Michèle Sebben

The gastrointestinal prokinetic benzamide derivatives are agonists at the non-classical 5-HT receptor (5-HT4) positively coupled to adenylate cyclase in neurons

SummaryWe have previously shown that a non-classical 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT4) receptor mediates the stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in mouse embryo colliculi neurons in primary culture. The pharmacological characteristics of this receptor exclude the possibility that it belongs to the known 5-HT1, 5-HT2 or 5-HT3 receptor types. Here we report that this 5-HT receptor can be stimulated by 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy substituted benzamide derivatives. All these compounds have been reported to be potent stimulants of gastrointestinal motility and some of them are 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. The rank order of potency of these substituted benzamide derivatives in stimulating cAMP formation was: cisapride > BRL 24924 > 5-HT > zacopride > BRL 20627 > metoclopramide. The non-additivity of benzamide and 5-HT activities suggests that 5-HT and the substituted benzamide derivatives act on the same receptor. Only ICS 205930, a recognized 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, competitively antagonized the stimulatory effect of cisapride, zacopride and BRL 24924. However, its pKi (6–6.3) for this new receptor was very different from its pKi for 5-HT3 receptors (pKi = 8 –10). Other selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists with an indole group (BRL 43694 and GR 38032F), with a benzoate group (cocaïne, MDL 72222) or with a piperazine group (quipazine) were ineffective in reversing the stimulatory effect of benzamide derivatives. Exposure of neuronal cells to potent agonists at this receptor such as BRL 24924 rapidly reduces its capacity to stimulate cAMP production. For example, a preincubation of 10 min with BRL 24924 (100 μmol/l) reduced by 42% the ability of 5-HT to stimulate cAMP production. Cross-desensitization occurs between the effects of 5-HT and benzamides. The unique pharmacology of these nonclassical 5-HT receptors that we propose to call 5-HT4 is very close and even identical to the pharmacology of the high affinity 5-HT receptors involved in the indirect stimulation of smooth muscle in the guinea pig ileum. These receptors are different from the 5-HT3 receptors also present in guinea pig ileum.

Piperazine derivatives including the putative anxiolytic drugs, buspirone and ipsapirone, are agonists at 5-HT1A receptors negatively coupled with adenylate cyclase in hippocampal neurons

SummaryTwo putative anxiolytic drugs [ipsapirone (TVXQ 7821) and buspirone], structurally unrelated to benzodiazepines, have negligible ataxic and sedative side effects. These drugs are piperazine analogs which interact at 5-HT1 binding sites. It is demonstrated here that these drugs and two other piperazine derivatives, trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) and m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), are agonists at 5-HT1A receptors, a subclass of the 5-HT1 receptor, mediating inhibition of forskolin (100 μM) stimulated adenylate cyclase in particulate fractions of guinea pig hippocampus as well as inhibition of the formation of cyclic AMP promoted by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (0.1 μM) plus forskolin (1 μM) in mouse hippocampal neurons in primary culture. This study demonstrates that these piperazine based drugs act in both brain homogenate preparations and in intact neurons in a similar manner. The biochemical models described here may aid in the development of even more active drugs in this class.

Endogenous Amino Acid Release from Cultured Cerebellar Neuronal Cells: Effect of Tetanus Toxin on Glutamate Release

Abstract Endogenous amino acid release was measured in developing cerebellar neuronal cells in primary culture. In the presence of 25 mM K+ added to the culture medium, cerebellar cells survived more than 3 weeks and showed a high level of differentiation. These cultures are highly enriched in neurons, and electron‐microscopic observation of these cells after 12 days in vitro (DIV) confirmed the presence of a very large proportion of cells with the morphological characteristics of granule cells, making synapses containing many synaptic vesicles. Synaptogenesis was also confirmed by immunostaining the cells with antisera against synapsin I and synaptophysin, two proteins associated with synaptic vesicles. From these cultures, endogenous glutamate release stimulated by 56 m M K+ was already detected after only a few days in culture, the maximal release value (1,579% increase over basal release) being reached after 10 DIV. In addition to that of glutamate, the release of aspartate, asparagine, alanine, and, particularly, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) was stimulated by 56 mM K+ after 14 DIV, but to a lesser extent. No increase in serine, glutamine, taurine, or tyrosine release was observed during K+ depolarization. The effect of K+ on amino acid release was strictly Ca2+‐dependent. Stimulation of the cells with veratridine resulted in a qualitatively similar effect on endogenous amino acid release. In the absence of Ca2+, 30% of the veratridine effect persisted. The Ca2+‐dependent release was quantitatively similar after stimulation by veratridine and K+. Treatment of cerebellar cells with tetanus toxin (5 μ/ml) for 24 h resulted in a total inhibition of the Ca2+‐dependent component of the glutamate release evoked by K+ or veratridine. It is concluded that glutamate is the main amino acid neurotransmitter of cerebellar cells developed in primary culture under the present conditions and that glutamate is probably mainly released through the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles.

Serotonin 5-HT1 receptors mediate inhibition of cyclic AMP production in neurons.

In purified striatal and cortical neurons in primary culture, serotonin (5-HT) stimulated basal cyclic AMP production (EC50, 0.5 microM) 2.5- and 1.5-fold, respectively. The 5-HT1 selective agonists, RU 24969 and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (PAT), did not stimulate cyclic AMP production. However, 5-HT, RU 24969 and PAT inhibited VIP-stimulated cyclic AMP formation in a dose-dependent manner. The actions of selective agonists and antagonists at 5-HT receptors mediating attenuation of cyclic AMP production suggest that they may be of the 5-HT1 subtype.

BRL 24924: a potent agonist at a non-classical 5-HT receptor positively coupled with adenylate cyclase in colliculi neurons.

A non-classical 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor that we have previously proposed to call 5-HT4 and which mediates stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in mouse embryo colliculi neurons in primary culture was also stimulated by substituted benzamide derivatives such as metoclopramide and BRL 24924 ([ (+/-)-(endo)]-4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-(1-azabicyclo-[3.3.1]-non- 4-yl)-benzamide hydrochloride). The non-additivity of the effects of 5-HT and BRL 24924 on cAMP formation and the inhibition by ICS 205 930, a potent 5-HT3 antagonist, suggest that 5-HT and BRL 24924 act on the same receptor. In light of these results, we think that a similarity may exist between the non-classical 5-HT receptor, coupled with an adenylate cyclase in colliculi neurons, and the non-classical 5-HT receptor, involved in gastric and ileum motility which is specifically stimulated by substituted benzamide derivatives in the same order of potency (metoclopramide, BRL 24924).

Release of Endogenous Amino Acids from Striatal Neurons in Primary Culture

Abstract: Endogenous amino acid release was examined in highly purified striatal neurons obtained from fetal mouse brain, and differentiated in primary culture. This study aimed to determine which amino acids are released from striatal neurons after a brief depolarization period induced by elevated potassium concentration or veratrine. Amino acids released into the extracellular medium, subsequent to a 3‐min exposure of striatal neurons, were subjected to HPLC analysis. At 14 days in vitro potassium (56 mM) depolarization elicited a 25‐fold increase in γ‐aminobutyric acid release, 85% of which was calcium‐dependent. This effect was small but apparent at 7 days in vitro (two‐fold increase) and greatly increased between 11 and 14 days in vitro, subsequent to the appearance of synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals. γ‐Aminobutyric acid release was readily reversible within minutes of return to the resting state. Veratrine induced a quantitatively similar but calcium‐independent increase in γ‐aminobutyric acid release. Similar results were observed on aspartate and glutamate release, but the increase was very small even after 14 days in vitro (62.2 and 123.3% increase over basal release, respectively). Taurine and hypotaurine release increased during and after depolarization induced by potassium. This effect remained constant between 11 and 18 days in vitro. BAY K. 8644, a dihydropyridine‐sensitive calcium channel agonist, augmented the effect of 15 mM potassium on γ‐aminobutyric acid release, but this effect remained very small as compared to the potassium (56 mM) or veratrine effects. In addition, nifedipine inhibited this BAY K 8644‐induced release. These results demonstrate the high level of differentiation among striatal neurons containing γ‐aminobutyric acid in this in vitro system.

Cloning, expression and pharmacology of the mouse 5-HT4L receptor

Since most of our knowledge on pharmacological properties of brain 5‐HT4 receptors have been discussed for mouse colliculi neurons, we cloned the corresponding receptor using the RT‐PCR approach. As expected, the homology with the already cloned rat 5‐HT4L receptor was high, revealing only 16 differences at the amino‐acid level. One of the differences, proline75 in mouse, alanine75 in the already published rat sequences was not confirmed. Therefore this proline is part of the consensus sequence present in all 5‐HT receptor transmembrane domain II (LVMP). Comparing the affinities of 11 agonists and five antagonists for the cloned mouse receptor (5‐HT4L ) expressed in LLCPK1 and the corresponding receptor in mouse colliculi shows an excellent correlation. The transfected mouse 5‐HT4L receptor stimulated cAMP production. When expressed at high density, it exhibited intrinsic activity. In contrast to the previously described distribution, we found that mRNA encoding for both the short (5‐HT4S ) and the long form (5‐HT4L ) of 5‐HT4 receptors are expressed in all mouse and rat brain areas.

Characterization of a novel 5-HT4 receptor antagonist of the azabicycloalkyl benzimidazolone class: DAU 6285

SummaryThree chemical classes of serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonists have been identified so far: 5-substituted indoles (e.g. 5-HT), benzamides (e.g. renzapride) and benzimidazolones (e.g. BIMU 8). In a search for 5-HT4 receptor antagonists, we have discovered that the benzimidazolone derivative DAU 6285 (for structure see text), is 3–5 times more potent than tropisetron in blocking 5-HT, renzapride and BIMU 8 induced stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in mouse embryo colliculi neurons. Schild plot analysis yielded Ki values of 220, 181 and 255 nmol/l, respectively. In addition, DAU 6285 showed poor activity as a 5-HT3 receptor ligand with respect to tropisetron, as demonstrated by in vitro binding studies (Ki, 322 vs 2.8 nmol/l) and by its antagonistic activity in the Bezold-Jarisch reflex test (ID50, 231 vs 0.5 μg/kg, i.v.). No significant binding (Ki>10 μmol/l) of DAU 6285 to serotonergic 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1C, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT2 receptors as well as to adrenergic α1, α2, dopaminergic D1, D2 or muscarinic M1–M3 receptor subtypes was found. The data indicate that DAU 6285 has a somewhat higher affinity than tropisetron for 5-HT4 receptors, a property confirmed in functional tests, and much lower affinity than tropisetron for 5-HT3 receptors. The compound represents a new interesting tool for investigating the pharmacological and physiological properties of 5-HT4 receptors.

Azabicycloalkyl benzimidazolone derivatives as a novel class of potent agonists at the 5-HT4 receptor positively coupled to adenylate cyclase in braina

SummaryRecent experimental evidence indicates that central 5-HT4 receptors which are positively coupled to adenylate cyclase, are stimulated by a family of 2-methoxy-4-amino-5-chloro substituted benzamide derivatives. These compounds are also potent stimulants of the gastro-intestinal motility. In this study the ability of three azabicycloalkyl benzimidazolone derivatives, BIMU 1, BIMU 8, and DAU 6215 (structural formulas are given in the text), to stimulate cAMP formation in colliculi neurons in primary culture have been tested. Two of the compounds, BIMU 1 and BIMU 8, which show prokinetic activity in various animal models, were also good agonists at the 5-HT4 receptors, whereas DAU 6215, a drug devoid of prokinetic activity, was only a weak, partial agonist at 5-HT4 receptors.The rank order of their potencies as compared with those of 5-HT and cisapride was as follows: BIMU 8 = cisapride > 5-HT > BIMU 1 > DAU 6215. The efficacies of BIMU 8 and cisapride were comparable (133 ± 9% and 124 ± 8% of the maximal 5-HT efficacy, respectively), whereas BIMU 1 and DAU 6215 elicited, respectively, only 72 ± 11 % and 16 ± 4% of the maximal 5-HT effect. The activities of the azabicycloalkyl benzimidazolone derivatives and 5-HT on cAMP formation were not additive and ICS 205–930 antagonized the stimulatory effect of these compounds with low potency (pKi = 6.1–6.4), further strengthening the notion of interaction with 5-HT4 receptors. In addition, cross desensitization between the effects of 5-HT and the azabicycloalkyl benzimidazolones on adenylate cyclase was noted, another argument in favor of an interaction of these drugs on 5-HT4 receptors.

The metabotropic glutamate receptor (MGR): Pharmacology and subcellular location

A pharmacological characterization of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (MGR) was performed in striatal neurons. Among the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists tested, only D, L-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionate (D, L-AP3) inhibited QA-induced inositol phosphate (InsP) formation in a competitive manner (mean pKi = 4.45 +/- 0.43, n = 4). However, this drug was a partial agonist of MGR since it stimulated the inositol-phosphate formation. We found that D, L-AP3 also inhibited NMDA-induced calcium increase, in a competitive manner (mean pIC50 = 4.34 +/- 0.22, n = 8, and mean pKi = 3.7 +/- 0.11 n = 5). 1 mM of the ionotropic agonists alpha-amino-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), kainate (KA) or domoate (DO) (100 microM or higher) induced a significant InsP formation in striatal neurons. The InsP responses induced by all these agonists were totally blocked by the phorbol ester phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PdBu), but not by atropine or prazosin. Agonist-induced increases of intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were insensitive to PdBu, suggesting that all these substances were able to stimulate the MGR in striatal neurons. Trans-1-amino-cyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylate (trans-ACPD) evoked dose-dependent inositol phosphate formations with an EC50 of 29 microM but had no significant effect on NMDA or AMPA receptors, as measured by the patch clamp technique. In the presence of 30 microM of AMPA, trans-ACPD induced a significant release of arachidonic acid (AA) in striatal neurons. No important AA release was observed by any of these agonists alone. 56 mM K+ did not mimic AMPA in this associative ionotropic/metabotropic effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)