Helen S. Kim

Activation of K+ channel in vascular smooth muscles by cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid

Arachidonic acid can be oxidatively metabolized by cytochrome P450 epoxygenase to four regioisomeric epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (5,6-; 8,9-; 11,12-; 14,15-EET), which exhibit vasorelaxant effects in vivo and in vitro with unknown mechanisms. In this study, the patch-clamp method was used to examine the effects of EETs on the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel in cells from rabbit portal vein, rat caudal artery, guinea pig aorta and porcine coronary artery. In all four cell types, EETs in the bath activated the K+ channel in cell-attached patches by increasing the single channel open-state probability. Potencies of the four EETs did not differ significantly for each cell type. The concentrations for doubling open-state probability were 0.1 microM in portal vein and coronary artery, 0.3-1 microM in aorta and 1-3 microM in caudal artery. In caudal artery cells, K+ channel activation by 3 microM 5,6- and 1 microM 11,12-EET was blocked and reversed by glyburide at 0.5 microM. In aorta, coronary artery, and caudal artery cells, micromolar EETs induced a dose-dependent and reversible augmentation of whole-cell K+ current by 50-120% and a 5-12 mV hyperpolarization. EETs on the cytosolic side of inside-out patches produced little or no potentiation of K+ channels, implying an interaction of receptor-mediated nature. Thus, EETs may promote vasodilation by functioning as endogenous K+ channel openers.

Interactions of Phencyclidine Receptor Agonist MK‐801 with Dopaminergic System: Regional Studies in the Rat

Interactions of the potent phencyclidine receptor agonist MK‐801 with the dopaminergic system were examined in various brain regions in the rat. MK‐801 increased dopamine (DA) metabolism in the pyriform cortex, entorhinal cortex, prefrontal cortex, striatum, olfactory tubercle, amygdala, and septum without affecting DA metabolism in the cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens. In pyriform cortex and amygdala, MK‐801 was more potent than phencyclidine at increasing DA metabolism. Local injections of MK‐801 into ventral tegmental area and into the amygdala/pyriform cortex interface indicated that MK‐801 may act at the cell body as well as the nerve terminal level to increase DA metabolism and that ongoing dopaminergic neuronal activity is a prerequisite for full drug action.

Selective activation of dopaminergic pathways in the mesocortex by compounds that act at the phencyclidine (PCP) binding site: tentative evidence for PCP recognition sites not coupled to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors

Several lines of evidence suggest a tight functional coupling between N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and phencyclidine (PCP) receptors. The effects of PCP receptor agonists (PCP, dexoxadrol, ketamine and MK-801) and NMDA receptor antagonists, cis-4-phosphonomethyl-2-piperidine carboxylic acid (CGS-19755) and 3-(2-carboxypiperizin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), have been examined on the metabolism of dopamine in the mesocortex, with a view of studying the coupling between these two receptor systems. Phencyclidine receptor agonists selectively increased the metabolism of dopamine in the mesocortex without affecting the metabolism of dopamine in the striatum. N-Methyl-D-aspartate and the competitive antagonists of NMDA receptors did not effect the metabolism of dopamine, neither did the sigma receptor ligands, 1,3-di-(2-tolyl)guanidine (DTG) and rimcazole. Rimcazole also did not affect the increases in the metabolism of dopamine in the mesocortex, seen after MK-801. These data indicate that dopaminergic neurons in the mesocortex are positively modulated by PCP receptors but tentatively suggest that those recognition sites for PCP are not coupled to NMDA receptors.

μ-, δ-, κ- and ϵ-Opioid receptor modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis: subchronic tolerance studies of endogenous opioid peptides

In opiate-naive rats, the endogenous opioid peptides, beta-endorphin, dynorphin(1-13) and Met-Enk-Arg-Phe (MEAP) and the synthetic enkephalin analogue D-Ala2-D-Leu5-Enk (DADLE) potently stimulated plasma corticosterone in a dose-dependent, naloxone reversible manner. To characterize their in vivo affinities, the effects of these peptides on plasma corticosterone release were tested in rats made tolerant to morphine, U50488H, DADLE/morphine or beta-endorphin. These cross-tolerance studies showed that dynorphin and MEAP exerted their action on plasma corticosterone release at kappa-opioid receptors. The action of DADLE occurred at delta-opioid receptors, while the action of beta-endorphin occurred principally at another receptor site. These results indicate that there is independent modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by endogenous opioid peptides at mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors. In addition there may be modulation by beta-endorphin at a separate site that we suggest could be a central epsilon-receptor site. This cross-tolerance paradigm, using a neuroendocrine model, provides in vivo evidence for the action of centrally active endogenous opioid peptides at multiple and independent opioid receptors.

Effects of kappa opiate agonists on neurochemical and neuroendocrine indices: Evidence for kappa receptor subtypes

Four kappa opiate agonists, U-50488H, MR-2034, EKC and tifluadom, elevated plasma corticosterone and decreased plasma TSH in a dose-dependent manner. These effects were naloxone-reversible. However, WIN 44441-3, a long acting narcotic antagonist, was unable to reverse the effects of U-50488H and MR-2034 upto doses of 5 mg/kg. U-50488H and MR-2034 but not tifluadom or EKC, also increased levels of DOPAC and HVA in the olfactory tubercle. This effect was also naloxone-reversible but not WIN 44441-3 reversible. Tifluadom and EKC did not increase DOPAC and HVA. The differential responses of the tested kappa agonists to WIN 44441-3 antagonism and dopamine metabolism in A10 neurons suggest that the kappa agonists can be separated into two groups. This is the first physiological evidence suggestive of kappa opioid receptor subtypes.

Inhibition of nigrostriatal release of dopamine in the rat by adenosine receptor agonists: A1 receptor mediation.

The stable analogues of adenosine, N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) and cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), dose-dependently decreased levels of 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in the striatum and antagonized pargyline-dependent accumulation of 3-methoxytyramine. These agents were equipotent with ED25 values of approximately 1 mg/kg, (p.o.) in inhibiting pargyline-dependent accumulation of 3-methoxytyramine. Since CHA and R-PIA are relatively selective for A1 receptors and NECA is almost equipotent at A1 and A2 sites, the data of undifferentiated potency for these 3 agents on release of dopamine (levels of 3-MT) would argue in favor of mediation of A1 receptors in this phenomenon. This conclusion was further supported by experiments with the A1-selective antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (CPDX), which antagonized the actions of CHA. Similar antagonism of CHA-dependent decreases in levels of cyclic GMP in the cerebellum, an action known to be mediated by A1 receptors, was also observed. These data support previous studies which indicated an adenosine receptor-mediated modulation of nigrostriatal release of dopamine. In addition, the present data indicate that this is an action on A1 receptors.

Intracerebral dialysis: direct evidence for the utility of 3-MT measurements as an index of dopamine release.

Intracerebral dialysis was used to monitor the in vivo efflux of striatal dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in the pentobarbital anesthetized rat. In untreated rats, there were low levels of extra-cellular DA and 3-MT which were increased 15-fold by treatment with amphetamine. Under basal and drug-stimulated conditions, 3-MT concentrations were maintained at approximately 30% of the extracellular DA levels. These data agree with in vivo turnover estimates which indicate that 20 to 30% of DA turnover is through the 3-MT pool in the striatum. In contrast, extracellular DOPAC and HVA levels were reduced only slightly by amphetamine and with a delayed onset. Our data support the hypothesis that striatal DOPAC is an accurate index of intraneuronal DA metabolism and that 3-MT is an index of the extracellular concentration of DA.

Dual action of endothelin-1 on the Ca2+-activated K+ channel in smooth muscle cells of porcine coronary artery

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the activity of the large Ca2(+)-activated K+ channel (BK channel) in enzymatically dissociated smooth muscle cells of porcine coronary artery were studied with the cell-attached patch-clamp technique. ET-1 at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 nM potentiated the BK channel activity. This effect was maximal at 1 nM ET-1, resulting in an average of 4.2-fold increase in channel open-state probability as compared with control. ET-1 at concentrations higher than 10 nM produced an irreversible inhibition of the BK channel activity, primarily due to a marked decrease in the channel mean open-time. The activation by lower doses of ET-1, but not the inhibition by higher doses of ET-1, of the BK channel was blocked by 0.1 microM PN 200-110, a Ca2+ channel blocker. The modulation of the BK channel activity in smooth muscle cell membrane may be a possible mechanism for ET-induced vasodilator and vasoconstrictor actions.

CGS 10746B: an atypical antipsychotic candidate that selectively decreases dopamine release at behaviorally effective doses

CGS 10746B, a benzothiadiazepine, has a behavioral profile in mice and monkeys similar to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. Unlike clozapine, CGS 10746B suppresses dopamine neuron firing rates and, when administered at behaviorally effective doses by the oral or intraperitoneal route, decreases neostriatal dopamine release without changing dopamine metabolism or occupying D2 receptors. CGS 10746B is the first atypical antipsychotic candidate that selectively decreases dopamine release.

Discriminatory roles for D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes in the in vivo control of neostriatal cyclic GMP

The D1 and D2 subtypes of the dopamine receptor have been distinguished by their opposing effects on levels of neostriatal cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The studies reported here show that the content of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the mouse neostriatum is modulated by dopaminergic drugs in a manner which also discriminates D1 and D2 receptors. D1 receptor stimulation with SKF 38393 produced up to 90%, dose-related increases in neostriatal cGMP, whereas D1 antagonism with SCH 23390 decreased cGMP by 30% and blocked the increase induced by SKF 38393. D2 receptor stimulation with quinpirole did not alter cGMP levels whereas D2 antagonism increased cGMP by 40-60% after haloperidol and by up to 100% after sulpiride. The increases in neostriatal cGMP levels following D1 agonism were potentiated in an additive manner by haloperidol. Thus, neostriatal cGMP content is positively controlled by D1 agonism and negatively controlled by or unlinked to the D2 receptor. The reciprocal control of neostriatal cGMP levels by D1- and D2-selective compounds may contribute to the separate as well as combined actions of D1 and D2 ligands.