The importance of company: Na+ and Cl- influence substrate interaction with SLC6 transporters and other proteins.

SLC6 transporters, which include transporters for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, glycine, taurine, L-proline, creatine, betaine, and neutral cationic amino acids, require Na+ and Cl- for their function, and this review covers the interaction between transporters of this family with Na+ and Cl- from a structure-function standpoint. Because detailed structure-function information regarding ion interactions with SLC6 transporters is limited, we cover other proteins cotransporting Na+ or Cl- with substrate (SLClA2, PutP, SLC5A1, melB), or ion binding to proteins in general (rhodanese, ATPase, LacY, thermolysine, angiotensin-converting enzyme, halorhodopsin, CFTR). Residues can be involved in directly binding Na+ or Cl-, in coupling ion binding to conformational changes in transporter, in coupling Na+ or Cl- movement to transport, or in conferring ion selectivity. Coordination of ions can involve a number of residues, and portions of the substrate and coupling ion binding sites can be distal in space in the tertiary structure of the transporter, with other portions that are close in space thought to be crucial for the coupling process. The reactivity with methanethiosulfonate reagents of cysteines placed in strategic positions in the transporter provides a readout for conformational changes upon ion or substrate binding. More work is needed to establish the relationships between ion interactions and oligomerization of SLC6 transporters.

Preferential increases in nucleus accumbens dopamine after systemic cocaine administration are caused by unique characteristics of dopamine neurotransmission.

In vivo voltammetry was used to investigate the preferential increase of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens relative to the caudate-putamen after systemic cocaine administration. In the first part of this study, cocaine (40 mg/kg, i.p.) was compared with two other blockers of dopamine uptake, nomifensine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and 3beta-(p-chlorophenyl)tropan-2beta-carboxylic acid p-isothiocyanatophenylmethyl ester hydrochloride (RTI-76; 100 nmol, i.c.v.), to assess whether the inhibitory mechanism of cocaine differed in the two regions. All three drugs robustly increased electrically evoked levels of dopamine, and cocaine elevated dopamine signals to a greater extent in the nucleus accumbens. However, kinetic analysis of the evoked dopamine signals indicated that cocaine and nomifensine increased the K(m) for dopamine uptake whereas the dominant effect of RTI-76 was a decrease in V(max). Under the present in vivo conditions, therefore, cocaine is a competitive inhibitor of dopamine uptake in both the nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen. Whether the preferential effect of cocaine was mediated by regional differences in the presynaptic control of extracellular DA that are described by rates for DA uptake and release was examined next by a correlation analysis. The lower rates for dopamine release and uptake measured in the nucleus accumbens were found to underlie the preferential increase in extracellular dopamine after cocaine. This relationship explains the paradox that cocaine more effectively increases accumbal dopamine despite identical effects on the dopamine transporter in the two regions. The mechanism proposed for the preferential actions of cocaine may also mediate the differential effects of psychostimulant in extrastriatal regions and other uptake inhibitors in the striatum.

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by depolarization and sodium channel activation in mouse cerebrocortical slices.

Carbachol, a muscarinic receptor agonist and the sodium channel-activating agents, scorpion venom, veratridine, batrachotoxin and aconitine, were shown to stimulate the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates in [3H]inositol-labelled miniprisms, obtained from the cerebral cortex of the mouse. The inositol response to the Na+ channel-activating agents was inhibited by the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), while the response induced by carbachol was partially resistant to TTX. The response to scorpion venom and the TTX-insensitive portion of the response to carbachol was additive, indicating different mechanisms. The presence of high potassium (K+) induced hydrolysis of inositide in a TTX-insensitive manner and was not additive with that resulting from sodium channel activators, thus indicating a common mechanism. The addition of large concentrations of magnesium to block the release of acetylcholine, did not inhibit the inositol response to high K+ or to veratridine. Calcium channel blockers such as nickel or cobalt, or the dihydropyridine calcium (Ca2+) channel activator BAY K 8644 and the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, nimodipine or PN-200 110 had little effect. Monensin, a sodium ionophore, stimulated the turnover of phosphatidylinositol at non-depolarizing concentrations and the omission of Na+ ions inhibited the response to sodium channel agents and to high K+. Thus, membrane potential and gradients of K+, Na+ and Ca2+ are all important factors determining the final effect on the turnover of phosphatidylinositol. The data are consistent with a model in which all these factors impinge on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger regulating internal Ca2+ that, in turn, activates phospholipase C.

Comparison of the properties of central and peripheral binding sites for cocaine.

Cocaine and its analogs bound saturably to membranes of brain and liver of mice. The binding sites on membranes of liver had a lower affinity for cocaine than those of brain. In addition, there were striking differences between the two tissues in regard to the relative potencies of cocaine analogs in competing with [3H]cocaine for binding. In comparison with the binding sites in brain, those in liver had only moderate stereospecificity, and they discriminated less between the centrally active compounds and the centrally inert analogs.

Protection against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine neurotoxicity by the antioxidant ascorbic acid.

Administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 2 X 8 mg/kg retro-orbital) to BALB/cBy mice reduced [3H]mazindol binding to striatal membranes by 50%. Reactive oxygen derivatives have been suggested to be involved in MPTP neurotoxicity; therefore we examined the effects of ascorbic acid (an antioxidant). Ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) given 20 min prior to MPTP administration appreciably prevented the reduction of [3H]mazindol binding. The involvement of oxidative processes in the mechanism of MPTP neurotoxicity may suggest a relationship to the etiology of Parkinson's disease, and the possible benefit of treatment with ascorbic acid.

Metaphit prevents locomotor activation induced by various psychostimulants and interferes with the dopaminergic system in mice.

Metaphit, an isothiocyanate analog of phencyclidine and a proposed phencyclidine receptor acylator, inactivated the carrier involved in the neuronal uptake of dopamine in in vitro experiments with preparations of the striatum in the mouse. In ex vivo experiments 2 and 24 hr after the intravenous administration of metaphit, no changes were observed either in the binding of [3H]cocaine to striatal membranes or in the uptake of [3H]dopamine into synaptosomes or slices. In in vivo experiments 24 hr after pretreatment with metaphit, selective labelling of uptake sites for dopamine in the striatum of the mouse with [3H]GBR 12935 was unaffected. In these in vivo experiments, however, metaphit antagonized the locomotor stimulation induced by blockers of the uptake of dopamine (methylphenidate, mazindol, cocaine, GBR 12909) but not that induced by drugs that affect locomotion by other mechanisms (amphetamine, phencyclidine). Twenty-four hours after treatment with metaphit there was an increase in homovanillic acid in all regions of the brain studied (striatum, olfactory tubercle, cerebral cortex). There was no effect of metaphit on the disappearance rate of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid from the striatum during the inhibition of monoamine oxidase with pargyline. If the increase in homovanillic acid reflected a greater rate of dopamine catabolism in metaphit-treated mice, it could explain the lack of locomotor stimulation of blockers uptake of the dopamine in these animals, resulting from a rapid breakdown of extracellularly accumulated dopamine.

Effect of amphetamine on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxicity in mice.

Amphetamine has been shown to either potentiate or protect against MPTP neurotoxicity. The time course of changes in dopamine and its metabolites was examined after MPTP, amphetamine, or MPTP plus amphetamine administration. Results suggest that under conditions of granular depletion and release of dopamine by 10 mg/kg amphetamine, increased MPTP neurotoxicity occurs. Amphetamine injections at 2-5 mg/kg prevents the decline in dopamine possibly by blockade of the uptake of MPP+, rather than by an inhibition of monoamine oxidase.

Effect of nicotine and amphetamine on the neurotoxicity of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in mice.

The present results show the potentiating effect of amphetamine on the ability of MPTP to destroy dopaminergic neurons in striatum of the mouse. A single injection of MPTP (8 mg/kg, retro-orbital) reduced the binding of [3H]mazindol, a marker for dopamine terminals, by 24%. When D-amphetamine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) was given 20 min prior to MPTP, the binding of [3H]mazindol, measured 3-5 days later, was reduced by 58%. It is proposed that the mechanism of this potentiation primarily involves an increased release of dopamine by D-amphetamine, and free radical-mediated processes. Although nicotine also releases dopamine from the striatum, no effect was observed when it was administered prior to MPTP. The lack of effect is probably related to short duration of action of nicotine and the modest effect on release of dopamine as compared to that of amphetamine.

Evidence that there is no direct correlation between alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonism and inhibition of voltage-dependent sodium channels.

Electrophysiological and biochemical evidence suggests that the voltage-dependent sodium channel is the site of local anesthetic action, and that there is pharmacological similarity between alpha-adrenoceptors and Na+-channels. Yohimbine, a non-selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, with a structure similar to that of cocaine affects the sodium channel by a mechanism different from that of other local anesthetics including cocaine. Some structural analogues of yohimbine -berbane compounds- were found to be potent and selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists. In this work the local anesthetic properties of two berbane compounds (6c and 6d (CH-38083) from the paper of Vizi, Toth, Somogyi, Szabo, Harsing and Szantay, 1987) were examined and compared to those of yohimbine in vitro on scorpion venom-enhanced specific binding of [3H]batrachotoxinin A 20-alpha-benzoate [( 3H]BTX-B) to the voltage-sensitive sodium channel and on the veratridine-induced depolarization measured by the uptake of [3H]trimethylphenylphosphonium ion [( 3H]TPMP+) in mouse brain cortex. Both of the compounds inhibited the [3H]BTX-B binding with an IC50 of (approximately) 150 microM, which is more than four orders of magnitude higher than the concentration required for antagonism of a presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor (7 nM). They are 15 times less potent in inhibiting [3H]BTX-B binding and 2.5 times less potent in inhibiting veratridine-induced depolarization than yohimbine.

Tolerance in the replacement of the benzhydrylic O atom in 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine derivatives by an N atom: development of new-generation potent and selective N-analogue molecules for the dopamine transporter.

The replacement of the benzhydrylic oxygen atom of our previously developed dopamine transporter (DAT)-specific ligands 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperidine, 1a, and 4-[2-(bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine, 1b, by a nitrogen atom resulted in the development of the N-analogues 4-[2-((diphenylmethyl)amino)ethyl]-1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]pi peridi ne, 4a, and 4-[2-((bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl)amino)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine, 4b. Biological evaluation of these compounds in rat striatal tissue and in HEK-293 cells expressing the cloned human transporters demonstrated high potency and selectivity of these compounds for the DAT. Thus the potency of the compound 4a for the DAT was 9.4 and 30 nM in rat striatal tissue and in the cloned transporter cells, and its binding selectivity for the DAT compared to the serotonin transporter (SERT) for these two systems was 62 and 195, respectively. The compound 4b similarly exhibited high potency and selectivity for the DAT. Thus, the replacement of the O atom in 1a,b by an N atom in 4a,b only had small effects on potency and selectivity. In comparison with GBR 12909 [1-[2-(bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy)ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine ] and WIN 35,428 [3beta-(p-fluorophenyl)-2beta-carbomethoxytropane] binding, these two novel N-analogues were slightly more potent and far more selective for the DAT. Thus, these novel N-analogues represent more polar new-generation piperidine congeners of GBR 12909. They might have useful potential application in developing a pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependence.

Structure-activity relationship studies of novel 4-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-1-(3-phenylpropyl)piperidine analogs: synthesis and biological evaluation at the dopamine and serotonin transporter sites.

Several analogs of the potent dopamine (DA) transporter ligand 4-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)-methoxy]ethyl]-1-(3-phenylpropyl)piperidine, 1b, were made and biologically evaluated for their binding at the DA and serotonin (5HT) transporters in rat striatal membranes. Different alkyl chain lengths and substitutions were introduced in these molecules to generate an optimum activity and selectivity for the DA transporter. In general, unsubstituted and fluoro-substituted compounds were the most active and selective for the DA transporter. The compound 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine, 9a, showed high potency and was the most selective for the DA transporter (5HT/DA = 49) in this series of compounds. Some of these novel analogs were found to be more selective in binding at the DA transporter than the original GBR 12909 molecule, 1-[2-]bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3- phenylpropyl)piperidine.

Highly selective, novel analogs of 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]- 1-benzylpiperidine for the dopamine transporter: effect of different aromatic substitutions on their affinity and selectivity.

Several analogs of the potent and selective dopamine transporter (DAT) ligand 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine, 1a, were prepared and biologically evaluated at the dopamine and serotonin transporter (SERT) sites. Several substituents were introduced in the aromatic rings to evaluate the influences of electronic and steric interactions in their binding to the DAT. All the novel analogs showed preferential interaction at the DAT compared with the SERT. Different aromatic substitutions in the phenyl ring of the N-benzyl part of the molecule played a key role in the selectivity. In general, compounds with strong electron-withdrawing substituents were most active and selective at the DAT. Thus, compounds 5a (R = F) and 11b (R = NO2) were among the most potent (IC50 = 17.2 and 16.4 nM, respectively) and most selective (SERT/DAT = 112 and 108, respectively) and were far more selective than GBR 12909 (SERT/DAT = 6). Bioisosteric replacement of one of the phenyl rings of the diphenylmethoxy moiety by a thiophene ring was tolerated well and produced the most potent compound 13b (IC50 = 13.8 nM) in the series. Our current structure-activity studies of these piperidine analogs resulted in the generation of second generation of GBR-type compounds, and all of these new compounds reported here were more selective than GBR 12909 in interacting with the DAT over the SERT.

Potent and selective ligands for the dopamine transporter (DAT): structure-activity relationship studies of novel 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-(3-phenylpropyl)piperidine analogues.

Molecular structural modifications of 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-(3-phenylpropyl)piperidine (1a), a dopamine transporter (DAT)-specific ligand, generated several novel analogues. Biological activities of these new molecules for their binding to the DAT and serotonin transporter (SERT) were evaluated in rat striatal membranes. Some of these new analogues were more potent and selective than GBR 12909 when their binding to the DAT relative to SERT was compared. Thus compounds 9 and 19a were among the most potent (IC50 = 6.6 and 6.0 nM, respectively) and selective (DAT/SERT = 33.8 and 30.0, respectively) compounds in this series, and they were more active than GBR 12909 (IC50 = 14 nM, DAT/SERT = 6.1). Introduction of a double bond in the N-propyl side chain of these molecules did not influence their activities to a great extent. Bioisosteric replacement of the aromatic phenyl group by a thiophene moiety produced some of the most potent compounds in this series.

Structure-activity relationship studies of 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine derivatives and their N-analogues: evaluation of O-and N-analogues and their binding to monoamine transporters.

In our effort to develop a pharmacotherapy for the treatment of cocaine addiction, we embarked on synthesizing novel molecules targeting the dopamine transporter (DAT) molecule in the brain as DAT has been implicated strongly in the reinforcing effect of cocaine. Our previously developed DAT-selective piperidine analogue, 4-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-1-benzylpiperidine, was the basis for our current structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies exploring the significance of the contribution of the benzhydryl O- and N-atoms in these molecules in interacting with the DAT. Thus, we replaced the benzhydryl O-atom with an N-atom, altered the location of the benzhydryl N-atom to an adjacent position, and in one other occasion converted the benzhydryl O-ether linkage into an oxime-type derivative. Furthermore, we also evaluated the important contribution of the piperidine N-atom to binding by altering its pK(a) value chemically. Novel analogues were tested for potency in inhibiting [3H]WIN 35,428, [3H]citalopram, and [3H]nisoxetine binding at the DAT, serotonin transporter (SERT), and norepinepherine transporter (NET). [3H]DA was used to measure DA reuptake inhibition. The results indicated that the benzhydryl O- and N-atoms are exchangeable for the most part. On the other hand, an enhanced interaction with the SERT was observed when the benzhydryl N-atom moved to an adjacent position (21a; DAT (IC(50)) = 19.7, SERT (IC(50)) = 137 nM, NET (IC(50)) = 1111 nM). In either cases, further alkylation of the N-atom reduced the activity for the transporter. The presence of a powerful electron-withdrawing cyano group in compound 5d expectedly produced the most potent and selective ligand for the DAT (DAT (IC(50)) = 3.7 nM, DAT/SERT = 615). Selected compounds were further analyzed in the dopamine reuptake inhibition assay. Preliminary behavioral assessment of some of the selected compounds in mice indicated that these compounds are much less stimulating when compared with cocaine at comparable doses. In drug-discrimination studies these selected compounds incompletely generalized from the cocaine stimulus in mice trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from vehicle.

Differential effects of daily administration of cocaine on hepatic and cerebral glutathione in mice.

Twenty-four hours after acute administration of cocaine HCl (25 mg/kg, i.p.) to male C57BL/6ByJ mice, there was no hepatotoxicity as measured by plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. In contrast, daily administration of cocaine (25 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days induced marked hepatotoxicity, as characterized by a greater than 400% increase in plasma AST activity when assayed 24 hr after the last injection. Concomitantly, the liver had increased levels of cysteine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, glutathione, cysteinylglycine, glutamate, methionine, taurine, and aspartate. The effect appeared to be selective for compounds of the glutathione metabolic pathways, because repeated cocaine exposure did not affect other amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, serine, and valine. There was a positive correlation between the magnitude of the elevation of cysteine and the extent of liver damage. Daily cocaine administration did not affect striatal or frontal cortex glutathione. A final cocaine challenge (50 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect either hepatic or cerebral glutathione metabolism. The increase in hepatic cysteine and glutathione upon daily cocaine administration is a potentially important compensatory mechanism against cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity.

Translocation of dopamine and binding of 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl) tropane (WIN 35,428) measured under identical conditions in rat striatal synaptosomal preparations. Inhibition by various blockers.

Translocation of [3H]dopamine and binding of 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)[3H]-tropane ([3H]WIN 35,428) were measured in crude synaptosomal preparations from rat striatum under identical conditions of assay buffer (phosphate-Krebs) and temperature (25 degrees). [3H]Dopamine uptake as a function of time was close to linear for at least 8 min, whereas [3H]WIN 35,428 binding had reached equilibrium within 1 min and remained at its plateau value for at least 20 min. The following inhibitors were tested in uptake and binding assays run in parallel with the same synaptosomal preparation: cocaine, WIN 35,428, benztropine, nomifensine, mazindol, methylphenidate, N-[1-(2-benzo[b]-thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (BTCP), Lu 19-005 (Indatraline), 1-(2-(di(4-fluorophenyl)-methoxy)-ethyl)-4-(3-phenyl-2-propyl)piperazine (GBR 12909), 1-(2-(diphenylmethoxy)-ethyl)-4-(3-phenyl-2-propyl)piperazine (GBR 12935) and 7-trifluoromethyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-pyrrolo [1,2-a]quinoxaline (CGS 12066B). When present together with [3H]dopamine or [3H]WIN 35,428 for 8 min, the observed binding IC50 values were generally higher (average 1.4-fold) than the uptake IC50 values, with a significant y-axis intercept in linear regression analysis of binding on uptake IC50. For slowly equilibrating inhibitors, estimates of uptake IC50 values were overestimates, and relatively lower values were obtained by monitoring [3H]dopamine uptake for 1 min only during the last minute of the 8-min presence of inhibitor; under these conditions, binding over uptake IC50 ratios were on the average 2.3. Kinetic calculations, taking into account both radioligand and inhibitor equilibration kinetics, indicated that the latter comparison between binding and uptake measurements was most relevant, and suggested the involvement of complexities beyond simple competitive inhibition of dopamine transport, such as different binding domains for substrate and blocker recognition, or spare receptors for blockers. The present data indicate that binding over uptake IC50 ratios should be interpreted with caution, depending on the experimental conditions used to measure these ratios.

Binding domains for blockers and substrates on the cloned human dopamine transporter studied by protection against N-ethylmaleimide-induced reduction of 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)[3H]tropane ([3H]WIN 35,428) binding.

Binding sites for 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)[3H]tropane ([3H]WIN 35,428) on the human dopamine transporter expressed in C6 glioma cells were alkylated with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), and the protective potency of the blockers cocaine, N[1-(2-benzo[b]thiophenyl) cyclohexyl]piperidine (BTCP), and benztropine, and of the substrates dopamine, d-amphetamine, and norepinephrine was measured. In general, the protective potency was lower (at least 4-5 times) than the potency in inhibiting [3H]WIN 35,428 binding with the compounds present under the same experimental conditions used for the NEM alkylation. However, the disparity was substantially greater for all substrates tested (23- to 44-fold) than for the blockers (4- to 11-fold), especially cocaine (5-fold) and BTCP (4-fold). Benztropine took an intermediate place (11-fold) between cocaine (5-fold) and BTCP (4-fold), on the one hand, and dopamine (23-fold), on the other hand. [3H]WIN 35,428 binding was best described by a one-site model under the present conditions. The results are discussed in terms of models involving blocker-induced conformational changes and overlapping nonidentical binding domains for blockers and substrates.

Regulation of the functional activity of the human dopamine transporter by protein kinase C.

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) was examined in the regulation of dopamine transport in C6 glioma cells stably expressing the human dopamine transporter. The PKC activating phorbol esters phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 4 beta-12,13-dibutyrate phorbol-ester (PDBu) inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake concentration dependently. These effects were attenuated by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine but were unaltered by another inhibitor, chelerythrine, or the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. The potency of PMA in inhibiting [3H]dopamine uptake was similar to that in inhibiting the binding of 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane ([3H]WIN 35,428), and again staurosporine, but not chelerythrine, weakened the effect of PMA. The reduction in dopamine transporter activity by PMA was caused by a decrease in the Vmax value of [3H]dopamine uptake, opposed by a smaller reduction in the Km value, whereas the effect of PMA on [3H]WIN 35,428 binding was caused by a reduction in the Bmax value without a change in the Kd value. The lower Km value in the presence of PMA was accompanied by a higher IC50 of dopamine in inhibiting [3H]WIN 35,428 binding; the latter effect was attenuated by the co-presence of staurosporine. The results are discussed in the context of transporter loss from the cell surface, or a model with phosphorylation affecting the shared dopamine and WIN 35,428 binding domain on the transporter as well as affecting a part of the dopamine binding domain lying outside that for WIN 35,428.

[3H]WIN 35,428 [2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane] binding to rat brain membranes. Comparing dopamine cell body areas with nerve terminal regions.

Potential differences between somatodendritic acid and axonal dopamine transporters were examined by comparing the binding constants of [3H]WIN 35, 428 [2 beta-carbomethoxy- 3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane] binding to membranes prepared from the rat ventral mesencephalon, containing A9 and A10 dopamine cell bodies, and from the nucleus accumbens. Saturation analysis of [3H]WIN 35,428 binding, in the presence of compounds to occlude norepinephrine and serotonin transporters, was performed by both the "unlabeled" method (varying unlabeled ligand) and "labeled" method (varying radioligand). The density of binding was substantially lower in the ventral mesencephalon than in the nucleus accumbens, but the binding affinity was only slightly different. Likewise, the differences between the two regions in the inhibitory potency of cocaine and GBR 12909 [1-(2-di(4-fluorophenyl)-methoxy-ethyl)4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine] were not substantial. The results suggest that somatodendritic and axonal dopamine transporters in the ventral mesencephalon and nucleus accumbens are not very different as far as their binding domains for uptake blockers such as cocaine and GBR 12909 are concerned.

Interaction of yohimbine with batrachotoxinin binding to mouse brain sodium channels.

To study the local anesthetic properties of yohimbine in more detail, its effect was examined in vitro on the scorpion toxin-enhanced specific binding of [3H]batrachotoxinin A 20-alpha-benzoate [( 3H]BTX-B) to the gating complex in sodium channel preparations from mouse brain cortex. Both equilibrium and kinetic experiments were carried out. Yohimbine inhibited the specific binding of [3H]BTX-B in the vesicular preparation with an IC50 value of 2.2 X 10(-5) M. This is about one order of magnitude higher than the concentration required for antagonism via the alpha 2-adrenoceptors; however, yohimbine is 7-fold more potent in inhibiting [3H]BTX-B binding than lidocaine. In a concentration-dependent manner, yohimbine increased the dissociation constant (Kd) of high-affinity [3H]BTX-B binding without changing the maximal binding capacity (Bmax). The dissociation rate constant was not affected by yohimbine, suggesting competitive inhibition as opposed to the action of local anesthetics involving an allosteric action via receptor sites distinct from the BTX site. Alpha 2-adrenoceptors are apparently not involved because clonidine and alpha-methyl-noradrenaline had no appreciable effect on [3H]BTX-B binding and did not antagonize the inhibitory effect of yohimbine. The present findings indicate a mechanism of local anesthetic action of yohimbine that differs from that of other local anesthetics such as tetracaine and lidocaine involving direct binding to the BTX site, thereby stabilizing a non-permeable form of the sodium channel.