Syn Y Chai

Angiotensin receptors in the nervous system

In addition to its traditional role as a circulating hormone, angiotensin is also involved in local functions through the activity of tissue renin-angiotensin systems that occur in many organs, including the brain. In the brain, both systemic and presumptive neurally derived angiotensin and angiotensin metabolites act through specific receptors to modulate many functions. This review examines the distribution of these specific angiotensin receptors and discusses evidence regarding the function of angiotensin peptides in various brain regions. Angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptors occur in characteristic distributions that are highly correlated with the distribution of angiotensin-like immunoreactivity in nerve terminals. Acting through the AT1 receptor in the brain, angiotensin has effects on fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, neuroendocrine systems, autonomic pathways regulating cardiovascular function and behavior. Angiotensin AT1 receptors are also found in many afferent and efferent components of the peripheral autonomic nervous system. The role of the AT2 receptor in the brain is less well understood, although recent knockout studies point to an involvement with behavioral and cardiovascular functions. In addition to the AT1 and AT2 receptors, receptors for other fragments of angiotensin have been proposed. The AT4 binding site, which binds angiotensin, has a widespread distribution in the brain quite distinct from that of the AT1 and AT2 receptors. It is associated with many cholinergic neuronal groups and also several sensory nuclei, but its function remains to be determined. Our discovery that another brain-derived peptide binds to the AT4 binding site in the brain and may represent the native ligand is discussed. Overall, the distribution of angiotensin receptors in the brain indicate that they play diverse and important physiological roles in the nervous system.

Localization and characterization of endothelin receptor binding sites in the rat brain visualized by in vitro autoradiography.

Endothelin binding sites in rat brain were mapped by quantitative in vitro autoradiography employing [125I]endothelin-1 as radioligand. [125I]Endothelin-1 bound with high affinity and specificity to rat cerebellar sections and was potently displaced by unlabelled endothelins (endothelin-1 greater than endothelin-2 = endothelin-3) and sarafotoxin 6B. The highest densities of endothelin binding sites were found in the cerebellum (especially Purkinje cell layer), choroid plexus and median eminence. High densities were found in the supraoptic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, anterior hypothalamic area, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, mammillary nuclei and glomerular layer of olfactory bulb. Moderate densities were found in many thalamic nuclei, the pretectal region, interpeduncular nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, raphe nuclei, tegmental nuclei, olfactory ventricle, red nucleus, subthalamic nucleus, central gray, reticular nuclei, vestibular nuclei, oculomotor and trochlear nuclei, hypoglossal nucleus, motor trigeminal nucleus, nucleus of the trapezoid body and lateral cerebellar nucleus. Low but detectable densities of endothelin binding sites were found in medial geniculate nucleus, fields of Ammons horn, caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra, anterior commissure, internal capsule, anterior pituitary, median preoptic nucleus, septohypothalamic nucleus, superior colliculus and area postrema. These patterns were completely abolished by 1 microM unlabelled endothelin-1, -2 and -3 and sarafotoxin S6B. Brain endothelin binding sites show high affinity for endothelin-1, -2 and -3 and sarafotoxin 6B with highest affinity for endothelin-1. Endothelin binding sites show a non-vascular pattern of distribution in the brain, suggesting that the peptide may have widespread functions as a modulator of neuronal function.

Effect of I.C.V. injection of AT4 receptor ligands, NLE1-angiotensin IV and LVV-hemorphin 7, on spatial learning in rats

Central administration of angiotensin IV (Ang IV) or its analogues enhance performance of rats in passive avoidance and spatial memory paradigms. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a single bolus injection of two distinct AT4 ligands, Nle1-Ang IV or LVV-haemorphin-7, on spatial learning in the Barnes circular maze. Mean number of days for rats treated with either Nle1-Ang IV or LVV-haemorphin-7 to achieve learner criterion is significantly reduced compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively). This is due to enhanced ability of the peptide-treated rats to adopt a spatial strategy for finding the escape hatch. In all three measures of learning performance, (1) the number of errors made, (2) the distance travelled and (3) the latency in finding the escape hatch, rats treated with either 100 pmol or 1 nmol of Nle1-Ang IV or 100 pmol LVV-haemorphin-7 performed significantly better than the control groups. As early as the first day of testing, the rats treated with the lower dose of Nle1-Ang IV or LVV-haemorphin-7 made fewer errors (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively) and travelled shorter distances (P < 0.05 for both groups) than the control animals. The enhanced spatial learning induced by Nle1-Ang IV (100 pmol) was attenuated by the co-administration of the AT4 receptor antagonist, divalinal-Ang IV (10 nmol). Thus, administration of AT4 ligands results in an immediate potentiation of learning, which may be associated with facilitation of synaptic transmission and/or enhancement of acetylcholine release.

Distribution of AT4 receptors in the Macaca fascicularis brain

Angiotensin IV (Val Tyr Ile His Pro Phe), administered centrally, increases memory retrieval and induces c-fos expression in the hippocampus and piriform cortex. Angiotensin IV binds to a high affinity site that is quite distinct in pharmacology and distribution from the angiotensin II AT1 and AT2 receptors and is known as the AT4 receptor. These observations suggest that the AT4 receptor may have multiple central effects. The present study uses in vitro receptor autoradiography, and employs [125I]angiotensin IV to map AT4 receptors in the macaca fascicularis brain. The distribution of the AT4 receptor is remarkable in that its distribution extends throughout several neural systems. Most striking is its localization in motor nuclei and motor associated regions. These include the ventral horn spinal motor neurons, all cranial motor nuclei including the oculomotor, abducens, facial and hypoglossal nuclei, and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Receptors are also present in the vestibular, reticular and inferior olivary nuclei, the granular layer of the cerebellum, and the Betz cells of the motor cortex. Moderate AT4 receptor density is seen in all cerebellar nuclei, ventral thalamic nuclei and the substantia nigra pars compacta, with lower receptor density observed in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Abundant AT4 receptors are also found in areas associated with cholinergic nuclei and their projections, including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, ventral limb of the diagonal band and the hippocampus, somatic motor nuclei and autonomic preganglionic motor nuclei. AT4 receptors are also observed in sensory regions, with moderate levels in spinal trigeminal, gracile, cuneate and thalamic ventral posterior nuclei, and the somatosensory cortex. The abundance of the AT4 receptor in motor and cholinergic neurons, and to a lesser extent, in sensory neurons, suggests multiple roles for the AT4 receptor in the primate brain.

Inhibition of tissue angiotensin converting enzyme. Quantitation by autoradiography.

Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in serum and tissues of rats was studied after administration of lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor. Tissue ACE was assessed by quantitative in vitro autoradiography using the ACE inhibitor [125I]351A, as a ligand, and serum ACE was measured by a fluorimetric method. Following oral administration of lisinopril (10 mg/kg), serum ACE activity was acutely reduced but recovered gradually over 24 hours. Four hours after lisinopril administration, ACE activity was markedly inhibited in kidney (11% of control level), adrenal (8%), duodenum (8%), and lung (33%; p less than 0.05). In contrast, ACE in testis was little altered by lisinopril (96%). In brain, ACE activity was markedly reduced 4 hours after lisinopril administration in the circumventricular organs, including the subfornical organ (16-22%) and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (7%; p less than 0.05). In other areas of the brain, including the choroid plexus and caudate putamen, ACE activity was unchanged. Twenty-four hours after administration, ACE activity in peripheral tissues and the circumventricular organs of the brain had only partially recovered toward control levels, as it was still below 50% of control activity levels. These results establish that lisinopril has differential effects on inhibiting ACE in different tissues and suggest that the prolonged tissue ACE inhibition after a single oral dose of lisinopril may reflect targets involved in the hypotensive action of ACE inhibitors.

Decreased Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Binding in Renal Medulla in Rats With Chronic Heart Failure

The relations between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) binding sites in the renal medulla, plasma ANP concentration, and ventricular dysfunction have been studied in rats 4 weeks after myocardial infarction induced by left coronary artery ligation. Plasma ANP concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay, and quantitation of receptors was performed by computerized in vitro autoradiography with 125I-labeled α-rat ANP (1-28) as the radioligand. When compared with controls, rats with myocardial infarction had markedly elevated plasma immunoreactive ANP concentrations (462 ± 82 versus 124 ± pg/ml, /K0.01) and reduced densities of ANP binding in the inner renal medulla (2.93 ±0.19 versus 3.53 ±0.22 fmol/mg protein, p < 0.01). Extensive myocardial infarction was associated with a significant decrease in receptor numbers in the inner medulla (33.6 ±5.7 versus 95.6 ±9.6 fmol/mg protein, p < 0.01) without significantly altering the affinity constant (1.76 ±0.51 versus 1.03 ± 0.15 ± 109 M-1, p > 0.05). Right ventricular weight increased in proportion to infarct size(r = 0.71, p < 0.01), and both were correlated with plasma immunoreactive ANP levels (r = 0.74, p < 0.01 and r = 0.75, p < .01, respectively). Binding densities in the inner medulla of rats with infarcts were negatively correlated with right ventricular weight, plasma immunoreactive ANP concentrations, and also with infarct size (r = −0.92, p < 0.001;r= −0.78, p < 0.001; r= −0.77, p < 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that specific binding sites of ANP in the inner medulla decrease in proportion to the elevation in circulating ANP levels, which in turn are related to infarct size and degree of ventricular dysfunction. Decreased ANP binding sites in the kidney may contribute to the blunted natriuretic response to infused ANP in heart failure and may be responsible in part for the impaired sodium and water excretion in chronic heart failure.

Distribution of bradykinin B2 receptors in sheep brain and spinal cord visualized by in vitro autoradiography

Bradykinin B2 receptors were localized in the sheep brain and spinal cord by quantitative in vitro autoradiography using a radiolabelled and specific bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist analogue, 3‐4‐hydroxyphenyl‐propionyl‐D‐Arg0‐[Hyp3,Thi5,D‐Tic7,Oic8]bradykinin, (HPP‐HOE140). This radioligand displays high affinity and specificity for bradykinin B2 receptors. The respective Ki values of 0.32, 1.37 and 156 nM were obtained for bradykinin, HOE140 and D‐Arg[Hyp3,D‐Phe7,Leu8]bradykinin competing for radioligand binding to lamina II of sheep spinal cord sections. Using this radioligand, we have demonstrated the distribution of bradykinin B2 receptors in many brain regions which have not been previously reported.

Local actions of angiotensin II: quantitative in vitro autoradiographic localization of angiotensin II receptor binding and angiotensin converting enzyme in target tissues

In order to gain insight into the local actions of angiotensin II (ANG II) we have determined the distribution of a component of the effector system for the peptide, the ANG II receptor, and that of an enzyme-catalysing ANG II formation, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), by in vitro autoradiography in several target tissues. The superagonist ANG II analog, 125I[Sar1]ANG II, or the antagonist analog, 125I[Sar1,Ile8]ANG II, were used as specific radioligands for ANG II receptors. A derivative of the specific ACE inhibitor, lysinopril, called 125I-351A, was used to label ACE in tissues. In the adrenal, a high density of ANG II receptors occurs in the glomerulosa zone of the cortex and in the medulla. ACE is also localized in these two zones, indicating that local production of ANG II may occur close to its sites of action in the zona glomerulosa and adrenal medulla. In the kidney, a high density of ANG II receptors is associated with glomeruli in the cortex and also with vasa recta bundles in the inner stripe of the outer medulla. ACE is found in very high concentration in deep proximal convoluted tubules of the cortex, while much lower concentrations of the enzyme occur in the vascular endothelium throughout the kidney. In the central nervous system three classes of relationships between ANG II receptors and ACE are observed: In the circumventricular organs, including the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, a high concentration of both components occurs. Since these structures have a deficient blood-brain barrier, local conversion of circulating angiotensin I (ANG I) to ANG II may contribute to the action of ANG II at these sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vitro autoradiographic localization of the calcitonin receptor isoforms, C1a and C1b, in rat brain

In this study the distribution of the calcitonin receptor isoforms, C1a and C1b, were mapped in rat brain using in vitro autoradiography and manipulation of their different pharmacological specificities. While salmon calcitonin binds to both receptors with high affinity, only the C1a receptor interacts with human calcitonin. Thus, the distribution of C1a specific binding sites was mapped using [125I]human calcitonin. The C1b receptors were mapped using [125I]salmon calcitonin in the presence of unlabelled human calcitonin and rat amylin, displacing binding of [125I]salmon calcitonin to C1a and C3 (amylin) sites, respectively. The distribution of C1a and C1b receptors was found to predominantly overlap. Brain regions displaying C1a, but little or no C1b, binding sites included the nucleus of the solitary tract, area postrema and the intermediate lobe of the pituitary. Although there were no nuclei expressing exclusively C1b receptors, parts of the mesencephalic and pontine reticular formation, and the thalamic paraventricular nucleus were enriched in C1b receptors relative to the density of C1a receptors in other brain regions. These data indicate that the relative expression of the two receptor isoforms, although predominately parallel, is not uniform in the rat brain.

Presence of angiotensin converting enzyme in the adventitia of large blood vessels.

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is present in the endothelial cells of all vascular beds. There are, however, many reports of converting enzyme activity in blood vessels not associated with the endothelium. Methods: ACE was localized in large blood vessels of a number of mammals by in vitro autoradiography using the radioligand 125I-351A. To characterize this binding further, immunohistochemistry was performed on rabbit aorta using polyclonal antisera raised to two different preparations of rabbit lung ACE. Results: In all of the blood vessels studied, which included the rabbit pulmonary artery, rabbit, dog and sheep aorta, human internal mammary artery and human saphenous vein, high levels of radioligand binding were found in endothelial cells, as expected. In addition, a very high density of punctate binding was observed interspersed between diffuse moderate labelling in the adventitia. Immunoreactivity was confined to the endothelium of both the intima and the vasa vasorum of the adventitia. The immunostaining correlated well with the autoradiography. The ACE inhibitors lisinopril and perindoprilat displayed similar high affinities in competing for the binding of 125I-351A to the endothelium and adventitia of the sheep aorta, suggesting that at these two sites the radioligand was binding to ACE. Conclusions: We find that ACE in the adventitia of large blood vessels is confined to the vaso vasorum. The results of this study help to explain the findings of many studies that ACE activity persists in endothelium-denuded blood vessels and also reveals a source of ACE distant from the luminal endothelial surface.