gallamine of muscarinic receptor-mediated second messenger responses in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells

The antagonistic effects of gallamine on muscarinic receptor-linked responses were investigated in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. M1 muscarinic receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by carbamylcholine was antagonized by gallamine, with a Ki value of 33 microM. By comparison, gallamine was four- to fivefold less potent in blocking noncardiac M2 muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP formation, with a Ki value of 144 microM. The resulting Arunlakshana-Schild plots of the antagonism of both responses by gallamine were linear and exhibited slopes not differing from 1, a result indicative of a competitive mechanism. To elucidate further the nature of gallamine's inhibitory actions, experiments were performed where the effects of gallamine in combination with the known competitive muscarinic antagonist, N-methylscopolamine (NMS), were studied. In the presence of both antagonists, a supraadditive shift in the carbamylcholine dose-response curve was demonstrated for the two responses, a result suggestive of an allosteric mode of interaction between gallamine and NMS binding sites. Confirmation that gallamine allosterically modifies the muscarinic receptor was provided by radioligand binding studies. Gallamine competition curves with either [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine methyl chloride ([3H]NMS) or [N-methyl-3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate methyl chloride ([3H]NMeQNB) were unusually shallow. Furthermore, gallamine decelerated the rate of dissociation of receptor-bound [3H]NMS greater than [3H]NMeQNB in a dose-dependent manner. The present study demonstrates that whereas gallamine antagonizes carbamylcholine-mediated responses in N1E-115 cells in a competitive manner, an allosteric component of its action is revealed in the presence of muscarinic antagonists such as NMS.

The H-L subgroup of guinea-pig cardiac M2 receptors (M2 beta) regulates inositol phosphate formation

In previous studies, we showed that cardiac muscarinic receptors (M2) are composed of two subgroups, M2 alpha and M2 beta, with different affinities for agonists and that the M2 alpha subgroup is coupled with inhibition of adenylate cyclase. We now studied which subgroup was responsible for the formation of inositol mono- (IP), bis- (IP2), tris- (IP3) and tetrakis- (IP4) phosphates in guinea pig heart. Carbachol (1 mM) significantly stimulated the formation of all four IPs in [3H]myoinositol-preloaded slices of guinea-pig ventricles. Acetylcholine (1 mM) also stimulated the formation of IP2, IP3 and IP4. However, oxotremorine (1 mM) only slightly stimulated the formation of IP2, and pilocarpine did not stimulate the formation of any IP. The pED50 values of carbachol for IP2 and IP3 formation were 3.76 and 4.23, respectively, which coincided with the pKd values of the low-affinity agonist binding site (L site) measured by competition of carbachol with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB) binding while the pKd value for inhibition of adenylate cyclase coincided with the pKd value of the high-affinity agonist binding site (H site). Treatment of animals with pertussis toxin decreased the formation of IP2 and IP3 by carbachol to 66 and 54%, respectively, but resulted in complete inhibition of adenylate cyclase. These results suggested that muscarinic stimulation of the formation of IPs was manifested through a different receptor subgroup (M2 beta) and GTP binding protein different from those for inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Muscarinic receptors of the albino rabbit ciliary process

Muscarinic receptor binding sites were identified in membranes prepared from albino rabbit ciliary processes, using the muscarinic antagonist [3H]L-quinuclidinyl benzylate as the radioligand. Analysis of saturation binding experiments demonstrated that [3H]L-quinuclidinyl benzylate bound to an apparent homogeneous population of binding sites with a Kd value of 6.4 pm and a Bmax value of 155 fmol mg-1 protein. Seventy percent (70%) of binding sites showed high affinity for pirenzepine, i.e. belonged to the M1 subtype. In contrast, AF-DX 116 was unable to discriminate between subtypes of muscarinic binding sites in this tissue. Carbachol caused a dose-dependent increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover (EC50 = 154 microM) in ciliary processes. A maximum stimulation of 652% of basal activity was obtained following a 45 min incubation with 10 mM carbachol. The potency of muscarinic antagonists to block the carbachol-induced response was comparable to that found for M1 receptors in other tissues. Oxotremorine and pilocarpine behaved like partial agonists in this assay. The carbachol-induced increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover was also observed in a suspension of epithelial cells from ciliary processes and it was blocked by atropine; thus, indicating the presence of muscarinic receptors functionally coupled to phosphatidylinositol turnover in these cells.

Molecular pharmacology of muscarinic receptor heterogeneity

Muscarinic receptors can be pharmacologically classified into 3 types at the present time, however, five genes for the receptor have been identified. The muscarinic receptor types have unique antagonist selectivity, distribution and are linked to specific second messenger systems. The interaction between the muscarinic receptor types and G proteins may depend on the systems in which the receptors are integrated. Expression of the cloned gene in mammalian cells will be useful in delineating the relationships between the pharmacological types of muscarinic receptors and their genes and studying the interactions between the receptor, G proteins, and second messenger coupling.

Differences in antagonist affinities at muscarinic receptors in chick and guinea-pig

1. The antimuscarinic effects of a number of muscarinic antagonists in left atrium and ileum of the chick and guinea-pig were evaluated. 2. In agreement with findings in the guinea-pig, pirenzepine did not differentiate between muscarinic receptors in the left atrium and ileum of the chick. However, its affinity in this species was 5- to 10-fold higher than that observed in similar mammalian tissues. 3. Gallamine, methoctramine and himbacine are cardioselective antagonists in the guinea-pig with a selectivity index of 20, 25 and 10 respectively. However, in the chick, while himbacine maintained its cardioselective effect, gallamine was non-selective and methoctramine was only 4-fold more selective. 4. Secoverine, a non-selective antagonist in guinea-pig exhibited a small degree of cardioselectivity in the chick. 5. The ileoselective effect of 4-DAMP in the chick was much greater than that observed in the guinea-pig. 6. It is concluded that muscarinic receptors in cardiac and smooth muscles of the chick differ from those in the guinea-pig.

Positive inotropic effects induced by carbachol in rat atria treated with islet-activating protein (IAP)--association with phosphatidylinositol breakdown

1. To elucidate the functional consequences of phosphatidyl inositol (PI) breakdown produced by activation of the muscarinic receptor of the atrial muscle, and to clarify the subtypes of the muscarinic receptor involved, the effects of muscarinic agonists and antagonists on mechanical function were studied in atria isolated from rats given intravenous islet-activating protein (IAP; 50 micrograms kg-1 body weight) 48-72 h before the experiments. 2. The negative chronotropic and inotropic actions of carbachol (CCh) were attenuated and positive inotropic effects (62.5 +/- 5.8% above basal level) were observed with 10(-5) -10(-3) M CCh. Oxotremorine did not produce positive inotropic effects even in doses as high as 3 x 10(-4) M High doses of carbachol produced positive chronotropic effects, although the effects were weak. 3. Propranolol (10(-7) M) did not modify the positive inotropic effect of carbachol observed in IAP-treated atria, nor was there any change in the tissue cyclic AMP levels after carbachol. 4. High doses (10(-5)-10(-3) M) of carbachol produced PI breakdown in the absence and presence of IAP. Oxotremorine (3 x 10(-4) M) did not produce PI breakdown. In the presence of oxotremorine, the positive inotropic effects and PI breakdown by carbachol were abolished. 5. The positive inotropic effect of carbachol was readily antagonized by atropine but pirenzepine and gallamine exhibited only weak antagonist effects. 6. These results suggest that a muscarinic agonist such as carbachol can produce a positive inotropic effect in IAP-treated atria, in association with PI breakdown, through activation of a muscarinic receptor which shows some similarity to that previously identified in smooth muscles.

Comparison of the effects of some muscarinic agonists on smooth muscle function and phosphatidylinositol turnover in the guinea-pig taenia caeci

1. The effects of the muscarinic agonists acetylcholine (ACh), carbachol (CCh), AHR-602, and McN-A-343 on contractility and on inositol phosphate accumulation in the presence of lithium were compared in the taenia of the guinea-pig caecum. 2. Compared to CCh, ACh was a full agonist for contraction but AHR-602 and McN-A-343 were partial agonists producing 80-85% of the maximal response to CCh. Similar to previous findings with CCh, tonic contractions produced by AHR-602 and McN-A-343 were less sensitive to inhibition by nifedipine or verapamil than tonic contractions to ACh. 3. CCh and ACh produced similar increases in inositol phosphate accumulation and the effect of CCh (0.1 mM) was inhibited by atropine (IC50 8.5 nM) and pirenzepine (IC50 450 nM). The accumulation of inositol phosphates in the presence of AHR-602 or McN-A-343 was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from basal levels. 4. A concentration of 0.2 mM AHR-602 produced a parallel shift of the concentration-response curve to CCh on inositol phosphate accumulation. The IC50 value for inhibition of CCh (0.1 mM) was greater than 50 fold higher than the EC50 value for contraction produced by the partial agonist. McN-A-343 (20 microM) produced a flattening of the concentration-response curve to CCh for inositol phosphate accumulation. 5. The results suggest that the increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover produced by muscarinic agonists, like the contractile response, involves an M2-muscarinic receptor. AHR-602 and McN-A-343 are partial agonists for the contractile response and while producing no significant increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover inhibit the response to CCh.

Study of receptor-stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in intact, perfused rat hearts

1. Phosphatidylinositol turnover has been measured in intact, perfused rat hearts by measuring generation of inositol phosphates following [3H]-inositol labelling. Stimulation of accumulations of inositol monophosphate, inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate were observed during perfusion with either noradrenaline (3 X 10(-5) mol/l) or carbachol (10(-3) mol/l). 2. Stimulation by noradrenaline was antagonized by prazosin (10(-7) mol/l) but not by propranolol (10(-7) mol/l), indicating mediation via alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Stimulation by carbachol was antagonized by atropine (10(-7) mol/l). 3. Transmural electrical stimulation of the hearts failed to increase inositol phosphate accumulation through alpha 1-adrenoceptors. A small stimulation mediated by muscarinic receptors was observed. Therefore alpha 1-adrenoceptors which stimulate phosphatidylinositol turnover probably do not have a synaptic localization in heart. 4. The development of methods for the study of phosphatidylinositol turnover in intact hearts will facilitate an investigation of relationships between this signal transduction pathway and cardiac function.