Relationship between dopamine agonist stimulation of inositol phosphate formation and cytidine diphosphate-diacylglycerol accumulation in brain slices

Lithium modulates cortical excitability in vitro

The sometimes devastating mood swings of bipolar disorder are prevented by treatment with selected antiepileptic drugs, or with lithium. Abnormal membrane ion channel expression and excitability in brain neurons likely underlie bipolar disorder, but explaining therapeutic effects in these terms has faced an unresolved paradox: the antiepileptic drugs effective in bipolar disorder reduce Na(+) entry through voltage-gated channels, but lithium freely enters neurons through them. Here we show that lithium increases the excitability of output neurons in brain slices of the mouse olfactory bulb, an archetypical cortical structure. Treatment in vitro with lithium (1 to 10mM) depolarizes mitral cells, blocks action potential hyperpolarization, and modulates their responses to synaptic input. We suggest that Na(+) entry through voltage-gated channels normally directly activates K(+) channels regulating neuron excitability, but that at therapeutic concentrations, lithium entry and accumulation reduces this K(+) channel activation. The antiepileptic drugs effective in bipolar disorder and lithium may thus share a membrane target consisting of functionally coupled Na(+) and K(+) channels that together control brain neuron excitability.

Pharmacology of signaling induced by dopamine D(1)-like receptor activation

Dopamine D(1)-like receptors consisting of D(1) and D(5) subtypes are intimately implicated in dopaminergic regulation of fundamental neurophysiologic processes such as mood, motivation, cognitive function, and motor activity. Upon stimulation, D(1)-like receptors initiate signal transduction cascades that are mediated through adenylyl cyclase or phosphoinositide metabolism, with subsequent enhancement of multiple downstream kinase cascades. The latter actions propagate and further amplify the receptor signals, thus predisposing D(1)-like receptors to multifaceted interactions with various other mediators and receptor systems. The adenylyl cyclase response to dopamine or selective D(1)-like receptor agonists is reliably associated with the D(1) subtype, while emerging evidence indicates that the phosphoinositide responses in native brain tissues may be preferentially mediated through stimulation of the D(5) receptor. Besides classic coupling of each receptor subtype to specific G proteins, additional biophysical models are advanced in attempts to account for differential subcellular distribution, heteromolecular oligomerization, and activity-dependent selectivity of the receptors. It is expected that significant advances in understanding of dopamine neurobiology will emerge from current and anticipated studies directed at uncovering the molecular mechanisms of D(5) coupling to phosphoinositide signaling, the structural features that might enhance pharmacological selectivity for D(5) versus D(1) subtypes, the mechanism by which dopamine may modulate phosphoinositide synthesis, the contributions of the various responsive signal mediators to D(1) or D(5) interactions with D(2)-like receptors, and the spectrum of dopaminergic functions that may be attributed to each receptor subtype and signaling pathway.

Antidepressant stimulation of CDP-diacylglycerol synthesis does not require monoamine reuptake inhibition

BACKGROUND

Recent studies demonstrate that diverse antidepressant agents increase the cellular production of the nucleolipid CDP-diacylglycerol and its synthetic derivative, phosphatidylinositol, in depression-relevant brain regions. Pharmacological blockade of downstream phosphatidylinositide signaling disrupted the behavioral antidepressant effects in rats. However, the nucleolipid responses were resistant to inhibition by serotonin receptor antagonists, even though antidepressant-facilitated inositol phosphate accumulation was blocked. Could the neurochemical effects be additional to the known effects of the drugs on monoamine transmitter transporters? To examine this question, we tested selected agents in serotonin-depleted brain tissues, in PC12 cells devoid of serotonin transporters, and on the enzymatic activity of brain CDP-diacylglycerol synthase - the enzyme that catalyzes the physiological synthesis of CDP-diacylglycerol.

RESULTS

Imipramine, paroxetine, and maprotiline concentration-dependently increased the levels of CDP-diacylglycerol and phosphatidylinositides in PC12 cells. Rat forebrain tissues depleted of serotonin by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine showed responses to imipramine or maprotiline that were comparable to respective responses from saline-injected controls. With fluoxetine, nucleolipid responses in the serotonin-depleted cortex or hippocampus were significantly reduced, but not abolished. Each drug significantly increased the enzymatic activity of CDP-diacylglycerol synthase following incubations with cortical or hippocampal brain tissues.

CONCLUSION

Antidepressants probably induce the activity of CDP-diacylglycerol synthase leading to increased production of CDP-diacylglycerol and facilitation of downstream phosphatidylinositol synthesis. Phosphatidylinositol-dependent signaling cascades exert diverse salutary effects in neural cells, including facilitation of BDNF signaling and neurogenesis. Hence, the present findings should strengthen the notion that modulation of brain phosphatidylinositide signaling probably contributes to the molecular mechanism of diverse antidepressant medications.

Lithium and valproate protect against dextro-amphetamine induced brain choline concentration changes in bipolar disorder patients

BACKGROUND

Lithium may affect brain choline concentrations, and this effect has been proposed to potentially explain its clinical efficacy. Since dextro-amphetamine is a useful human model of mania, we were interested in determining firstly whether dextro-amphetamine would alter brain choline concentrations, and secondly to determine if lithium would protect against any such changes in bipolar patients. In addition, we wanted to determine if valproate would also have any effects upon choline levels.

METHODS

Healthy controls (n=18) were compared with euthymic Bipolar Disorder patients (Type I and Type II) who were taking lithium (n=14) or valproate (n=11). We utilized (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) in a 3.0T scanner to examine brain choline/phosphocholine+creatine (Cho/Cr) ratios. Changes in this ratio were measured to determine any changes in choline concentrations in the temporal lobe.

RESULTS

The results showed that administration of dextro-amphetamine decreased the Cho/Cr ratios. In contrast, in both the lithium-treated and valproate-treated patients this decrease was not seen; this attenuation in the change in Cho/Cr ratio changes was statistically significant. It should be noted that Cho/Cr ratios were significantly higher at baseline in the controls compared to both groups of patients, which may have influenced the results.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are the first to examine the effects of dextro-amphetamine on brain choline concentrations. They show that while in controls dextro-amphetamine decreases choline concentrations, lithium and valproate both appear to protect against this effect in bipolar patients. However, as brain ratios were measured rather than the absolute concentration of choline, and these ratios were lowered in patients at baseline, these results must be regarded as preliminary and require replication in future studies.

D5 dopamine receptors are required for dopaminergic activation of phospholipase C

Dopamine activates phospholipase C in discrete regions of the mammalian brain, and this action is believed to be mediated through a D(1)-like receptor. Although multiple lines of evidence exclude a role for the D(1) subtype of D(1)-like receptors in the phosphoinositide response, the D(5) subtype has not been similarly examined. Here, mice lacking D(5) dopamine receptors were tested for dopamine agonist-induced phosphoinositide signaling both in vitro and in vivo. The results show that hippocampal, cortical, and striatal tissues of D(5) receptor knockout mice significantly or completely lost the ability to produce inositol phosphate or diacylglycerol messengers after stimulation with dopamine or several selective D(1)-like receptor agonists. Moreover, endogenous inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate stimulation by the phospholipase C-selective D(1)-like agonist 3-methyl-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-[3methylphenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SKF83959) was robust in wild-type animals but undetectable in the D(5) receptor mutants. Hence, D(5) receptors are required for dopamine and selective D(1)-like agonists to induce phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide signaling in the mammalian brain.

Diverse antidepressants increase CDP-diacylglycerol production and phosphatidylinositide resynthesis in depression-relevant regions of the rat brain

Background

Major depression is a serious mood disorder affecting millions of adults and children worldwide. While the etiopathology of depression remains obscure, antidepressant medications increase synaptic levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain regions associated with the disease. Monoamine transmitters activate multiple signaling cascades some of which have been investigated as potential mediators of depression or antidepressant drug action. However, the diacylglycerol arm of phosphoinositide signaling cascades has not been systematically investigated, even though downstream targets of this cascade have been implicated in depression. With the ultimate goal of uncovering the primary postsynaptic actions that may initiate cellular antidepressive signaling, we have examined the antidepressant-induced production of CDP-diacylglycerol which is both a product of diacylglycerol phosphorylation and a precursor for the synthesis of physiologically critical glycerophospholipids such as the phosphatidylinositides. For this, drug effects on [³H]cytidine-labeled CDP-diacylglycerol and [³H]inositol-labeled phosphatidylinositides were measured in response to the tricyclics desipramine and imipramine, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors fluoxetine and paroxetine, the atypical antidepressants maprotiline and nomifensine, and several monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Results

Multiple compounds from each antidepressant category significantly stimulated [³H]CDP-diacylglycerol accumulation in cerebrocortical, hippocampal, and striatal tissues, and also enhanced the resynthesis of inositol phospholipids. Conversely, various antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and non-antidepressant psychotropic agents failed to significantly induce CDP-diacylglycerol or phosphoinositide synthesis. Drug-induced CDP-diacylglycerol accumulation was independent of lithium and only partially dependent on phosphoinositide hydrolysis, thus indicating that antidepressants can mobilize CDP-diacylglycerol from additional pools lying outside of the inositol cycle. Further, unlike direct serotonergic, muscarinic, or α-adrenergic agonists that elicited comparable or lower effects on CDP-diacylglycerol versus inositol phosphates, the antidepressants dose-dependently induced significantly greater accumulations of CDP-diacylglycerol.

Conclusion

Chemically divergent antidepressant agents commonly and significantly enhanced the accumulation of CDP-diacylglycerol. The latter is not only a derived product of phosphoinositide hydrolysis but is also a crucial intermediate in the biosynthesis of several signaling substrates. Hence, altered CDP-diacylglycerol signaling might be implicated in the pathophysiology of depression or the mechanism of action of diverse antidepressant medications.

Tandem regulation of phosphoinositide signaling and acute behavioral effects induced by antidepressant agents in rats

RATIONALE

Antidepressants increase synaptic monoamine concentrations, but the subsequent signaling events that produce the beneficial clinical effects remain unclear. Diverse antidepressants increase CDP-diacylglycerol, a crucial step in phosphoinositide signaling. Serotonin 5HT(2) receptors, implicated in depression or the actions of some antidepressants, signal through phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Thus, cross talk between antidepressant-induced CDP-diacylglycerol and 5HT(2) signaling could contribute to the antidepressant mechanism.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to test the hypotheses that antidepressants enhance net signaling via 5HT(2) receptors by augmenting the supply of phosphoinositide substrates and that this action contributes to the behavioral effects of the drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Brain slices pre-labeled with [(3)H]inositol in the presence of various antidepressant concentrations were washed and incubated with the 5HT(2) agonist, alpha-methylserotonin, followed by measuring phosphoinositide synthesis and inositol phosphate accumulation. Further, rats administered antidepressants after pretreatment with neomycin to inhibit metabolic utilization of phosphoinositides were behaviorally evaluated in the forced swim test.

RESULTS

Diverse antidepressants significantly enhanced phosphoinositide synthesis. While alpha-methylserotonin increased inositol phosphate accumulation, this effect was significantly accentuated in hippocampal or cortical tissues pre-incubated in the presence of imipramine, desipramine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, or maprotiline. Drug-induced behavioral antidepressant effects were reversed by neomycin pretreatment, whereas neomycin alone did not alter basal immobility times.

CONCLUSIONS

Antidepressants probably exert tandem neurochemical effects by increasing synaptic monoamine concentrations and by producing phosphoinositides used in 5HT(2) receptor signaling. This combination of actions may constitute the mechanism of at least the acute behavioral effects of the drugs and could implicate aberrant neurolipid signaling in the pathophysiology of depression.

Differential involvement of cyclase- versus non-cyclase-coupled D1-like dopamine receptors in orofacial movement topography in mice: studies with SKF 83822

Though orofacial movements are fundamental motor patterns that are known to be regulated critically by D1-like dopamine receptors, these processes remain poorly understood. This uncertainty is heightened by evidence for putative D1-like receptors that are linked not only to adenylyl cyclase (AC) but also to phospholipase C (PLC). Using a new method, we have characterised four topographies of orofacial movement in the mouse using the novel D1-like agonist SKF 83822, which stimulates AC but not PLC. These were compared with responses to SKF 83959, which stimulates PLC but not AC. Also, effects were characterised using the D1-like antagonist SCH 23390 and the D2-like antagonist YM 09151-2. SKF 83822 induced vertical jaw movements with incisor chattering but inhibited horizontal jaw movements; there was little effect on tongue protrusions. Vertical jaw movements induced by SKF 83822 were inhibited by SCH 23390 but uninfluenced by YM 09151-2, while YM 09151-2 released horizontal jaw movements; thus, D1-like agonist-induced, AC-mediated vertical jaw movements constitute a 'pure' D1-like-dependent process that does not involve D1-like:D2-like interactions, while horizontal jaw movements involve oppositional interactions. Orofacial movements in mice appear to consist of at least four phenomenologically dissociable topographies that are mechanistically distinct. They are regulated differentially by AC- and/or PLC-dependent processes and these processes involve distinct D1-like:D2-like interactions.

Behavioral effects of the R-(+)- and S-(-)-enantiomers of the dopamine D(1)-like partial receptor agonist SKF 83959 in monkeys

Dopamine D(1)-like partial receptor agonists such as SKF 83959 have been proposed as potential candidates for the treatment of cocaine addiction. The present studies were conducted to further characterize SKF 83959 by pharmacologically evaluating effects of its R-(+)- and S-(-)-enantiomers, MCL 202 and MCL 201, respectively, on overt behavior (eye blinking) and schedule-controlled performance in squirrel monkeys. MCL 202, like the D(1) full receptor agonist SKF 82958, produced dose-related increases in eye blinking and decreases in rates of fixed-ratio responding. However, the magnitude of effects of MCL 202 on eye blinking was less than observed with SKF 82958. In contrast to the effects of its R-(+) enantiomer, MCL 201 was relatively devoid of behavioral activity up to doses that were approximately 10-fold greater than MCL 202. Pretreatment with the selective D(1)-like receptor antagonist SCH 39166 dose-dependently antagonized increases in eye blinking produced by MCL 202, confirming the involvement of D(1) mechanisms in its effects. A dose-ratio analysis of the antagonism of effects of MCL 202 by SCH 39166 revealed an apparent pA(2) value of 7.675 with a slope of -0.78+/-0.04. In further studies, pretreatment with MCL 202 antagonized the effects of SKF 82958 on eye blinking and, like SCH 39166, schedule-controlled behavior in a dose-related manner. A dose-ratio analysis of the antagonist effects of MCL 202 on the SKF 82958-induced increases in eye blinking revealed ratios of 2.7, 4.8 and 31.1 for 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg dose of the antagonist, respectively, indicative of a significant change in the potency of SKF 82958. These results suggest that MCL 202, like its parent compound SKF 83959, has both D(1) receptor-mediated agonist and antagonist properties, consistent with its characterization as a partial agonist at the D(1)-like receptor. In addition, the inactivity of MCL 201, the S-(-)-enantiomer, suggests that the behavioral effects of SKF 83959 can be attributed primarily to the activity of its R-(+)-enantiomer.

Physicochemical modulation of agonist-induced [35s]GTPgammaS binding: implications for coexistence of multiple functional conformations of dopamine D1-like receptors

Dopamine agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding to membrane G proteins was studied in select brain regions under experimental conditions that permit the activation of receptor coupling to the G proteins Gi, Gs, or Gq. Agents studied were agonists known to be effective at various dopamine receptor/effector systems and included quinelorane (D2-like/Gi), SKF38393 (D1-like/Gq, D1-like/Gs), SKF85174 (D1-like/Gs), and SKF83959 (D1-like/Gq). Dopamine and SKF38393 significantly stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding to normal striatal membranes by 161% and 67% above controls. Deoxycholate, which enhances agonist-induced phospholipase C (PLC) stimulation, markedly enhanced the agonistic effects of dopamine and SKF38393 to 530% and 637% above controls, respectively. The enhancing effects of deoxycholate were reversed if it was washed off the membranes before agonist addition. The thiol-reducing agent, dithiothreitol, completely abolished the effects of SKF38393 and SKF83959, whereas SKF85174 effects were augmented. Agonist responses were concentration-related, and highest efficacies were obtained in the hippocampus, thus paralleling both the brain regional distribution and agonist efficacies previously observed in phosphoinositide hydrolysis assays. These findings suggest that D1-like receptor conformations that mediate agonist stimulation of Gs/adenylylcyclase may be structurally different from those that mediate Gq/PLC activation. Although the exact mechanism of deoxycholate's effect awaits elucidation, the results are consistent with the emerging concept of functional selectivity whereby deoxycholate could create a membrane environment that facilitates the transformation of the receptor from a conformation that activates Gs/adenylylcyclase to one that favors Gq/PLC signaling.

Arabidopsis AtDGK7, the smallest member of plant diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs), displays unique biochemical features and saturates at low substrate concentration: the DGK inhibitor R59022 differentially affects AtDGK2 and AtDGK7 activity in vitro and alters plant growth and development

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) regulates the level of the second messenger diacylglycerol and produces phosphatidic acid (PA), another signaling molecule. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes seven putative diacylglycerol kinase isozymes (named AtDGK1 to -7), structurally falling into three major clusters. So far, enzymatic activity has not been reported for any plant Cluster II DGK. Here, we demonstrate that a representative of this cluster, AtDGK7, is biochemically active when expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. AtDGK7, encoded by gene locus At4g30340, contains 374 amino acids with an apparent molecular mass of 41.2 kDa. AtDGK7 harbors an N-terminal catalytic domain, but in contrast to various characterized DGKs (including AtDGK2), it lacks a cysteine-rich domain at its N terminus, and, importantly, its C-terminal DGK accessory domain is incomplete. Recombinant AtDGK7 expressed in E. coli exhibits Michaelis-Menten type kinetics with 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol as substrate. AtDGK7 activity was affected by pH, detergents, and the DGK inhibitor R59022. We demonstrate that both AtDGK2 and AtDGK7 phosphorylate diacylglycerol molecular species that are typically found in plants, indicating that both enzymes convert physiologically relevant substrates. AtDGK7 is expressed throughout the Arabidopsis plant, but expression is strongest in flowers and young seedlings. Expression of AtDGK2 is transiently induced by wounding. R59022 at approximately 80 mum inhibits root elongation and lateral root formation and reduces plant growth, indicating that DGKs play an important role in plant development.

A comparison of the locomotor stimulant effects of D1-like receptor agonists in mice

Efficacy in stimulating adenylyl cyclase (AC) has traditionally been used to distinguish dopamine D1-like receptor agonists from dopamine D2-like receptor agonists. However, there is a limited association between the effects of D1-like agonists in behavioral assays and their effectiveness at stimulating AC. Other second messenger actions might contribute to the behavioral effects of D1-like agonists, as there is evidence for a link to the hydrolysis of phosphoinositide (PI). The present study compared the locomotor stimulant effects of five D1-like receptor agonists having different efficacies in assays of AC and PI activity. All D1-like agonists produced long-lasting biphasic effects on locomotor activity. SKF 38393, the prototypical partial agonist (based on AC activity), produced limited changes in locomotor activity, whereas the partial agonists SKF 75670 and SKF 77434 produced locomotor stimulant effects that were similar to or greater than those of the full efficacy agonists SKF 82958 and SKF 81297. However, there did not appear to be a relationship between maximal behavioral effects and AC stimulation or PI hydrolysis. The results suggest a complex relationship between the behavioral effects of D1-like agonists and their intrinsic efficacies as measured by AC and /or PI stimulation. Although a limited number of compounds were examined, neither second messenger system alone appears to account fully for these behavioral effects. The current classification of D1-like agonists according to their intrinsic efficacies as defined by AC stimulation needs further scrutiny.

D1-receptor drugs and cocaine-seeking behavior: investigation of receptor mediation and behavioral disruption in rats

RATIONALE

Dopamine D1-receptor antagonists and agonists both attenuate cocaine-seeking behavior (i.e., operant responding in the absence of cocaine reinforcement) elicited by a cocaine prime or cocaine-paired stimuli. It remains unclear whether these effects are D1-receptor mediated.

OBJECTIVES

The present study tested whether a D1 antagonist (SCH-23390) would reverse the attenuating effects of a D1 agonist (SKF-81297) on cocaine-seeking behavior and whether behavioral disruption is involved in these effects.

METHODS

Rats trained to press a lever for cocaine reinforcement with light and tone cues paired with each infusion underwent daily extinction sessions during which responding had no scheduled consequences (i.e., neither cocaine nor the cocaine-paired stimulus complex was available). After responding diminished, the effects of the D1 antagonist on the dose-response functions of the D1 agonist for reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior by response-contingent cue presentations or cocaine priming were examined. A separate experiment assessed the effects of the agonist on the dose-response function of the antagonist for cue reinstatement. Stereotyped behavior and activity were also measured during each test session.

RESULTS

The attenuating effects of SKF-81297 on cocaine-seeking behavior during cocaine-primed reinstatement were reversed by co-administration of SCH-23390. However, no evidence for reversal of the attenuation during cue reinstatement was found even though agonist-induced stereotypy and antagonist-induced hypoactivity were reversed by co-administration of the two drugs during the same test session.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the attenuating effects of D1-receptor drugs on cocaine-seeking behavior during cocaine reinstatement are mediated by dopamine D1 receptors; however, it remains unclear whether the effects of these drugs on cocaine-seeking behavior during cue reinstatement are D1-receptor mediated. Nevertheless, it is evident that the attenuation of cocaine-seeking behavior by these drugs is not simply due to behavioral disruption.

Comparison of the discriminative-stimulus effects of SKF 38393 with those of other dopamine receptor agonists

The dopamine D(1)-like receptor agonists have traditionally been defined molecularly by their efficacy in stimulating adenylyl cyclase. However, evidence correlating the effectiveness of these drugs in behavioral assays and their effectiveness biochemically has not been forthcoming. The present study compared the discriminative-stimulus effects of the D(1)-like partial agonist SKF 38393 with several other D(1)-like agonists, an indirect agonist, cocaine, and a D(2)-like agonist, quinpirole. Rats were trained under a fixed-ratio 30-response schedule to discriminate SKF 38393 (5.6 mg/kg) from vehicle. Under this schedule, 30 consecutive responses on one of two keys were reinforced with food presentation after a pre-session injection of 5.6 mg/kg SKF 38393, and 30 consecutive responses on the alternative key were reinforced after saline injection. When daily performances were stable, substitution patterns for several compounds were assessed during test sessions in which 30 consecutive responses on either key were reinforced. Quinpirole and cocaine each produced saline-appropriate responding. In contrast, the D(1)-like agonists, SKF 75670 and SKF 77434, fully substituted for SKF 38393. Curiously, SKF 82958, which is considered a full agonist based on adenylyl cyclase assays, was less effective in substituting for SKF 38393 (maximum drug-appropriate responding 66%) than was the partial agonist SKF 75670. The present results suggest that second messenger effects other than stimulation of adenylyl cyclase may play an important role in the behavioral effects of dopamine D(1)-like agonists.

Mechanisms underlying the effects of amphetamine on particulate PKC activity

Amphetamine stimulates particulate protein kinase C (PKC) activity that is associated with the outward-transport of dopamine (DA) (Giambalvo [2003] Synapse 49:125-133). This stimulatory effect requires intracellular calcium ([Ca](i)) and endogenous DA and when DA release is diminished, the inward-transport of amphetamine inhibits PKC activity. This study examines the mechanisms involved. It was found that synaptoneurosomes incubated with amphetamine showed a dose-dependent increase in phospholipase C and A(2) activities. Furthermore, pretreatments with the phospholipase C inhibitor D609 or the phospholipase A(2) inhibitors quinacrine or p-bromophenacylbromide attenuated the amphetamine-induced increase in PKC activity. This suggests that both phospholipases were essential for the amphetamine-induced increase in PKC activity. The Na/Ca antiporter was also involved, since pretreatment with amiloride or benzamil attenuated the amphetamine-induced increase in PKC activity. Since these drugs by themselves increased PKC activity, the return to basal activity after addition of amphetamine suggests that, in the absence of Na/Ca exchange, amphetamine had an inhibitory effect on PKC activity. This inhibitory effect might be due to the activation of phospholipase A(2) through an increase in intracellular pH induced by amphetamine. This was supported by the finding that pretreatment with dimethylamiloride, an inhibitor of the Na/H antiporter that increases intracellular [H(+)], attenuated the effects of amphetamine on PKC activity. Other drugs that decrease intracellular [H(+)] (ammonia, monensin) also inhibited PKC activity without Ca. In contrast to amphetamine, monensin had no effect on PKC activity with Ca. This could be related to its large differential effects on phospholipase A(2) vs. phospholipase C activity. Thus, the monensin-mediated decrease in PKC activity seen without Ca was partially attenuated by pretreatment with quinacrine. Furthermore, when Na/Ca antiporter was inhibited with benzamil, monensin inhibited PKC activity. These results suggest that amphetamine, as well as monensin, may have dual effects on PKC activity, a Ca-dependent stimulatory effect via phospholipase C, and an inhibitory effect via phospholipase A(2).

Dextro-amphetamine increases phosphoinositol cycle activity in volunteers: an MRS study

AIMS

To help determine the effects of dextro-amphetamine on the phosphoinositol cycle (PI-cycle) in humans, (1)H and (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was utilized in 17 healthy volunteers. This was an open-label study carried out before and after administration of 20 mg oral dextro-amphetamine. Subjects also rated the subjective effects of dextro-amphetamine administration using visual analog scales (VAS).

MAJOR FINDINGS

Following dextro-amphetamine administration there was a significant increase in the concentrations of both myo-inositol and phosphomonoesters.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are in keeping with suggestions that dextro-amphetamine administration increases the activity of the phosphoinositol cycle, probably via an indirect release of dopamine and noradrenaline. These results are the first time that this has been confirmed in humans.

Serotonin-induced MMP-13 production is mediated via phospholipase C, protein kinase C, and ERK1/2 in rat uterine smooth muscle cells

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT), acting via the 5-HT(2A) receptor, up-regulates the transcription and production of interstitial collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-13; MMP-13), a critical enzyme responsible for maintaining the integrity of the uterus, after parturition. Serotonin treatment of rat uterine myometrial smooth muscle cells induced inositol phosphate (IP) turnover, which was abolished by the 5-HT(2A) receptor-specific antagonists ketanserin and spiperone. The phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors and D609 attenuated serotonin-mediated-IP turnover with a corresponding inhibition of MMP-13 protein production. Subsequent recovery of both MMP-13 protein expression and IP generation was seen following the removal of D609. Protein kinase C (PKC) activators, the diacylglycerol analogue 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), mimicked the effect of serotonin on MMP-13 protein expression; prolonged PMA treatment (which down-regulates PKC) lowered MMP-13 protein levels. The PKC-specific inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide I, calphostin C, CGP 41251, and the PKCdelta-selective inhibitor rottlerin were able to suppress serotonin up-regulation of MMP-13. Furthermore, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 blocked serotonin-dependent activation of p44/42 MAPK (pERK1/2), a downstream effector of PKC and also down-regulated MMP-13 protein expression. Similarly, calphostin C and rottlerin depressed activation of p44/42 MAPK. From these studies, serotonin, binding through the 5-HT(2A) receptor, initiates a signaling cascade whereby stimulation of PLC leads to the activation of PKC and subsequently the ERK1/2 pathway, which ultimately results in MMP-13 production.

SKF 83959 is an antagonist of dopamine D1-like receptors in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens: a key to its antiparkinsonian effect in animals?

SKF 83959 that has a unique antiparkinson profile in animal models of Parkinson's disease is an in vitro dopamine D1 antagonist of receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclase. We hypothesized that SKF 83959, among others, interacts with dopamine D1 receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclase in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. Effects of intra-accumbal injections of SKF 83959 on locomotor activity were compared to effects of the dopamine D1 agonist SKF 81297 and the dopamine D1 antagonist SCH 39166. Similarly to SCH 39166, SKF 83959 did not affect locomotor activity, but counteracted SKF 81297-induced locomotor activity. Effects of unilateral intra-prefrontal injections of SKF 83959 on rotational behaviour were compared to the effects of the dopamine D1 agonist SKF 81297 and the dopamine D1 antagonists SCH 23390 and SCH 39166 in rats selected on basis of their high locomotor response to novelty and pretreated with a subcutaneous injection of 0.75 mg/kg dexamphetamine. Like SCH 39166 and SCH 23390, SKF 83959 induced a bias for contralateral rotating and blocked the SKF 81297-induced bias for ipsilateral rotating. In conclusion, SKF 83959 is an in vivo antagonist of dopamine D1 receptors that are coupled to adenylyl cyclase in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. The role of these receptors in the antiparkinson profile of SKF 83959 is discussed.

SKF83959 exhibits biochemical agonism by stimulating [(35)S]GTP gamma S binding and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat and monkey brain

SKF83959, a benzazepine with high affinity for aminergic receptors, elicits behaviors such as grooming and vacuous chewing that are characteristic of dopamine D(1)-like receptor stimulation in rodents. Unlike classical D(1) agonists, however, SKF83959 does not stimulate adenylyl cyclase. Knowing that some D(1)-like receptors are coupled to phospholipase C-mediated signaling cascades in the brain, the present study aimed to determine whether SKF83959 exhibits an agonistic action at the biochemical level and also whether this benzazepine can modulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis in a manner that would be consistent with the behavioral effects of the drug. Similar to dopamine and the selective D(1)-like agonist SKF38393, SKF83959 competitively displaced the receptor binding of [(3)H]dopamine in an agonist-like manner, significantly stimulated [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding, and potently enhanced phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat and monkey brain tissues. SKF83959 was generally more potent than SKF38393, whereas SKF38393 consistently exhibited greater pharmacological efficacy. These findings may implicate a role for the phospholipase C signaling cascade in the agonistic behavioral and antiparkinsonian activity of SKF83959. Dopamine-sensitive phospholipase C signaling should probably be considered in subsequent formulations of mechanisms and models of dopaminergic function in the normal or diseased brain.

Ventral striatal vs. accumbal (shell) mechanisms and non-cyclase-coupled dopamine D(1)-like receptors in jaw movements

This study compared the effects of intracerebral injections of the dopamine D(1)-like receptor agents 3-methyl-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-[3-methylphenyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SK&F 83959) and [R]-3-methyl-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SCH 23390) into the ventrolateral striatum or the shell of the nucleus accumbens on the synergistic induction of jaw movements by intravenous (i.v.) co-administration of [R]-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SK&F 38393) or SK&F 83959 with the dopamine D(2)-like receptor agonist, quinpirole. In the ventrolateral striatum, SCH 23390 and SK&F 83959 each blocked jaw movements induced by i.v. SK&F 38393 with quinpirole, while only SCH 23390 blocked i.v. SK&F 83959 with quinpirole. SCH 23390 was less effective in the accumbens shell than in the ventrolateral striatum, and SK&F 83959 was ineffective to block i.v. SK&F 38393 with quinpirole, while neither SCH 23390 nor SK&F 83959 blocked i.v. SK&F 83959 with quinpirole. As SK&F 83959 inhibits the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase via dopamine D(1A) receptors but acts as an agonist at a putative dopamine D(1)-like receptor site not linked to cyclase, an important role is indicated for non-cyclase-coupled dopamine D(1)-like receptor sites as well as dopamine D(1A) receptors in the regulation of jaw movements via dopamine D(1)-like/D(2)-like receptor synergism, particularly in the ventrolateral striatum.

Optimized binding of [35S]GTPgammaS to Gq-like proteins stimulated with dopamine D1-like receptor agonists

Subtypes of dopamine D1-like receptors are coupled through the G proteins Gs or Gq to stimulate either adenylate cyclase or phospholipase C signaling cascades. In the present study, we have uncovered the marked enhancement by sodium deoxycholate of D1-like agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding to Gq-like G proteins in brain membranes, and determined the optimal experimental conditions for assessing agonist effects on [35S]GTPgammaS binding in the presence of the detergent. Factors and their optimal levels that were found to significantly enhance the sensitivity and robustness of the agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPyS binding reaction include protein concentration at 40 microg/ml, cationic concentrations of 120 mM Na+, 1.8 mM K+, and 20 mM Mg(2+), a molar guanine nucleotide ratio of 100,000 GDP to [35S]GTPgammaS, the presence of 1 mM deoxycholate, and an overall incubation duration of 30-120 min. Under the optimized conditions, the D1-like agonist SKF38393 induced potent and highly efficacious (up to 1000%) stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding in membrane preparations from the striatum and other rat brain regions. In striatal membranes incubated with drug for 2 h, immunoprecipitation of the [35S]GTPgammaS-bound proteins with specific Galpha antibodies showed that at least 70% of SKF38393-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was to Galphaq. The present reaction parameters are consistent with conditions previously found to support dopaminergic stimulation of phospholipase C-mediated signaling in brain slice preparations. These results imply that different but equally physiologically relevant conditions can be obtained under which subtypes of dopaminergic receptors may couple preferentially to Galphas and the adenylate cyclase pathway or to Galphaq and the phospholipase C pathway.

Dopaminergic behaviors and signal transduction mediated through adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C pathways

We determined the relative effects of chemical receptor inactivation on dopaminergic signaling through adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C pathways and evaluated the behavioral implications of such receptor manipulations. Groups of rats were given intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), a reagent that differentially inactivates neurotransmitter receptors. Control and treated animals were used to assess dopaminergic-mediated behaviors or brain tissues were prepared from the animals and used to assay D1-like receptor binding and agonist-stimulated second messenger formation. EEDQ decreased by 75% the number of D1-like binding sites and completely abolished dopamine-stimulated cyclic AMP formation in striatal membranes. Conversely, dopamine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis was insensitive to inactivation by EEDQ as examined over different durations of EEDQ treatment, in different brain regions, or with different concentrations of the D1-like receptor agonist SKF38393. EEDQ-pretreated animals lost their stereotypic response to apomorphine but showed increased vacuous jaw movements in response to apomorphine or SKF38393. Basal catalepsy was increased and SCH23390 was unable to further enhance catalepsy beyond the basal levels in the lesioned animals. In naive animals, SCH23390 catalepsy was reversed by apomorphine, and apomorphine stereotypy was reversed by SCH23390. Taken together, the present results imply that the dopamine-sensitive phospholipase C system mediates a subset of dopaminergic behaviors, notably vacuous jaw movements, in contrast to stereotypy and catalepsy which appear to be respectively mediated through stimulation and inhibition of the adenylate cyclase-coupled dopaminergic system.