BIO-1211 (Biogen).

Biogen, in collaboration with Merck & Co, is developing late activator VLA-4 (alpha4beta1) integrin antagonists for the potential treatment of inflammatory conditions [271194]. Merck has begun phase II trials with the lead compound, BIO-1211, for asthma, Biogen is still conducting preclinical research for its designated indications [317648,319225]. Under the collaborative agreement, each company has worldwide rights to certain indications; Merck has rights for asthma and Biogen retains the rights to a number of smaller indications, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, renal indications and most diseases in which the US patient population is less than 200,000 [271194]. VLA-4 inhibitors show anti-inflammatory action by inhibition of binding between adhesion factors and leukocytes, but with no loss of basophil function, and they have the advantage of specificity not seen with existing drugs [273417]. In February 1999, Lehman Brothers predicted 40% probabilities that the compound would reach the US and ex-US markets for the asthma indication (Merck), and launch onto these markets by 2003. Peak annual sales of US dollar 500 million (US) and US dollar 500 million (outside US) are predicted, both in 2010 [319225].

Cutaneously applied acyclovir acts systemically in the treatment of herpetic infection in the hairless mouse.

Using the SKH-1 hairless mouse (HM) we have addressed the issue as to whether topically applied acyclovir (ACV) may mediate some of its antiviral actions by a systemic effect. When topically applied in a formulation consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (25% w/v):DMSO:cremophor EL:linoleic acid (63:16:16:5, v/v/v/v), ACV penetrated hairless mouse skin in a concentration-dependent manner and dose-dependently reduced cutaneous herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) KOS infection. Topically applied ACV also effectively reduced the mortality associated with disseminated HSV-2 HG-52 infection. At 1 h following topical application of 1.7% w/v ACV the plasma and skin concentrations of ACV were 5.5 nmoles/ml and 120 nmoles/g. At 1 h following an oral dose of ACV with antiviral efficacy comparable to topically applied ACV (1.7% w/v) the plasma and skin concentrations of ACV were 21.3 nmoles/ml and 51 nmoles/g. These findings imply that when applied topically to the HM, ACV can mediate a portion of its antiviral activity through a systemic mode of action.

Muscle aspartyl protease (cathepsin D) activity: detection using a chromophoric substrate and relation to wasting in DBA/2 mice implanted with leukemic L1210 tumor cells.

The relationship between skeletal muscle aspartyl protease activity (APA) and wasting was investigated in male DBA/2 mice inoculated with L1210 tumor cells. Using the peptidic substrate H-Pro-Thr-Glu-Phe-Phe(NO2)-Arg-Leu-OH, which is specific for aspartyl proteases, proteases, proteolytic activity was detected in a number of tissues including muscle by using a crude extraction procedure for isolation of lysosomal enzymes. Biochemical characterization and increased muscle levels following either fasting or injection of endotoxin (ETX) suggest that the enzyme is likely cathepsin D. The wasting syndrome accompanying the tumor was measured by comparing the weight of the skinned hind limb in treated and control animals. DBA/2 mice inoculated intraperitoneally with L1210 cells developed multiple solid tumors in the peritoneum and ascites; maximal tumor burden was reached by 16 days. There was a significant reduction in hind limb weight (16 +/- 2%; mean +/- SE) and significant increase (31 +/- 8%) in muscle APA associated with the development of ascites and solid tumors. Plasma APA activity was substantially increased (240 +/- 33%), while liver and spleen APA were increased (10-20%) but not significantly. Chronic pepstatin administration, 30 mg.kg-1.day-1, for 7 days concurrent with the initiation of observable ascites and solid tumor formation (7 days post-inoculation), completely inhibited hind limb weight loss and alleviated the tumor-dependent increase of APA in both plasma and muscle without altering tumor development. Delaying the administration of pepstatin by 3 days resulted in less of an inhibition (33 +/- 13%) of hind limb weight loss. Thus, cathepsin D or a similar aspartyl protease appears to be of key importance in the wasting syndrome associated with cachexia.

Competitive binding experiments reveal differential interactions for dihydropyridine calcium channel activators and antagonists at dihydropyridine receptors on mouse brain membranes.

The binding of the dihydropyridine (+/-)-202-791 and its corresponding calcium channel activating and calcium channel antagonist enantiomers ((+)-S-202-791 and (-)-R-202-791, respectively) to dihydropyridine receptors on mouse brain membranes was studied through competition for [3H]nitrendipine binding and 3H-labelled (+/-)-BAY K8644 ((+/-)-[3H]BAY K8644). Direct binding studies with (+/-)-[3H]BAY K8644 and [3H]nitrendipine revealed high affinity binding to a homogeneous set of dihydropyridine calcium channel activator and antagonist receptors on mouse brain membranes, (+/-)-[3H]BAY K8644 binding to approximately one half as many receptors as did [3H]nitrendipine. Competition binding studies revealed a significant discrimination of both high and low affinity receptors for (-)-R-202-791 and a homogeneous set of receptors for (+)-S-202-791 regardless of whether (+/-)-[3H]BAY K8644 or [3H]nitrendipine was the competing radioligand. Molar ratios (1:1, 5:1, 10:1) of (+)-S-202-792 to (-)-R-202-791 inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding with displacement binding isotherms substantially different from those predicted on the basis of the binding properties of the individual enantiomers. These data suggest that dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists and activators bind to different allosterically linked receptors or domains of the dihydropyridine protein associated with the voltage-dependent calcium channels. Furthermore, these results support the concept of multiple binding sites for dihydropyridine ligands.

Regional and subcellular distribution of [125I]endothelin binding sites in rat brain.

The binding of [125I]endothelin-1 (125I-ET-1) to membranes from whole rat brain, from individual brain regions, and derived from subcellular fractionation of whole rat brain was investigated. 125I-ET-1 binding to whole rat brain membranes was rapid, concentration-dependent, saturable, and characterized as irreversible because it was not displaced by unlabeled endothelin-1 (ET-1) and different concentrations of ligand produced, with time, a similar magnitude of binding. The maximum binding site capacity and second-order forward rate association constant of binding were 1,946 +/- 147 fm/mg protein and 5.53 +/- 1.72 x 10(6) M-1 s-1. Removal of either extramembranal calcium or membrane-bound calcium and calcium binding proteins did not affect the binding of 125I-ET-1 to whole rat brain membranes. The brain stem and cerebellum contained the highest levels of 125I-ET-1 binding sites, whereas the cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus contained binding site levels three- to fourfold less. Subcellular fractionation of whole rat brain and subsequent analyses of the distribution of 125I-ET-1 binding demonstrated a twofold enrichment of binding sites in the synaptosomal fraction compared to the homogenate. The myelin fraction contained a similar density of binding sites compared to the homogenate, while the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions contained considerably less binding sites. The ribosomal fraction did not contain any 125I-ET-1 binding sites. The subcellular distribution of 125I-ET-1 binding sites did not correlate with the distribution of 5'-nucleotidase, cytochrome-C oxidase, phosphodiesterase, and alkaline phosphatase. Depletion of extracellular calcium increased 125I-ET-1 binding in the synaptosomal fraction but not in the myelin and mitochondrial fractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac responses and binding sites for endothelin in normal and cardiomyopathic hamsters.

The effects of endothelin-1 in the spontaneously beating atrium and the field-stimulated right ventricular strip preparation and the binding of [125I]endothelin-1 to membrane preparations from the atrium, ventricle, lung parenchyma, kidney and brain were compared using the 90-day-old dystrophic hamster strain CHF 147 (a strain displaying marked cardiomyopathologies at this age) and its age/genetically matched normal control, CHF 148. In the atrium, endothelin-1 produced dose-dependent positive inotropic and positive chronotropic effects in both CHF 148 and CHF 147 over the dose range of 10(-8) M to 3 x 10(-7) M. However, although no significant difference between CHF 148 and CHF 147 was observed for the positive chronotropic effects of endothelin-1, it produced a small, but significantly less positive inotropic effect in CHF 147 compared to CHF 148 at endothelin-1 concentrations of 2 x 10(-8) M and 3 x 10(-8) M. Field-stimulated right ventricular strips from CHF 148 contracted with a greater force compared to those from CHF 147. Endothelin-1 produced a dose-dependent decrease in the developed tension of the field-stimulated ventricular strip preparation, the extent of which did not differ between CHF 148 and CHF 147. [125I]Endothelin-1 bound with high affinity and in an apparently irreversible manner to membranes from both CHF 148 and CHF 147 atrium, ventricle, lung parenchyma, kidney and brain. No significant differences were noted between CHF 148 and CHF 147 for [125I]endothelin-1 binding to membranes prepared from the various tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of intestinal smooth muscle responses and binding sites for endothelin.

The contractile activity of and binding sites for endothelin-1 (ET-1) were investigated in isolated guinea-pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle (GPILM). ET-1 produced concentration-dependent contractions of GPILM that either slowly subsided in the continued presence of ET-1 or rapidly subsided following washing of the tissue. The ED50 value for ET-1 contractions was 4.2 +/- 1.3 x 10(-9) M. The removal of extracellular calcium or pretreatment with nifedipine produced a complete inhibition of the contractions to ET-1. The IC50 value of nifedipine for inhibition of ET-1 mediated contractions was 3.0 +/- 0.8 x 10(-8) M. ET-1 produced a marked prolonged homologous desensitization of its contractile response but did not affect the responses mediated by carbachol, histamine, serotonin, substance P, and PLA2. High-affinity binding sites for 125I-labelled ET-1 were identified on microsomal membranes prepared from GPILM with Kd and Bmax values obtained by Scatchard analysis of 3.5 +/- 0.6 x 10(-10) M and 2138 +/- 159 fmol/mg protein, respectively. The binding of 125I-labelled ET-1 to GPILM microsomes was characterized by a rapid association (kob value of 0.077 min-1 at a radioligand concentration of 0.45 nM and an extremely slow dissociation (k1 value of 0.011 min-1; t1/2 value of 793 min). The binding was unaffected by the calcium channel antagonists nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem (10(-6) M); the receptor antagonists phenoxybenzamine, atropine, and naloxone (10(-6) M) and propranolol; and the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonists Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195 and psychotomimetic drug phencyclidine (10(-5) M).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vascular reactivity, tissue levels, and binding sites for endothelin: a comparison in the spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

The role of endothelin (ET-1) in mediating the development of blood pressure was investigated in the spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rat using the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat as the normotensive control. The following were characterized in both rat strains: age-dependent changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), tissue (blood, lung, heart, and kidney) levels of immunoreactive ET-1 like related peptides (ET-1RP), aortic ring responses to ET-1, and specific high-affinity tissue (lung, atrium, ventricle, aorta, and kidney) binding sites for 125I-labelled ET-1. Commencing at age 10 weeks through to 12 weeks, SHR rats but not WKY rats developed a significant increase in MAP (from 152 +/- 7 to 189 +/- 3 mmHg) (1 mmHg = 133.32 Pa). However, in both WKY and SHR rats immunoreactive levels of ET-1RP increased (100 and 80%, respectively) throughout the same measurement period. The potency of ET-1 to contract aortic rings from SHR rats was slightly but not significantly greater than that for aortic rings from WKY rats, although aortic rings from SHR rats contracted in the presence of 0.5 nM ET-1, while those from WKY rats did not. The levels of immunoreactive ET-1RP were significantly reduced (32%) in the kidney and unchanged in the heart and lung of SHR rats compared with WKY rats. Specific 125I-labelled ET-1 binding sites displayed an increase and a significant decrease (24%) of density in the atrium and ventricle, respectively, a significant increase (31%) of affinity in the lung, and were unchanged in the kidney and aorta of SHR rats compared with WKY rats following the development of hypertension. The lack of a correlation between circulating levels of immunoreactive ET-1RP and the development of hypertension coupled with a lack of significant differences in vascular reactivity suggest that ET-1 is not the sole mediator of hypertension in this animal model. However, the tissue-specific changes in immunoreactive ET-1RP and 125I-labelled ET-1 binding sites suggest that ET-1 may be a partial mediator of hypertension and is subject to compensatory changes in response to the increased total peripheral resistance in SHR rats.

Tissue specificity of endothelin binding sites.

A measurement was made of the binding of 125I-labeled endothelin (125I-ET) to crude membrane fractions prepared from rat aorta, atrium, ventricle, portal vein, trachea, lung parenchyma, vas deferens, ileum, bladder, and guinea-pig taenia coli and lung parenchyma. Scatchard analysis of 125I-ET binding in all tissues indicated binding to a single class of saturable sites. The affinity and density of 125I-ET binding sites varied between tissues. The Kd of 125I-ET binding was approximately 0.5 nM for rat aorta, trachea, lung parenchyma, ventricle, bladder, and vas deferens, and guinea-pig taenia coli and lung parenchyma, 1.8 nM for rat portal vein and atrium, and 3.3 nM for ileum. The Bmax of 125I-ET binding had the following rank order of density in rat tissues: trachea greater than lung parenchyma = vas deferens much greater than aorta = portal vein = atrium greater than bladder greater than ventricle = ileum. The properties of 125I-ET endothelin binding were characterized in rat ventricular membranes. 125I-ET binding was time dependent, reaching a maximum within 45-60 min at 25 degrees C. The calculated microassociation constant was 9.67 x 10(5) s-1 M-1. Only 15-20% of 125I-ET dissociated from its binding site even when dissociation was studied as long as 3 h. Preincubation of ventricular membranes with ET prevented binding of 125I-ET. 125I-ET binding was destroyed by boiling of ventricular membranes and was temperature, pH, and cation (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+) dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of dihydropyridine calcium channel modulators on pentylenetetrazole convulsions.

The effects of low doses of dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel antagonists nimodipine, nifedipine, (-)-R-202-791, and amlodipine, the DHP calcium channel agonist BAY K 8644 were investigated on clonic convulsions to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in mice. Nimodipine (2-20 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent increase in the onset time for convulsions, but did not decrease the number of mice convulsing. Nifedipine, amlodipine (10 mg/kg) and BAY K 8644 (2 mg/kg) also produced an increase in the onset time for convulsions. (-)-R-202-791 (10 mg/kg) was without effect on clonic convulsions to PTZ. BAY K 8644 increased the number of mice dying from tonic-extension convulsions to PTZ. Nimodipine did not affect convulsions elicited by strychnine. Thus, low doses of DHP calcium antagonists possess anticonvulsant properties which are structurally dependent, while DHP calcium channel activators may act to promote convulsions. These observations suggest and support previous evidence that DHP receptors are important modulatory sites for the convulsive state.

Comparative behavioral, neurochemical and pharmacological activities of dihydropyridine calcium channel activating drugs.

The behavioral (deficits in motor function in mice), neurochemical (affinity for mouse brain membrane dihydropyridine receptors, effects on neurotransmitter/metabolite levels in mice) and pharmacologic (effect on the contractile activity of guinea pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle) properties of the calcium channel activators (+/-)-BAY K 8644, (+/-)-202-791 (and their corresponding channel activating and antagonist enantiomers) and CGP-28392 were investigated and compared. The calcium channel activating enantiomers (-)-S-BAY K 8644, (+)-S-202-791 and (+/-)-BAY K 8644, (+/-)-202-791 and CGP-28392 produced a dose-dependent impairment of rotarod ability and decreases in motor activity in mice with the following order of potency: (-)-S-BAY K 8644 greater than (+/-)-BAY K 8644 much greater than (+)-S-202-791 greater than (+/-)-202-791 = CGP-28392. The calcium channel antagonists (+)-R-BAY K 8644 and (-)-R-202-791 were behaviorally inactive but blocked the behavioral effects of (-)-S-BAY K 8644. The binding of dihydropyridine calcium channel activator and antagonist enantiomers to mouse brain membranes was described by both one and two site models. (-)-S-BAY K 8644, (+/-)-BAY K 8644, (+)-S-202-791 and CGP-28392 produced contractions in partially depolarized (15 mM K+) strips of guinea pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle which differed in the degree of maximum contraction obtained. (+)-R-BAY K 8644 and (-)-R-202-791 inhibited potassium-induced contractions (80 mM K+) in guinea pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tissue selectivity and calcium dependence of contractile responses to endothelin.

The tissue selectivity and calcium dependence of endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor peptide obtained from endothelial cells, were investigated in a number of rat and guinea pig tissues. Endothelin produced a significant dose-dependent contraction of rat tissues with the following rank order of efficacy: aorta greater than portal vein greater than trachea much greater than vas deferens = lung parenchyma much greater than bladder. In the rat atrium and ventricle, endothelin possessed positive inotropic effects at low doses and arrhythmogenic effects at high doses. Endothelin also produced a significant contraction of guinea pig lung parenchyma and induced relaxations of guinea pig taenia coli precontracted with potassium chloride. The aortic ring contractile response to endothelin was characterized by both rapid and slow phases of contraction. The rapid phase of contraction was abolished by removal of extracellular calcium or preincubation of tissues with the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, nifedipine. Removal of the endothelium from aortic rings resulted in an increase of approximately 10-fold in the contractile potency of endothelin. In comparison, the potency of the dihydropyridine calcium channel activator, (-)-S-BAY K 8644, was increased approximately 15-fold by the same treatment. These findings suggest that endothelin, while displaying some selectivity as a vascular smooth muscle spasmogen, is a general smooth and cardiac muscle spasmogen which utilizes both intra- and extracellular sources of calcium to support its contractions.

The effects of strychnine on the regulation of voltage-dependent calcium channels by dihydropyridines in brain and heart.

The effects of strychnine (STR) were investigated on K(+)-stimulated 45Ca2(+)-uptake into mouse brain neurons, the contractile activity of spontaneously beating rat atria and on [3H]nitrendipine and [3H]BAY K 8644 binding to dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist and agonist binding sites on brain and cardiac membranes. STR (10(-6)-10(-4) M) had no effect on neuronal 45Ca2(+)-uptake. When combined at equimolar concentrations (10(-5) M), STR and nifedipine produced a potent (nM) inhibition (40%) of neuronal 45Ca2(+)-uptake. In the spontaneously beating rat atria, STR produced a dose-dependent (10(-7)-3 x 10(-4) M) decrease in chronotropy but did not affect inotropy. STR (10(-4) M) completely inhibited the positive chronotropic, but did not affect the positive inotropic effects of (-)-S-BAY K 8644. [3H]Nitrendipine and [3H]BAY K 8644 binding to brain and cardiac membranes was enhanced by STR in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50 8 X 10(-6) M). Scatchard analysis revealed that STR increased the affinity (decreased the Kd) of [3H]BAY K 8644 to a greater degree than that of [3H]nitrendipine for dihydropyridine binding sites. STR decreased the Kd of [3H]nitrendipine binding by increasing and decreasing the microassociation and microdissociation constants respectively. STR enhanced [3H]nitrendipine binding to the same extent in the cerebral cortex, striatum, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord. The enhancement of [3H]nitrendipine binding in brain was completely inhibited by Ca2+ and partially inhibited by Na+ in a concentration-dependent manner. Glycine (10(-2) M) did not affect the STR enhancement of [3H]nitrendipine binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interactions between peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor ligands and an activator of voltage-operated calcium channels.

The effects of the peripheral-type benzodiapine receptor (PBR) ligands Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195 were studied in the spontaneously beating guinea pig atrium and in a model for myocardial ischemia in the rat. In the former, Bay K 8644 produced positive chronotropic and inotropic responses; intracarotid administration of this agonist (5 or 10 micrograms kg-1) to anesthetized rats elicited a transient increase in mean arterial blood pressure accompanied by alterations in the ECG pattern. Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195 (10 microM) completely blocked the positive chronotropic effect of Bay K 8644 in the atrium, PK 11209, a structural analog of PK 11195 with a low affinity for PBR, was inactive, and the central benzodiazepine receptor ligand clonazepam had a marginal effect. Ro 5-4864 potentiated whereas PK 11195 inhibited the myocardial ischemia produced by Bay K 8644 in the rat. Furthermore, PK 11195 blocked the combined response to Bay K 8644 and Ro 5-4864. Addition of Ro 5-4864 (10 microM) to the organ bath potentiated the inotropic effect of Bay K 8644 in the atria; PK 11195 at the same concentration inhibited this effect. Clonazepam and PK 11209 were both inactive in this regard. Nifedipine, a potent calcium channel antagonist, completely blocked the inotropic and chronotropic responses to Bay K 8644. PK 11195 and Ro 5-4864 did not affect this action. These findings strongly suggest that there is a functional association between PBR and voltage-operated calcium channels in the guinea pig atrium and rat cardiovascular system.

Interactions between nitrogen oxide-containing compounds and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors.

Nitrogen oxide-containing compounds displaced the peripheral benzodiazepine ligand [3H]Ro5-4864 from guinea pig membrane preparations. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was the most potent (IC50 = 5.61 +/- 1.72 x 10(-5) M). Moreover, its ability to bind to these receptors showed marked tissue variability (heart greater than kidney much greater than cerebral cortex). When tested on rat atrium, SNP by itself had no effect on basal inotropy or the increase in inotropy induced by (-)-S-BAY K 8644. In contrast, Ro5-4864 potentiated the marked increase in inotropy induced by (-)-S-Bay K 8644, and SNP completely abolished the potentiation of inotropy observed with Ro5-4864. Since peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are associated with calcium mobilization in the heart, these findings may indicate that some of the clinical effects of nitric oxide-generating drugs could be mediated by these receptors.

Selective inhibition of [3H]nitrendipine binding to brain and cardiac membranes by bacitracin.

The effects of bacitracin were investigated on [3H]nitrendipine binding to rat brain and cardiac membranes in a low ionic strength (5 mM Tris-HCl) buffer. Bacitracin inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding to rat brain and cardiac membranes with IC50 values of 400 +/- 100 and 4600 +/- 400 micrograms/mL, respectively. Scatchard analysis in brain membranes revealed that bacitracin inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding primarily by reducing the Bmax but also by producing a small increase in the Kd. In brain membranes, Na+ (100 mM) and Ca2+ (2 mM) reduced the potency of bacitracin to inhibit [3H]nitrendipine binding by approximately sixfold with IC50 values of 2600 +/- 300 and 2100 +/- 400 micrograms/mL observed for bacitracin in the presence of 100 mM Na+ and 2 mM Ca2+, respectively. The EC50 values for the effects of Na+ and Ca2+ were 800 +/- 200 microM and 25 +/- 5 mM. K+, Mg2+, choline, and increasing the assay buffer of Tris-HCl to 50 mM also decreased the inhibition of [3H]nitrendipine binding by bacitracin. These results suggest that bacitracin specifically modulates [3H]nitrendipine binding in a cation-dependent manner and that brain and cardiac dihydropyridine binding sites are either biochemically different or exist in a different membrane environment.

Modulation of solitarial deglutitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors by dihydropyridines.

The ability of the dihydropyridine calcium channel activators, (-)-S-BAY K 8644 and (+)-S-202-791 and the calcium channel inhibitor, (+)-R-BAY K 8644, to modify the differential deglutitive actions of glutamate and muscarine at premotor loci in the nucleus tractus solitarii was investigated in urethane-anaesthetised rats. At subnuclei ventralis and intermedialis loci, pneumophoretic application (20-100 pl) from multibarrelled glass micropipettes (tip diameter 2-5 microns) of glutamate (10-20 pmol) evoked aminophosphonovaleric acid (APV)-insensitive pharyngeal swallows; at sites in the subnucleus centralis of the nucleus tractus solitarii glutamate evoked an APV-sensitive single-wave oesophageal response, whereas muscarine (5-10 pmol) evoked rhythmic oesophageal contractions. Both (-)-S-BAY K 8644 and (+)-S-202-791, applied in prepulses of 10-20 fmol and 100-200 fmol, respectively, either had no effect or selectively and reversibly enhanced or inhibited the glutamate-evoked responses. Identical results were obtained by intravenous administration of (-)-S-BAY K 8644 (10-50 micrograms/kg). Micropneumophoretic (20-50 fmol) or intravenous (10-50 micrograms/kg) administration of (+)-R-BAY K 8644 suppressed the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated oesophageal responses in a reversible and selective manner. The dihydropyridine vehicle produced a transient depression of all types of deglutitive responses. It is concluded that, within the deglutitive subnuclei of the nucleus tractus solitarii, "L"-type voltage-operated calcium channels are associated with NMDA-receptor-mediated deglutitive mechanisms. The inhibition or a lack of effect produced by the dihydropyridine calcium channel activators is explained in part by their actions at other sites e.g. release of inhibitory transmitters.

Radiation inactivation reveals discrete cation binding sites that modulate dihydropyridine binding sites.

In low ionic strength buffer (5 mM Tris.HCl), the binding of [3H] nitrendipine to dihydropyridine calcium antagonist binding sites of mouse forebrain membranes is increased by both Na+ and Ca2+. Radiation inactivation was used to determine the target size of [3H]nitrendipine binding sites in 5 mM Tris.HCl buffer, in the presence and absence of these cations. After irradiation, [3H] nitrendipine binding in buffer with or without Na+ was diminished, due to a loss of binding sites and also to an increase in Kd. After accounting for radiation effects on the dissociation constant, the target size for the nitrendipine binding site in buffer was 160-170 kDa and was 170-180 kDa in the presence of sodium. In the presence of calcium ions, [3H]nitrendipine binding showed no radiation effects on Kd and yielded a target size of 150-170 kDa. These findings suggest, as in the case of opioid receptors, the presence of high molecular weight membrane components that modulate cation-induced alterations in radioligand binding to dihydropyridine binding sites.