The lack of compound 48/80-induced contraction in isolated trachea of mast cell-deficient Ws/Ws rats in vitro: the role of connective tissue mast cells.

In the rat trachea, two types of mast cells have been identified, connective tissue mast cells and mucosal mast cells. Their different characteristics may account for their different biological functions. The role of connective tissue mast cells in tracheal contraction as one feature of the immediate reaction of asthma was studied in vitro in isolated trachea, using tissue derived from mast cell-deficient (Ws/Ws) rats, heterozygous (Ws/+) rats and control (+/+) rats, and compound 48/80 as a potent inducer of mast cell degranulation. The contractile response of tracheas from the three types of rats was also studied upon exposure to the following spasmogens: histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and carbachol. Histamine content in tissues reflected the differing mast cell numbers in strips from the three rat types. It was found that carbachol and 5-HT elicited tracheal contraction in a similar manner in strips from the three types of rats. Histamine had no contractile effect. Compound 48/80, at a dose of 25 microg/ml, elicited contraction in tracheas from both control (+/+) and heterozygous (Ws/+), but not in trachea from Ws/Ws rats. Compound 48/80-induced contractions in tracheas from +/+ rats were inhibited by 0.1 microM ketanserin and 0.1 microM nedocromil, but not by 0.1 microM mepyramine. Enzyme histochemistry confirmed that the degranulation occurred in connective tissue mast cells, but not in mucosal mast cells. We concluded that connective tissue mast cells play an important role in rat tracheal contraction via 5-HT release induced by compound 48/80. In addition, the specific mast cell-deficient (Ws/Ws) rats provide a good tool for studying the roles of mast cells in airway system.

Anticholinergic action of clonidine in rats with sinoaortic denervation.

A study was carried out relating to the anticholinergic action of clonidine on the cardiovascular responses to i.c.v. injection of neostigmine, a quaternary anticholinesterase, in conscious sham-operated animals and rats with sinoaortic denervation, 7 days after the corresponding operation. Neostigmine (0.1-1 micrograms i.c.v.) induced a dose-dependent pressor and bradycardic responses in sham-operated rats but induced only an increase in blood pressure in sinoaortic-denervated animals. However, the pressor response in sinoaortic-denervated rats was significantly greater than in sham-operated animals. Clonidine (10 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) induced a fall in mean arterial pressure in sinoaortic-denervated rats but not in sham-operated animals. Moreover, sinoaortic denervation reduced the bradycardic action of this antihypertensive drug. The anticholinesterase activity of clonidine (10 micrograms kg-1 i.v.), given 30 min previously, prevented the bradycardic action of neostigmine (0.1-1 micrograms i.c.v.) but failed to modify the pressor effect in sham-operated rats. This alpha2-adrenergic agent reduced the pressor response to i.c.v. administration of neostigmine in sinoaortic-denervated rats. Alternatively, the i.c.v. administration of clonidine (3 micrograms i.c.v.), given either 15 or 30 min before neostigmine, only prevented the bradycardic effect of the anticholinesterase (0.3 micrograms i.c.v.) in sham-operated rats but not the pressor action of this drug. In sinoaortic denervated rats, 3 micrograms of clonidine i.c.v. reduced an increase in blood pressure by i.c.v. injection of the anticholinesterase. The results suggest different central cholinergic mechanisms and different cholinergic-adrenergic interactions on the cardiovascular responses elicited by centrally injected neostigmine in sinoaortic denervated rats.

Stereoselectivity of butylidenephthalide on voltage-dependent calcium channels in guinea-pig isolated ileum.

Two geometric isomers, the Z- and the E- forms, can be separated from synthetic mixtures of butylidenephthalide (Bdph). Z-Bdph (50-100 microM) non-competitively inhibited Ca(2+)-induced contractions in depolarized (K+, 60 mM) guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle, with a pD2' value of 3.88 +/- 0.20 (n = 5). However, E-Bdph (20-100 microM) competitively inhibited these contractions with a pA2 value of 4.56 +/- 0.18 (n = 5) which was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than the pD2' value of Z-Bdph. In contrast, the two isomers had no stereoselective inhibitory action on Ca2+ influx through pre- or post-junctional membranes of cholinergic nerve endings from which the transmitter acetylcholine is released or on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Therefore, the trans-Z and cis-E forms of Bdph might have geometric stereoselectivity for voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDC) in guinea-pig longitudinal smooth muscle. Both isomers might inhibit more selectively the contractile twitch responses evoked by electrical stimulation than by cumulative acetylcholine- or carbachol-induced transient contractions in guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle.

Relaxation of equine tracheal muscle in vitro by different adrenoceptor drugs.

Strips of tracheal smooth muscle from 12 horses were contracted by carbachol in tissue baths under isometric conditions. This contraction (approximately 50% of maximum: EC50) was relaxed completely with adrenoceptor drugs. The only exception was clenbuterol, where the degree of relaxation was approximately 90%. In all horses the EC50-value for isoprenaline (mean 1.6 x 10(-8) M) was less than that for adrenaline (mean 9.6 x 10(-8) M) and noradrenaline (mean 1.8 x 10(-6) M). The potency ratio was 1 < 6 < 110 which indicates that the beta 2-subtype dominates among the beta-adrenoceptors of equine airways. All preparations were also very sensitive to the specific and potent beta 2-receptor agonists clenbuterol (mean 5.7 x 10(-9) M) and procaterol (mean 3.6 x 10(-10) M). No differences in EC50-values due to age, sex and breed were observed in this material. The standard deviation of the mean EC50-values seems to be larger for the specific beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists than for the unspecific. A reason for this could be differences in the pattern of the beta-adrenoceptor population.

Tremulous jaw movements produced by acute tacrine administration: possible relation to parkinsonian side effects.

Previous work has shown that cholinomimetic drugs induce "vacuous" or non-directed jaw movements in rats. In the present study, five experiments were conducted to provide a pharmacological, anatomical and behavioral characterization of tacrine-induced vacuous jaw movements. In the first experiment, tacrine produced vacuous chewing in a dose-related manner in a range of 1.25 mg/kg to 1.0 mg/kg. This effect was reduced, also in a dose-related manner, by the co-administration of the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine in a range of 0.125 to 1.0 mg/kg, but not by N-methylscopolamine. The fourth experiment examined the effect of scopolamine (2.5 to 10.0 micrograms) injected into the ventrolateral striatum on vacuous jaw movements induced by 5.0 mg/kg tacrine. Intrastriatal injections of scopolamine completely blocked tacrine-induced jaw movements. The fifth experiment utilized a slow-motion videotaping system to analyze the temporal characteristics of vacuous chewing induced by 5.0 mg/kg tacrine. The vast majority of the movements occurred in rapid "bursts," and analysis of interresponse times (i.e., the time between each jaw movement) showed that most of the jaw movements occurred within a local frequency range of 3 to 7 Hz. Thus, tacrine-induced jaw movements are reduced by antimuscarinic treatment, and most of these movements occur in the parkinsonian tremor frequency range. Tremulous jaw movements induced by tacrine in rats appear to share some characteristics with Parkinsonian tremor.

Inhibition of bronchospasm and ozone-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in the guinea-pig by CDP840, a novel phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor.

1. The activity of CDP840, a novel, potent and selective cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE 4) inhibitor, was evaluated in guinea-pig models (in vitro and in vivo) of bronchospasm, ozone-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and non-cholinergic bronchoconstriction. Comparisons were made with (i) other PDE 4 inhibitors: CT1731 (S-enantiomer of CDP840), rolipram, RP73401 and (ii) the clinically used agents salbutamol and theophylline. 2. CDP840 relaxed isolated trachea, under basal tone (EC50 4.5 +/- 1.1 microM) being 17 fold less potent than rolipram (EC50 0.26 +/- 0.13 microM) but attaining the same Emax (83 +/- 6% of the response to 300 microM papaverine). 3. CDP840 relaxed tracheae pre-contracted with carbachol (IC25 39 +/- 9 microM) and histamine (IC25 4 +/- 1 microM) producing monophasic curves. Stereoselectivity was not observed with CT1731 against either carbachol (IC25 33 +/- 11 microM) or histamine (IC25 17 +/- 10 microM). Aminophylline was 1.6 fold (carbachol) and 11 fold (histamine) less potent than CDP840. Rolipram and RP73401 produced tri-phasic relaxation curves but were of similar potency (at the IC25 level) to CDP840 against carbachol (rolipram 18 +/- 5 microM, RP73401 39 +/- 1 microM) whereas against histamine they were approximately 20 fold more potent (rolipram 0.2 +/- 0.1 microM, RP73401 0.2 +/- 0.1 microM). In producing > 30% (carbachol) and > 60% (histamine) relaxation these inhibitors had similar potency and were poor compared to salbutamol. 4. Pre-incubation with CDP840 (10 microM) did not antagonize histamine-induced contraction of isolated trachea; however, it did cause a slight potentiation of the subsequent relaxation to salbutamol (IC50 23 +/- 1 to 15 +/- 2 nM). 5. Pretreatment (1 h) with either CDP840 (1 mg kg-1, i.p. or 3 mg kg-1, i.v.) or rolipram (1 mg kg-1, i.p.) did not bronchodilate or antagonize bronchospasm due to inhaled histamine in anaesthetized, ventilated guinea-pigs. Salbutamol (1 mg kg-1, i.p.) did not bronchodilate but caused a parallel 7 fold rightward shift in the histamine dose-response curve. 6. Stimulation of the vagus nerve in the presence of atropine resulted in a frequency-related bronchoconstriction. CDP840 and rolipram (i.v.) inhibited the response being approximately equipotent (EC50 approximately 10 micrograms kg-1). Neither drug inhibited bronchospasm to inhaled substance P. 7. CDP840 (1-10 micrograms kg-1 i.p.) dose relatedly inhibited ozone-induced bronchoconstriction. CT1731 (1 mg kg-1), rolipram (1 mg kg-1), RP73401 (10 micrograms kg-1) and aminophylline (10 mg kg-1) had no effect. Ozone-induced AHR to inhaled histamine was inhibited by CDP840 in a dose-related manner, 10 micrograms kg-1 abolishing the AHR. This effect was stereoselective as CT1731 was approximately 30 fold less potent than CDP840. Rolipram was approximately 100 fold less potent and RP73401 and aminophylline had no effect. CDP840 was orally active being approximately 10 fold less potent compared to i.p. administration. 8. CDP840 is a poor spasmolytic and anti-spasmogenic agent in response to exogenous mediators; however, it potently inhibits vagally mediated non-cholinergic bronchoconstriction and ozone-induced AHR to histamine. It is possible that regulation of cyclic AMP by PDE 4 contributes to neuronal sensitivity in the airways. Furthermore, CDP840 may suppress AHR without being an overt bronchodilator. Such a profile of activity may have therapeutic benefit in airways diseases such as asthma.

Dantrolene blocks the tonic contractions to carbachol and histamine with smaller effects on the phasic due to release of intracellular Ca2+ in ileal longitudinal muscle.

1. Dantrolene (10(-5)-10(-4) M) inhibited carbachol- or histamine-induced tonic response according to the decrease in Ca2+ uptake as determined by La method more than the phasic response in ileal muscle. However, dantrolene further reduced the second phasic response to sequential application of carbachol or histamine. 2. After saponin-treatment of the fibres, which leaves the Ca2+ storage sites intact, dantrolene had no effect on the IP3-induced contraction. 3. The results suggest that dantrolene inhibited the carbachol- or histamine-induced tonic response mainly by inhibiting Ca2+ influx through receptor operated Ca2+ channels in ileum with only slight effect on the intracellular Ca2+ release from the storage sites. However, when dantrolene was continuously present, dantrolene might reduce a part of the Ca2+ supply into the Ca2+ storage sites.

Eicosanoid-mediated Cl- secretion induced by the antitumor drug, irinotecan (CPT-11), in the rat colon.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is active against a broad range of human cancer. One of the side-effects of irinotecan is a strong diarrhoea. In order to investigate the mechanism underlying this diarrhoea, the effect of irinotecan on anion secretion across the isolated rat distal colon was studied. Irinotecan caused a concentration-dependent increase in short-circuit current (Isc). The increase in Isc was completely dependent on the presence of Cl- ions and was suppressed by furosemide and the Cl- channel blocker NPPB (5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate), indicating that it is caused by a Cl- secretion. The secretory response was inhibited by indomethacin, 1-benzylimidazole, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor, and SK&F 88046 ((N,N'-bis[7-(3-Chlorobenzeneaminosulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroi soquinolyl) disulfonylimide), a thromboxane A2 receptor blocker. In isolated crypts irinotecan had no effect on the membrane potential. Consequently, the secretion induced by irinotecan is an indirect one, caused by the stimulation of eicosanoid production, e.g. thromboxane A2, in the subepithelial tissue.

[Physiological basis for the use of muscarine antagonists in bronchopulmonary dysplasia]. / Bases physiologiques de l'utilisation des antagonistes muscariniques dans les dysplasies bronchopulmonaires.

The rationale for the use of muscarinic antagonists in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is based on the physiology and pharmacology of airway smooth muscle, the pathology of BPD, and the response of infants with BPD to bronchodilators, in vivo and in vitro studies of airway smooth muscle of newborn animals and humans indicate that vagal efferent airway innervation and/or muscarinic receptors are functional at birth, as well as early in gestation. Current concepts regarding muscarinic receptor subtypes suggest that M3 receptors mediate airway smooth muscle contraction, M2 receptors are autoinhibitory and limit vagally-mediated bronchoconstriction, and M1 receptors may play a facilitatory role in ganglionic transmission. Muscarinic receptor subtypes appear to be functionally expressed at birth but may undergo developmental regulation. Infants with BPD have an elevated pulmonary resistance that is accompanied by hypertrophy of airway smooth muscle, b2-agonists cause bronchodilation in BPD as does atropine in infants recovering from severe BPD. The synthetic congener of atropine, ipratropium bromide (IPB) causes bronchodilation in ventilator-dependent infants with BPD in a dose-dependent fashion. Nebulized IPB causes a decrease in respiratory resistance that reaches a maximum of 20% at 175 mg. The bronchodilation seen with muscarinic antagonists suggests that part of the elevated resistance associated with BPD is due to increased muscarinic tone, presumably vagal in origin. When IPB is combined with salbutamol (0.04 mg) the response is increased in magnitude and duration; reaching a slightly larger decreases in resistance (26%) that is now accompanied by an increase in compliance (20%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pressor response induced by the hippocampal administration of neostigmine is suppressed by M1 muscarinic antagonist.

We investigated the roles played by three muscarinic receptors (M1, M2, and M3) in the pressor response with bradycardia that followed the injection of neostigmine (5 x 10(-8) mol) into the hippocampus of anesthetized rats. These changes were blocked by the co-administration of methylatropine (5 x 10(-8) mol). The intrahippocampal injection of pirenzepine (M1 antagonist) (5 x 10(-9) - 5 x 10(-7) mol) suppressed the neostigmine-induced pressor response dose-dependently. However injection of gallamine (M2 antagonist) (5 x 10(-8) - 5 x 10(-7) mol) and of 4-DAMP (M1 and M3 antagonist) (5 x 10(-8) - 5 x 10(-7) mol) did not suppress this hypertensive response. These findings suggest that the neostigmine-induced pressor response with bradycardia is mediated through the M1 muscarinic receptor subtype.

Muscarinic effects on cellular functions in cultured human ciliary muscle cells.

PURPOSE: To characterize the pharmacology of the carbachol-induced changes of phospholipase C (PLC) activity and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured human ciliary muscle cells. METHODS: Changes in PLC activity of cultured human ciliary muscle cells were determined by production of inositol phosphates. Single-cell dynamic fluorescence ratio imaging was used to determine [Ca2+]i. RESULTS: Carbachol, oxotremorine-M, aceclidine, and pilocarpine stimulated PLC with mean EC50s of 20, 8, 17, and 2 microM, respectively. The effect of carbachol on PLC was partially suppressed by extracellular Ca2+ depletion. This muscarinic effect was blocked by muscarinic antagonists, such as atropine (apparent pKi = 9.12, nonselective for muscarinic receptor subtypes), pirenzepine (pKi = 6.76, selective for the M1 receptor subtype), 4DAMP (pKi = 9.25, selective for the M1 and M3 subtypes), and fHHSiD (pKi = 7.77, selective for the M3 subtype). In [Ca2+]i experiments, carbachol increased [Ca2+]i transients in human ciliary muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner with a mean EC50 of 7 microM. 4DAMP was approximately 100 times more potent than pirenzepine in the inhibition of the carbachol-induced [Ca2+]i increase. [Ca2+]i oscillations were observed after carbachol stimulation and persisted after extracellular Ca2+ depletion. CONCLUSIONS: Muscarinic agonists activate PLC and increase [Ca2+]i in cultured human ciliary muscle cells through an M3-like muscarinic receptor subtype.

Laminar selectivity of the cholinergic suppression of synaptic transmission in rat hippocampal region CA1: computational modeling and brain slice physiology.

ACh may set the dynamics of cortical function to those appropriate for learning new information. In models of the putative associative memory function of piriform cortex, selective suppression of intrinsic but not afferent fiber synaptic transmission by ACh prevents recall of previous input from interfering with the learning of new input (Hasselmo, 1993). Selective cholinergic suppression may play a similar role in the hippocampal formation, where Schaffer collateral synapses in stratum radiatum (s. rad) may store associations between activity in region CA3 and the entorhinal cortex input to region CA1 terminating in stratum lacunosum-moleculare (s. l-m). A computational model of region CA1 predicts that for effective associative memory function of the Schaffer collaterals, cholinergic suppression of synaptic transmission should be stronger in s. rad than in s. l-m. In the hippocampal slice preparation, we tested the effect of the cholinergic agonist carbachol (0.01-500 microM) on synaptic transmission in s. rad and s. l-m. Stimulating and recording electrodes were simultaneously placed in both layers, allowing analysis of the effect of carbachol on synaptic potentials in both layers during the same perfusion in each slice. Carbachol produced a significantly stronger suppression of stimulus-evoked EPSPs in s. rad than in s. l-m at all concentrations greater than 1 microM. At 100 microM, EPSP initial slopes were suppressed by 89.1 +/- 3.0% in s. rad, but only by 40.1 +/- 4.1% in s. l-m. The muscarinic antagonist atropine (1 microM) blocked cholinergic suppression in both layers. These data support the hypothesis that synaptic modification of the Schaffer collaterals may store associations between activity in region CA3 and the afferent input to region CA1 from the entorhinal cortex. In simulations, feedback regulation of cholinergic modulation based on activity in region CA1 sets the appropriate dynamics of learning for novel associations, and recall for familiar associations.

Hypothermia induced by cholinomimetic drugs is blocked by galanin: possible involvement of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

Central administration of galanin in the mouse dose-dependently blocked the hypothermia induced by the muscarinic receptor agonist, 2-ethyl 8-methyl-2,8-diazospiro[4,5]decan-1,3-dion hydrobromide, RS86 (minimum effective dose, MED = 3 nmol) and the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor tetrahydroaminoacridine, (MED = 3 nmol). This inhibitory effect was reversed over the dose range (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 nmol) by the galanin receptor antagonist galantide (MED = 0.3 nmol). Furthermore, the ATP-sensitive K+ channel blockers glibenclamide (MED = 1 nmol) and gliquidone (10 nmol) both prevented the inhibitory effects of galanin on RS86 induced hypothermia. Glibenclamide (10 nmol) also reversed the inhibitory effects of galanin on tetrahydroaminoacridine induced hypothermia. Preincubation of rat cortical membranes with galanin (10 nM, 1000 nM) in vitro had no effect on binding affinity, receptor number or pharmacology of the rat cortical muscarinic receptor. In contrast to the high affinity of glibenclamide, galanin only weakly displaced [3H]glibenclamide binding in mouse whole brain homogenates (36% at 10 microM). These studies suggest that the inhibitory effect of galanin on cholinergically mediated hypothermia induced by RS86 and tetrahydroaminoacridine may be exerted via an action at ATP-sensitive K+ channels but is unlikely to be acting directly at the site labelled by [3H]glibenclamide.

[The selectivity of the action of muscarinic agonists in vivo]. / Izbiratel'nost' deistviia muskarinovykh agonistov in vivo.

The experiments to inhibit a tremor reaction induced by various cholinomimetics have established that DED50 of atropine and amedine is significantly indifferent when tremor is caused by pilocarpine, oxotremorine, and aceclidine while the activity of amedine is lower than that of atropine when ezerine, arecoline and galantamine are applied. The comparison of the findings with the data on the selectivity of the above M-cholinolytics leads to the conclusion that in in vivo experiments, the muscarinic agonists are able to show their selectivity against various subtypes of M-cholinoreceptors. The results of in vivo experiments are found to differ from the data on the in vitro selectivity of M-cholinomimetics in some cases.

Attenuation of cholinergic analgesia by nifedipine.

Nociception was tested in mice receiving oxotremorine or physostigmine either after the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker nifedipine or the non-calcium antagonist vasodilator hydralazine. Nifedipine did not change the reaction time to thermal stimulation (tail-flick test), but attenuated the prolonging action on tail-flick latencies exerted by the two cholinomimetic agents. Hydralazine had no effect alone nor modified the action of cholinomimetics. The results suggest that attenuation of cholinergic analgesia by nifedipine might be related to not yet defined neuronal changes produced by calcium channel blockade, but changes in the pharmacokinetics of oxotremorine and physostigmine cannot be ruled out.

Characterization of the adenosine receptors of the rat superior cervical ganglion.

1. Adenosine analogues caused hyperpolarization and inhibition of the depolarizing response to muscarine of the rat isolated superior cervical ganglion (SCG) measured by a 'grease gap' recording technique. The receptors mediating these responses have been characterized by use of a range of selective adenosine analogues and adenosine receptor antagonists. 2. In decreasing order of potency N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), 2-chloroadenosine (2CA), adenosine, 2-phenylaminoadenosine (PAA), caused concentration-dependent hyperpolarizations whilst N6-(9-fluorenylmethyl)adenosine (PD 117,413) was inactive at up to 100 microM. 3. The order of potency of adenosine analogues in depressing depolarization caused by a submaximal concentration of muscarine (100 nM) was: CPA > R-PIA = 2CA > NECA > S-PIA > BZA > adenosine > PAA, where R- and S-PIA = R(-)- and S(+)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine, NECA = 5'N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and BZA = N6-benzyladenosine. PD 117,413 was inactive at concentrations up to 100 microM. The maximum inhibitions of the muscarine-induced depolarization by CPA, 2CA, NECA and BZA were similar. R-PIA, S-PIA and PAA produced similar maximal inhibitions which were significantly smaller than those produced by CPA. 4. Hyperpolarizations caused by adenosine were antagonized by the P1-purinoceptor selective antagonist 1,3-dimethyl-8-phenylxanthine (8PT) and by the selective A1-adenosine receptor antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-(4-((2-aminoethyl)amino)carbonylmethyloxyphenyl++ +)xanthine (XAC). Hyperpolarizations caused by CPA, adenosine and PAA were antagonized by the A1-selective antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) but not by the A2-selective antagonist, 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX). 5. Inhibition of the muscarinic-induced depolarization by CPA was antagonized by 8PT and DPCPXbut not by DMPX.6. It is concluded that the neurones of the rat SCG possess P1-purinoceptors of the Al-adenosine receptor subtype which mediate hyperpolarization and inhibition of depolarization caused by muscarine.

Tyrosine kinase activities in the modulation of stimulated parietal cell acid secretion.

The effects of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activities on the modulation of secretion were investigated in isolated rabbit parietal cells. Two classes of inhibitors, genistein (an inhibitor of both soluble and membrane-associated PTK activities) and an erbstatin analogue (an inhibitor of membrane-associated PTK activities), were tested against both secretagogue stimulation as well as transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) inhibition. Pretreatment of rabbit parietal cells with 10(-7) M rat TGF-alpha resulted in inhibition of both histamine- and carbachol-stimulated [14C]-aminopyrine (AP) accumulation. TGF-alpha inhibition was totally reversed by simultaneous pretreatment of cells with 50 microM genistein or an erbstatin analogue, indicating that a receptor-associated PTK activity is likely involved in the inhibition of parietal cell secretion. Furthermore, genistein, but not the erbstatin analogue, potentiated histamine-stimulated AP accumulation with a change in EC50 from 1.9 to 0.5 microM. Similarly, genistein, but not the erbstatin analogue, potentiated the response to forskolin with a change in EC50 from 1.5 to 0.1 microM. Genistein had no effect on stimulation of AP uptake by either dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate or carbachol. In addition, genistein failed to increase histamine or forskolin stimulation beyond the maximal level and had no significant effect on either cellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production or intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These results suggest that a PTK-protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase system may be involved in the potentiation of the histamine signal by a mechanism independent of adenylate cyclase activation.

Assessment of cholinergic influences on a primary humoral immune response.

Cholinergic ligands can affect some lymphocyte functions, and binding of labelled cholinergic ligands to lymphocytes has been reported. However, the role of endogenous cholinergic stimulation in immunomodulation in vivo is unclear. It has been suggested that suppression of primary humoral immune responses in vivo by administration of organophosphorus compounds is caused by excessive cholinergic stimulation. If this is correct, it would demonstrate cholinergic immunomodulation in vivo and might serve as a useful model for the characterization of this phenomenon. In the present study, the organophosphorus insecticide parathion and its major metabolite, paraoxon, suppressed the primary IgM response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in vitro in Mishell-Dutton cultures at concentrations similar to those probably reached in vivo. In contrast, cholinergic agonists did not suppress the in vitro response, but tended to enhance it. However, antagonists also tended to enhance the response and the effects of agonists were not blocked by antagonists. Binding studies with a radiolabelled cholinergic antagonist ([3H-]QNB) did not indicate the presence of specific, saturable cholinergic receptors on lymphocytes. A membrane preparation from brain was used as a positive control, and specific, saturable binding was observed. These results suggest that suppression of primary immune responses in vivo by parathion is mediated at least in part by direct action of parathion and/or its major metabolite, paraoxon, on the immune system. The data provide no evidence that direct interaction of cholinergic ligands with the immune system contributes to parathion-induced immunosuppression. In fact, the absence of expected agonist-antagonist relationships in Mishell-Dutton cultures, the absence of saturable [3H]QNB binding, and puzzling inconsistencies in the literature on this subject cast doubt on the conclusion that lymphocytes express specific cholinergic receptors.

Subtype of muscarinic receptor coupled to the attenuation of hormone-stimulated cAMP accumulation in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells.

The subtype of muscarinic receptor which mediates cAMP attenuation is not established. Therefore, several selective muscarinic antagonists were used to characterize the subtype of muscarinic receptor coupled to the inhibition of hormone-stimulated cAMP accumulation using NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells. These cells were prelabeled with [2-3H]-adenine, washed, and resuspended in a culture medium containing the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.5 mM). The labeled cells were preincubated with the different antagonists 12-15 min. before they were challenged with agonists. The formation of [3H]-cAMP was activated by PGE1 (1 microM) or forskolin (1 microM). In all cases, [3H]-cAMP formed was separated and measured. Carbachol (100 microM) and McN-A343 (10 mM) were used as standard muscarinic agonists. These studies gave the following results: a) McN-A343 (10 mM), an M1 receptor agonist, was only a partial agonist causing 40% inhibition of cAMP accumulation indicating that this effect was not mediated by an M1 receptor; b) The M1-selective antagonist, pirenzepine, exhibited low affinity (pA2 6.2) further suggesting that an M1 receptor was not coupled to the attenuation of cAMP accumulation; c) Two selective M2 antagonists (AF-DX 116 and methoctramine) and M3 antagonist (HHSiD) were used to further characterize these muscarinic receptors. The order of all antagonists based on their affinities (pA2 values) could be arranged in the following order: atropine (9.0) > methoctramine (7.6) > HHSiD (6.9) > AF-DX 116 (6.6) > pirenzepine (6.2). HHSiD exhibits the same degree of affinity to M2 receptors of other tissues as it does to those of NG cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)