Benzodiazepine receptors in the rat hippocampal formation: action of catecholaminergic, serotoninergic and commissural denervation.

The problem of benzodiazepine receptor localization in the rat hippocampal formation has been approached using several methods of selective deafferentation, followed by [3H]flunitrazepam binding studies. The intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine reduced, after 14 days, the norepinephrine content of the hippocampal formation by 68.4%, and decreased the number of binding sites by 32%, without change in affinity. The intraventricular injection of 5,6 dihydroxytryptamine reduced the serotonin content by 61.5% but did not alter the [3H]flunitrazepam binding. The intraventricular bilateral injection of 0.5 micrograms kainic acid selectively destroyed the pyramidal neurons in area CA3 of both hippocampi and produced an increase of 28% in [3H]flunitrazepam binding, without change in affinity. These results are discussed in relation to our previous observations about benzodiazepine receptor changes after fimbria-fornix transection. The reduction in [3H]flunitrazepam binding after administration of 6-hydroxydopamine suggests the possible localization of the benzodiazepine receptors on adrenergic presynaptic terminals. The increase in binding sites after destruction of CA3 pyramidal cells, which are the site of origin of commissural fibers, is tentatively interpreted as resulting from the sprouting of mossy fibers that replace the associational-commissural projections.

Benzodiazepine receptors in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus undergo rapid and reversible changes after acute stress.

Rats were submitted to forced swimming and were killed 15 min after initiation of the stress and at 1 h, 1 day and 4 days thereafter. Immediately after the stress there was a decrease of 30% in the density of [3H]flunitrazepam binding sites in the cerebral cortex and of 27% in the hippocampal formation, with no changes in all the other brain areas studied. These changes in the number of benzodiazepine receptors were also corroborated by the binding of [3H]ethyl-beta-carboline carboxylate. For both ligands there were no changes in affinity. These effects were selective for the benzodiazepine receptors and no changes in alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta adrenoceptors and in dopaminergic receptors were observed. One hour after the stress, the number of benzodiazepine receptors had recovered in the cerebral cortex (8% above the control) and had increased greatly in the hippocampal formation (+53%). One day after the stress, the [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the cerebral cortex reached the normal level but it was still slightly elevated (+16%) in the hippocampus. These results are discussed in relation to some contradictory findings in the literature and to the fact that the hippocampal formation is related to neural mechanisms underlying behavior and neuroendocrine regulation.

Effect of quinine on the release of catecholamines from bovine cultured chromaffin cells.

1. The effects of quinine on catecholamine release from cultured bovine chromaffin cells were studied. 2. Quinine (25-400 microM) produced a dose-related inhibition of catecholamine release in response to depolarizing concentrations (12.5-50 mM) of K+. 3. The inhibition of the secretory response to high K+ produced by quinine decreased with the increase in the extracellular concentration of Ca2+. 4. Stimulation of cultured chromaffin cells with 50 mM K+ produced a significant increase in Ca2+ influx. In the presence of 100 microM quinine a 54% inhibition of the K(+)-induced Ca2+ influx was observed. 5. Quinine treatment of chromaffin cell cultures produced a small but significant decrease in membrane resting potential and a less pronounced depolarization in response to 50 mM K+. 6. The results suggest that the inhibition of the K(+)-evoked release of catecholamines produced by quinine is at least partly due to a decrease in Ca2+ influx. Ca2+ influx is lower because quinine reduces the sensitivity of the membrane potential to changes in extracellular K+ but direct effects of quinine on Ca2+ channels cannot be excluded.

Acute stress induces an increase in rat cerebral cortex levels of n-butyl-?-carboline-3-carboxylate, an endogenous benzodiazepine binding inhibitor.

The effect of an acute swimming stress in rats on the amount of n-butyl-?-carboline-3-carboxylate, an endogenous benzodiazepine receptor binding inhibitor, was investigated. In 15 min this substance increased two fold in the cerebral cortex of the stressed rat and this increase was blocked by the previous injection of diazepam; however, no changes were observed in the cerebellum with stress. These results are discussed in relation to previous findings that, after the acute stress, [(3)H]flunitrazepam binding decreases in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but not in cerebellum. A possible relationship between this benzodiazepine receptor binding inhibitor and the state of "anxiety" produced by stress is postulated.

Selective increase of alpha 1-adrenoceptors and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in rat cerebral cortex after chronic haloperidol.

The effect of chronic administration of haloperidol on alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and beta-adrenoceptors, cholinergic muscarinic, GABAA and benzodiazepine receptors in the cerebral cortex of the rat was investigated. Doses of 0.3 and 2 mg/kg of haloperidol during 7 days increased markedly the density of alpha 1-adrenoceptors without changes in affinity. The alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors were not modified after neuroleptic administration. The number of muscarinic receptors were also increased after haloperidol treatment (2 mg/kg/day). However, the GABAA and benzodiazepine binding sites remained unchanged. In the brainstem an increment in the alpha 1-, but not the beta-adrenoceptors was observed. The well known increase in the dopamine receptors in the striatum was confirmed. These observations demonstrate a multireceptor effect of haloperidol in the cerebral cortex.

Parallel changes in brain flunitrazepam binding and density of noradrenergic innervation.

The neonatal injection of neurotoxic compounds such as 6-hydroxydopa (6-OH-DOPA) and DSP 4 (N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine hydrochloride) produces marked changes in the development of central noradrenergic neurons, i.e. permanent denervation of the cerebral cortex and hyperinnervation of the brain stem and the cerebellum. Adult animals treated at birth with both neurotoxins were used to study the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam (FNZ) to membranes isolated from these regions. The administration of both toxins produced a marked and similar increase in the number of FNZ binding sites in the cerebellum. In the brain stem, 6-OH-DOPA increased the density of these receptors much more than DSP 4 (33% vs. 13%), a difference similar to that observed between the effects of both compounds on brain stem NA. In the cerebral cortex, both compounds reduced the maximal number of FNZ binding sites. No changes were observed in the affinity of FNZ binding sites in the different structures. When adult rats treated at birth with 6-OH-DOPA received an injection of DSP 4 7 days later, the number of FNZ binding sites was reduced by 43% in the cerebellum, 53% in the brain stem and 11% in the cerebral cortex. In these structures, DSP 4 reduced the absolute number of FNZ binding sites to the same level both in rats treated at birth with 6-OH-DOPA and in non-treated animals receiving DSP 4 7 days before killing. These results are further support for the existence of close parallelism between the density of benzodiazepine receptors, as demonstrated by FNZ binding, and the density of brain noradrenergic innervation.

Changes in benzodiazepine receptors by acute stress: different effect of chronic diazepam or RO 15-1788 treatment.

In rats submitted to acute stress by forced swimming there was an immediate sharp decline in the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam and of [3H]ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate in synaptosomal membranes of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. This was followed by a rebound increase in benzodiazepine receptors after 60 min, specially in the hippocampal formation. These two changes were blocked by chronic treatment with diazepam for 14 days (4 mg/kg/day). On the other hand, long-term treatment with the antagonist RO 15-1788 did not modify the changes caused by the acute stress. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible regulation of benzodiazepine receptors by agonists and antagonists.

Chronic RO 15-1788 treatment increases the number of benzodiazepine receptors in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

Administration of 4 mg/kg per day of diazepam in the drinking water for 14 days produced a small, but not significant decrease of benzodiazepine binding sites for [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate. Similar treatment with the benzodiazepine antagonist RO 15-1788 resulted in a marked increase in the density of sites for both ligands in the synaptosomal membranes of cerebral cortex and hippocampal formation.

Increase of peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites in kidney and olfactory bulb in acutely stressed rats.

Fifteen minutes after the initiation of swimming stress in the rat we observed a 50% increase in the number of [3H]RO 5-4864 binding sites in kidney and a 37% increase in the olfactory bulb, without change in affinity. The binding in heart and cerebral cortex remained unchanged after the stress. These results are discussed in relation to previous work on both the action of an acute stress in central benzodiazepine receptors and the possible modulation of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors of the kidney by adrenocortical hormones.

Proconvulsant and 'anxiogenic' effects of n-butyl beta carboline-3-carboxylate, an endogenous benzodiazepine binding inhibitor from brain.

The discovery of n-butyl beta carboline-3-carboxylate (beta CCB) as an endogenous substance of brain capable of interacting with the central benzodiazepine receptor, and the fact that this beta carboline increases in the cerebral cortex of rats undergoing acute stress, led us to study the pharmacological properties of beta CCB in mice. Using 3-mercaptopropionic acid in subconvulsant doses, it was found that this beta carboline, although not being a convulsant, has a proconvulsant action, as indicated by the number of mice undergoing convulsions and the reduction in latency. This proconvulsant effect was observed both with IP or ICV injections and was blocked by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist RO 15-1788. In an open-field test the injection of 0.3 mg/kg of diazepam increased the number of squares crossed, while beta CCB had the opposite effect, reducing the squares crossed in a dose dependent manner between 1 and 30 mg/kg. This drug also increased the time of freezing and decreased the number of rearings. These changes were partially counteracted by the injection of 3.6 mg/kg of RO 15-1788. In the plus-maze test, 10 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide increased the number of entries and the time spent in the open arms, while the beta carboline produced the opposite effect. The conclusion reached is that beta CCB has both proconvulsant and anxiogenic actions, behaving as an inverse agonist for the central benzodiazepine receptor.

Monolayer co-culture of rat heart cells and bovine adrenal chromaffin paraneurons.

This paper describes a method for the preparation of co-cultures of rat heart cells and bovine adrenal chromaffin paraneurons. The most suitable condition for heart cell isolation was when a combination of trypsin-DNAse I in Locke's solution was used for digestion. The best co-culture conditions were obtained when 10(6) heart cells were plated on 7- to 8-d-old adrenal chromaffin paraneuron cultures containing 0.5 x 10(6) cells per 35-mm diameter culture dishes. Measurements of DNA (heart cells and chromaffin paraneurons), monitoring of beating frequency (heart cells), and catecholamine (chromaffin paraneurons) levels and release indicated that both cell types remain viable and functional for several weeks. Heart cells started their characteristic contractile activity 24 h earlier when plated either on viable or lysed chromaffin paraneurons, an effect apparently due to faster surface adhesion of heart cells. The beating frequency of heart cells increased after treatment of co-cultures with either noradrenaline or nicotine, with the latter agent acting indirectly through the release of chromaffin paraneuron catecholamines. Propranolol produced a dose-related inhibition of the responses to either noradrenaline or nicotine, thus suggesting that the increase in myocyte's beating activity was mediated through beta-receptors. Anti-myosin and anti-dopamine-beta-hydroxylase immunostaining was used for cell type identification and for the demonstration of body-to-body and process-to-process contacts between adrenal chromaffin paraneurons and heart cells. This co-culture system will serve as a starting point of further studies directed to understand a) the influence of a cell type on the development and on the phenotypic characteristics of a second cell type and b) the interaction of cells derived from different organs and species.

Subcellular distribution of 65,000 calmodulin-binding protein (p65) and synaptophysin (p38) in adrenal medulla.

Both neuronal and endocrine cells contain secretory vesicles that store and release neurotransmitters and peptides. Neuronal cells release their secretory material from both small synaptic vesicles and large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs), whereas endocrine cells release secretory products from LDCVs. Neuronal small synaptic vesicles are known to express three integral membrane proteins: 65,000 calmodulin-binding protein (65-CMBP) (p65), synaptophysin (p38), and SV2. A controversial question surrounding these three proteins is whether they are present in LDCV membranes of endocrine and neuronal cells. Sucrose density centrifugation of adrenal medulla was performed to study and compare the subcellular distribution of two of these small synaptic vesicle proteins (65-CMBP and synaptophysin). Subsequent immunoblotting and 125I-Protein A binding experiments performed on the fractions obtained from sucrose gradients showed that 65-CMBP was present in fractions corresponding to granule membranes and intact chromaffin granules. Similar immunoblotting and 125I-Protein A binding experiments with synaptophysin antibodies showed that this protein was also present in intact granules and granule membrane fractions. However, an additional membrane component, equilibrating near the upper portion of the sucrose gradient, also showed strong immunoreactivity with anti-synaptophysin and high 125I-Protein A binding activity. In addition, immunoblotting experiments on purified plasma and granule membranes demonstrated that 65-CMBP was a component of both membranes, whereas synaptophysin was only present in granule membranes. Thus, there appears to be a different subcellular localization between 65-CMBP and synaptophysin in the chromaffin cell.

Isolation and identification in bovine cerebral cortex of n-butyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate, a potent benzodiazepine binding inhibitor.

A substance having benzodiazepine-binding inhibitory activity has been extracted from 18 kg of gray matter of bovine cerebral cortex and purified to homogeneity. This substance inhibits competitively [3H]flunitrazepam and ethyl beta-[3H]carboline-3-carboxylate binding with high affinity (Ki, 3 nM), but it is inactive upon 3H-labeled Ro 5-4864, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate, [3H]prazosin, [3H]clonidine, [3H]dihydroalprenolol, and upon high-affinity [3H]muscimol binding. This inhibitor has been identified as n-butyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCB) by fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy (Mr, 268) and electron bombardment fragmentography, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra, coelution in HPLC with standard beta-CCB, and by the exact correspondence in Ki with beta-CCB on the displacement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding. The possible artificial formation of beta-CCB has been discarded by a series of control experiments including addition of tryptophan to the starting homogenate, extraction from liver, isolation and purification by an alternative procedure avoiding organic solvents, and by the impossibility of making beta-CCB from beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid or its methyl ester in the conditions of our extraction and purification procedures.