ERK1/2 inhibition increases dopamine release from differentiated PC12 cells.

The release of dopamine (DA) is one of the main steps in the control of neuronal functioning and all CNS. It was demonstrated that many factors such as protein kinases and synaptic proteins are tightly involved in the regulation of DA secretion, but the data are contradictory. Here we analysed an effect of ERK1/2 inhibition on DA secretion from differentiated PC12 cells and evaluated the correlation between the activity of kinases/synaptic proteins and the level of released DA. PC12 cells were differentiated by NGF for 6 days. On the 7th day the cells were incubated for 1, 2 and 4 h with 10µM U0126. Obtained data demonstrated a significant accumulation of DA in the media after 4 h incubation with U0126 that accompanied with upregulation of PKG activity. Analysis of exocytosis proteins demonstrated decreased phosphorylation level of synapsin I and content of SNAP25. Taken together our data proposed an inhibitory role of ERK1/2 in the regulation of catecholamine secretion and demonstrated that balance between PKG and ERK1/2 activity could have a substantial impact on the regulation of DA release from the cells.

[COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NIGROSTRIATAL SYSTEMS IN WISTAR RATS AND RATS PRONE TO SEIZURES].

In this work we analyzed the levels of functional activity of dopaminergic, GABA-ergic and glutamatergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system of control Wistar rats and Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats prone to audiogenic seizures. In KM rats we have revealed disturbed activity of GABA- and dopaminergic neurons in substania nigra whereas the level of glutamatergic neurotransmission remained unchanged. We have also observed no significant differences in GAD65/67 and phospho-tyrosine hydroxylase contents in the striatum of KM and control Wistar rats. However, a high level of D1 dopamine receptor and a decreased level of D2 receptor found can mediate the upregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Indeed, the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter type 2 (VGlut2) and NR2B subunit of NMDA receptor was increased in the striatum of KM rats. In striatal glutamatergic fibers phosphorylated ERK1/2 kinases have been revealed; at the same time, in KM rats an increased ERK1/2 activity has been detected both in striatum and substantia nigra. This finding correlated with activation of exocytosis rate as evidenced by downregulation of SNAP25 level. Apart from other reasons, the activation of glutamatergic system may be a result of disruption of the inhibitory effect of the dopamine- and GABAergic systems of substantia nigra that innervate striatum. We suppose that the increased activity of striatal glutamatergic neurons of KM rats without an adequate inhibition by GABA- and dopaminergic systems may be one of the reasons of high convulsive susceptibility in KM rats.

[MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ERK1/2 KINASES REGULATION IN THE GLUTAMATE- AND GABA-ERGIC NEURONS DURING SEIZURE EXPRESSION IN KRUSHINSKY-MOLODKINA RATS].

The aim of the present study was to analyze a role of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in the regulation of excitation and inhibitory neurons in the hippocampus and the temporal cortex of Krushinsky-Molodkina rats during seizure development finalizing with ataxia. Analysis was done by Western bloting as well as by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated significant up-regulation of ERK1/2 activity in the hippocampus in several seconds after sound stimulation. At the same time increased ERK1/2 activity was correlated with enhanced level of SNARE protein SNAP-25 and activation of synapsin I, the proteins which regulate exocytosis machinery. Decreased level of VGLUT2 associated with activation of ERK1/2 and exocytosis proteins supposed activation of glutamate release in the hippocampus, while in the temporal cortex diminished activity of ERK1/2 and synapsin I associated with VGLUT2 up-regulation assumed inhibition of glutamatergic transmission. Our data let us supposed that decreasing of glutamate release in th& temporal cortex could be a trigger for the inhibition of hippocampal glutamatergic system and the beginning of further ataxia stage. Our data demonstrated correlation between expression and activity of exocytosis proteins and ERK1/2 mainly in the glutamategic neurons of the hippocampus and the temporal cortex that let us proposed significant role of ERK1/2 kinases as a positive regulator of glutamate release and as a result initiation of seizure expression.

Role of the ERK signaling pathway in regulating vasopressin secretion in dehydrated rats.

Dehydration activates the vasopressinergic system of the hypothalamus. We analyzed the effects of dehydration induced by water deprivation for 3 days on the activities of ERK1/2 and transcription factors, Elk1 and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in vasopressinergic neurons, as well as the distribution and level of the motor protein, kinesin, in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system. We showed that dehydration resulted in enhanced vasopressin (VP) expression and activation of CREB, and increased the activity of the MEK/ERK/Elk1 pathway in magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic nucleus. The activation of VP secretion was associated also with accumulation of phospho-ERK1/2 in the VP-ergic terminals of the posterior lobe of the pituitary. Analysis of the amount and distribution of kinesin and SNAP25, the proteins associated with transport and secretion, demonstrated that dehydration enhanced kinesin content in the perikarya of magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic nucleus and decreased kinesin and SNAP25 levels in the posterior pituitary. ERK1/2 and ERK1/2-dependent transcription factors, Elk1 and CREB, participate in the regulation of dehydration-evoked VP expression. We propose that ERK1/2 and kinesin participate in regulation of anterograde transport of VP dense core vesicles.

[Inactivation of p53 leads to enhancement of tyrosine hydroxylase biosynthesis in the dopaminergic brain neurons].

In the present work we analyzed a possibility of interaction of protein p53, family members of the ERK1/2 signaling cascade, and the transcription factor CREB in regulation of functional activity of dopaminergic neurons. There were considered neurons of Substantia nigra and Zona incerta of control rats and of rats injected intraperitoneally with chemical inhibitor of p53 Pifithrin-alpha blocking transcription activity ofproapoptotic protein p53. We have shown the p53 inactivation to lead to an increase in the content of tyrosine'hydroxylase both in cell bodies and in terminal parts of axons. At the same time, activity of the transcription factor CREB is enhanced in the brain dopaminergic neurons. No significant differences in the content of phospho-ERK1/2 kinases were revealed in the cell bodies at use of Pifithrin-alpha as compared with control group. Thus, we have shown that action of p53 on biosynthesis of tyrosine hydroxylase is of inhibitory character and seems to be mediated by the transcription factor CREB.

Effect of p53 inhibition by pifithrin-alpha on functional activity of vasopressin neurones in rat hypothalamus.

In the present work we investigated the effects of p53 inhibition by pifithrin-alpha (PFT) in vitro and in vivo on functioning vasopressinergic magnocellular neurones of rat hypothalamus. In vivo treatments with PFT were done by intra-hypothalamic microinjections or by intra peritoneal injections. In in vitro experiments hypothalamic slices containing supraoptic nuclei and intact pituitary were incubated with or without PFT. In all experiments we observed accumulation of vasopressin (VP) in the cell perikarya after PFT injections, however expression of VP mRNA was not changed. Analysis of VP content in the posterior pituitary demonstrated that amount of VP was significantly decreased after PFT treatments. Additionally, long-term inhibition of p53 in experiments with intra-hypothalamic injections of PFT resulted in an increased diuresis rate. The obtained results demonstrated that in all experiments PFT treatments inhibited VP anterograde transport from the cells of supraoptic nuclei. Moreover, analysis of MEK/ERK activities revealed that phosphorylation levels of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were decreased after PFT treatments. Our findings provide new evidences that p53 could be involved in the control of VP secretion from hypothalamo-hypophyseal system and that this action probably can be mediated by ERK signalling pathway.

[Role of Bcl-2 in the regulation of creb activity and vasopressin expression in the hypothalamic neurons of rats].

The antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 has various functions besides its role in protecting cells from apoptosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that Bcl-2 recruits ERK1/2 and/or CREB to initiate different transcription program in the regulation of various neuronal activities as well as axonal growth. Recently we reported that Bcl-2 can participate in the regulation of synthesis and secretion of vasopressin of rat hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei. In thise study we have investigated the inhibition of Bcl-2 on vasopressin expression in magnocellular neurons of hypothalamic supraoptic nuclei. The experiments were done on short-term incubated rat hypothalamic slices containing supraoptic nuclei. Our data demonstrated that in vitro inhibition of Bcl-2 by HA14-1 prevented CREB translocation into the cell nuclei and significantly decreased vasopressin mRNA level and enhanced contents of vasopressin protein in magnocellular neurons in supraoptic nucleus. Our results indicate that CREB-dependent vasopressin gene transcription in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurons can be regulated by Bcl-2.

Specific mechanism of use-dependent channel block of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors provides activity-dependent inhibition of glutamatergic neurotransmission.

This study examined the blocking action of the selective channel blocker of calcium-permeable (CP) AMPA receptors, N1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)pentane-1,5-diaminium bromide (IEM-1925), on excitatory postsynaptic currents in rat neostriatal and cortical neurons and in fly neuromuscular junctions. In both preparations, the blocking of CP-AMPA receptor currents increased along with the stimulation frequency. The continuous presence of kainate, which activates AMPA receptors, in the external solution also caused an enhanced blocking effect. Likewise, decrease of the synaptic release by lowering calcium concentration resulted in significant reduction of the blocking action. The activity dependence of the block is explained using the guarded receptor model. The drug molecule can only bind if the channel is open. After the channel has closed, the drug molecule remains trapped inside. However, the trapped molecule slowly egresses from closed channels to the cytoplasm. The total block effect is determined by the equilibrium between accumulation of the drug in the open channels and relief from the closed channels. Therefore, the conditions that favour the open state result in enhanced inhibition. This significant finding reveals a new way to modulate CP-AMPAR-mediated transmission using a physiologically relevant approach. Moreover, it allows the involvement of CP-AMPARs in the physiological and pathological processes ­ such as high-frequency synaptic activity or increase of the steady-state glutamate concentration ­ to be examined.

[Effect of apoptosis proteins on function of vasopressin- and dopaminergic hypothalamic neurons].

To study character of effect of apoptosis signal proteins on activities of neurosecretory cells and neurons of rat hypothalamus, pharmacologic inhibitors of proapoptotic protein p53 Pifithrin-alpha and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 HA14-1 were injected into the hypothalamus. Activation of vasopressinergic neurosecretory cells at administration of the blocker Bcl-2 HA14-1 was shown: there were observed an increase of vasopressin mRNA in neurons of hypothalamus supraoptical and paraventricular nuclei, a decrease of the immunoreactive vasopressin content in posterior pituitary, and reduction of diuresis. Inactivation of p53 inhibited release of vasopressin from hypothalamus cell bodies, which is indicated by an elevated content of immunoreactive vasopressin in neurosecretory cell bodies with its unchanged synthesis, a decrease of the neurohormone content in the posterior pituitary, and an increase of diuresis rate. Activation of vasopressinergic neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus was also shown. Administration of the blocker Bcl-2 has been revealed to decrease functional activity both of dopaminergic neurons (Zona Incerta) and of dopaminergic neurosecretory cells (arcuate nucleus), in which a decrease of the tyrosine hydroxylase content was observed. The p53 inactivation also led to a decrease of activity of dopaminergic neurosecretory cells of arcuate nucleus, whereas activity of the proteins Zone Incerta did not change. Thus, it has been shown that a change of the apoptotic protein content in vasopressinergic and dopaminergic neurons and neurosecretory cells leads to a change of their functional activity, the character and possibly mechanisms of effects of apoptotic proteins on activities of vasopressin- and dopaminergic cells being different.

Action of extracellular divalent cations on native alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptors.

The effects of divalent cations on Ca2+-impermeable containing (GluR2 subunit) MPA receptors of hippocampal pyramidal neurones isolated from rat brain was studied using patch-clamping. Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ inhibited currents induced by kainate and glutamate. Inhibition was fast, reversible and voltage independent. The rank order of activities was Ni2+ > Zn2+ > Co2+ > Ca2+ > Mn2+ > Mg2+. Cyclothiazide (0.1 mm) significantly reduced inhibition by divalent cations and 6, 7 dinitroquinoxaline-2.3-dione (DNQX). However, high concentrations of Ni2+ and DNQX inhibited AMPA receptors even in the presence of cyclothiazide. The inhibitory effect of divalent cations as well as DNQX was counteracted by an increase in agonist concentration. In the presence of divalent cations the EC50 values of kainate and glutamate were increased, but the maximal response was not changed. An increase in agonist concentration induced a parallel shift in the concentration-inhibition curve for a divalent cation. These data suggest a competitive-like type of inhibition. However, an increase in agonist concentration reduced the inhibitory action of Ni2+ less than that of DNQX. This gave evidence against direct competition between divalent cations and AMPA receptor agonists. A 'complex-competition' hypothesis was proposed to explain the inhibitory action of divalent cations; it is suggested that divalent cations form ion-agonist complexes, which compete with free agonist for agonist-binding sites on AMPA receptors.

Characterization of acid-sensitive ion channels in freshly isolated rat brain neurons.

Transient proton-activated currents induced by rapid shifts of the extracellular pH from 7.4 to < or =6.8 were recorded in different neurons freshly isolated from rat brain (hypoglossal motoneurons, cerebellar Purkinje cells, striatal giant cholinergic interneurons, hippocampal interneurons, CA1 pyramidal neurons and cortical pyramidal neurons) using whole-cell patch clamp technique. Responses of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons were weak (100-300 pA) in contrast to other types of neurons (1-3 nA). Sensitivity of neurons to rapid acidification varied from pH(50) 6.4 in hypoglossal motoneurons to 4.9 in hippocampal interneurons. Proton-activated currents were blocked by amiloride (IC(50) varied from 3.6 to 9.5 microM). Reversal potential of the currents was close to E(Na), indicating that the currents are carried by sodium ions. The data obtained suggest that the proton-activated currents in the neurons studied are mediated by acid-sensitive ion channels. Strong acidification (pH<4) induced biphasic responses in all neuron types: the transient current was followed by a pronounced sustained one. Sustained current was not blocked by amiloride and exhibited low selectivity for sodium and cesium ions. Slow acidification from pH 7.4 to 6.5 did not induce detectable whole-cell currents. At pH 6.5, most of the channels are desensitized and responses to fast pH shifts from this initial level are decreased at least 10 times. This suggests that slow acidification which is well known to accompany some pathological states should rather desensitize than activate acid-sensitive ion channels and depress their function. Our results provide evidence for a widespread and neuron-specific distribution of acid-sensitive ion channels in the brain. The large amplitudes and transient character of currents mediated by these channels suggest that they could contribute to fast neuronal signaling processes.

Structural characteristics of ionotropic glutamate receptors as identified by channel blockade.

The channels of four types of ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDA receptors and Ca-permeable AMPA receptors of rat brain neurons, and cation-selective receptors from mollusk neurons and insect postsynaptic muscle membranes) and two subtypes of nicotinic cholinoreceptor (from frog neuromuscular junctions and cat sympathetic ganglia) were studied. The structural characteristics of channels determining their susceptibility to blockade by organic mono- and dications were identified. These studies used homologous series of adamantane and phenylcyclohexyl derivatives. These experiments showed that the receptors studied here could be divided into two groups. The first group included the AMPA receptor and the mollusk and insect receptors. These were characterized by the lack of effect on the part of monocations and a strong relationship between the activity of dications and the distance between nitrogen atoms. The second group included the NMDA receptor and both subtypes of the nicotinic cholinoreceptor (muscular and neuronal). Here, conversely, the activity of monocations and dications, regardless of their lengths, were essentially identical. A model for the binding sites of blockers in channels is proposed, which takes these observations into account.

[Structural characteristics of ionotropic glutamate receptors revealed by channel blockade]. / Strukturnye osobennosti ionotropnykh glutamatnykh retseptorov, vyiavliaemye blokadoi kanalov.

The topography of the channel binding site in glutamate receptors (AMPA and NMDA types of rat brain neurons, receptors of molluscan neurons and insect muscle), and in two subtypes of nicotinic cholinoreceptors (in frog muscle and cat sympathetic ganglion), has been investigated by comparison of the blocking effects of mono- and dicationic derivatives of adamantane and phenylcyclohexyl. The channels studied can be divided into two groups. The first one includes AMPA receptor and glutamate receptors of mollusc and insect, and is characterised by the absence of activity of monocationic drugs and the strong dependence of dicationic once on the internitrogen distance in the drug molecule. The second group includes NMDA receptor and both nicotinic cholinoreceptors. Contrary, here the blocking potency of monocations and dications are practically equal irrespective of molecule length. The data obtained suggest that hydrophobic and nucleophilic components of the binding site are located close to each other in the channels of the NMDA receptor type but are separated by approximately 10 A in the AMPA receptor channel.

Cicletanine reverses vasoconstriction induced by the endogenous sodium pump ligand, marinobufagenin, via a protein kinase C dependent mechanism.

RATIONALE: Cicletanine (CIC), an anti-hypertensive compound with direct vascular and natriuretic actions, is especially effective in salt-sensitive hypertension, in which dysregulation of the sodium pump plays an important pathogenic role, and digitalis-like cardiotonic steroids contribute to increased vascular tone. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether, and by what mechanisms, cicletanine antagonizes the vasoconstrictor effects of cardiotonic steroids in isolated human arteries. METHODS: The effects of cicletanine on vascular tone were studied in isolated, endothelium-denuded rings of 2nd-3rd-order branches of human mesenteric arteries pre-contracted with bufodienolide marinobufagenin (MBG), an Na/K-ATPase inhibitor, or endothelin-1 (ET-1). Na/K-ATPase activity was measured in sarcolemmal membranes from the mesenteric artery. Activity of rat brain protein kinase C (PKC) was measured using the PepTag phosphorylation assay. RESULTS: MBG and ET-1 both induced sustained vasoconstriction in human mesenteric artery rings, and cicletanine relaxed rings pre-contracted with either MBG (EC50 = 11 +/- 2 micromol/l) or ET-1 (EC50 = 6.4 +/- 1.1 micromol/l). Although 8-Br-cGMP (100 micromol/l) caused complete vasorelaxation of arterial rings pre-contracted with ET-1, it did not affect the MBG-induced vasoconstriction. An activator of PKC, phorbol diacetate (PDA) (50 nmol/l), attenuated CIC-induced vasorelaxation of mesenteric artery rings pre-contracted with MBG (EC50 > 100 micromol/l), but not rings pre-contracted with ET-1 (EC50 = 6.5 +/- 1.2 micromol/l). In mesenteric artery sarcolemma, 100 nmol/l MBG inhibited the Na/K-ATPase by 68 +/- 5% and cicletanine (100 micromol/l) attenuated this Na/K-ATPase inhibition by 85 +/- 6%. In the PepTag PKC assay, cicletanine produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of rat brain PKC activity (IC50 45 +/- 11 micromol/l). In the presence of 50 nmol/l PDA, 100 micromol/l cicletanine did not antagonize the Na/K-ATPase inhibition by MBG, and did not inhibit the PKC from rat brain. CONCLUSIONS: Cicletanine antagonizes vasoconstriction induced by Na/K-ATPase inhibition via a PKC-dependent mechanism that does not involve inhibition of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE). This mechanism of action may be relevant to the greater potency of cicletanine in salt-sensitive hypertension in which plasma levels of endogenous digitalis-like cardiotonic steroids are elevated. Our findings also suggest that PKC is an important factor for cardiotonic steroid-Na/K-ATPase interactions on the vascular tone, and is therefore a potential target for therapeutic intervention in hypertension.

Quest for agonist and antagonist selectivity at muscarinic receptors in guinea-pig smooth muscles and cardiac atria.

Potencies of 11 muscarinic agonists in eliciting contraction of smooth muscle in guinea-pig ileum, trachea, urinary bladder and uterus and in inhibiting the rate of contractions of cardiac atria were compared. While acetylcholine (ACh) was the most potent agonist on the ileum, uterus and cardiac atria, cis-L(+)-dioxolane was equally as potent as ACh on the ileum and more potent on the urinary bladder and trachea. Compared to ACh, methylfurmethide, oxotremorine, acetoxybut-2-inyl-trimethylammonium and cis-L(+)-dioxolane acted weakly on the atria. Aceclidine, arecoline and acetyl-beta-methylcholine displayed selectivity for the urinary bladder and pilocarpine for the tracheal and urinary bladder smooth muscles. Oxotremorine had very low activity on the uterus. The stereoselectivity of muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs) for cis-L(+)-and cis-D(-)-dioxolane was low in the urinary bladder and uterus and high in the ileum and trachea. Most antagonists showed little selectivity between different organs, but S(-)-phenylcyclohexylglycoloyl choline was 6 times more active on the urinary bladder than on the ileum and AF-DX 116 was 12-30 times more active on the atria than on the smooth muscles. Among the N-alkyl derivatives of benzilylcholine, the octyl derivative as 400 times more active on the ileum than on the atria, while among the N-alkyl derivatives of QNB, the N-decyl derivative was 41 times more active on the ileum. The observed differences in the potency of various agonists and their stereoisomers on different smooth muscles cannot be explained by differences in the accessibility of receptors or in receptor reserve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interaction of the neuromuscular blocking drugs alcuronium, decamethonium, gallamine, pancuronium, ritebronium, tercuronium and d-tubocurarine with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the heart and ileum.

Neuromuscular blocking drugs have a high affinity for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the heart atria and ileal smooth muscle. In experiments on homogenates, alcuronium, gallamine, pancuronium, tercuronium and ritebronium inhibited the binding of the muscarinic antagonist (3H)quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) to rat heart atria with IC50 values of 0.15-0.53 mumol X 1(-1) and to ileal longitudinal muscles with IC50 values of 0.12-0.45 mumol X 1(-1). d-Tubocurarine and decamethonium inhibited (3H)QNB binding to these tissues with IC50 values of 6.2-8.5 mumol X 1(-1). For each neuromuscular blocking drug, the IC50 values were virtually identical for (3H)QNB displacement in the homogenates of the atria and of the ileal muscle. Alcuronium and gallamine differed from the other blocking agents in that they produced less steep (3H)QNB displacement curves both in the atria and the ileal muscle; Hill coefficients for the binding of alcuronium and gallamine to atrial and ileal homogenates were lower than unity. On isolated atria, gallamine, pancuronium, ritebronium and tercuronium antagonized the inhibition of tension development caused by the muscarinic agonist, methylfurmethide, with Kd values which were of the same order of magnitude as the IC50 values for the displacement of (3H)QNB binding to homogenates; the Kd of alcuronium was 12.5 times higher. d-Tubocurarine and decamethonium did not antagonize the effects of methylfurmethide at concentrations up to 100 mumol X 1(-1). On isolated ileal longitudinal muscle, gallamine and pancuronium antagonized the effects of methylfurmethide with Kd values that were 53 times and 100 times higher than their respective Kd values in the atria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)