Atsushi Mizushima

Cardiac M2 receptors consist of two different types, both regulated by GTP.

Cardiac muscarinic receptors are predominantly M2 receptors, and have three agonist binding sites (super-high(SH), high(H) and low(L) affinity agonist binding sites). Treatment of cardiac membranes with 50 nM propylbenzilyl choline mustard (PrBCM) caused 88% loss of binding sites for [3H]QNB. Carbamyl choline (CCh) inhibits this alkylation dose dependently and, theoretically, generates uneven alkylation of multiple agonist binding sites. Pretreatment of the membranes with 50 nM PrBCM and 0.5 mM CCh resulted in almost complete disappearance of L sites with similar degrees of conservation of H sites and SH sites. In these pretreated membranes, guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent caused a change in the ratio of residual SH and H sites but not of L sites though previous studies showed that, in intact membranes, these reagents affected the ratio of SH and L sites without significantly changing that of the H site. These results indicate the existence of two equilibria regulated by guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent in cardiac muscarinic receptors: one between SH and H sites and the other between H and L sites. The participation of GTP binding protein(s) in all cardiac muscarinic responses is suggested.

1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol and phorbol diester stimulate Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ channels in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells

The effect of 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG) and the phorbol diester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-acetate (TPA) on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in NG108-15 cells was studied using a Ca2+ indicator, quin 2. OAG and TPA induced an increase in [Ca2+]i from 100 +/- 19 to 187 +/- 24 nM and 192 +/- 15 nM, respectively, within 15 min. The increase in [Ca2+]i induced by activators of protein kinase C was dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]o) and was inhibited by the Ca2+ blockers, verapamil and nifedipine. These results indicate that the OAG- and TPA-induced [Ca2+]i increase is mediated by the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

The SH-H subgroup of cardiac M2 receptors (M2α) inhibits adenylate cyclase activity

Abstract Muscarinic receptors in the guinea-pig heart seem to consist entirely of M 2 receptors, but are coupled with several responses including inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. On the other hand three affinity states (SH, H and L) can be distinguished in cardiac membranes with muscarinic agonists such as carbachol. We showed previously that the three agonist binding states were the sum of two equilibria (SH-H and H-L subgroups), both regulated by GTP-binding protein(s). In this study we determined which subgroup was responsible for the inhibitory effect of muscarinic M 2 receptors on adenylate cyclase activity. The ED 50 values for this responses of four muscarinic agonists, acetylcholine, carbachol, pilocarpine and oxotremorine corresponded with the binding K D values of H (acetylcholine and carbachol) and L o/p (pilocarpine and oxotremorine) sites. After alkylation of spare receptors, the ED 50 value of carbachol was changed from 4.3 to 5.6 μM, which corresponded with the K D value of the H site. Furthermore, the four agonists were almost fully active when membrane preparations were pretreated with propylbenzulylcholine mustard (PrBCM) in the presence of carbachol to destroy the H-L subgroup, whereas after pretreatment with PrBCM and atropine, which alkylated both types of subgroups evenly, the decrease in the number of receptors was proportional to the decrase in the inhibitory effect on adenylate cyclase activity. These results suggest that only the SH-H subgroup (M 2α ) is responsible for the inhibitory action of muscarinic receptors on adenylate cyclase activity in the heart.

Multiple agonist binding sites of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and their relation to the negative inotropic action of agonists in guinea-pig heart

The Kd values of the multiple agonist binding sites in cardiac muscarinic receptors (mAChR) and pD2 values for negative inotropic actions were determined independently and their relation was examined. The guinea-pig cardiac mAChR is known to have three agonist binding sites (super-high (SH), high (H) and low (L) affinity agonist binding sites) for carbachol (CCh). Pilocarpine (Pilo) and oxotremorine (Oxo) distinguished two sites (higher (Ho/p) with pKd of 5.88 and 8.20, respectively, and lower (Lo/p) affinity agonist binding sites with pKd of 5.08 and 6.17, respectively). The effects of guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent indicated that the Ho/p site corresponded with the SH site for carbachol, and the Lo/p site with the H + L sites for carbachol. The pD2 values of CCh, Pilo and Oxo for negative inotropic actions on autocontraction of right atria were 5.38, 5.30 and 6.80, respectively. The pD2 values of CCh and Oxo on electrically stimulated contraction of left atria in the presence of isoproterenol were 5.80 and 6.46, respectively, thus being closely related to H or Lo/p agonist binding sites of mAChR.

The H-L subgroup of guinea-pig cardiac M2 receptors (M2β) regulates inositol phosphate formation

In previous studies, we showed that cardiac muscarinic receptors (M2) are composed of two subgroups, M2 alpha and M2 beta, with different affinities for agonists and that the M2 alpha subgroup is coupled with inhibition of adenylate cyclase. We now studied which subgroup was responsible for the formation of inositol mono- (IP), bis- (IP2), tris- (IP3) and tetrakis- (IP4) phosphates in guinea pig heart. Carbachol (1 mM) significantly stimulated the formation of all four IPs in [3H]myoinositol-preloaded slices of guinea-pig ventricles. Acetylcholine (1 mM) also stimulated the formation of IP2, IP3 and IP4. However, oxotremorine (1 mM) only slightly stimulated the formation of IP2, and pilocarpine did not stimulate the formation of any IP. The pED50 values of carbachol for IP2 and IP3 formation were 3.76 and 4.23, respectively, which coincided with the pKd values of the low-affinity agonist binding site (L site) measured by competition of carbachol with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB) binding while the pKd value for inhibition of adenylate cyclase coincided with the pKd value of the high-affinity agonist binding site (H site). Treatment of animals with pertussis toxin decreased the formation of IP2 and IP3 by carbachol to 66 and 54%, respectively, but resulted in complete inhibition of adenylate cyclase. These results suggested that muscarinic stimulation of the formation of IPs was manifested through a different receptor subgroup (M2 beta) and GTP binding protein different from those for inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Agonist Bindings and their Relationship to Receptor Responses in Heart Muscarinic Receptors

The presence of two subtypes in muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (m-AChR) was well established. One is the M1 subtype, neuronal m-AChR, and the other is M2 subtype, peripheral m-AChR. Now, the presence of many more subtypes is suggested by the evidences from pharmacology and gene technology.