m-CPP, a 5-HT2C Receptor Agonist That Modifies the Perfusion Pressure of the Hindquarter Vascular Bed of Anesthetized Rat

In the present work we studied the actions of the intra-arterial administration of meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP - a 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist) in the hindquarters of the anesthetized rat. The lowest doses used (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 microg/kg) induced vasodilatation whereas the highest doses produced vasoconstriction (1, 6.25, 12.5 and 25 microg/kg). Both vasodilatation and vasoconstriction were inhibited by the 5-HT(1,2 )receptor antagonist methiothepin, whereas the 5-HT(2 )receptor antagonist ritanserin blocked only the vasoconstrictor responses. 1-[4-(1-Adamantanecarboxamido)butyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist) and ICI 118,551 (a beta(2)-receptor antagonist) failed to modify the vasodilator responses of m-CPP. Both BRL 15572 (a 5-HT(1D) receptor antagonist) and GR 55562 (a 5-HT(1B) receptor antagonist) only partially inhibited this action. Our data reveal that m-CPP induces the 5-HT(1 )and/or non-specific vasodilator effect and 5-HT(2) vasoconstrictor effects in the hindquarter vascular bed of the rat.

Vasoconstrictor Responses to 5-Hydroxytryptamine in the Autoperfused Hindquarters of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

In this work we studied the responses and receptors involved in the effects of intra-arterial 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the in situ autoperfused hindquarters of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Intra-arterial administration of the highest doses (50-1,000 ng/kg) produced a vasoconstrictor effect that was inhibited by ritanserin (a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist), SB 206553 (a selective 5-HT(2B/2C) receptor antagonist) and spiperone (a nonspecific 5-HT(1/2A) receptor antagonist), and was mimicked by alpha-methyl-5-HT (a selective 5-HT2 receptor agonist) and m-CPP (a selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist), but not by the intra-arterial administration of BW 723C86, a selective 5HT2B receptor agonist. SB 206553 and spiperone inhibited alpha-methyl-5HT-induced vasoconstriction in the hindquarters of SHR. Our data suggest that the vasoconstrictor response induced by 5-HT in the autoperfused hindquarters of SHR is mainly mediated by the activation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors.

Pharmacological and phytochemical studies of Cephäelis axillaris

The most significant effect, observed in the preliminary pharmacological evaluation of the whole ethanol extract and the alkaloidal fraction of Cephäelis axillaris, was the hyperemia of ears and external mucosas which was most probably due to an alpha-adrenergic blocking activity. In addition, both samples also induced a marked hypotension in normotensive as well as hypertensive (SHR) rats and inhibited the increases of blood pressure induced by i.v. administration of noradrenaline in pithed rats. The structures of the major alkaloidal components of the extract were elucidated on the basis of chemical characterization assays and IR, UV, 1H and 13C one and two-dimensional NMR analyses.

In vitro antispasmodic activity of peracetylated penstemonoside, aucubin and catalpol

In vitro, the peracetates of penstemonoside, aucubin and catalpol, iridoids isolated from Parentucellia latifolia, antagonize the uterine muscular contractions induced by acetylcholine and calcium, in a similar way to papaverine. The antagonism is non-competitive against acetylcholine (pD2' values: 5.60 for the peracetates of penstemonoside, 5.74 for aucubin, 5.59 for catalpol, and 5.32 for papaverine) and competitive against calcium (pA2 values: 6.60 for the peracetates of penstemonoside, 6.34 for aucubin, 6.48 for catalpol, and 6.23 for papaverine). The two components, phasic and tonic, of the response of the vas deferens to potassium are reduced by the three iridoids. The reduction is similar for both phases. The antispasmodic activity of the three iridoids, similar to papaverine, is related to an inhibiting effect of extracellular calcium, intracellular or both.

Modulation of noradrenergic transmission in the rat isolated portal vein: Role of prejunctional α2-adrenoceptors and β-adrenoceptors

1. The effect of several adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on the spontaneous and stimulus-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline was studied in rat isolated portal vein. 2. Yohimbine (10(-6)M) increased the stimulus-evoked [3H]noradrenaline efflux. Adrenaline alone (3 x 10(-6)M) was without effect, while it increased the resting efflux when added together with yohimbine. 3. Propranolol alone was without effect on the release of [3H]noradrenaline. When added (2 x 10(-6)M) at the same time as yohimbine, it reduced the stimulation-induced 3H efflux. When added before adrenaline and yohimbine, propranolol (10(-5)M) reduced both spontaneous and stimulus-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline. 4. The effect of several beta-blocking drugs was measured on the enhancing effect of yohimbine on the stimulation-evoked 3H efflux. The beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking drugs: atenolol (5 x 10(-6) and 10(-5) M), metoprolol (5 x 10(-6) and 10(-5) M), like the more selective bisoprolol (2 x 10(-6) and 4 x 10(-6) M) inhibited yohimbine activity. Likewise, propranolol (2 x 10(-6) and 5 x 10(-6)M) and the beta 2-adrenoceptor blocker ICI 118551 exhibited an antagonistic effect. 5. These results indicate the possibility for noradrenaline to activate presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors in rat portal vein. They show an interaction between the presynpatic alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptor mediated systems in the release of noradrenaline. They suggest the presence and the activity of facilitatory beta 1-adrenoceptors.

Antihistaminic activity of pulegone on the guinea-pig ileum

Pulegone, a natural monoterpene compound, has an antihistamine effect on guinea-pig ileum. Its antagonism is of the competitive type (PA2 = 6.35) like that of mepyramine and dexchlorpheniramine, two H1-antagonists, with PA2 values of 10.15 and 8.74, respectively.