Stereochemical requirements for activation and blockade of α1- and α2- adrenoceptors

Quantitative light microscopic autoradiographic localization of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the human brain

In the present work the anatomical distribution of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the human central nervous system was studied in detail by quantitative autoradiography using the selective alpha 2 agonist [3H]bromoxidine ([3H]UK-14304) as a ligand. Only postmortem tissues from subjects free of neurological disorders were used in this study. Very high or high densities of alpha 2-adrenoceptors were found along layers I and III in non-visual neocortex, layers III and IVc of the visual cortex, CA1 field--stratum lacunosum-moleculare--and dentate gyrus--stratum granularis--at the hippocampal formation, nucleus arcuatus at the hypothalamus, locus ceruleus, nucleus dorsalis of vagus and at the stratum granularis of the cerebellar cortex. Relevant densities of alpha 2-adrenoceptors were also observed along the remaining layers of neocortex, nuclei centralis, medialis and corticalis at the amygdala, anterior thalamic group and rotundocellularis nuclei, paraventricular and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei, substantia innominata, superior colliculus--stratum zonale--and lateral periaqueductal area at the midbrain, nucleus tractus solitarii and dorsal horn--substantia gelatinosa--of the spinal cord. [3H]Bromoxidine specific binding was very low or negligible in the remaining brain areas. Although a general parallelism between the distribution of these receptors could be observed for the rat and human brain, dramatic species differences in the level of alpha 2-receptors were found in several brain areas, such as thalamus, amygdala or cerebellar cortex. In general, the distribution of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the human brain found here was parallel to that described for the noradrenergic presynaptic terminals in the mammalian central nervous system, lending some weight to the proposed predominant presynaptic localization of these receptors. The relevance of the anatomical distribution of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the human brain for a better knowledge of the neurochemistry of neuropsychiatric disorders is discussed.

The pharmacology of carvedilol

Carvedilol is a potent antihypertensive agent with a dual mechanism of action. At relatively low concentrations it is a competitive beta-adrenoceptor antagonist and a vasodilator, whereas at higher concentrations it is also a calcium channel antagonist. The antihypertensive activity of carvedilol is characterized by a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance, resulting from the vasodilator activity of the compound, with no reflex tachycardia, as a result of beta-adrenoceptor blockade. The antihypertensive activity of carvedilol is associated with an apparent "renal sparing" effect in that the reduction in mean arterial blood pressure does not compromise renal blood flow or urinary sodium excretion. Studies on the mechanism of action of carvedilol indicate that the compound is a potent competitive antagonist of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors with a dissociation constant (KB) of 0.9 nM at both beta-adrenoceptor subtypes. Carvedilol is also a potent alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist (KB = 11 nM), which accounts for most, if not all, of the vasodilating response produced by the compound. At concentrations above 1 microM, carvedilol is a calcium channel antagonist. This activity can be demonstrated in vivo at doses that represent the higher end of the antihypertensive dose-response curve. Although the calcium-channel blocking activity of carvedilol may not contribute to the antihypertensive activity of the compound, it may play a prominent role in certain peripheral vascular beds, such as the cutaneous circulation, where marked increases in blood flow are observed. The data indicate that carvedilol is an antihypertensive agent that is both a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist and a vasodilator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The interaction of the enantiomers of carvedilol with alpha 1- and beta 1-adrenoceptors

The stereoselectivity of carvedilol, a novel beta-adrenoceptor antagonist and vasodilator with one asymmetric carbon atom, was examined at alpha 1- and beta 1-adrenoceptors in vitro and in vivo. (-)-(S)-Carvedilol is a potent, competitive antagonist of the beta 1-adrenoceptor-mediated positive chronotropic response to isoproterenol in guinea pig atrium, with a dissociation constant (KB) of 0.4 nM. (+)-(R)-Carvedilol was more than 100-fold less potent than the (-)-S-enantiomer as an antagonist of beta 1-andrenoceptors, having a KB of approximately 45 nM. Consistent with these findings (-)-(S)-carvedilol (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.) produced a 25-fold rightward shift in the beta 1-adrenoceptor-mediated positive chronotropic response to isoproterenol in pithed rats, whereas the (+)-R-enantiomer had no beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking activity in vivo at this dose. In contrast to the marked degree of stereoselectivity observed at beta 1-adrenoceptors, both (-)-(S)- and (+)-(R)-carvedilol produced equal antagonism of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor response to norepinephrine in rabbit aorta, with KB values of 14 and 16 nM, respectively. Furthermore, in the pithed rat, the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated pressor dose-response curve to cirazoline was shifted approximately 6-fold to the right by both the (+)-R- and (-)-S-enantiomers of carvedilol at a dose of 1 mg/kg, i.v. In anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats, (-)-(S)-carvedilol was 6-fold more potent as an antihypertensive than (+)-(R)-carvedilol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Liquid chromatographic separation of enantiomers of adrenergic agonists

Many established and experimental adrenergic agonists are derivatives of 2-aminoethanol with a phenol or catechol moiety in the 1-position. There is considerable interest in the stereochemical aspects of the actions of such chiral drugs. Surprisingly, however, little has been published on the chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of these compounds, and what has been published involved nearly exclusively capillary gas-liquid chromatography. In this report, the resolution of the racemates of ten adrenergic agents using reversed-phase liquid chromatography is described. The procedure is based on derivatizing the racemic mixture of each agent with the chiral reagent 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate, followed by separation of the resulting diastereomers on octadecylsilane columns using methanol-aqueous ammonium acetate mixtures as mobile phase. Detection was at 254 nm. The separation of the enantiomers of norphenylephrine and of octopamine was less than complete; the resolution of the other agents, i.e., synephrine, N-ethylnorphenylephrine, p-hydroxyephedrine, p-hydroxynorephedrine, metanephrine, normetanephrine, isoproterenol, and nordefrin, was complete. The derivative of (-)-isoproterenol eluted before that of its antipode. The procedure may be applicable to other similar agents.

Dopaminergic modulation of hippocampal noradrenaline release. Evidence for alpha 2-antagonistic effects of some dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists

3H-Noradrenaline release in the rabbit hippocampus and its possible modulation via presynaptic dopamine receptors was studied. Hippocampal slices were preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline, continuously superfused in the presence of cocaine (30 mumol/l) and subjected to electrical field stimulation. The electrically evoked tritium overflow from the slices was reduced by 0.1 and 1 mumol/l dopamine and apomorphine, but significantly enhanced by 10 mumol/l apomorphine or by 0.1 and 1 mumol/l bromocriptine. If the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (0.1 mumol/l) was present throughout superfusion, the inhibitory effects of dopamine and apomorphine were more pronounced and even 10 mumol/l apomorphine and 1 mumol/l bromocriptine inhibited noradrenaline release. Qualitatively similar observations were made in the presence of another alpha 2-antagonist, idazoxane (0.1 mumol/l). In the presence of the D2-receptor antagonist domperidone (0.1 mumol/l) the inhibitory effects of dopamine were almost abolished, whereas both apomorphine (greater than 1 mumol/l) and bromocriptine (greater than 0.01 mumol/l) greatly facilitated noradrenaline release. The D2-receptor agonist LY 171555 (0.1 and 1 mumol/l) significantly reduced the evoked noradrenaline release whereas the D1-selective agonist SK & F 38393 was ineffective at similar concentrations. The effects of LY 171555 were abolished in the presence of domperidone (0.1 mumol/l) but remained unchanged in the presence of yohimbine or idazoxane (0.1 mumol/l, each). At 1 mumol/l the D2-receptor antagonists domperidone and (-)sulpiride significantly increased the evoked noradrenaline release by about 10%. However, at this concentration, domperidone (but not (-)sulpiride) affected also basal tritium outflow. Bulbocapnine and the preferential D1-receptor antagonists SCH 23390 enhanced the evoked noradrenaline release already at 0.1 mumol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Systemic hemodynamic effects of dopamine, (+/-)-dobutamine and the (+)-and (-)-enantiomers of dobutamine in anesthetized normotensive rats

The hemodynamic effects of dopamine, (+/-)-dobutamine (racemic mixture) and the (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of dobutamine were evaluated in anesthetized normotensive rats. Dopamine and (+/-)-dobutamine produced hemodynamic effects in anesthetized rat that were qualitatively similar to those reported for these compounds in man. The increase in cardiac output produced by dopamine and (+/-)-dobutamine was due mainly to an increase in stroke volume, with heart rate being only minimally affected. Dopamine produced a large increase in mean arterial pressure and slightly increased total peripheral vascular resistance, whereas (+/-)-dobutamine only modestly increased blood pressure and significantly reduced total peripheral resistance. The (-)-enantiomer of dobutamine, which possesses mainly alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist activity, produced marked increases in cardiac output, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance and mean arterial pressure, but did not significantly increase heart rate. In contrast, (+)-dobutamine, which possesses predominantly beta 1-and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist activity, elicited only a modest increase in cardiac output which was due entirely to increased heart rate since stroke volume was not increased. Total peripheral vascular resistance and mean arterial blood pressure were both reduced by (+)-dobutamine, characteristic of a beta-adrenoceptor agonist. The increase in cardiac output and blood pressure produced by (+/-)-dobutamine, but not the positive chronotropic effect, were significantly inhibited by alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockade with prazosin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ocular effects of adrenergic stereoisomers in the rabbit

Because of the need to develop ocular hypotensive agents with low incidence of side effects, the dextrorotatory enantiomers of adrenergic agents have prompted some attention. In the present study, the relative potency and efficacy of various adrenergic stereoisomers with respect to their ocular hypotensive and mydriatic effects have been determined after topical administration to conscious rabbits. The relative order of potency was found to be, iris: 1-epinephrine much greater than d-epinephrine congruent to 1-norepinephrine congruent to dl-alpha-methyl-norepinephrine greater than dl-alpha-methyl-epinephrine greater than d-norepinephrine; intraocular pressure (IOP): l-epinephrine greater than dl-alpha-methyl-epinephrine greater than d-epinephrine greater than dl-alpha-methyl-norepinephrine greater than d-norepinephrine congruent to 1-norepinephrine. The pupil and the initial ocular hypertensive responses clearly demonstrated the phenomenon of stereoselectivity of adrenergic stimulants, in that the 1-form was relatively more potent than the d-form. However, such order of potency does not seem to hold for IOP. The apparent discrepancy and reversal of order of potency for IOP responses may be related to the hypothesis that the net ocular hypotensive effect of adrenergic agents is the summation of the initial hypertension and the delayed hypotension produced by these agents. It is anticipated that the results of the present study may improve our understanding of ocular pharmacology of adrenergic stereoisomers. The ability to separate the dose-response profiles of pupillary and IOP effects of these agents may have potential therapeutic significance and thus warrants further investigation in other species.