Pharmacological effects of naltriben as a ligand for opioid mu and kappa receptors in rat cerebral cortex

Naltriben (NTB) has been used to differentiate the subtypes of delta opioid receptors, delta1 and delta2. However, there is considerable evidence suggesting that NTB may act on other types of opioid receptors too. We examined the effects of NTB on the specific binding of radiolabeled ligands for opioid mu and kappa2 receptors, and the effects on the release of [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) in rat cerebral cortex slices. NTB displaced the specific binding of [3H]DAMGO with Ki value of 19.79 +/- 1.12 nM in rat cortex membranes. Specific binding of [3H]diprenorphine ([3H]DIP) was inhibited by NTB with Ki value of 82.75 +/- 6.32 nM in the presence of DAMGO and DPDPE. High K+ (15 mM)-stimulated release of [3H]NE was attenuated by DAMGO in rat cerebral cortex slices. NTB (30 nM) shifted the dose-response curve of DAMGO to the right and attenuated the maximal effect. In the meantime, NTB inhibited high K+-stimulated [3H]NE release at concentrations above 100 nM. The inhibitory effect of NTB was not attenuated by CTAP (10 nM) and naloxone (3 nM) but by higher concentration of naloxone (30 nM), nor-BNI (300 nM) and bremazocine (3 nM). These results indicate that NTB, depending on the dosage, could acts not only as an antagonist at delta but also as a noncompetitive antagonist for mu receptors, and as an agonist for kappa2 receptors in rat cerebral cortex.

Receptor selectivity of Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7, an endogenous opioid peptide, in cerebral cortex of human and rat

This study was undertaken to examine the receptor selectivity of Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 (MERF) employing radioreceptor binding assays in human cerebral cortex membranes, and to elucidate the responsible receptors that mediate the regulatory action of MERF on high (20 mM) K+-stimulated release of [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]-NE) in rat cortex slices. Specific binding of [3H]MERF was inhibited by DAMGO, Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Sar(TAPS), bremazocine and ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), but not by U69,593 (U69) and DPDPE. MERF showed high affinity for specific binding sites of [3H]DAMGO. However, MERF had little influence on the specific binding of [3H]DPDPE, [3H]U69 and [3H]diprenorphine ([3H]DIP) in the presence of 1 microM each of DAMGO, DPDPE and U69. In [3H]NE release experiments using rat cortex slices, DAMGO, MERF and EKC, in order of their potency, inhibited K+-stimulated release of [3H]NE. The inhibitory effects of MERF and DAMGO were more sensitive than that of EKC to antagonism by CTAP, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) and naloxone. These results suggested that MERF possesses high affinity for mu-receptors, but not for delta-, kappa1-, and very low affinity for kappa2-receptors in human cerebral cortex membranes. Also, the inhibitory effect of MERF on the K+-stimulated release of [3H]NE appears to be mediated by mu-receptors in rat cerebral cortex slices.

Blockade of myocardial ATP-sensitive potassium channels by ketamine

BACKGROUND

The adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel underlies the increase in potassium permeability during hypoxia and ischemia. The increased outward potassium current during ischemia may be an endogenous cardioprotective mechanism. This study was designed to determine the effects of ketamine on KATP channel in rat hearts.

METHODS

Inside-out and cell-attached configurations of patch-clamp techniques and 3 M potassium chloride-filled conventional microelectrodes were used to investigate the effect of ketamine on KATP channel currents in single rat ventricular myocytes and on the action potential duration of rat papillary muscles, respectively.

RESULTS

Ketamine inhibited KATP channel activity in rat ventricular myocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. In the inside-out patches, the concentration of ketamine for half-maximal inhibition and the Hill coefficient were 62.9 microM and 0.54, respectively. In a concentration-dependent manner, ketamine inhibited pinacidil- and 2,4-dinitrophenol-activated KATP channels in cell-attached patches. The application of ketamine to the intracellular side of membrane patches did not affect the conduction of single-channel currents of KATP channels. Ketamine increased the action potential duration, which was then shortened by pinacidil in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine inhibited KATP channel activity in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that ketamine may attenuate the cardioprotective effects of the KATP channel during ischemia and reperfusion in the rat myocardium.

Intracellular ADP-ribose inhibits ATP-sensitive K+ channels in rat ventricular myocytes

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), an NAD metabolite, has been shown to be a messenger for Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular Ca2+ stores. However, the physiological role of ADP-ribose (ADPR), another metabolite of NAD, is not known. We examined the effects of cADPR and ADPR on the ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) activity in rat ventricular myocytes by use of the inside-out patch-clamp configuration. ADPR, but not cADPR, inhibited the channel activity at micromolar range with an inhibitor constant (Ki) of 38.4 microM. The Hill coefficient was 0.9. ATP inhibited the K+ channel with a Ki of 77.8 microM, and the Hill coefficient was 1.8. Single-channel conductance was not affected by ADPR. These findings strongly suggest that ADPR may act as a regulator of KATP channel activity.

Ligand binding profiles of U-69, 593-sensitive and-insensitive sites in human cerebral cortex membranes: evidence of kappa opioid receptors heterogeneity

Receptor binding studies were performed to characterize the properties of subtypes of kappa opioid receptors in membrane preparations of human cerebral cortex. [3H]U69,593 ([3H]U69), a selective kappa 1-agonist, and [3H]diprenorphine ([3H]DIP), a non-selective opioid antagonist, in the presence of 1 microM each of DAMGO, DPDPE and U-69 to block mu-, delta-, and kappa 1-sites, labeled single population of binding sites, respectively. [3H]U-69 binding sites (KD = 3.8 +/- 0.2 nM, Bmax = 6.3 +/- 0.2 fmol/mg protein) had a binding profile that correspond to kappa 1-receptor. That is, dynorphin A (1-13) (Dyn A), bremazocine (BZC), U50,488H (U50), (-)ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) and nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) bound to this site with high affinities. [3H]DIP labeled binding sites (Kd = 7.3 +/- 0.2 nM, Bmax = 102 +/- 9 fmol/mg protein) that were not sensitive to U-50, but to BZC, EKC and nor-BNI. These results indicate that kappa 1 and Kappa 2 opioid receptors exist in human cerebral cortex with different ligand binding profiles.

Reciprocal modulation of ATP-sensitive K+ channel activity in rat ventricular myocytes by phosphorylation of tyrosine and serine/threonine residues

The modulation of ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) activity by specific phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of tyrosine and serine/threonine residues was examined in rat ventricular myocytes using the inside-out patch configuration of the patch clamp technique. The run-down process was suppressed by okadaic acid but accelerated by sodium orthovanadate. After run-down of the channels, the ATP-induced reactivation was blocked by H-7, but enhanced by genistein. The channel activity was decreased by protein phosphatase 2A. However, the activity of partially run-down channels was increased by protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. Our results suggest that KATP channel activity can be inhibited by phosphorylation of tyrosine residues and stimulated by phosphorylation of serine/threonine residues.

KR-30450, a newly synthesized benzopyran derivative, activates the cardiac ATP-sensitive K+ channel

KR-30450 (2-(2"(1",3"-dioxolone)-2-methyl-4-(2'-oxo-1'-pyrrollidinyl) -6- nitro-2H-1-benzopyren) is a newly synthesized benzopyran derivative. We examined the effect of KR-30450 on the action potential duration of isolated rat papillary muscle and on the ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) activity in single rat ventricular myocytes with 3 M KCl-filled conventional microelectrode and patch clamp techniques. KR-30450 (10(-7) approximately 10(-5) M) reduced the action potential duration in a concentration-dependent manner and this was inhibited by 3 microM glibenclamide, suggesting that KATP was involved. In cell-attached patches, KR-30450 (10(-5) M) in the pipette activated the KATP which was closed by 3 microM glibenclamide. In inside-out patches, the effects of KR-30450 on KATP activity were examined before and after run-down of the channel. Before run-down, KR-30450 increased the KATP activity only in the presence of ATP and shifted the [ATP]i-KATP activity relationship to the right. After run-down, KR-30450 did not affect the KATP activity either in the presence or absence of 3 mM UDP, but increased the UDP-induced KATP activity in the presence of 1 mM ATP-gamma-S. From these results, we conclude that KR-30450 antagonizes the inhibitory effect of ATP on the KATP in a competitive manner. These effects of KR-30450 are similar to those of ER-001533 and HOE-234, but different from those of pinacidil and lemakalim.

Ca2+-dependent and -independent mechanisms of ischaemia-evoked release of [3H]-dopamine from rat striatal slices

1. Ischaemia was induced by 5 min of deprivation of glucose and an additional 5 min of deprivation of glucose and oxygen from Mg(2+)-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid in vitro. 2. During the ischaemic period, 11 +/- 1.5% of the total [3H]-dopamine ([3H]-DA) was released into the incubation medium. 3. Ischaemia-evoked release of [3H]-DA from striatal slices was attenuated by tetrodotoxin (TTX), MgSO4, dizocilpine, ketamine, 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) or carbetapentane. 4. Release of [3H]-DA was attenuated by verapamil, omega-conotoxin GVIA and dantrolene. 5. Nomifensin inhibited the ischaemia-induced release of [3H]-DA. 6. Omission of Ca(2+) from incubation media potentiated ischaemia-evoked [3H]-DA release. The inhibitory effect of nomifensin was potentiated in Ca(2+)-free incubation media. 7. These results suggest that ischaemia induces release of [3H]-DA by dual mechanisms; one is Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis and the other is reversal of transporter.