Alpha 1-adrenoceptor-induced contractility in rat aorta is mediated by the alpha 1D subtype.

Adrenoceptor agonists were used to characterize the alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype responsible for mediating tension (phasic and tonic combined) in the denuded rat aorta and compared with radioligand binding at alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes. The rank order of potency at the rat aorta was the same as that obtained for binding affinity at the rat clonal alpha 1d-adrenoceptor: norepinephrine > epinephrine > cirazoline > phenylephrine > oxymetazoline > A-61603 > methoxamine. Correlation coefficients comparing rat aortic contraction (pD2) to binding (pKi) were 0.09-0.21 for alpha 1A/a receptors, 0.66 for clonal alpha 1b and 0.94 for clonal alpha 1d-adrenoceptors. Correlation coefficients comparing the clonal alpha 1d-adrenoceptor binding affinity to in vitro contractile responses were 0.03 and 0.10 for the rat vas deferens and canine prostate alpha 1A-adrenoceptor responses, respectively, 0.09 for the rat spleen alpha 1B and as noted, 0.94 for the rat aorta. The agreement observed between agonist potency at the rat aorta and affinity for the alpha 1d binding site provide new evidence that the alpha 1D-adrenoceptor subtype is responsible for mediating contractions in the rat aorta.

Preclinical pharmacological actions of (+/-)-(1'R*,3R*)-3-phenyl-1- [1',2',3',4'-tetrahydro-5',6'-methylene-dioxy-1'-naphthalenyl) methyl] pyrrolidine methanesulfonate (ABT-200), a potential antidepressant agent that antagonizes alpha-2 adrenergic receptors and inhibits the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine.

(+/-)-(1'R*,3R*)-3-phenyl-1-[(1',2',3',4'-tetrahydro-5',6'-methylene- dioxy-1'-naphthalenyl) methyl] pyrrolidine methanesulfonate (ABT-200) was evaluated in a number of biological tests to establish its pharmacological profile of activity. ABT-200 antagonized the uptake of [3H]-norepinephrine into synaptosomes of rat hypothalamus (IC50 = 841 nM) and blocked 4,alpha-dimethyl-m-tyramine- induced hypermotility in rats. In addition, ABT-200 potently inhibited binding of [3H]-rauwolscine to alpha-2 adrenergic receptors with a Ki value in radioligand binding assays of approximately 1 nM in the rat cortex and was much less potent at other receptor binding sites. ABT-200 antagonized alpha-2 receptors in vitro in the rat vas deferens and dog saphenous vein, where pA2 values of 7.7 and 8.2, respectively, were obtained. ABT-200 also antagonized clonidine-induced mydriasis and increased the overflow of [3H]-norepinephrine in guinea pig hippocampal slices, manifestations of blockade of alpha-2 adrenoceptors in the central nervous system. ABT-200 was active in antagonizing nocturnal hyperactivity in olfactory bulbectomized rats, a test for putative antidepressant activity. In cardiovascular studies, ABT-200 exhibited negligible activity in affecting hemodynamic parameters and was free of postural hypotensive activity. In both in vitro and in vivo, ABT-200 was devoid of antihistaminic or anticholinergic activity. This profile of activity of moderate inhibition of norepinephrine uptake with blockade of alpha-2 adrenoceptors suggests potential dual-action effects for ABT-200, which may represent a putative antidepressant with minimal cardiovascular side-effect liability.