Angiotensin receptors in bovine umbilical artery and their inhibition by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Bimatoprost: mechanism of ocular surface hyperemia associated with topical therapy

Bimatoprost is a safe and well-tolerated intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering drug that was approved in the United States in 2001 for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. It is highly efficacious and produces greater mean reductions in IOP than other currently available antiglaucoma drugs. Conjunctival hyperemia is a common side effect of bimatoprost, but the hyperemia is typically mild and transient. No association has been found between signs of inflammation and the presence of hyperemia in bimatoprost-treated patients. Preclinical studies have elucidated the pharmacological mechanism of bimatoprost-related hyperemia and have examined the possible involvement of inflammation. Bimatoprost, as well as the free acid of latanoprost, elicited endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the rabbit jugular vein preparation, a quantitative in vitro model for ocular surface hyperemia (OSH). The vasorelaxant responses to either bimatoprost or latanoprost free acid were significantly inhibited by L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Similarly, the in vivo OSH responses to topically applied bimatoprost or latanoprost in dog eyes were significantly inhibited by L-NAME. As predicted, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-induced conjunctival hyperemia was not inhibited by L-NAME, since PGE(2) has a direct relaxant effect on the vascular smooth muscle. In-life observations and histopathological assessment of ocular surface tissues following bimatoprost treatment were performed for multiple-dose one month, 6 month, or 12 month safety studies in rabbits, dogs, and non-human primates. Results of these studies showed no evidence of bimatoprost-related inflammation in the ocular surface tissues. In summary, OSH related to bimatoprost treatment in laboratory animals occurs by endothelial-derived nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatation and is not associated with inflammation. These studies suggest that conjunctival hyperemia, a side effect of bimatoprost treatment, results from non-inflammatory, pharmacologically based vasodilatation.

Effects of inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis in the uterus of ovariectomized rats and rats in natural oestrus: relation with calcium

1. The effects of 4 inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis (ESIs)--mepacrine (MEP, 10(-5) - 3 x 10(-4) M), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDHGA, 10(-6) - 2 x 10(-5) M), indomethacin (IND, 2 x 10(-6) M and 2 x 10(-5) M) and imidazole (IMI, 10(-5) M and 10(-4) M)--on the motility induced by oxytocin (OT, 0.5 and 4 mU/ml) in uterus of rats in natural oestrus and of ovariectomized rats have been studied. 2. MEP, NDHGA and IND, but not IMI, inhibited the motility induced by both concentrations of OT in natural oestrus. Ovariectomy enhanced the effects of all ESIs, except the one of MEP. 3. MEP and NDHGA, but not IND or IMI, inhibited the contractions induced by methacholine (10(-5) M) and prostaglandin F2a (10(-6) M) and relaxed in a dose-dependent way the tonic component of the contractile response to KCl 60 mM (DI50: 6.14 +/- 0.38 and 1.38 +/- 0.29 x 10(-5) M, respectively). 4. CaCl2 (0.1-10 mM) reverted the relaxation of KCl contractions produced by MEP but not by NDHGA.

Prostaglandins do not mediate the inhibitory effects of angiotensins II and III on autonomic neurotransmission in the rabbit vas deferens

The role of prostaglandins in mediating angiotensin effects on autonomic neurotransmission was assessed. This was accomplished by examining the angiotensin-induced production of prostaglandins (PGE) and suppression of non-adrenergic (purinergic) neurotransmission in the presence and absence of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. The vas deferens of the rabbit was utilized for these studies because this preparation has a predominant non-adrenergic neurogenic component. Both angiotensins II and III enhanced PGE production and reduced non-adrenergic neurogenic contractions in a concentration-dependent manner from 1 to 1000 nM. Furthermore, indomethacin (2.8 microM) and eicosatetraynoic acid (10 microM) eliminated the inhibitory effect of the angiotensins on non-adrenergic neurotransmission. However, acetylsalicylic acid (10 microM) prevented the production of PGE in response to the angiotensins but failed to alter the suppression of non-adrenergic neurotransmission. The latter data are inconsistent with the hypothesis that PG's mediate angiotensin-induced depression of non-adrenergic neurotransmission. The mechanism by which indomethacin and eicosatetraynoic acid prevent angiotensin effects on non-adrenergic neurotransmission was not elucidated but previous reports suggest that these agents may act as angiotensin receptor antagonists. All of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors examined tended to potentiate angiotensin effects on adrenergic neurotransmission.

Responses of femoral resistance vessels to angiotensin in vitro

The effect of angiotensin II and angiotensin I on isolated rat resistance vessels (inner diameter ca. 200 micron) was investigated. Angiotensin II caused a contraction (ED50 = 0.58 +/- 0.17 X 10(-8) M) of rat femoral and cerebral arteries and to a lesser extent of mesenteric and renal arteries. However, all vessels showed strong tachyphylaxis on repeated stimulation with angiotensin II. Tachyphylaxis was avoided by inducing submaximal tone in the vessels with either K, noradrenaline or serotonin. The response to angiotensin II was inhibited by saralasin but not by captopril. Angiotensin I also caused contraction of the femoral arteries (ED50 = 2.68 +/- 0.32 X 10(-8) M). These responses were inhibited by captopril and saralasin. Functional removal of the endothelium had little effect on the contractile responses to either angiotensin I or II. These results indicate that there are functional receptors to angiotensin II in the resistance vessels of the rat and that, in the presence of tone (a more physiological condition), the vessels contract to angiotensin II without tachyphylaxis. In addition, angiotensin II may be formed from angiotensin I by the angiotensin converting enzyme which may be situated in the vessel wall as well as in the endothelium.

Identification of selective, high affinity [125I]-angiotensin and [125I]-bradykinin binding sites in rat intestinal epithelia

Specific [125I]-angiotensin II (AII) and [125I]-bradykinin (Bk) binding sites have been identified within epithelial membranes from rat jejunum and descending colon. These high affinity intestinal sites exhibited KD values of 0.64 +/- 0.16 nM for [125I]-AII and 0.69 +/- 0.13 nM for [125I]-Bk, which were similar to those for [125I]-AII (0.85 nM) and [125I]-Bk binding sites (1.03 nM) previously identified in renal cortex epithelia. Specific [125I]-AII binding capacity was only 19.77 +/- 2.74 fmol mg-1 in small intestine and 11.31 +/- 2.66 fmol mg-1 in descending colon epithelia while a larger population, 332.0 +/- 72.9 fmol-mg-1 of specific [125I]-Bk sites were identified in epithelial membranes from small intestine. Significant hydrolysis of both free [125I]-AII and [125I]-Bk was observed while membrane bound peptides remained relatively resistant to degradation. Whilst no corrections have been made to the observed values of KD and Bmax quoted above, one may assume that the calculated reductions in the free hormone concentration will result in a decrease of the KD value for both peptides. Loss of membrane bound peptide, particularly of [125I]-AII, may indicate that the calculated Bmax value is an underestimation. Despite the rapid degradation of unbound [125I]-AII and [125I]-Bk during incubations the kinetics of specific peptide binding were reversible and highly selective. The order of potency for specific [125I]-AII binding was [Sar1, Leu8]-AII greater than or equal to [Sar1, Thr8]-AII greater than or equal to AII greater than [Sar1, Ile8]-AII greater than or equal to [Des, Asp1, Ile8] AII greater than AIII. Specific [125I]-Bk binding was also highly selective, the order of potency being Phe8-Bk greater than or equal to Tyr8-Bk greater than or equal to Lys-Bk much greater than Des, Arg1-Bk. AII exhibited an IC50 of greater than 1mM for specific [125I]-Bk binding and likewise Phe8-Bk for specific [125I]-AII binding.

The selective effects of indomethacin on contractile responses of the isolated rat uterus

These studies were initiated to examine the effects of indomethacin on uterine contractile responses to oxytocin, carbachol, bradykinin, angiotension II and isoproterenol. Isolated uterine horns used in this study were removed from immature (21 days old) ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats (40-50 gm). Pre-treatment of uterine horns with indomethacin (10(-3) M) for periods of 15,30,60,90, and 180 seconds resulted in maximal inhibition of oxytocin-induced contractions by 15 seconds. In an indomethacin dose-response study, oxytocin-induced contractions were completely eliminated by a dose of indomethacin of 10(-3) M. Utilizing doses of indomethacin (3.5 X 10(-4) and 5.0 X 10(-4) M) that significantly reduced oxytocin-induced contractions by 48 and 77% respectively, contractile responses induced by carbachol (10(-6) M), bradykinin (10(-6) M), and angiotension II (4 X 10(-11) M) were not significantly reduced. Relaxation of uterine smooth muscle by isoproterenol (10(-5) M) in the presence of carbachol (10(-5) M) was not altered by indomethacin pretreatment. Data from this study demonstrate that indomethacin selectively inhibits oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in the immature rat.

Characterization of two angiotensin II binding sites in cultured mouse spinal cord neurones

Characteristics of angiotensin II (AII) binding have been determined in cultured mouse spinal cord neurones using [125I]AII and [3H]AII. The Scatchard plot of equilibrium binding was curvilinear and could be described by postulating the existence of two different classes of independent binding sites (Kd1 = 0.43 nM, Bmax1 = 12.5 fmol/1.5 X 10(6) cells; Kd2 = 25.6 nM, Bmax2 = 220 fmol/1.5 X 10(6) cells). These values are in close agreement with the Kd values obtained from kinetic studies. The high affinity binding sites appeared to be similar to the single class of sites described in other studies. The relative inhibition potency of AII-related peptides was studied. Sar1,-Leu8-AII was the most potent in inhibiting specific AII binding. The characteristics of the two AII binding sites suggest that they correspond to two receptors as described in a previous electrophysiological approach using this model in our laboratory. Taken together, these data confirm that this model of neurones in primary culture is a unique and very attractive model of receptor studies. The classical criteria necessary for positive identification of a ligand-receptor have been satisfied: saturability, reversibility, specificity and most importantly correlation of the binding parameters and biological effects of AII.

Prostaglandins and the contractile effect of angiotensin I and II in the uterus isolated from ovariectomized rats. Influences of indomethacin and 17-beta estradiol

The purpose of the present study was to explore whether, the stimulating contractile action of angiotensin II (AII) or of angiotensin I (AI), in uterine strips isolated from rats, either spayed or spayed and injected with 17-beta estradiol, was somehow linked to tissue generated prostaglandins (PGs). Indomethacin (10(-6)M), shifted to the left the dose-response curve for AII in preparations from ovariectomized animals; augmenting both, the efficacy and the potency of the agonist. Dose-response curves for AII were also explored in the presence of subthreshold concentrations of several exogenous PGs. PGE2 (10(-9) M) completely abolished the influence of indomethacin on the curve for AII; PGD2 (10(-9) M) did not evoke effects and PGF2 alpha (10(-9) M) only altered the threshold dose, the rest of the curve remaining similar to that obtained with indomethacin alone. The cumulative dose-response curve for AI, in strips isolated from ovariectomized rats, was comparable to that for AII and, the presence of indomethacin, only reduced the concentration for the threshold action of AI, in comparison to controls. Captopril (100 ng/ml), shifted to the right the dose-response curve for AI and indomethacin failed to alter the effects of AI in the presence of captopril. In strips isolated from ovariectomized rats, injected with 17-beta estradiol, the low concentration points of the dose-response curve for AII were shifted to the left of those for the agonist in control preparations from spayed rats not treated with estradiol. Furthermore, indomethacin failed to alter the responses to AII in strips from spayed animals injected with 17-beta estradiol. The foregoing results document that an inhibitor of tissue PGs synthesis, namely indomethacin, is able to modify the dose-response curve for AII, rather than that for AI, in the uterus from ovariectomized rats, but not in preparations from spayed animals treated with estradiol. This, as well as the effect of a subthreshold dose of PGs, suggest that a minimum of PGE2 is required for the contractile influence of AII and not for that of AI. Moreover, the absence of estrogen dominance appears, as well, as a crucial factor for the action of AII.

Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors: effect on angiotensin II- and oxytocin-induced contractions in rat uterine smooth muscle

1 Eicosatetraynoic acid, the acetylene analogue of arachidonic acid, which inhibits both the cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, reduced the contractile response of rat uterine smooth muscle to either angiotensin II or oxytocin. 2 Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, did not reduce the response to angiotensin II but did abolish the contractile response to low doses of oxytocin. 3 Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, totally abolished the uterine response to either oxytocin or angiotensin II. 4 The contractile response to carbachol, a cholinoceptor agonist, was unaffected by pretreatment with any of the cyclo-oxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors. 5 From these findings, it can be implied that some product of the arachidonate lipoxygenase pathway augments peptide-induced contractions of the rat uterus.

The binding of [125I]-angiotensin to rat renal epithelial cell membranes

1 Specific high affinity binding sites for [125I]-angiotensin II have been identified in crude basolateral and brush border membranes from rat cortex. 2 A central high affinity site, KD 0.62 nM; Bmax 299 fmol/mg was identified as part of a complex multicomponent binding system. 3 This high affinity site was saturable and exhibited specificity for angiotensin II analogues and closely related peptides but not for bradykinin, substance P or peptide fragments of angiotensin II. 4 Specific [125I]-angiotensin II binding was partially dependent on NaCl. Absence of NaCl resulted in a decrease in Bmax, had no effect on the rate of association but increased the rate of dissociation of [125I]-angiotensin from its binding site.