Affinity profiles of various muscarinic antagonists for cloned human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes and mAChRs in rat heart and submandibular gland.

A family of five subtypes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) has been identified based on their molecular structures and second signal transduction pathways. In the present study, we examined the antagonist binding profiles of 9 muscarinic antagonists (atropine, 4-DAMP, pirenzepine, oxybutynin, tiquizium, timepidium, propiverine, darifenacin and zamifenacin) for human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes (m1, m2, m3, m4 and m5) produced by using a baculovirus infection system in Sf9 insect cells, and rat tissue membrane preparations (heart and submandibular gland). In a scopolamine methyl chloride [N-methyl-3H]- ([3H]NMS) binding assay, pirenzepine and timepidium displayed the highest affinities for the m1 and m2 subtypes, respectively, and both zamifenacin and darifenacin had the highest affinities for the m3 subtype, although the selectivities among the five subtypes were less than 10-fold. Propiverine showed a slightly higher affinity for the m5 subtype, whereas none of the drugs used in this study was uniquely selective for the m4 subtype. The binding affinities of muscarinic antagonists for rat heart and submandibular gland strong correlated with those for human cloned m2 and m3 subtypes, respectively. These data suggest that [3H]NMS binding studies using rat heart and submandibular gland might be useful methods which predict the affinities of test drugs for human muscarinic M2 and M3 receptor subtypes.

Pharmacological studies on the novel antiallergic drug HQL-79: I. Antiallergic and antiasthmatic effects in various experimental models.

The effects of oral administration of 4-benzhydryloxy-1-[3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-propyl]piperidine (HQL-79), a newly synthesized antiallergic drug, in various experimental allergic and asthmatic models were investigated. HQL-79 markedly inhibited immediate hypersensitivity reactions such as passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats, antigen-induced bronchoconstriction and nasal vascular permeability in actively sensitized guinea pigs, like epinastine and ketotifen did. Airway eosinophilia in repeatedly antigen-exposed guinea pigs was suppressed by chronic administration of HQL-79 for 2 weeks. In another experiment, the antigen-induced late asthmatic response (LAR) in metyrapone-treated guinea pigs was also ameliorated by chronic treatment with HQL-79. Moreover, HQL-79 partially inhibited the toluene diisocyanate-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in mice when administered chronically during the immunization period. The corticosteroid dexamethasone inhibited the airway inflammatory responses in guinea pigs and the DTH in mice. These results indicate that HQL-79 has potent inhibitory effects on the immediate hypersensitivity reactions, and when administered chronically, it also inhibits airway eosinophilia, LAR and DTH, similarly to corticosteroids.

Pharmacological studies on the novel antiallergic drug HQL-79: II. Elucidation of mechanisms for antiallergic and antiasthmatic effects.

The effects of 4-benzhydryloxy-1-[3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-propyl]piperidine (HQL-79), a newly developed antiallergic drug, on various chemical mediators and on chemical mediator release were investigated. Orally administered HQL-79 strongly inhibited the histamine-induced skin reaction in rats, and histamine- and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. HQL-79 inhibited antigen-induced release of leukotriene (LT) B4, LTC4, histamine and prostaglandin (PG) D2 from the chopped lung tissues of actively sensitized guinea pigs. On the other hand, release of PGE2, one of the bronchoprotective prostanoids, was significantly enhanced by HQL-79. In an in vivo experiment, chronic administration of HQL-79 clearly reduced PGD2 contents and enhanced PGE2 contents in the lungs of repeatedly antigen-exposed guinea pigs. In biochemical studies, HQL-79 inhibited mouse spleen PGD synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. None of the antiallergics such as epinastine, terfenadine, oxatomide and cetirizine inhibited the PGD synthase. HQL-79 did not affect PGE synthase in sheep vesicular gland microsomes. These results suggest that antiallergic and antiasthmatic effects of HQL-79 could be ascribed to antihistaminic- and anti-5-HT effects, chemical mediator release inhibition, PGE2-release enhancement and PGD synthase inhibition. It is considered, in particular, that the differential modulation of PGD2 and PGE2 production is a conspicuous pharmacological feature of HQL-79.

Effect of muscarinic agonist on overflow incontinence induced by bilateral pelvic nerve transection in rats.

The effect of bethanechol, a muscarinic agonist, was studied by cystometrography in conscious rats with bilateral pelvic nerve (PN) lesions. In sham-operated rats, the transvesical infusion of saline elicited regularly micturition. The micturition was abolished by the bilateral PN transection, resulting in overflow incontinence. Bethanechol (30 mg/kg), administered orally to denervated rats, significantly increased the micturition frequency. Therefore, the micturition seems to be largely dependent upon muscarinic receptors of the bladder, and the finding supports the clinical effect of bethanechol. Moreover, this animal model may be useful for studying the overflow incontinence from detrusor failure of neuropathic origin.

Increased expression of cathepsins E and D in neurons of the aged rat brain and their colocalization with lipofuscin and carboxy-terminal fragments of Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein.

Age-related changes in the expression and localization of two distinct intracellular aspartic proteinases, cathepsin E (CE) and cathepsin D (CD), were investigated in the rat cerebral cortex and the brainstem by immunocytochemical and quantitative methods using discriminative antibodies specific for each enzyme. Nonlysosomal CE was barely detectable in these two brain tissues in the embryonic stages, whereas relatively high expression of lysosomal CD was observed in embryonic tissues. After birth, CE was increasingly expressed in these tissues with aging to attain maximal levels at 30 months of age. Western blot analyses revealed that CE existed predominantly as the mature enzyme at 2 and 17 months of age, whereas it was present as not only the mature enzyme but also the proenzyme at 30 months of age. On the other hand, CD was mainly present in the mature form throughout development, although its level in these tissues was also significantly increased with aging. The CE-positive cortical and brainstem neurons of the aged rat corresponded well with cells emitting autofluorescence for lipopigments. By the double-staining technique, most of the CE-positive cortical and brainstem neurons of the aged rat were also positive for antibody to the carboxyl-terminal fragments of amyloid precursor protein (APP634-695), intracellular accumulation of which is thought to be associated with age-related changes in the endosome/lysosome system. It is important that electron microscopy revealed that CE in brainstem neurons of the aged rat colocalized with CD in the lipofuscin-containing lysosomes. These results indicate that aging results in the increased expression and lysosomal localization of CE in cortical and brainstem neurons and changes in the endosomal/lysosomal proteolytic system, which may be related to lipofuscinogenesis and altered intracellular APP metabolism.

Pharmacological characteristics of hyperambulation induced by the sigma ligand (+)-3-PPP in rats.

(+)-3-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)-3-PPP), a sigma ligand, at doses above 3 mg/kg (s.c.) increased the ambulatory activity of rats, while the (-) isomer of 3-PPP with low affinity for sigma receptors, did not significantly modify the ambulatory activity at 10 and 30 mg/kg (s.c.). The ambulation-increasing effect of (+)-3-PPP was prevented by the sigma receptor antagonists BMY 14802 and rimcazole or the sigma/dopamine D2 antagonist haloperidol. The (+)-3-PPP effect was also attenuated by pretreatment with the monoamine depletor reserpine or the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-methyltyrosine, but was not affected by the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine. Moreover, the (+)-3-PPP effect was antagonized by the dopamine D2 antagonist sulpiride, whereas pretreatment with the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT and the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine did not exert any significant effect. These results indicate that sigma receptors are involved in the neuronal mechanism(s) of hyperambulation induced by (+)-3-PPP, and the sigma system may exert both a presynaptic action and a dopamine D2 receptor-mediated action to increase the central dopaminergic function.

Age-related changes in activities and localizations of cathepsins D, E, B, and L in the rat brain tissues.

Altered cellular levels and localizations of four distinct intracellular proteinases, cathepsins D, E, B, and L, with aging were studied in various rat brain tissues by enzymatic and immunohistochemical methods using discriminative antibodies specific for each enzyme. With regard to two aspartic proteinases, cathepsin E was barely detectable in all the brain tissues of young adult rats, including the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, the neostriatum, and the cerebellum, whereas cathepsin D was ubiquitously found in these tissues. Two cysteine proteinases, cathepsins B and L, also existed in these tissues of young rats at the relatively high levels of activities. In aged rats, the cathepsin D levels in all of the brain tissues examined were about twice those of young rats. Cathepsin E was markedly increased in the cerebral cortex and neostriatum of aged rats, but not in the other tissues. The levels of cathepsin B were also increased significantly in the neostriatum of aged rats, but not significantly in the other tissues. In contrast, the activity levels of cathepsin L were strikingly decreased in all the brain tissues of aged rats. At the light microscopic level, the increased immunoreactivity of cathepsins D and E in the brain tissues of aged rats was eminent in both the neurons and the glial cells. By double-immunostaining technique, the cathepsin D-positive glial cells were mainly associated with reactive astrocytes, whereas the cathepsin E-positive glial cells were largely reactive microglial cells. Western blot analyses revealed that the molecular forms of cathepsins D and E increasingly expressed in the cerebral cortex of aged rats were similar to those of the respective normal mature enzymes. The increased immunoreactivity of cathepsin B in the neostriatum of aged rats was also found in both the neurons and the glial cells. Despite the marked decrease of the cathepsin L activity in various brain tissues of aged rats, the immunostaining for this enzyme was not significantly changed, indicating the occurrence of the catalytically inactive form of the enzyme in these tissues. These results suggest that the increased levels of cathepsins D, E, and B and the decrease in cathepsin L activity in brain regions of aged rats are related to both the neuronal degeneration and the reactivation of glial cells during the normal aging process of the brain.

Long-term potentiation is lost in aged rats but preserved by calorie restriction.

Recordings of synaptic population responses, post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) were made from area CA1 in hippocampal slices from ad libitum-fed rats at about 2 and 24 months of age, and also in animals at about 24 months of age that had been restricted to 60% of the caloric intake of control animals since weaning. Both PTP and LTP were greatly reduced in the old ad-lib animals. Calorically-restricted rats at about 24 months of age showed hippocampal responses with initial peak amplitudes more like those of 2-month controls than the ad-lib animals at 24 months. These observations suggest that calorie restriction preserves nervous-system functions, including indicators of plasticity such as LTP, which are otherwise lost in aging.

Preparation and pharmacological evaluation of 4-(1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-4-phenylbutanamides as potential cerebral protective agents.

A new series of 4-(1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-4-phenylbutanamides (2) were synthesized for evaluation of their pharmacological activities. All these compounds synthesized showed significant antilipidperoxidation (ALP) activities with brain homogenate in rats and some of them possessed a protective effect against hypobaric hypoxia in mice. Especially, a thiomorpholine derivative (2l, SUN-4757) showed a wide efficacy spectrum to a variety of experimental screening assays designed for cerebral protective agents, and it had a high LD50 value.

Reversal of alpha-methyltyrosine-induced hypoactivity by 6-(R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-erythrobiopterin (R-THBP) in mice.

The effects of peripheral administration of 6-(R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-erythrobiopterin dihydrochloride (R-THBP), a natural cofactor for tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases, were investigated in mice treated with a competitive inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, alpha-methyltyrosine (alpha-MT). A subcutaneous dose of 250 mg/kg of alpha-MT decreased markedly both ambulatory activity and cerebral contents of norepinephrine, dopamine and their metabolites in mice. An intraperitoneal dose of 100 mg/kg of R-THBP, which did not alter ambulatory activities in normal mice, improved the hypoactivity in alpha-MT-treated mice. Moreover, R-THBP at intraperitoneal doses of 60 and 100 mg/kg inhibited the impairment of cerebral catecholamine metabolism induced by alpha-MT in mice. We suggest that the reversal of the alpha-MT effects by R-THBP might be due to reactivation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the central nervous system.

The synthesis and antilipidperoxidation activity of 4,4-diarylbutylamines and 4,4-diarylbutanamides.

A series of 4,4-diarylbutylamine and 4,4-diarylbutanamide derivatives has been synthesized and evaluated for their antilipidperoxidation (ALP) activity and acute toxicity (LD50). Some of them were found to have significant ALP activity.

Effect of anticholinergic drug on long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) was studied in CA1 neurons by tetanization of the Schaffer-commissural pathway in rat hippocampal slices. A brief tetanus (200 Hz for 1 s) caused an increase in amplitude of the population spike recorded from the CA1 area (typically about 200% of control), which lasted for more than 2 h. LTP was suppressed by perfusion of the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (10(-5) M) from 5 min before to 15 min after the tetanus. If perfusion of the drug was begun after the tetanus, there was no affect on LTP. Scopolamine perfused without tetanus did not change the amplitude of the population spike. These results suggest that cholinergic system may affect the generation mechanisms of LTP.

General pharmacological studies on N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-8-pyrrolizidineacetamide hydrochloride hemihydrate. 1st communication: effect on the central nervous system.

The pharmacological actions of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-8-pyrrolizidineacetamide hydrochloride hemihydrate (SUN 1165), a new antiarrhythmic agent, on the central nervous system were studied in various experimental animals as compared with those of disopyramide, mexiletine and lidocaine, and the following results were obtained. 1. Acute toxicity of SUN 1165 in mice was similar to that of mexiletine, and twice as potent as compared with that of disopyramide and lidocaine. Main acute toxic symptoms of SUN 1165 were muscle relaxation, ataxia, clonic convulsions, tremor and a decrease in spontaneous activity in mice, rats and rabbits. In addition to these symptoms, vomiting in dogs was observed. These toxic symptoms were similar to those of lidocaine. In the case of disopyramide, ataxia, tremor and a decrease in spontaneous activity were observed in mice and rats. On the other hand, mexiletine caused central nervous excitatory symptoms, that is, tremor, Straub tail, clonic convulsions, jumping, running and opisthotonus in mice and rats, and vomiting in dogs. 2. SUN 1165 even at large doses (50-100 mg/kg p.o.) exerted no significant effects on the following changes: hexobarbital-induced induced hypnosis, oxotremorine-induced tremor, apomorphine-induced hypothermia, reserpine-induced ptosis and hypothermia, 5-hydroxytryptophan syndrome and fighting behavior in mice, and conditioned avoidance response in rats. 3. An ineffective dose of SUN 1165 (12.5 mg/kg p.o.) on spontaneous locomotor activity was lower than of disopyramide and lidocaine, however, higher than that of mexiletine. 4. SUN 1165 at large doses showed antagonistic action on toxic extensor seizures induced by maximal electroshock, picrotoxin, or strychnine in mice, but anticonvulsive effects of SUN 1165 were less potent than those of mexiletine and lidocaine. SUN 1165 had no effect on clonic convulsions induced by pentetrazol and pictrotoxin in mice, while both mexiletine and lidocaine prolonged the duration of clonic convulsions. 5. The muscle relaxant effect of SUN 1165 (50%-toxic dose, TD50 = 30 mg/kg p.o.) was more marked than that of lidocaine (TD50 = 92 mg/kg p.o.) on traction test in mice. However, effect of SUN 1165 (TD50 = 62 mg/kg p.o.) on motor incoordination was similar to that of disopyramide, mexiletine and lidocaine on the rotarod test in mice. 6. The analgesic effect of SUN 1165 was as weak as that of disopyramide, mexiletine and lidocaine on chemically and mechanically-induced pain response in mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

General pharmacological studies on N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-8-pyrrolizidineacetamide hydrochloride hemihydrate. 2nd communication: effect on the peripheral nervous system and peripheral organs.

The pharmacological actions of N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-8-pyrrolizidineacetamide hydrochloride hemihydrate (SUN 1165), a new antiarrhythmic agent, on the peripheral nervous system and peripheral organs were studied in various laboratory animals in comparison with those of disopyramide and mexiletine, and the following results were obtained. 1. Large doses (50 or 100 mg/kg p.o.) of SUN 1165 as well as mexiletine had little effects on the pilocarpine-induced hypersalivation and the pupil size in mice. At higher concentration (10(-5) g/ml), SUN 1165 had no effects on the various spasmogen acetylcholine (ACh)-, histamine- or BaCl2-induced contractions in the isolated guinea pig ileum, tracheal smooth muscle and urinary bladder. Disopyramide caused mydriasis, inhibited the pilocarpine-induced hypersalivation at antiarrhythmic doses (10-30 mg/kg p.o.), and suppressed ACh-induced contractions in the various organs. 2. SUN 1165, like disopyramide and mexiletine, decreased the contractile amplitude and diastolic tone of the isolated rabbit ileum. SUN 1165 as well as disopyramide had no effect on the intestinal propulsion even at a large dose (100 mg/kg p.o.). Mexiletine inhibited it at antiarrhythmic doses (10-30 mg/kg p.o.). SUN 1165 only at a large dose (100 mg/kg i.d. or p.o.) inhibited volume of pepsin output in the gastric juice in pylorus-ligated rats and caused a damage to the gastric mucosa. 3. SUN 1165, like disopyramide and mexiletine, slightly potentiated the norepinephrine-induced contraction of the rat vas deferens in vitro. Moreover, SUN 1165 as well as disopyramide and mexiletine slightly potentiated the serotonin-induced contraction of the rat isolated fundus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

On the sites of antitussive action of dl-glaucine phosphate.

The sites of antitussive action of dl-1,2,9,10-tetramethoxy-6a,alpha-aporphine phosphate (dl-glaucine phosphate, DL-832) were studied. It was assumed from the following results that DL-832 acts on the cough center per se. a) When DL-832 was given by the routes leading to the brain stem such as the vertebral artery and the cerebello-medullary cistern, far smaller doses were sufficient to obtain the same effect as that by i.v. administration. b) DL-832 showed neither effect on the afferent pathway for cough reflex nor influence on pulmonary stretch receptors. c) It exhibited practically no influence on the efferent pathways for cough reflex, that is, that for innervating respiratory muscle movement as well as that for controlling bronchial muscle tone. d) Decerebration exerted no influence on the antitussive effect. e) DL-832 definitely depressed the potentials of both the recurrent and internal intercostal nerves evoked by the superior laryngeal nerve stimulation. f) In deafferentated and decerebrate cats, DL-832 rather increased the spontaneous discharges of the phrenic nerve, whereas codeine decreased them.

Pharmacological studies on dl-glaucine phosphate as an antitussive.

Antitussive effect, toxicity and other related pharmacological properties of dl-1,2,9,10-tetramethoxy-6a,alpha-aporphine phosphate (dl-glaucine phosphate, DL-832) were studied in comparison with those of codeine. Acute toxicity of DL-832 in mice was 2/5 to 7/10 of that of codeine for any routes of i.v., i.p., s.c. and p.o. The antitussive effect as tested by "coughing dog and cat" methods and Domenjoz's method in cats was 1/5 to 4/5 that of codeine, according to the routes administered. Safety margin in antitussive effect was similar to or less than that of codeine. Differing from codeine, levallorphan exerted no influence on the antitussive effect of DL-832. In vitro, DL-832 exerted moderate relaxant actions on normal tone and on contractions induced by histamine and acetylcholine of tracheal muscle. In vivo, it showed a moderate relaxant effect on histamine-induced bronchial constriction. The decrease in the volume of respiratory tract fluid caused by DL-832 was smaller than that by codeine. DL-832 slightly reduced the transportation rate of intratracheal foreign body, although to much lesser extent as compared to codeine. On respiration, blood pressure and heart rate, DL-832 showed depressant effects and moreover it caused changes in ECG. However, all of these effects were similar to and a little weaker than those observed with codeine. DL-832 prolonged hexobarbital sleeping time significantly. Neither analgesic nor anticonvulsant effect was observed. When given in larger doses, DL-832 inhibited intestinal transportation in vivo, although this effect was much weaker than that of codeine. DL-832 showed slight local anesthetic effect.