GABAB receptor mediated inhibition of field stimulation induced contractions of detrusor muscle strips from newborn rats

GABAB receptors

GABAB receptors are a distinct subclass of receptors for the major inhibitory transmitter 4-aminobutanoic acid (GABA) that mediate depression of synaptic transmission and contribute to the inhibition controlling neuronal excitability. The development of specific agonists and antagonists for these receptors has led to a better understanding of their physiology and pharmacology, highlighting their diverse coupling to different intracellular effectors through Gi/G(o) proteins. This review emphasises our current knowledge of the neurophysiology and neurochemistry of GABAB receptors, including their heterogeneity, as well as the therapeutic potential of drugs acting at these sites.

Effects of GABA-receptor stimulation and blockade on micturition in normal rats and rats with bladder outflow obstruction

The effects on micturition of the GABA receptor agonists muscimol (selective for GABAA-receptors) and baclofen (selective for GABAB-receptors), given intrathecally and intra-arterially to unanesthetized rats with and without bladder hypertrophy secondary to outflow obstruction, were studied by continuous cystometry. When given intrathecally in increasing doses, both muscimol (1 to 10 micrograms) and baclofen (0.1 to 5 micrograms) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of micturition with progressive increases in bladder capacity and residual volume, and a decrease in micturition pressure ending with urinary retention and dribbling incontinence. Generally, the effects were similar in normal rats and rats with bladder hypertrophy. In normal rats, bicuculline (blocking GABAA-receptors) decreased bladder capacity and micturition volume, and increased micturition pressure. In both types of rat, the effects of muscimol and baclofen were partly counteracted by bicuculline and baclofen, respectively. In rats with bladder hypertrophy, the amplitude of the spontaneous bladder contractions during filling was significantly increased after administration of muscimol and baclofen. When given intra-arterially in high doses, muscimol (2 to 16 mg./kg.) and baclofen (8 to 16 mg./kg.) produced effects on cystometric parameters and spontaneous bladder contractions similar to those obtained with intrathecal administration. These results suggest that muscimol and baclofen have insignificant peripheral effects on the lower urinary tract, but depress micturition by an effect on the central nervous system. They also suggest that the inhibitory GABA-ergic system does not play a role in the genesis of bladder hyperactivity in rats with outflow obstruction.

Inhibitory effect of GABA on cerebrovascular sympathetic neurotransmission

The possibility that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) could modulate sympathetic neurotransmission in the cerebrovascular bed of the goat has been investigated by means of 3 experimental approaches: measurement of cerebral blood flow in the anesthetized animal, recording of isometric tension in isolated cerebral arteries, and measurement of tritium efflux from cerebral arteries preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline. Electrical stimulation of cervical sympathetic nerve produced reductions in cerebral blood flow which were significantly diminished during continuous infusion of GABA (20-40 micrograms/min) into the internal maxillary artery. Picrotoxin (3 mg) did not change the inhibitory effect of GABA. Exogenously administered noradrenaline (1-9 micrograms) and tyramine (50-500 micrograms) reduced cerebral blood flow as well, but this effect was unchanged by GABA infusion. Transmural electrical stimulation elicited frequency-dependent contractile responses in isolated cerebral arteries which were significantly blocked when GABA was present, at a dose (10(-4) M) which did not modify the contractile response to exogenous noradrenaline (10(-8)-10(-4) M). Moreover, GABA (10(-5)-10(-4) M) inhibited transmural electrical stimulation-evoked tritium efflux from arteries preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline. These results show that GABA inhibits adrenergic neurotransmission in cerebral arteries by a mechanism involving inhibition of transmitter release. Probably, specific presynaptic GABA-B receptors mediate this inhibitory effect.

GABA suppresses stimulation-induced release of [3H]-noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve fibres in bovine ovarian follicles

1 Strips from the bovine ovarian follicle wall were incubated in Krebs-Ringer solution containing [3H]-noradrenaline in order to saturate sympathetic nerve fibres with radiolabelled transmitter. This allowed the study of field stimulation-evoked transmitter release. 80.3 +/- 3.9% of the tritium released upon stimulation (10 Hz, pulse duration 1 ms, 10 V between the electrodes) was noradrenaline. 2 The stimulated release of tritium was totally blocked in calcium-free, EGTA (1 mM) containing medium or by 1 microM tetrodotoxin. Chemical sympathectomy (6-hydroxydopamine treatment) in vitro reduced the tritium content of the strip by 85%. The neuronal amine uptake blocker desipramine (0.6 microM) was almost equally effective in inhibiting the incorporation of tritium. The extraneuronal amine uptake blocker normetanephrine (10 microM) reduced the tritium content by 30%. Together, the results suggest that the electrically evoked release of tritium reflects the release of [3H]-noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve fibres. 3 gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration-dependently reduced the electrically evoked tritium release. Also the GABAB-receptor agonist baclofen (30 microM) reduced the stimulated tritium release whereas muscimol (100 microM), a GABAA-receptor agonist, failed to affect the release. 4 The selective GABAA-receptor antagonist bicuculline (3 and 100 microM) did not block the effect of GABA, while 3-amino-1-propanesulphonic acid (3-APA), a blocker of GABAB-receptors reversed the inhibitory effect of GABA. The results suggest that neuronal GABAB-receptors are involved in the GABA-evoked suppression of stimulated noradrenaline release.

The effects of baclofen on spinal and supraspinal micturition reflexes in rats

1. The effect of (+/-)-baclofen on micturition reflexes was investigated in urethane-anaesthetized rats. A 'low' dose of (+/-)-baclofen (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) barely affected the early phase of the transurethral cystometrogram (CMG) which involves activation of a spinal vesico-vesical excitatory reflex. 2. At a higher dose (2.5 mg/kg i.v.) (+/-)-baclofen suppressed both the spinal and supraspinal components of the bladder response to transurethral saline filling. 3. When the bladder was filled by the transvesical route a series of regular voiding cycles was obtained which are due to activation of a supraspinal vesico-vesical excitatory reflex. In this model, voiding efficiency of the rat bladder was markedly reduced even after a low dose of (+/-)-baclofen (0.5 mg/kg) and almost suppressed at 2.5 mg/kg. 4. (+/)-Baclofen reduction of voiding efficiency was mainly ascribable to an inhibitory effect on the expulsive phase of the voiding cycle which, in rats, depends critically upon the activation of a reflex which induces a twitch-like contraction of urethral/periurethral skeletal muscles. 5. (+/-)-Baclofen produced a small inhibition of the pinching-induced somatovesical excitatory reflex. (+/-)-Baclofen (2.5 mg/kg i.v.) produced also a marked but transient inhibition of bladder contractions induced by preganglionic nerve stimulation. However the time course of this effect was markedly shorter as compared to the long lasting suppression of voiding cycle observed with this same dose of the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Functional evidence for the existence of a capsaicin-sensitive innervation in the rat urinary bladder

Capsaicin (0.03-3 microM) induces contractions of the rat isolated bladder which are unaffected by either atropine (3 microM) or tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM). In the presence of capsaicin (0.1 microM) an enhancement of field stimulation-induced contractions was observed. Capsaicin-desensitization did not modify the height of these. The neurogenic nature of the capsaicin-induced contractions was proved by the observation that 'chronic' (48 h) denervation prevented, while 'acute' (2 h) denervation did not modify the effect of capsaicin. Denervated bladders maintained their responsiveness to acetylcholine but not to field stimulation. Isolated bladders from rat pups (1-2 days old) did not respond to capsaicin while strong contractile responses to acetylcholine or field stimulation were obtained in these preparations. In bladders from two week old animals, capsaicin produced similar contractions to those observed in preparations from adult animals. The bladders from rats receiving a high dose of capsaicin (50 mg kg-1 s.c.) at birth were heavier than those of their age-matched, vehicle-treated controls. Isolated bladders from 2 month old animals pretreated with capsaicin at birth were unresponsive to capsaicin while responsiveness to acetylcholine, substance P or field stimulation was unaffected compared with that of vehicle-treated controls. These experiments provide evidence that a capsaicin-sensitive innervation exists in the rat urinary bladder which undergoes a postnatal development at end organ level.

An atropine-like inhibitory effect of DMPP on rat isolated urinary bladder

DMPP inhibits the nerve-mediated contractions of the rat isolated bladder, its effect being greater in preparations from newborn (2 day old) than adult animals. This effect of DMPP was unaffected by hexamethonium. In preparations from adult animals the effect of DMPP increased with frequency of stimulation and was fully prevented by the presence of atropine. In bladders from newborn rats low concentrations of furthrethonium (FHR) (10 nM) activated a series of rhythmic contractions which were unaffected by tetrodotoxin and abolished by DMPP through an hexamethonium-insensitive action. On the other hand DMPP did not affect rhythmic contractions produced by a low concentration of eledoisin (60 nM). In bladders from adult rats FHR (10 microM) and KCI (30 mM) produced contractures of comparable magnitude. DMPP inhibited, in concentration-related manner the FHR-induced tonic contraction but had little effect on that produced by KCI. These findings indicate that in the rat bladder, DMPP antagonizes selectivity cholinergically-mediated contractions through a mechanism which is unaffected by hexamethonium or tetrodotoxin. An "atropine-like' activity of DMPP should be considered.

Evidence for prejunctional GABAB receptors mediating inhibition of ovarian follicle contraction induced by nerve stimulation

The motor effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the bovine ovarian follicle were studied in vitro using strips from follicle walls. Electrical field stimulation of nerves in the preparation, secured by tetrodotoxin blockade, caused a contraction that was almost totally abolished by phentolamine and only slightly affected by atropine. This mainly adrenergic neurogenic response was inhibited by GABA in a dose-dependent way. The GABAA-receptor antagonists, bicuculline and picrotoxin, did not affect the GABA action whereas the GABAB-receptor antagonist, homotaurine, significantly inhibited the GABA effect. The GABAA-receptor agonist, muscimol, did not affect the contractile response while the GABAB-receptor agonist, baclofen, imitated the action of GABA. On the other hand, GABA had no direct contractile or relaxing effect on the follicle strips nor did it interfere with the contractile response induced by noradrenaline or acetylcholine. The findings suggest that activation of prejunctional GABAB receptors inhibits transmitter release from mainly adrenergic nerves associated with the follicle, thereby affecting nerve-mediated tension in the follicle wall.

The postganglionic excitatory innervation of the mouse urinary bladder and its modulation by prejunctional GABAB receptors

Field stimulation produced reproducible contractions of the mouse isolated urinary bladder whose amplitude was frequency-related. These contractions were partially sensitive to atropine (3 microM), unaffected by hexamethonium (10 microM) and almost abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM). Atropine (3 microM) suppressed contractions produced by exogenous acetylcholine thereby indicating atropine-resistance of the nerve-mediated contractions. Nerve-mediated contractions of the mouse urinary bladder were enhanced by physostigmine (0.1-0.5 microM) and inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (0.5 mM) thus confirming the presence of a cholinergic component in the excitatory postganglionic innervation. Atropine (3 microM) inhibition of the nerve-mediated contractions increased with increasing duration and strength of the train of stimulation. The nerve-mediated contractions of the mouse bladder were unaffected by phentolamine (0.2 microM), propranolol (0.3 microM) or indomethacin (5 microM). ATP (1mM) the major candidate for the role of nonadrenergic-noncholinegic (NANC) excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian urinary bladder produced a contraction of the mouse isolated bladder. Exposure to the stable ATP analogue alpha, beta-methylene ATP (APCPP) or beta, gamma-methylene ATP (APPCP) produced a partial desensitization of the nerve-mediated response which, for APCPP, was greater in the presence than in the absence of atropine (3 microM). In the presence of atropine (3 microM) and after APCPP desensitization the amplitude of the response to field stimulation amounted to about 20% of the original response and was sensitive to tetrodotoxin, indicating that it is nerve-mediated. GABA (0.001-0.3 mM) inhibited the amplitude of field stimulation induced contractions of mouse urinary bladder. This effect was mimicked by the selective GABAB receptor agonist, (+/-)-baclofen, but not by the selective GABAA receptor agonist, homotaurine. GABA and (+/-)-baclofen exhibited cross-desensitization. The GABA-or (+/-)-baclofen-induced inhibition of the nerve-mediated contractions were reduced by previous exposure to homotaurine (1 mM) or to 5-aminovaleric acid (2 mM), two GABAB receptor antagonists. On the other hand the inhibitory effects of GABA or (+/-)-baclofen were unaffected by picrotoxin (0.1 mM), a selective GABAA receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of GABA on nerve-mediated contractions was reduced in the presence of atropine or hemicholinium-3 as well as following desensitization of P2-purinoreceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Characterization of cholinoreceptors in the rat urinary bladder by the use of agonists and antagonists of the cholinergic system

The effects of stimulatory and inhibitory compounds acting on both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors have been evaluated in the isolated urinary bladder from adult and immature (14-18 days old) rats. Acetylcholine and bethanechol were found to induce concentration-dependent contractions which were inhibited by atropine and pirenzepine; compound McN-A-343 had a negligible contractile activity whereas DMPP had no effect at all. Responses to electrical field stimulation were abolished by tetrodotoxin (3 X 10(-8) M), enhanced by eserine (10(-8) M) and scarcely affected by hexamethonium (10(-3) M), trimethaphan (10(-3) M) and d-tubocurarine (10(-3) M). Atropine, pirenzepine and DMPP induced only a partial inhibition (50%) of the twitch response, whereas compound McN-A-343 caused a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect which was maximum (100% inhibition) at 10(-2) M. No significant differences were found between results obtained in immature and adult animals as regards either the stimulatory or the inhibitory compounds tested. It was concluded that postjunctional muscarinic receptors were responsible for the stimulatory responses observed, whereas an additional involvement of unknown mechanisms, probably not related to the cholinergic system, was suggested by the peculiar results obtained with DMPP and compound McN-A-343 on electrically-stimulated urinary bladder. Whatever the mechanisms involved, however, they are already present at the first stage of postnatal development.

Pharmacological evidence for the existence of two components in the twitch response to field stimulation of detrusor strips from the rat urinary bladder

Isolated strips from the anterior dome of the rat urinary bladder respond to single pulse field stimulation with a contraction. Two distinct components of this contraction ("early' and "late') could be observed, both of which were unaffected by hexamethonium (10 microM) and almost abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) indicating their dependence on neurotransmitter release from postganglionic nerve endings. Atropine (3 microM) inhibited the "late' component (over 60%) to a significantly greater extent than the "early' component (less than 10%) Amplitude of the "early' component was usually greater than that of the "late' component. There was almost no difference between the "early' and "late' component in respect of their relationship to stimulus strength and pulse duration. Physostigmine (0.03 microM) enhanced both components of the nerve-mediated contraction, although enhancement of the "late' component was much greater than that of the "early' one. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 0.5-5 mM) enhanced, in a concentration-related manner, both "early' and "late' components of the nerve-mediated contraction. Following exposure to physostigmine or TEA (5 mM) both "early' and "late' components of contraction were almost completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin. Atropine inhibition was more evident on the "late' as compared to "early' component of contraction. These findings demonstrate the presence, in the twitch response of rat isolated urinary bladder to field stimulation, of two nerve-mediated components which exhibit a different susceptibility to atropine and physostigmine.

Dual effect of GABA on the contractile activity of the guinea-pig isolated urinary bladder

The effects of GABA and related substances were examined in isolated detrusor strips from the dome of the guinea-pig urinary bladder. GABA (0.01-1 mM) produced concentration-related phasic contractions of isolated strips from the guinea-pig urinary bladder dome. This effect of GABA was mimicked by homotaurine and muscimol, selective GABAA receptor agonists but not by (+/-)-baclofen, a selective GABAB receptor agonist. A specific cross desensitization was observed between GABA, homotaurine and muscimol but not between (+/-)-baclofen and GABA. GABA (1 mM)-induced contractions were antagonized by picrotoxin, a selective GABAA receptor antagonist. GABA-induced contractions were almost abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM, TTX) thus indicating their neurogenic origin. In addition GABA-induced contractions were partially antagonized by atropine (to about the same extent as those produced by dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), a ganglionic stimulant), but were unaffected by hexamethonium (10 microM), phentolamine (0.2 microM) or indomethacin (5 microM). In the presence of GABA the contractile effect of both DMPP (TTX-sensitive) and acetylcholine (ACh, TTX-insensitive) were significantly reduced. Similar findings were obtained with DMPP, i.e. in preparations exposed to this ganglionic stimulant both GABA- and ACh-induced contractions were depressed. Homotaurine but not (+/-)-baclofen mimicked the depressant effect of GABA on DMPP-induced contractions. The depressant effect of GABA on ACh-induced contractions of the guinea-pig urinary bladder was neurogenic in origin, i.e., was not observed in preparations exposed to TTX. These experiments indicate that GABA has a dual effect on the contractile behaviour of the guinea-pig isolated urinary bladder. Recently it has been proposed that endogenous GABA plays a neuromodulatory role in this organ. Our data suggest that in the early phase of neurogenic activation of detrusor muscle (micturition reflex) GABA might transiently enhance excitatory neurotransmission followed by a more sustained inhibition of contractility.

GABA inhibits excitatory neurotransmission in rat pelvic ganglia

Intravenous GABA inhibited, in a bicuculline-sensitive manner, contractions of the urinary bladder induced by preganglionic nerve stimulation in urethane anaesthetized rats, while it had no significant effect on contractions produced by postganglionic nerve stimulation. In addition, intravenous GABA strongly inhibited DMPP-induced bladder contractions; this effect was also prevented by bicuculline. These experiments suggest that GABA inhibits excitatory neurotransmission in rat pelvic ganglia through a mechanism involving, at least in part, the activation of postsynaptic GABA A receptors.

GABAA and GABAB receptors in detrusor strips from guinea-pig bladder dome

The effects of various GABAA and GABAB receptor agonists and antagonists on electrically induced contractions of detrusor strips from guinea-pig urinary bladder dome were investigated by using both supra and submaximal parameters of stimulation. In supramaximally stimulated preparations GABA (1 mM) inhibited amplitude of contractions. This effect was mimicked, to a lesser degree, by the selective GABAB receptor agonist, (+/-)-baclofen (0.1 mM). Exposure to (+/-)-baclofen reduced markedly the effects of a subsequent challenge with GABA. The GABAA receptor agonists, muscimol (0.3 mM) and homotaurine (1 mM), produced a slight inhibition of contractions and reduced the effects of a subsequent challenge with GABA. The selective GABAA receptor antagonist, picrotoxin (0.1 mM), had a slight, but significant, antagonistic effect toward GABA, but had no effect against (+/-)-baclofen. GABA inhibition of supramaximally stimulated contractions was partly reduced by previous exposure to atropine (3 microM) or to the putative P2-purinoreceptor antagonist, reactive blue 2 (0.3 mM) as well as by desensitization of P2-purinoreceptors produced by the stable ATP analogue beta-gamma-methylene ATP (APPCP). GABA inhibition was unaffected by phentolamine (0.2 microM), propranolol (0.3 microM) or hexamethonium (10 microM). The inhibition produced by atropine plus reactive blue 2 or APPCP desensitization was additive or more than additive. In submaximally stimulated preparations GABA (0.01-1 mM) produced a transient, concentration related enhancement of amplitude of contractions. This effect was mimicked by either muscimol (0.3 mM) or homotaurine (1 mM) but not by (+/-)-baclofen (0.1 mM). A cross desensitization could be observed between the effects of muscimol or homotaurine on one hand and GABA on the other, but not between (+/-)-baclofen and GABA. Picrotoxin (0.03-0.1 mM) produced a concentration dependent antagonism of a noncompetitive type against the excitatory effect of GABA in submaximally stimulated preparations. Previous exposure to either atropine (3 microM), phentolamine (0.2 microM) or hexamethonium (10 microM) failed to affect GABA induced enhancement of submaximally stimulated contractions. On the other hand the effects of GABA were reduced by reactive blue 2 (0.1-0.9 mM) or by desensitization of P2-purinoreceptors. In preparations exposed to tetrodotoxin (TTX, 0.3 microM), field stimulation induced contractions are attributable to a direct excitation of smooth muscle cells. Under these conditions GABA (1 mM) was ineffective, indicating that, in the absence of TTX, it affects the excitability of neural elements in the bladder wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)