(+)-[3H]MK-801 binding sites in postmortem human brain.

The pharmacological specificity and the regional distribution of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated 5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) binding sites in human postmortem brain tissue were determined by binding studies using (+)-[3H]MK-801. Scatchard analysis revealed a high-affinity (KD = 0.9 +/- 0.2 nM, Bmax = 499 +/- 33 fmol/mg of protein) and a low-affinity (KD = 3.6 +/- 0.9 nM, Bmax = 194 +/- 44 fmol/mg of protein) binding site. The high-affinity site showed a different regional distribution of receptor density (cortex greater than hippocampus greater than striatum) compared to the low-affinity binding site (cerebellum greater than brainstem). The rank order pharmacological specificity and stereoselectivity of the high-(cortex) and low-(cerebellar) affinity binding sites were identical. However, all compounds tested showed greater potency at the high-affinity site in cortex. The results indicate that (+)-[3H]MK-801 binding in human postmortem brain tissue shows pharmacological and regional specificity.

Interaction of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated glycine binding site.

The interaction of newly described antagonist of the non-NMDA glutamate receptor 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) with the glycine site of the NMDA receptor complex has been investigated. In whole-cell patch recordings from hippocampal neurons maintained in culture, currents induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) were dependent on extracellular glycine. Responses to both NMDA (30 microM) and kainate (20 microM) were reduced by CNQX (10-30 microM). The antagonism by CNQX of NMDA, but not kainate, receptor-mediated responses could be reversed by increasing the concentration of glycine in the external medium. Glycine concentration-response curves constructed in the presence of 30 microM NMDA were shifted to the right by CNQX, suggesting that CNQX was competing with glycine for the glycine binding site. However, even at high concentrations of glycine (300 microM) the maximal NMDA current obtained in the presence of CNQX (10-30 microM) was not restored to control levels. Because CNQX had no effect on responses produced by supramaximal concentrations of NMDA (500 microM) and glycine (300 microM), it is suggested that CNQX also interacts with the NMDA recognition site. The antagonism of currents induced by NMDA was not dependent on the membrane potential, and the rapid onset and offset of the block suggested that there was little or no use dependence. Radioligand binding experiments were performed using [3H]glycine to label the strychnine-insensitive glycine regulatory site of the NMDA receptor complex in guinea pig brain frontal cortex membranes. CNQX displaced [3H]glycine binding in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 5.7 microM). Scatchard analysis of the inhibition showed a decrease in the affinity (increase in Kd) of [3H]glycine binding, but no change in the number of binding sites (Bmax) in the presence of 5 microM CNQX, suggesting a competitive interaction. These data provide evidence that CNQX antagonizes NMDA receptor-mediated responses by competing with glycine for a modulatory site associated with the NMDA receptor complex. Furthermore, the results indicate that CNQX may not be as selective an antagonist for non-NMDA receptors as initially described, although its selectivity will depend on the concentration of the NMDA receptor ligand and may be enhanced by increasing the extracellular concentration of glycine.

Synthesis and characterization of a radiolabelled derivative of the phencyclidine/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ligand (+) MK-801 with high specific radioactivity.

A [3H]-labelled derivative of the drug (+)MK-801 with a high specific radioactivity was synthesized by first preparing a tribromo derivative of (+)MK-801 followed by catalytic reduction in the presence of [3H]-gas and subsequent purification of the radioactive product by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). This resulted in pure (+) [3H]MK-801 with a specific radioactivity of 97 Ci/mmol. The (+) [3H]MK-801 was shown to interact with high affinity and selectivity with the phencyclidine (PCP) receptor in guinea pig brain membrane suspensions. The PCP receptor is associated with a cation channel that is chemically gated by glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Drugs that interact with the PCP receptor block this channel. The (+) [3H]MK-801 described here will be useful to investigate the biochemistry of PCP/NMDA receptors in experiments where a high specific radioactivity is essential.

1,3-Di(2-[5-3H]tolyl)guanidine: a selective ligand that labels sigma-type receptors for psychotomimetic opiates and antipsychotic drugs.

Brain sigma-type receptors are thought to mediate hallucinogenic effects of certain benzomorphan opiates in humans. The biochemical characterization of sigma receptors has been difficult because of the lack of potent and selective ligands. We report here the synthesis and characterization of a tritiated, symmetrically substituted guanidine derivative, 1,3-di(2-[5-3H]tolyl)guanidine ([3H]Tol2Gdn), that binds with high affinity to a single population of binding sites in guinea pig brain membrane preparations. The [3H]Tol2Gdn binding site displays stereoselectivity for dextrorotatory optical isomers of benzomorphan opiates known to have sigma-type behavioral effects. Furthermore, the [3H]Tol2Gdn binding site has a high affinity for haloperidol and for phenothiazine antipsychotics, which have antihallucinatory properties in humans. The drug-selectivity profile of [3H]Tol2Gdn binding closely correlates with the drug-selectivity profile of tritiated (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine [+)-[3H]3-PPP) binding to guinea pig brain membrane receptors. (+)-[3H]3-PPP has been proposed to be a selective sigma-receptor ligand [Largent, B. L., Gundlach, A. L. & Snyder, S. H. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 4983-4987]. Receptor autoradiography using [3H]Tol2Gdn on slide-mounted rat and guinea pig brain sections reveals a heterogeneous distribution pattern of enriched binding in limbic and sensorimotor structures of the brain. These results indicate that [3H]Tol2Gdn is a selective ligand for the sigma-site. Availability of this sigma-receptor probe should greatly facilitate the physiological, biochemical, and pharmacological characterization of sigma receptors in brain.

The insulin receptor of rat brain is coupled to tyrosine kinase activity.

Insulin receptors from rat brain were studied for receptor-associated tyrosine kinase activity. In solubilized, lectin-purified receptor preparations, insulin stimulated the phosphorylation of the beta subunit of its receptor as well as of exogenous substrates. Phosphoamino acid analysis of casein phosphorylated by these preparations revealed that 32P incorporation occurred predominantly on tyrosine residues. Receptor and casein phosphorylations were specific for insulin and analogues that also bind to the insulin receptor. The insulin dose response for phosphorylation of brain receptor resembled that reported for the purified insulin receptor from human placenta (Kasuga, M., Fujita-Yamaguchi, Y., Blithe, D.L., and Kahn, C.R. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 2137-2141), suggesting similar insulin sensitivity and coupling of the brain receptor kinase. Four polyclonal antisera to the insulin receptor were able to bind and immunoprecipitate the brain receptor; however, only two antisera activated the receptor-associated kinase. Thus, the brain insulin receptor, like the well studied non-neural receptor, is coupled to tyrosine kinase activity, making regulation of cellular events by insulin in neural tissue possible.

Increasing dietary calcium moderates experimental gentamicin nephrotoxicity.

Because calcium has been reported to modify gentamicin binding to its proximal tubular brush border membrane receptor, we studied the effects of dietary calcium loading and subsequent hypercalciuria on experimental gentamicin nephrotoxicity. Male Fischer 344 rats were fed one of two diets that were identical except for calcium carbonate content: normal (0.5%) and high (4%). The high-calcium diet made rats hypercalciuric but there were no differences between the two groups in inulin clearance, sodium or osmolar excretion, or serum calcium prior to gentamicin administration. Animals on both diets were treated with gentamicin, 20 mg/kg b.i.d., for periods of 3 to 21 days. Both groups developed acute renal failure, but animals on the high-calcium diet had less severe acute toxic injury, as evidenced by studies of inulin clearance, renal histology, and in vitro cortical uptake of NMN and PAH. Furthermore, calcium-loaded animals tended to have lower peak renal cortical gentamicin levels during the period of acute toxicity. The mechanism by which increased dietary calcium protects against gentamicin nephrotoxicity remains speculative. Calcium and gentamicin may compete for the same brush border receptor or alternatively parathyroid suppression may result in diminution in tubular cell membrane drug binding sites. The possibility that high-calcium diets exert a nonspecific salutory effect on proximal tubular cell integrity has not been excluded.

Oxygen equilibrium studies of Hb Willamette alpha 2 beta (2)51(D2)Pro leads to Arg.

The homotropic and heterotropic effects of isolated Hb Willamette were studied using an automatic recording oxygen equilibrium analyzer. The results indicate that Hb Willamette displays normal intrinsic oxygen binding in the stripped condition. An apparent decrease of the Bohr effect is explained by the decrease of allosteric effects in this abnormal hemoglobin. Furthermore, the lack of clinical manifestations in the original patient is consistent with the red cell oxygen equilibrium studies.