Uptake of debrisoquin and guanethidine by human blood platelets

Extensive and saturable accumulation of paclitaxel by the human platelet

Little is known about the cellular distribution of paclitaxel in humans. In the present study we examined the distribution of [3H]-paclitaxel in human blood. When 1 microM paclitaxel was incubated with fresh blood at 37 degrees C, the platelet/plasma concentration ratio was 240 +/- 17 (mean +/- SEM), whereas the red blood cell (RBC)/plasma concentration ratio was only 0.59 +/- 0.05. In kinetics experiments using platelet-rich plasma, we observed that the platelet accumulation of paclitaxel was highly temperature- and concentration-dependent. Scatchard analysis of the 37 degrees C uptake data demonstrated a dissociation constant (Kapp) of 0.80 +/- 0.10 microM and a maximal binding capacity of 672 +/- 102 pmol/10(9) platelets. It is proposed that the platelet accumulation of paclitaxel reflects binding to microtubules and may serve as a useful model for binding to less accessible cellular sites.

Stereoselective accumulation of the beta-receptor blocking drug atenolol by human platelets

We have studied the stereochemistry of accumulation of the hydrophilic beta-adrenoceptor antagonist rac-atenolol by human platelets in vitro. The accumulation was slow, not reaching equilibrium until 90 min at 37 degrees C. The uptake was temperature dependent with the accumulation at 37 degrees C being 3-4 times greater than at 4 degrees C. The accumulation was also stereoselective at 37 degrees C, favoring the active (-)-enantiomer over the (+)-enantiomer by 2.3-fold. Reserpine, but not desipramine, inhibited the platelet accumulation of rac-atenolol enantiospecifically. This uptake profile is different from the platelet uptake of lipophilic beta-blockers, which is characterized by nonspecific membrane binding, but similar to the carrier-mediated accumulation of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine by storage granules within the platelet.

Are dopamine receptors present on human lymphocytes?

The characteristics of [3H] spiperone binding to human lymphocytes have been examined. The haloperidol displaceable component of [3H] spiperone binding to human lymphocytes was not saturable, and stereoselective displacement by the isomers of butaclamol was not observed. These was no correlation between the ability of known dopamine active drug to cause displacement of the ligand and their rank order of potency. Chloroquine, a drug with no dopaminergic action, was the most potent displacing agent examined. Fragmentation of the cells caused a marked decrease in the haloperidol displaceable component of [3H] spiperone binding, and saturable binding to the lymphocyte membrane fragments was not observed. lysis of cells after equilibrium incubation with [3H] spiperone caused a marked reduction in the haloperidol displaceable component of ligand binding. Association of [3H] spiperone with lymphocytes was unaffected by the metabolic inhibitor iodoacetate or by replacement of sodium ions by lithium ions in the incubation medium, suggesting that such association did no involve an active process. We cannot confirm the existence of dopamine receptors on the surface of human lymphocytes. We suggest that the apparent association of [3H] spiperone with lymphocytes is due to some passive uptake process causing accumulation of the ligand within the cells.

Accumulation of debrisoquine by platelets in vivo: a model of events at the peripheral adrenergic neurone

1 The possibility that in vivo uptake of D by human platelets might reflect its accumulation in the post-ganglionic adrenergic neurone, and hence be a useful predictor of hypotensive response, was investigated.

2 During chronic oral dosage of D in three hypertensive patients average concentrations of the drug in blood fractions relative to plasma were: platelet rich plasma, 2.93; whole blood, 2.23; red cells plus granulocytes, 0.75. These findings indicate extensive uptake of D by platelets but not by other cells.

3 After single oral doses of 30 mg debrisoquine to four healthy volunteers platelets continued to accumulate the drug over at least 24 h. Although platelet D concentrations varied between subjects their platelet/plasma drug concentration ratios were similar.

4 Amitriptyline (75 mg p.o.) given 2 h before a single 30 mg oral dose of D inhibited platelet uptake of the latter by 40 ± 14 s.d.% over a 24 h period.

5 Platelets accumulated D but not its inactive 4-hydroxy metabolite. During chronic dosage of D in 10 patients the mean pre-dose platelet/plasma D concentration ratio was 8.52 ± 429 s.d. Within a 12 h dosing interval the concentration of D was constant in platelets but varied two-fold in plasma.

6 Uptake of D by platelets approached saturation with increasing plasma D concentrations.

7 After chronic D therapy in patients the fall in standing diastolic bp was more closely correlated with plasma D concentration (r = -0.88; P < 0.001) than with platelet D concentration (r = -0.65; P < 0.05).

8 In relation to the therapeutic response to D, observations 3-5 but not 7 are consistent with a view of the platelet as a useful model of the peripheral adrenergic neurone.