Opposite changes in imidazoline I2 receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors density in rat frontal cortex after induced gliosis.

Opposite age-dependent changes in alpha2-adrenoceptor and imidazoline I2 receptor (I2-IRs) density have been related to brain gliosis development with aging. To check this hypothesis we applied in rats a model of reactive gliosis induced by heat. The specific binding of [3H]idazoxan (0.5-20 nM) in the presence of (-)adrenaline (5 x 10(-6) M) to membranes from rat brain cortex showed that the density of I(2)-IRs was significantly higher in membranes of injured cortex (Bmax=60+/-6 fmol/mg protein; n=9) than in control (Bmax=38+/-3 fmol/mg protein; n=9; p=0.0053). Conversely, the density of alpha2-adrenoceptors, measured by [3H]clonidine (0.25-16 nM), in the injured cortex (Bmax=75+/-4 fmol/mg protein; n=9) was significantly lower than in sham membranes (Bmax=103+/-7 fmol/mg protein; n=9; p=0.0035). No significant differences in receptor's affinity were observed between both groups. These results support the hypothesis that gliosis induces opposite changes in alpha2-adrenoceptor and I2-IR density.

Characterization of [(3)H]idazoxan binding sites on human platelets.

Human platelets possess at least two non-adrenoceptor binding sites pharmacologically distinct from the alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. The effects of various imidazol(in)es on platelet aggregation have suggested that these compounds may interact with these non-adrenoceptor binding sites on platelets. [(3)H]Idazoxan is an antagonist of the alpha(2)-adrenoceptors frequently used to characterize imidazoline I(2) receptors. We evaluated the binding of [(3)H]idazoxan to human platelet membranes. In saturation experiments [(3)H]idazoxan (1.25-32 nM) recognized a single, saturable binding site with high affinity. However, competition assays revealed the presence of alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors and a non-adrenoceptor minor population (25-39%) recognized with high affinity by the imidazoline drug with low affinity for alpha(2)-adrenoceptors 2-BFI. After the addition of (-)adrenaline (5 microM) to mask alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, competition curves against [(3)H]idazoxan binding were biphasic. The imidazoline I(1) receptor-selective drugs, efaroxan and rilmenidine, recognized the minor component with high affinity, whereas the imidazoline I(2) receptor-selective drugs, guanabenz and 2-BFI, bound with high affinity to the major component. Further masking experiments in the presence of efaroxan (2 microM) or guanabenz (1 microM) confirmed that [(3)H]idazoxan labels two non-adrenoceptor binding sites pharmacologically compatible with imidazoline I(1) and I(2) receptors as well as alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors in human platelets.