Selection for individual recognition and the evolution of polymorphic identity signals in Polistes paper wasps.

Individual recognition (IR) requires individuals to uniquely identify their social partners based on phenotypic variation. Because IR is so specific, distinctive phenotypes that stand out from the crowd facilitate efficient recognition. Over time, the benefits of unique appearances are predicted to produce a correlation between IR and phenotypic variation. Here, we test whether there is an association between elevated phenotypic polymorphism and IR in paper wasps. Previous work has shown that Polistes fuscatus use variable colour patterns for IR. We test whether two less variable wasp species, Polistes dominulus and Polistes metricus, are capable of IR. As predicted, neither species is capable of IR, suggesting that highly variable colour patterns are confined to Polistes species with IR. This association suggests that elevated phenotypic variation in taxa with IR may be the result of selection for identity signals rather than neutral processes. Given that IR is widespread among social taxa, selection for identity signalling may be an underappreciated mechanism for the origin and maintenance of polymorphism.

A comparison of models used to predict MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND: MMRpro, prediction of mutations in MLH1 and MLH2 (PREMM(1,2)) and MMRpredict are models which were developed to predict the probability that an individual carries a Lynch syndrome-causing mutation. Each model utilizes data from personal and family histories of cancer. To date, no studies have compared these models in a cancer genetics clinic. The purpose of this study was to determine each model's ability to predict the probability of carrying a Lynch syndrome-causing mutation in individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer and to determine their clinical applicability. METHODS: We obtained family pedigrees from 81 individuals who presented for Lynch syndrome testing due to a personal and/or family history of cancer. Data from each pedigree were entered into the models and analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: We found that MMRpredict, PREMM(1,2) and MMRpro showed similar performances with areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.731, 0.765 and 0.732, respectively. MMRpro showed the least dispersion of mutation probability estimates with a P value of 0.205, compared with 0.034 for PREMM(1,2) and 0.001 for MMRpredict. CONCLUSION: We found all three carried out well in a cancer genetics setting, with PREMM(1,2) giving slightly better estimates. There were some significant discrepancies between the models in cases where the proband had endometrial cancer.

Synthesis, antinociceptive activity, and opioid receptor profiles of substituted trans-3-(decahydro- and octahydro-4a-isoquinolinyl)phenols.

A series of trans-3-(6- and 7-substituted-decahydro-4a-isoquinolinyl)phenols and trans-3-(octahydro-4a-isoquinolinyl)phenols have been synthesized as potential opioid analgesics. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo test systems, the receptor profiles of selected compounds have been assessed and in some instances distinguish between mu- and kappa-receptor agonists. In general, introduction of a 6-exocyclic methylene group into the trans-3-(decahydro-4a-isoquinolinyl)phenol system enhanced both antinociceptive activity and kappa-opioid receptor selectivity. For each series, analogues bearing an N-cyclopropylmethyl substituent exhibited greater kappa-receptor selectivity while N-methyl derivatives showed greater mu-receptor selectivity. The 7-substituted compounds (3b) were significantly less potent antinociceptive agents than their 6-substituted counterparts (3a), the octahydroisoquinoline analogues exhibiting intermediate activity. The axial 8-methyl-6-exocyclic methylene isoquinoline (20) is the most potent compound in the mouse abdominal constriction assay (ED50 = 0.05 mg/kg sc), whereas the equatorial 8-methyl isomer (16) was significantly less potent (ED50 = 3.3 mg/kg sc).

Failure of CGS15943A to block the hypotensive action of agonists acting at the adenosine A3 receptor.

1. Adenosine receptor agonists were evaluated for their activity at the putative adenosine A3 receptor which mediates a 'xanthine-resistant' hypotensive response in the anaesthetized rat. The compounds tested were: the A1/A3 receptor agonist, N-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyl]adenosine (APNEA), the non-selective adenosine receptor agonist, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), the adenosine A1 receptor-selective agonists, N-[(1S,trans)-2-hydroxycyclopentyl]adenosine (GR79236) and N6-cyclopentyl adenosine (CPA), the A2a receptor-selective agonists, 2-[[2-[4-(2-carboxyethyl) phenyl] ethyl] amino]-N- ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS21680) and 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV1808), and the moderately A2b selective agonist, N-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]adenosine (metrifudil). 2. In confirmation of literature findings, APNEA (1-1000 nmol kg-1) induced hypotension and bradycardia; the hypotension was not blocked by pretreatment with the xanthine antagonist, 8-P-sulphophenyltheophylline (8-sPT; 40 mg kg-1, i.v.), whereas the bradycardia was attenuated. The non-xanthine antagonist, 9-fluoro-2-(2-furyl)-5,6-dihydro [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]- quinazin-5-imine (CGS15943A; 3 mg kg-1 i.v.), also attenuated the bradycardia without affecting the hypotension. 3. The adenosine A1 receptor-selective agonists, GR79236 and CPA, both produced dose-dependent falls in blood pressure and heart rate which were antagonized by 8-sPT (40 mg kg-1) and CGS15943A (3 mg kg-1). 4. The adenosine A2a receptor-selective agonists, CGS21680 and CV1808, produced only a hypotensive response which was antagonized by 8-sPT (40 mg kg-1) and to a much greater extent by CGS15943A (3 mg kg-1), consistent with the response being mediated solely by A2a receptors. 5. The modestly A2b receptor-selective agonist, metrifudil, produced a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure and at higher doses a fall in heart rate. The hypotension induced by metrifudil was not antagonized by either 8-sPT (40 mg kg-1) or CGS15943A (3 mg kg-1) even though the bradycardia was abolished, suggesting that this agonist activates the putative A3 receptor.6. The non-selective adenosine receptor agonist, NECA, produced a hypotension and bradycardia that was attenuated by 8-sPT (40 mg kg-1), confirming previous work. The non-xanthine antagonist,CGS15943A (3 mg kg-'), also attenuated the hypotension and bradycardia. The bradycardia was blocked to a much greater extent, suggesting that NECA may therefore induce hypotension partly by activating the putative A3 receptor.7. In conclusion, we have confirmed that the putative A3 receptor mediating hypotension in the anaesthetized rat is not blocked by 8-sPT, and further shown that it is not blocked by CGS15943A. The A2a agonists CGS21680 and CV1808 showed no discernible activity at the A3 receptor, whereas APNEA,NECA, CPA and metrifudil appear to activate this receptor. The adenosine A1 receptor agonist,GR79236, shows considerable selectivity for the A1 receptor but may activate the A3 receptor at high doses.

Characterization of the adenosine receptors mediating hypothermia in the conscious mouse.

1. The effects of a range of adenosine receptor-selective ligands on body temperature were investigated following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection in conscious mice. The compounds tested were the non-selective adenosine receptor agonist 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine (NECA), the adenosine A1 receptor-selective agonists cyclopentyl-adenosine (CPA), N6-(9R-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) and N-(1S,trans)-[2-hydroxyclopentyl]-adenosine (GR79236), the A2a receptor selective agonist 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxyamidoaden osine (CGS-21680), the A2b receptor agonist N-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl[adenosine (metrifudil) and the A3 receptor agonist N6-(4-aminophenylethyl)adenosine (APNEA). 2. NECA (0.01-1 microgram, i.c.v.), all of the A1-selective agonists (0.01-1 microgram, i.c.v.) and APNEA (0.1-3 micrograms i.c.v.) produced profound and dose-related hypothermia and sedation. However, CGS-21680 (0.1-10 micrograms i.c.v.) and metrifudil (0.01-1 microgram i.c.v.), produced only mild hypothermia at the highest doses tested. 3. The hypothermic response to the A1 receptor-selective agonists, GR79236 and R-PIA was dose-dependently antagonized by peripheral administration of either the non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT, approximately 40 and 30 fold rightward shifts of the dose-response curves respectively at 10 mg kg-1, i.p.), or the adenosine A1 receptor-selective antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, approximately 20 fold shift of the GR79236 dose-response curve at 1 mg kg-1, i.p.). The hypothermic response to APNEA was similarly dose-dependently antagonized by the A1 receptor-selective antagonist, DPCPX (5 fold shift at 0.1 mg kg-1, i.p.). 4.8(p-Sulphophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT, 10 and 30 mg kg-1, i.p.), a non-selective adenosine receptorantagonist that penetrates the blood brain barrier poorly, produced only modest antagonism (approximately 2 fold shift at 30 mg kg-1, i.p.) of the hypothermic response to GR79236.5. These data suggest that hypothermia induced by adenosine analogues in the conscious mouse is mediated via adenosine A1 receptors, which are probably located in the CNS.

Differential sensitivity of models of antinociception in the rat, mouse and guinea-pig to mu- and kappa-opioid receptor agonists.

1 A range of opioid receptor agonists were tested for activity in five antinociceptive models: the acetylcholine-induced abdominal constriction, tail-flick and hot plate tests in the mouse and the paw pressure test in the rat and guinea-pig. 2 Agonists acting preferentially at the kappa-opioid receptor were significantly more potent in the guinea-pig than in the rat paw pressure test, whereas mu-receptor preferring agonists were equipotent in the two tests. The mouse abdominal constriction test was of equal sensitivity to the guinea-pig pressure test for both types of agonist. 3 The mouse tail-flick and hot plate tests were progressively less sensitive than the other three tests, particularly to kappa-receptor preferring agonists. 4 The efficacy of an agonist can also markedly affect its activity in antinociceptive tests. Thus, partial kappa-agonists were weak or inactive in the rat paw pressure test, and partial agonists at both mu- and kappa-opioid receptors were relatively weak in the tests in which heat was the noxious stimulus, particularly the mouse hot plate test. 5 The mouse abdominal constriction test is suggested as the most appropriate antinociceptive model for testing a broad range of opioid agonists, whilst the relative potency of a drug in the rat and guinea-pig paw pressure tests may indicate the degree to which it is selective for kappa-opioid receptors in vivo.

Further investigations into adenosine A1 receptor-mediated contraction in rat colonic muscularis mucosae and its augmentation by certain alkylxanthine antagonists.

1. The alkylxanthine antagonists, 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), 8-p-sulphophenyltheophylline (8-SPT) and 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine (caffeine) produced rightward displacements of contractile concentration-effect curves to 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) in rat isolated colonic muscularis mucosae (RCMM) with concentration-ratios consistent with adenosine receptor blockade. The non-xanthine antagonist, 9 fluro-2-(2-furyl)-5,6-dihydro [1,2,4] triazo to [1,5-c]-quinazin-imine (CGS15943A) also antagonized contractions to NECA with an affinity (pKB8.1-8.5) consistent with adenosine A1 receptor blockade. 2. In addition to producing rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves, the maximum contractions to 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) were also markedly increased in the presence of 8-PT (by 83 +/- 16% at 1 microM), 8-SPT (by 37 +/- 7% at 10 microM) and caffeine (by 45 +/- 5% at 100 microM) but were unaffected by CGS15943A (at 0.01 and 0.03 microM). 3. As with NECA, the maximum contractions to the adenosine A1 receptor agonists R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) and N-[(1S, trans)-2-hydroxyclopentyl] adenosine (GR79236) were both antagonized and augmented by 8-PT. In addition, the contractions to NECA in the presence of 8-PT (1 microM) were inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). 4. The non-selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1 microM) produced a marked increase in the NECA maximum without producing a rightward shift in the NECA curve, whereas a higher concentration (10 microM) virtually abolished responses. The PDE type III inhibitor,milrinone (1 microM), the type IV inhibitor, rolipram (10 microM), and the type V PDE inhibitor, zaprinast(3 microM), were all without effect on NECA responses in RCMM.5. Partial inhibitions of contractions to NECA were produced by indomethacin (at 3 or 10 micro M) or piroxicam (at 3 microM). Responses to GR79236 were also partially inhibited by indomethacin. In the presence of indomethacin, 8-PT was still able to enhance markedly the maximum contractions obtained to NECA in RCMM.6. The present study has shown that certain alkylxanthine antagonists (but not the non-xanthineCGS15943A) produced a marked augmentation of adenosine Al receptor-mediated contractions inRCMM. The mechanism of this augmentation is, as yet, not known but is unlikely to result from inhibition of PDE. This study has also shown that adenosine Al receptor-induced contractions inRCMM are mediated, in part, via products of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway.

Determination of the receptor selectivity of opioid agonists in the guinea-pig ileum and mouse vas deferens by use of beta-funaltrexamine.

The irreversible inhibitor of mu-opioid receptor-mediated effects, beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA), was used to investigate the selectivity of various opioid agonists at mu-opioid receptors in the electrically stimulated guinea-pig ileum and mouse vas deferens preparations in vitro. In the guinea-pig ileum, pretreatment with beta-FNA (3 X 10(-8) - 3 X 10(-6)M) produced a concentration-dependent antagonism of the inhibitory effect produced by the mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAGO). High concentrations of beta-FNA (3 X 10(-6) - 1 X 10(-5)M) also antagonized the inhibitory effects of the kappa-opioid agonist U50488. Pretreatment of guinea-pig ileum with beta-FNA at 1 X 10(-6)M resulted in blockade of the effect of some opioid agonists. The compounds which showed the largest rightward shifts in their concentration-response curves, and hence the greatest mu/kappa opioid receptor selectivity, were nalbuphine, [D-Ser2, Leu5]enkephalinyl-Thr6(DSLET), morphine, DAGO and normorphine. Responses to tifluadom, Mr 2034, ethylketocyclazocine, butorphanol, nalorphine, proxorphan and U50488 were not inhibited by beta-FNA. In the mouse vas deferens, pre-treatment with beta-FNA (1 X 10(-6)M) produced a similar shift in the dose-response curves for normorphine as in the guinea-pig ileum. The concentration-response curves for the delta-receptor agonists [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] enkephalin (DADLE) and DSLET were, however, also shifted, indicating that beta-FNA will also block delta-opioid receptors. Since beta-FNA does not block kappa-opioid receptor-mediated effects, it can be used in the guinea-pig ileum preparation as a selective mu-receptor inhibitor. However, its lack of selectivity between mu- and delta-opioid receptors should be taken into account in many other isolated tissues and experiments in vivo.

Characterization of the adenosine receptor mediating contraction in rat colonic muscularis mucosae.

1. The objective of this study was to characterize the adenosine receptor mediating contraction in rat isolated colonic muscularis mucosae (RCMM). 2. Sequential additions of the adenosine receptor agonist 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA; 0.01-10 microM) elicited reproducible, concentration-related contractions in RCMM. The effects of NECA were mimicked by the adenosine A1 receptor-selective agonists cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) and N-[1S, trans)2-hydroxycyclopentyl] adenosine (GR79236) and by S-PIA (the stereoisomer of R-PIA). The adenosine A2 agonists N-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl] adenosine (metrifudil) and 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamine]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS21680) also produced contractions in RCMM but were 54 and 165 times less potent respectively than NECA. The rank order of agonist potency for contraction of RCMM was CPA > or = GR79236 = R-PIA > or = NECA > > S-PIA = metrifudil > CGS21680, which is identical to that reported for the inhibition of spontaneous rate in rat isolated right atria and inhibition of lipolysis in rat isolated adipocytes by these same agonists. 3. R-PIA, S-PIA and metrifudil behaved as partial agonists in RCMM. 4. The adenosine A1 receptor-selective antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3- dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) inhibited the contractions produced by all the adenosine agonists tested, with pKB values between 9.2 and 9.5. The non-selective adenosine antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT) antagonized the effects of NECA but also markedly potentiated (by 93.0 +/- 10.2% at 3 microM) the maximum contractile response to NECA in RCMM. Neither 8-PT (3 microM) nor DPCPX (0.1 microM) had any effect on the contractions produced by carbachol. 5. The contractile responses to NECA in RCMM were not affected by atropine (1 microM), tetrodotoxin(0.3 microM) or the P2 antagonist, suramin (100 microM).6. The present study confirms that contractions to adenosine agonists in the RCMM are mediated via adenosine Al receptors.

A series of novel, highly potent and selective agonists for the kappa-opioid receptor.

1. This paper describes the opioid receptor pharmacology and in vivo activity of several novel benzene-acetamidopiperidine and benzeneacetamidopiperazine analogues. 2. These compounds all showed potent, naloxone-reversible, full agonist activity in the field-stimulated rabbit vas deferens, indicating that they are kappa-opioid agonists; but showed very little activity in the rat or hamster vas deferens, indicating good selectivity with regard to mu- and delta-opioid receptors. 3. They were all potent antinociceptive agents, the most potent compound, GR 103545, having an ED50 value in the mouse abdominal constriction test of 0.25 micrograms kg-1 s.c. The compounds also produced sedation and diuresis, but had little effect on respiration rate or gastrointestinal motility. 4. It is concluded that the seven novel compounds described are all potent and selective agonists for the kappa-opioid receptor.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling of the anti-lipolytic and anti-ketotic effects of the adenosine A1-receptor agonist N6-(p-sulphophenyl)adenosine in rats.

1. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an integrated pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model for the anti-lipolytic effects of the adenosine A1-receptor agonist N6-(p-sulphophenyl)adenosine (SPA). Tissue selectivity of SPA was investigated by quantification of haemodynamic and anti-lipolytic effects in individual animals. 2. After intravenous infusion of SPA to conscious normotensive Wistar rats, arterial blood samples were drawn for determination of blood SPA concentrations, plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored continuously. 3. The relationship between the SPA concentrations and the NEFA lowering effect was described by the indirect suppression model. Administration of SPA at different rates and doses (60 microg kg[-1] in 5 min and 15 min, and 120 microg kg[-1] in 60 min) led to uniform pharmacodynamic parameter estimates. The averaged parameters (mean+/-s.e., n=19) were Emax: -80+/-2% (% change from baseline), EC50: 22+/-2 ng ml(-1), and Hill factor: 2.2+/-0.2. 4. In another group, given 400 microg kg(-1) SPA in 15 min, pharmacodynamic parameters for both heart rate and anti-lipolytic effect were derived within the same animal. The reduction in heart rate was directly related to blood concentration on the basis of the sigmoidal Emax model. SPA inhibited lipolysis at concentrations lower than those required for an effect on heart rate. The EC50 values (mean+/-s.e., n=6) were 131+/-31 ng ml(-1) and 20+/-3 ng ml(-1) for heart rate and NEFA lowering effect, respectively. 5. In conclusion, the relationship between blood SPA concentrations and anti-lipolytic effect was adequately described by the indirect suppression model. For SPA a 6 fold difference in potency was observed between the effects on heart rate and NEFAs, indicating some degree of tissue selectivity in vivo.

Effect of typical and atypical neuroleptics on the behavioural consequences of activation by muscimol of mesolimbic and nigro-striatal dopaminergic pathways in the rat.

Direct injections of muscimol into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) or substantia nigra zona reticulata (SNR) have been used to selectively stimulate the mesolimbic and nigro-striatal dopamine pathways respectively. Such injections induced locomotor activity, rearing, sniffing and in some animals an intermittent grooming response. These responses were rapid in onset, dose-related and relatively short lasting (less than 40 min). Selective increases in dopamine turnover were seen in the nucleus accumbens and in the striatum following VTA and SNR injections of muscimol (100 ng) respectively. Haloperidol inhibited the behavioural consequences of VTA and SNR injections of muscimol with similar potency (ED50S 0.01-0.03 mg/kg IP), and fluphenazine did likewise (ED50S 0.05-0.16 mg/kg IP). However, thioridazine (ED50S VTA: 1.45-2.04 mg/kg IP, SNR 8.50-9.20 mg/kg IP) and in particular clozapine (ED50S VTA: 0.24-0.58 mg/kg IP, SNR: 6.10-9.70 mg/kg IP) were more potent at inhibiting the locomotor activity and sniffing responses due to VTA rather than SNR administered muscimol. Since dopamine D2 antagonists are believed to exert their anti-psychotic effects via an action on mesolimbic dopaminergic systems, and their ability to induce extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) is thought to be due to an action on nigro-striatal dopamine systems, these results suggest that the behavioural models described can be used to predict efficacy and side-effect liability of potential neuroleptic drugs.

Facilitation of GABA release by cholecystokinin and caerulein in rat cerebral cortex.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide and its analogue, caerulein, facilitated the K+-evoked release of 14C-GABA from tissue slices of rat parietal cortex. The effect of caerulein was maximal at 1 nM where an enhancement of 36% was produced. Cholecystokinin octapeptide gave rise to a similar maximal enhancement (29%), but was two orders of magnitude less potent. The enhancement of 14C-GABA release by caerulein was reversed by proglumide, a putative competitive antagonist at the cholecystokinin receptor. The possibility that the cholecystokinin-induced facilitation of GABA release in the cortex is involved in the anticonvulsant properties of cholecystokinin-like peptides is discussed.

Application of fast cyclic voltammetry to measurement of electrically evoked dopamine overflow from brain slices in vitro.

Fast cyclic voltammetry at a carbon fibre microelectrode was used to monitor the time course of dopamine overflow in slices of rat corpus striatum incubated in a brain slice chamber. Dopamine release occurred in response to electrical stimulation. Electrochemical, physiological and pharmacological evidence indicates that release of endogenous dopamine can be measured reliably for up to 9 h and that fast cyclic voltammetry can be used in brain slices for quantitative studies of dopamine release in the CNS.

Presynaptic regulation of dopamine release in corpus striatum monitored in vitro in real time by fast cyclic voltammetry.

Dopamine release was evoked by single electrical pulses in slices of rat corpus striatum, and measured by fast cyclic voltammetry in real time. The magnitude of the release varied in the expected way to agents which modify dopamine storage, release and re-uptake. The presence of functional dopamine D2 autoreceptors was demonstrated by showing that the release was potently and completely inhibited by the selective agonists quinpirole and N,N-dipropyl-5,6-ADTN. The selective D1 agonist SKF 38393 was ineffective. The inhibition by quinpirole was competitively antagonised by haloperidol and metoclopramide with potencies which correspond closely to published values at postsynaptic striatal D2 receptors. Thus, the D2 autoreceptors on striatal nerve terminals appear to be indistinguishable from those on the postsynaptic neurons.

Pharmacology of delta-opioid receptors in the hamster vas deferens.

Electrically evoked contractions of the hamster isolated vas deferens are inhibited only by opioid drugs which have agonist activity at delta-opioid receptors. Opioids which are mu-, kappa- or sigma-selective were either inactive or were antagonists. The compound beta-funaltrexamine, which irreversibly blocks mu- and delta-opioid receptors, caused a flattening of the dose-response curve and a reduced maximum inhibition available to delta-opioid agonists. Analysis of the curves by the double-reciprocal null method enabled the affinity of these agonists at delta-opioid receptors to be calculated.

Irreversible selective blockade of kappa-opioid receptors in the guinea-pig ileum.

The irreversible non-selective opioid antagonist beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA) was used in combination with selective mu receptor protection by [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAGO) to produce an effective kappa receptor antagonism in the guinea-pig field-stimulated ileum preparation. Using a standard pre-treatment of 10(-7) M beta-CNA incubated for 15 min, DAG (10(-6)-10(-4) M) protected the response to the mu agonist normorphine while reducing the antagonism of the kappa agonist U50488 to a lesser extent. The concentration of DAGO which produced the most selective protection was 10(-5) M. This method was used to find the kappa selectivity of a series of opioid agonists. Of the compounds tested, butorphanol, dynorphin-(1-17), U50488, tifluadom, bremazocine and Mr 2034 were the most kappa-selective. The correlation with kappa agonist selectivity in vitro and effects in vitro on urine output in the rat is demonstrated.

Lack of evidence for epsilon-opioid receptors in the rat vas deferens.

Experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that the field-stimulated rat vas deferens preparation contains opioid receptors, other than of mu-type, which mediate part of the inhibitory effect of beta-endorphin. The Piebald Viral Glaxo strain of rats was used. The reported finding that delta-opioid receptors are present in Sprague-Dawley rat vas deferens, the effects of which are greatly enhanced in reduced calcium concentrations, could not be replicated in the rat strain used. Reducing the calcium concentration from 2.5 to 1.25 mM improved the response to opioid drugs: all full agonists were about 10 times more potent, the partial agonist normorphine became able to inhibit the twitch completely, and morphine (which behaves as a competitive antagonist in 2.5 mM Ca2+) appeared to behave as a partial agonist. The pA2 values for antagonism by naloxone in low calcium of the mu-selective peptide [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin and other mu- or delta-selective agonists were consistent with an action at mu-receptors only. The value for beta-endorphin was slightly but significantly lower. A similar small discrepancy was found with two other competitive antagonists. The discrepancy remained in the presence of the peptidase inhibitors thiorphan, bestatin and bacitracin. Responses to both [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin and beta-endorphin were attenuated by the irreversible antagonists beta-funaltrexamine and beta-chlornaltrexamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Norbinaltorphimine: antagonist profile at kappa opioid receptors.

The pharmacological profile of the opioid antagonist norbinaltorphimine has been characterised in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, norbinaltorphimine reversibly antagonised the effects of kappa agonists with pA2 values of 10.2-10.4. Norbinaltorphimine was much less potent as an antagonist at mu and delta receptors, pA2 values were 7.4-7.6 and 7.6-7.8, respectively. In all cases Schild slopes were unity. In vivo, norbinaltorphimine was an effective antagonist only at high dose levels and was not very selective between mu and kappa. The results indicate that in vitro norbinaltorphimine is a potent selective kappa antagonist; however, this antagonist profile is not maintained in vivo.

Characterization of dopamine autoreceptors in the amygdala: a fast cyclic voltammetric study in vitro.

The present study has employed the technique of fast cyclic voltammetry to measure electrically-evoked dopamine release within the central amygdaloid complex in a rat brain slice. Local electrical stimulation caused the release of an electroactive substance which was identified, biochemically and pharmacologically, as being neuronal dopamine. Dopamine release could be inhibited by the dopamine D2 receptor agonist, quinpirole, but not by the D1 receptor agonist, SKF38393. Quinpirole-induced inhibitions were antagonized by sulpiride, metoclopramide and clozapine but not by SCH23390. It is concluded that dopamine release in the amygdala can be modulated by presynaptic D2 receptors which appear to be the same type as those found in striatum and nucleus accumbens.