Chemistry and bioactivity of Flos Magnoliae, a Chinese herb for rhinitis and sinusitis.

Flos Magnoliae (FM, Chinese name: Xin-yi) is one of the most commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs. It has a long history of clinical use for managing rhinitis, sinusitis and headache. More than 20 different FM species have been used clinically, which makes species identification and evaluation of pharmacological effects of individual chemical ingredients difficult. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge on FM phytochemistry and its bioactivity activities. The bioactive compounds in FM include both lipid and water-soluble components. More than 90% of the essential components of FM species are terpenoids, including monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Lignans and neolignans including tetrahydrofurofuran, tetrahydrofuran and aryltetralin are also present in FM species. A small number of water-soluble compounds have been isolated from Magnolia flower buds, including a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid magnoflorine, an ester ethyl-E-p-hydroxyl-cinnamate and a flavonoid biondnoid. A wide range of pharmacological actions of FM have been reported, including anti-allergy, anti-inflammation and anti-microbial activity. The structure-activity relationship analysis revealed the influence of methylation at position 5 on the 3,7-dioxabicyclo-(3,3,0)-octane backbone of six lignans in antagonistic activities against platelet-activating factor. In addition, the trans stereoisomer fargesin had a much lower bioactivity than the cis stereoisomer demethoxyaschantin. Recent studies have been directed towards the isolation of other bioactive compounds. Further studies on FM may help to develop new anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs.

Efficacy, chemistry and pharmacology of chinese herbal medicine for allergic rhinitis.

An extensive literature search identified six randomized controlled clinical trials in which the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine had been investigated for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Although four of these trials had methodological flaws, the therapeutic outcomes of all six have been reviewed. One of two trials considered to be of high quality was concerned with the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and the other with perennial allergic rhinitis. It is considered that all six studies demonstrated various degrees of alleviation of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. No serious side effects were reported in any of the trials. A number of the herbs in the Chinese herbal formulae used in the trials, and/or their constituent compounds have been reported to possess anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory or immune modulation activity. Such actions include inhibition of the release or action of mast cell mediators such as histamine, inhibition of inflammation induced by chemical agents, and modulation of serum IgE levels or of lymphocyte and/or macrophage activity. An aqueous, unresolved extract of the herbal formula used in one of the six trials has been reported to exhibit a range of pharmacological actions relevant to the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Essential oils, lignans, flavonoids and saponins are chemical classes that are frequently represented in individual herbs of the six Chinese herbal formulae used in the trials. The chemical structures characterising these classes of compound and the pharmacological actions of these and other constituents of the herbs, relevant to allergic rhinitis, have been reviewed.

Role of the endothelium on the facilitatory effects of angiotensin I and angiotensin II on noradrenergic transmission in the caudal artery of the rat.

Perfusion of carbogen gas through the lumen of the rat caudal artery abolished the dilator response to acetylcholine (1 mumol 1(-1) in artery segments which had been precontracted with noradrenaline (50 nmol 1(-1]. Hence, it was assumed that gas perfusion was effective in removing the vascular endothelium. Angiotensin I (30 nmol 1(-1] and angiotensin II (10 nmol 1(-1] enhanced the responses of artery segments to field stimulation of their sympathetic nerves (0.5 Hz, 10 s). In arteries with an intact endothelium the ability of each peptide to enhance responses to stimulation was the same whether applied through the lumen or to the adventitial surface. Removal of the endothelium, by gas perfusion, did not significantly alter the facilitatory effects of extraluminally or intraluminally applied angiotensin I or angiotensin II. The converting enzyme inhibitor enalaprilat was equally effective in inhibiting the facilitatory effect of angiotensin I in the presence and absence of an intact endothelium. It is concluded that in the rat caudal artery, conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II does not depend on an intact endothelium and that the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II on noradrenergic neuroeffector transmission is not modified by, or dependent on, an intact endothelium.

Antagonism of noradrenaline and histamine by desipramine in the isolated artery of the rabbit ear.

1. The effects of desipramine (DMI) were examined on the vasoconstrictor responses of the isolated perfused artery of the rabbit ear to noradrenaline (NA) and to histamine. Innervated and sympathetically denervated arteries were used.2. In innervated arteries, DMI in concentrations of 1 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-7)M enhanced the responses to NA; higher concentrations reduced the responses. In sympathetically denervated arteries, DMI caused only reduction of the responses to NA.3. Responses to histamine were reduced by DMI in both innervated and denervated arteries. DMI was considerably more potent as an antagonist of histamine than of noradrenaline.4. The reduction by DMI of the responses to NA and histamine in both innervated and denervated arteries was associated with a parallel shift to the right of the concentration-response curves of the agonist and a depression of the maximal response. These effects of DMI were reversible.5. Analysis of the data by the method of Arunlakshana & Schild (1959) showed the following: the antagonism of the action of NA by DMI on denervated arteries fulfilled the requirements for competitive antagonism; antagonism of the action of NA on innervated arteries was not competitive; antagonism of the actions of histamine on innervated and denervated arteries was not competitive.6. It is suggested that DMI antagonizes the action of NA and histamine on the perfused artery of the rabbit ear in two ways: (i) reversible specific antagonism which is competitive for NA and not competitive for histamine; (ii) reversible non-specific antagonism which is non-competitive for both agonists.

Multiple prejunctional actions of angiotensin II on noradrenergic transmission in the caudal artery of the rat.

1. Angiotensin II produced concentration-dependent enhancement of both stimulation-induced (S-I) efflux of [3H]-noradrenaline and stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses in isolated preparations of rat caudal artery in which the noradrenergic transmitter stores had been labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline. The threshold concentrations of angiotensin II for enhancement of S-I efflux (between 0.03 and 0.1 microM) and of the stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses (about 0.3 microM) were 10-1000 times higher than those that have been found for several other vascular preparations. 2. The AT1 angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan (0.01 and 0.1 microM), reduced or abolished the enhancement of S-I efflux by 1 and 3 microM angiotensin II and the enhancement of vasoconstrictor responses by 1 microM angiotensin II. Surprisingly, the combination of 0.01 microM losartan and 0.1 microM angiotensin II enhanced S-I efflux to a much greater extent than did 0.1 microM angiotensin II alone. Moreover, the combination of 0.01 microM losartan and 0.1 microM angiotensin II enhanced stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses, in contrast to the lack of effect of 0.1 microM angiotensin II alone. 3. In a concentration of 0.01 microM, the angiotensin II AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 did not affect the enhancement of either S-I efflux or vasoconstrictor responses by angiotensin II. However, in a higher concentration (0.1 microM), PD 123319 antagonized the enhancement of both the S-I efflux and vasoconstrictor responses by angiotensin II. 4. In concentrations of 0.01 and 0.1 microM, PD 123319 prevented the marked enhancement of both S-I efflux and stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses produced by the combination of 0.1 microM angiotensin II and 0.01 microM losartan. 5. The potentiation by losartan (0.01 microM) of the facilitatory effect of 0.1 microM angiotensin II on S-I efflux and on stimulation-evoked vasoconstriction was still observed in the presence of either the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (3 microM), or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM). 6. The findings confirm our previous suggestion that, in the rat caudal artery, angiotensin II receptors similar to the AT1B subtype subserve enhancement of transmitter noradrenaline release. 7. The synergistic prejunctional interaction of 0.01 microM losartan and 0.1 microM angiotensin II may be due to either the unmasking by losartan of a latent population of angiotensin II receptors also subserving facilitation of transmitter noradrenaline release, or alternatively, losartan may block an inhibitory action of angiotensin II on transmitter noradrenaline release which normally opposes its facilitatory effect.

Angiotensin II receptors involved in the enhancement of noradrenergic transmission in the caudal artery of the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

1. The effects of the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan and the AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319, on actions of angiotensin II in isolated caudal arteries of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and age-matched normotensive (Wistar-Kyoto) rats were compared. 2. Angiotensin II (0.1-3 microM) produced concentration-dependent increases in perfusion pressure in artery preparations from both SH and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, the maximal increase in the SH rat being significantly greater than the increase in WKY rats. The increase in perfusion pressure in preparations from both strains of rats was prevented by losartan (0.1 microM) and unaffected by PD 123319 (0.1 microM), indicating that the vasoconstrictor action of angiotensin II is subserved by AT1 receptors. 3. Angiotensin II (0.1-3 microM) produced concentration-dependent enhancement of both stimulation-induced (S-I) efflux of [3H]-noradrenaline and stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses in isolated preparations of caudal artery from both SH and WKY rats, in which the noradrenergic transmitter stores had been labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline. The maximum enhancement of S-I efflux produced by angiotensin II (1 microM) was significantly greater in artery preparations from WKY rats than in preparations from SH rats, whereas the maximum enhancement of stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses was greater in preparations from SH rats than in those from WKY rats. 4. In artery preparations from both WKY and SH rats, the AT1 angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan (0.01 and 0.1 microM), reduced or abolished the enhancement of both S-I efflux and vasoconstrictor responses by 1 microM angiotensin II. 5. The combination of 0.01 microM losartan and 0.1 microM angiotensin II enhanced both the S-I efflux and stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor response in caudal artery preparations from WKY rats, whereas 0.1 microM angiotensin alone was ineffective. The AT2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 (0.01 and 0.1 microM) prevented the enhancement of both S-I efflux and stimulation-evoked vasoconstrictor responses by the combination of angiotensin II and losartan. 6. In contrast to findings in WKY preparations and those previously obtained for arteries from another normotensive strain (Sprague-Dawley), in artery preparations from SH rats there was no synergistic interaction between losartan and angiotensin II. Rather, combinations of 0.1 microM angiotensin II and PD 123319 (both 0.01 and 0.1 microM) enhanced S-I [3H]-noradrenaline efflux, whereas 0.1 microM angiotensin II alone was without effect. Moreover, losartan (0.1 microM) prevented the enhancement of S-I efflux by the combination of angiotensin II and PD 123319. 7. The present findings indicate that in the caudal artery of WKY and SH rats, and as previously found in Sprague-Dawley preparations, angiotensin II receptors similar to the AT1B subtype subserve enhancement of transmitter noradrenaline release. 8. As previously suggested for Sprague-Dawley caudal artery preparations, the synergistic prejunctional interaction of losartan and 0.1 microM angiotensin II in caudal artery preparations from WKY rats may be due to either the unmasking by losartan of a latent population of angiotensin II receptors subserving facilitation of transmitter noradrenaline release, or blockade by losartan of an inhibitory action of angiotensin II on transmitter release. 9. The synergistic interaction of PD 123319 and 0.1 microM angiotensin II in caudal arteries of SH rats may also be explained by either of the mechanisms proposed for the normotensive strains, but the involvement of different receptor subtypes would need to be postulated for each of the proposed mechanisms.

Interaction between the inhibitory action of acetylcholine and the alpha-adrenoceptor autoinhibitory feedback system on release of [3H]-noradrenaline from rat atria and rabbit ear artery.

Stimulation-induced increases in the efflux of radioactivity (S-I efflux) were measured in the bathing medium following labelling of the noradrenergic transmitter pools of rat atria and rabbit artery preparations with [3H]-noradrenaline. In atria stimulated with trains of 16 or 60 pulses at 2 Hz, phentolamine enhanced, whereas acetylcholine inhibited S-I efflux. With trains of 16 pulses phentolamine had a smaller enhancing effect than with trains of 60 pulses, whereas the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine was more pronounced with 16 pulses of stimulation. The inhibitory effect of acetylcholine was markedly enhanced by phentolamine when stimulation was with 60 pulses. With 16 pulses of stimulation the effect of acetylcholine was unaltered by phentolamine and abolished by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist 3,4-dihydroxyphenylimino-2-imidazolidine (DPI). Phentolamine had no effect on the negative inotropic effect of acetylcholine on driven left atrial preparations. In arterial preparations stimulated with trains of 30 pulses at 1 Hz, both acetylcholine and clonidine inhibited S-I efflux, whereas yohimbine and idazoxan enhanced S-I efflux. Combining acetylcholine with clonidine did not alter the inhibitory effect of clonidine but the combination of acetylcholine with yohimbine or idazoxan abolished the marked enhancing effects of yohimbine or idazoxan on S-I efflux. These findings indicate that there may be a reciprocal interaction between prejunctional alpha-adrenoceptors and prejunctional muscarinic cholinoceptors.

Effects of the muscarinic agonist McN-A-343 on the release by sympathetic nerve stimulation of (3H)-noradrenaline from rabbit isolated ear arteries and guinea-pig atria.

1 McN-A-343 (4-(m-chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyltrimethylammonium chloride) in concentrations of 10(-5) and 10(-4)M inhibits the stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity from segments of rabbit ear artery that have previously been incubated with (-)-[(3)H]-noradrenaline, and also decreases the contractile response.2 The inhibitory effects of McN-A-343 (10(-5)M) on the efflux of radioactivity and the contractions induced by low frequencies of stimulation (2 and 5 Hz) are reversed by atropine, but atropine does not modify these effects with high frequencies of stimulation (20 and 50 Hz).3 McN-A-343 (10(-4)M) enhances the stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity from guinea-pig atria that have previously been incubated with (-)-[(3)H]-noradrenaline, and prolongs the positive inotropic response. These effects are not modified by atropine.4 It is concluded that McN-A-343 has different effects on adrenergic transmitter release in the two tissues. In the artery, it acts as an agonist on muscarinic receptors of adrenergic terminals to inhibit transmitter release at low frequencies of stimulation. In the atria it enhances transmitter efflux from the tissue, largely by inhibiting re-uptake.

Evidence for the involvement of different receptor subtypes in the pre- and postjunctional actions of angiotensin II at rat sympathetic neuroeffector sites.

1. The effects of the nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor (AT) antagonists losartan and PD 123319 on actions of angiotensin II in the rat caudal artery and rat vas deferens preparations were investigated. 2. Angiotensin II (1.0 microM) increased perfusion pressure in isolated segments of the rat caudal artery. This increase in perfusion pressure was prevented by the AT1-antagonist, losartan (0.1 microM) but was not affected by the AT2-antagonist, PD 123319 (0.1 microM). 3. Angiotensin II (0.1-3.0 microM) produced a concentration-dependent enhancement of the stimulation-induced (S-I) efflux of [3H]-noradrenaline from isolated segments of rat caudal artery in which the noradrenergic transmitter stores had been labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline. The maximum enhancement of S-I efflux was approximately 60% with 1.0 microM angiotensin II. 4. Losartan (0.01 and 0.1 microM) reduced the enhancement of S-I efflux produced by 1.0 microM angiotensin II in the caudal artery. 5. PD 123319 (0.01 microM) did not affect the enhancement of S-I efflux produced by angiotensin II (1.0 microM) in the caudal artery. However, in a higher concentration (0.1 microM), PD 123319 reduced the enhancement of S-I efflux produced by 1.0 microM angiotensin II. 6. Angiotensin II produced concentration-dependent enhancement of the purinergic twitch responses (1 pulse/60 s) in the rat vas deferens. 7. Losartan (0.03 microM) and PD 123319 (0.03 microM) each reduced the angiotensin II-induced enhancement of the twitch responses in the rat vas deferens. 8. These findings indicate that the enhancement of sympathetic neuroeffector transmission in both the caudal artery and vas deferens of the rat involves angiotensin receptor subtype(s) sensitive to both losartan and PD 123319. In contrast, the direct vasoconstrictor effect of angiotensin II in the rat caudal artery involves activation of a receptor subtype sensitive only to losartan.

Interaction of the renin-angiotensin system, bradykinin and sympathetic nerves with cholinergic transmission in the rat isolated trachea.

1. The present study was undertaken to investigate the interaction of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), bradykinin and the sympathetic nervous system with cholinergic transmission in the rat airways. Experiments were performed on epithelium-intact and epithelium-denuded preparations of rat isolated trachea which had been incubated with [3H]-choline to incorporate [3H]-acetylcholine into the cholinergic transmitter stores. Tracheal preparations were subjected to electrical field stimulation (trains of 1 ms pulses, 5 Hz, 15 V) and the stimulation-induced (S-I) efflux taken as an index of transmitter acetylcholine release. 2. In both epithelium-intact and epithelium-denuded tracheal preparations, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist UK14304 (0.1 and 1 microM) inhibited the S-I efflux, in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of S-I efflux produced by UK14304 (1 microM) was antagonized by the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist idazoxan (0.3 microM). Idazoxan (0.3 microM) alone had no effect on the S-I efflux. 3. Angiotensin II (0.1 and 1 microM) was without effect on the S-I efflux in either epithelium-intact or epithelium-denuded tracheal preparations. When angiotensin-converting enzyme was inhibited by perindoprilat (10 microM), angiotensin II (1 microM) was also without effect on the S-I efflux. Similarly, in the presence of idazoxan (0.3 microM), to block prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors, angiotensin II (0.1 and 1 microM) did not alter the S-I efflux. When added alone, perindoprilat (10 microM) did not alter the S-I efflux. 4. In epithelium-denuded preparations, bradykinin (0.01-1 microM) inhibited the S-I efflux. In epithelium-intact preparations, there was also a tendency for bradykinin (0.1 and 1 microM) to inhibit the S-I efflux but this was not statistically significant. However, when angiotensin-converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase were inhibited by perindoprilat (10 microM) and phosphoramidon (1 microM), respectively, bradykinin (1 microM) significantly inhibited the S-I efflux in epithelium-intact preparations as well as in epithelium-denuded preparations. The inhibition of the S-I efflux produced by bradykinin, in the combined presence of perindoprilat (10 microM) and phosphoramidon (1 microM), was unaffected by the additional presence of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10 microM) and/or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (100 microM), in either epithelium-intact or epithelium-denuded preparations. 5. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that airway parasympathetic nerves are endowed with alpha 2-adrenoceptors which subserve inhibition of transmitter acetylcholine release. Under the present conditions, however, transmitter acetylcholine release is not subject to transneuronal modulation by noradrenaline released from adjacent sympathetic nerves in the airways. Moreover, angiotensin II and perindoprilat do not appear to modulate acetylcholine release from parasympathetic nerves of the airways. In contrast, bradykinin inhibits acetylcholine release from airway parasympathetic nerves but this action of bradykinin is limited by the activity of epithelial angiotensin-converting enzyme and/or neutral endopeptidase. The inhibitory action of bradykinin on cholinergic transmission in the airways does not appear to involve the liberation of prostaglandins or nitric oxide.

Modulation of noradrenergic transmission in the rabbit ear artery by dopamine.

1. The effects of dopamine on vasoconstrictor responses to field stimulation of sympathetic nerves and to exogenous noradrenaline were studied in the isolated ear artery of the rabbit. Responses to noradrenaline were unchanged at the start of the dopamine infusions but were enhanced as the infusions continued and also after cessation of the infustion. 2 Dopamine (0.5 muM) reduced the stimulation-induced efflux of tritium from segments of ear artery labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline. The reduction persisted during 65 min of dopamine infusion, after which time the vasoconstrictor responses had generally recovered to 93% of control level. On ceasing the infusion, the stimulation-induced efflux and the vasoconstrictor responses were enhanced. 3 Metoclopramide, haloperidol and ergometrine, each in a concentration of 0.2 muM, prevented the inhibitory effect of 0.5 muM dopamine on the stimulation-induced tritium release, but not the inhibitory effect of 0.5 muM noradrenaline. Phenoxybenzamine (0.2 and 1 muM) and phentolamine (1 muM) prevented the inhibitory effects of both noradrenaline and dopamine on the stimulation-induced efflux, and phentolamine (0.2 muM) prevented the inhibition of the stimulation-induced release by noradrenaline but only partially prevented the inhibitory effect of dopamine on the stimulation-induced efflux. 4 A possible role for dopamine in the modulation of noradrenergic transmission is suggested.

Comparison of effects of six cholinomimetic drugs on inhibition of uptake of 3 H-( )-noradrenaline by guinea-pig atria.

The effects of N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenyl-piperazinium (DMPP), 4-(m-chlorophenyl-carbamoyloxy) - 2 - butynyltrimethylammonium chloride (McN-A-343), pilocarpine, acetylcholine, methacholi-ne and nicotine in inhibiting the uptake of (3)H-(+/-)-noradrenaline by guinea-pig atria were compared. In concentrations of 1 x 10(-4)M, the percentage inhibitions were as follows: DMPP, 89.1%; McN-A-343, 78.7%; pilocarpine 43.5%; acetylcholine, 35.7%; methacholine, 32.9%; nicotine, 21.6%.

Factors affecting the extraneuronal inactivation of noradrenaline in cardiac and smooth muscle.

1. The relation between density of adrenergic innervation, noradrenaline (NA) accumulation (as seen with the fluorescence histochemical method) in tissues incubated in a high concentration of NA, and monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) activities, were examined in a wide range of tissues from different species.2. Evidence was obtained to support the proposal that accumulation of NA in the non-innervated smooth muscle of the human umbilical artery and chick amnion is associated with very low activities of COMT within muscle cells.3. The wide variation in tissue accumulation of NA in adrenergically innervated muscles was confirmed. For example, in the rabbit atrium and rat vas deferens, there was high NA accumulation in vascular smooth muscle but not in other muscle cells. In the mouse vas deferens there appeared to be preferential NA accumulation in the outer longitudinal muscle in comparison with the circular muscle. In the ventricle of the rat and mouse individual muscle cells showed different degrees of accumulation of NA. Many unidentified fluorescent cells were revealed in the submucosa of the guinea-pig ureter following loading with NA. The highest activities of COMT were found in the rat vas deferens and the lowest in the rabbit vascular tissues; the highest activity of MAO was found in the guinea-pig ileum, and the lowest in the rat aorta.4. No simple relation between tissue activities of MAO and COMT and degree of NA accumulation was found. Possible directions for further investigation of the problem are discussed.

Effects of McN-A-343 and DMPP on the uptake and release of 3 H-noradrenaline by guinea-pig atria.

1. McN-A-343 4-(m-chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyltrimethylammonium chloride and DMPP (N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenylpiperazinium iodide) inhibit the uptake of (+/-)-(3)H-noradrenaline by guinea-pig atria, being approximately as potent as cocaine in this respect.2. The inhibition of uptake produced by McN-A-343 or DMPP was not affected by atropine or hexamethonium in concentrations which antagonized actions on muscarinic and nicotinic receptors respectively.3. McN-A-343 in the presence of atropine had a positive inotropic action on atria, but this was not accompanied by efflux of radioactivity from atria previously incubated with (-)-(3)H-noradrenaline.4. In the presence of McN-A-343, responses of atria to noradrenaline were increased and those to tyramine were decreased.5. DMPP had positive inotropic and chronotropic actions on atria, and these effects were accompanied by an increase in efflux of radioactivity from atria previously incubated with (-)-(3)H-noradrenaline.

Effects of histamine on the resting and stimulation-induced release of [3H]-noradrenaline in guinea-pig isolated atria.

1 The sympathetic transmitter stores of guinea-pig isolated atria were labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline. The effects of histamine (0.3 to 100 mumol/l) on resting and stimulation-induced (S-I, 2 Hz for 10 s) release of radioactivity were investigated. 2 Histamine, in low concentrations (0.3 and 1 mumol/l) had no effect on resting release but inhibited S-I release of radioactivity. The inhibition was abolished by the H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine (10 mumol/l) and also by the H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine (1 mumol/l). 3 The inhibitory actions of histamine on S-I release were not due to indirect effects involving alpha-adrenoceptors, beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic cholinoceptors or prostaglandin synthesis. 4 Histamine in a high concentration (100 mumol/l) increased the resting and S-I release of radioactivity. The increase in resting release was abolished by the neuronal uptake blocking drug cocaine (30 mumol/l) but the increase in S-I release was only partially blocked by cocaine.

Adrenaline activation of prejunctional beta-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig atria.

1. Adrenaline in a concentration of 1.0 microM depressed the stimulation-induced efflux of tritium from the guinea-pig atria incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline, whereas adrenaline in a concentration of 0.5 nM significantly enhanced the stimulation-induced efflux of tritium. This enhancement was blocked by metoprolol (0.1 microM) and thus appears to be mediated by beta-adrenoceptors. 2. In guinea-pig atria incubated with unlabelled adrenaline and then with [3H]-noradrenaline, both catecholamines were released by field stimulation. In such atria metoprolol, practolol, oxprenolol or propranolol decreased the stimulation-induced efflux of tritium. These effects did not occur if the atria were incubated with unlabelled noradrenaline and then with [3H]-noradrenaline, suggesting that neuronally released adrenaline activates prejunctional beta-adrenoceptors. 3. The effect of oxprenolol in decreasing the release of tritium from guinea-pig atria, incubated with unlabelled adrenaline and then with [3H]-noradrenaline was greater in the presence of phentolamine. This may reflect the alpha-adrenoceptor blocking activity of oxprenolol.

Effects of impromidine, a specific H2-receptor agonist and 2(2-pyridyl)-ethylamine, an H1-receptor agonist, on stimulation-induced release of [3H]-noradrenaline in guinea-pig isolated atria.

1 The specific histamine H2-receptor agonist, impromidine (3-100 nmol/l), increased the rate and force of beating of guinea-pig isolated atria. These effects were blocked by the H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine (30 mumol/l), but not by the H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine (0.1 mumol/l). 2 In atria that had previously been incubated in [3H]-noradrenaline, impromidine (3-100 nmol/l) had no effect on the resting efflux of radioactivity, but concentrations of 50 and 100 nmol/l significantly increased the efflux induced by electrical stimulation (2 Hz for 10 s) of the intramural sympathetic nerves by approximately 38%; lower concentrations (3, 10 and 25 nmol/l) had no effect. 3 The effect of impromidine in enhancing stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity was abolished by cimetidine (30 mumol/l) and by mepyramine (0.1 mumol/l). It was unaffected by the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine (30 mumol/l). 4 Impromidine produced some inhibition of the uptake of [3H]-noradrenaline, but this did not account for the enhancement of the stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity, since impromidine (50 mumol/l) still increased release in the presence of cocaine (30 mumol/l). 5 The specific H1-receptor agonist, 2-(2-pyridyl)-ethylamine (10-100 mumol/l), increased both the resting and stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity. These effects were not blocked by mepyramine (0.1 mumol/l) or the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, metoprolol (0.1 mumol/l). 6 The prejunctional inhibitory histamine receptors in guniea-pig atria are not classifiable into H1- or H2-type by the use of relatively specific postjunctional histamine H1- or H2-receptor agonists and antagonists.

Modulation by acetylcholine of adrenergic transmission in the rabbit ear artery.

1. Low concentrations of acetylcholine (4 times 10(-11) and 1 times 10(-10) M) increase the vasoconstrictor response of the isolated ear artery of the rabbit to stimulation of the periarterial sympathetic nerves. Higher concentrations (4 times 10(-8) M and greater) decrease the response. 2. Low concentrations of acetylcholine (1 times 10(-11) and 1 times 10(-10) M) increase the stimulation-induced efflux of radioactivity from artery segments previously incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. Higher ocncentrations (3 times 10(-8) M and greater) decrease the efflux. 3. Neither atropine nor hexamethonium affects the facilitatory action of low concentrations of acetylcholine on adrenergic transmission in the rabbit ear artery. 4. Atropine antagonizes the inhibitory effect of higher concentrations of acetylcholine on adrenergic transmission.

Modulation of sympathetic transmission by neuronally-released dopamine.

1 When rabbits were pretreated with Fla-63, there was a marked inhibition of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase such that, after incubation of the ear arteries with [3H]-dopamine 47.2% of the tritium in the tissue was retained as unchanged dopamine. 2 [3H]-dopamine was released by stimulation of the sympathetic nerves in ear arteries taken from rabbits pretreated with Fla-63 and incubated with [3H]-dopamine. 3 The dopamine antagonists metoclopramide (1.0 microM) and ergometrine (1.0 microM) enhanced the stimulation-induced efflux of tritium in ear arteries taken from rabbits pretreated with Fla-63 and incubated with [3H]-dopamine, but not when the arteries were incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline. 4. These results suggest that if dopamine is present in the transmitter stores, it can be released by stimulation of the sympathetic nerves, and if the amount is adequate, it can activate an inhibitory feedback loop where prejunctional dopamine receptors are present.

Structure-activity relationship of imidazolidine derivatives related to clonidine at histamine H2-receptors in guinea-pig isolated atria.

1 Cumulative concentration-response relationships for the chronotropic effects of histamine, oxymetazoline, clonidine and thirteen clonidine-like imidazolidine derivatives were examined in isolated spontaneously beating guinea-pig atria.2 The following compounds induced positive chronotropic effects: histamine, clonidine (2,6-dichloro-phenyliminoimidazolidine) and the 2,6-dibromo, 2,6-dimethyl, 2,6-diethyl, 2,6-dihydroxy, 2,4,6-trimethyl, 3,4-dihydroxy and 2-methyl-5-fluoro analogues of clonidine. These compounds appeared to act as partial agonists on histamine H(2)-receptors, with potencies ranging from one tenth to one hundredth and intrinsic activities from approximately 20% to 75% of those of histamine.3 The following compounds did not induce positive chronotropic effects but rather decreased the atrial rate, usually at high concentrations: oxymetazoline and the 2,3-dichloro, 4-dichloro, 5-dichloro, 2-chloro-4-methyl, 2-methyl-5-chloro, 2,4,6-trichloro analogues of clonidine.4 The effects of histamine were antagonized by cimetidine, the pA(2) value being 6.68 (s.e. mean = 0.16, n = 3), and also in a concentration-dependent manner by clonidine. Cimetidine antagonized the response to clonidine in a concentration-dependent manner; however, high concentrations of cimetidine depressed the maximal response to clonidine and the slope of the concentration-response curve was no longer parallel to the control curve.5 The effects of the other compounds which induced positive chronotropic effects were also antagonized by cimetidine (1 mumol/l); however, the effect of the 3,4-dihydroxy derivative was unaffected by cimetidine (1 mumol/l) but was abolished by propranolol (0.3 mumol/l).6 In general, phenyliminoimidazolidine derivatives with 2,6-substitution on the phenyl ring are active on histamine H(2)-receptors, whereas derivatives with 2,3-, 2,4- or 2,5-substitutions are weakly active or inactive. Thus the restriction imposed on the free rotation of the phenyl ring about the carbon-imino nitrogen bond by the introduction of two ortho substituents appears to result in increased agonist activity on the histamine H(2)-receptor. The introduction of substituents in the 3, 4 or 5 positions in the phenyl ring may lead to compounds sterically hindered from combining with the histamine H(2)-receptor.7 There is no apparent relationship between the activities of clonidine-like imidazolidine derivatives as agonists on histamine H(2)-receptors and their hypotensive activities (as reported in the literature).