Bufodienolides as endogenous Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitors: biosynthesis in bovine and rat adrenals.

The biosynthesis of digitalis-like compounds (DLC) was determined in bovine and rat adrenal homogenates by following changes in the concentration of DLC using three independent sensitive bioassays: inhibition of [3H]-ouabain binding to red blood cells and competitive ouabain and bufalin ELISA. The amounts of DLC in bovine and rat adrenal homogenates, as measured by the two first bioassays, increased with time when the mixtures were incubated under tissue culture conditions. These results suggest that Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitors which interact with ouabain antibodies, but not those which interact with bufalin antibodies, are synthesized in bovine and rat adrenals.

Biosynthesis of digitalis-like compounds in rat adrenal cells: hydroxycholesterol as possible precursor.

The biosynthesis of digitalis-like compounds (DLC) was determined in bovine and rat adrenal homogenates, as well as in primary rat adrenal cells, by following changes in the concentration of DLC using three independent sensitive bioassays: inhibition of [3H]-ouabain binding to red blood cells and competitive ouabain and bufalin ELISA. The amounts of DLC in bovine and rat adrenal homogenates, as measured by the two first bioassays, increased with time when the mixtures were incubated under tissue culture conditions. Rat primary adrenal cells were incubated in the presence of [1,2-(3)H]-25-hydroxycholesterol, [26,27-(3)H]-25-hydroxycholesterol or [7-(3)H]-pregnenolone. The radioactive products, as well as the digitalis-like activity, were fractionated by three sequential chromatography systems. When [1,2-(3)H]-25-hydroxycholesterol or [7-(3)H]-pregnenolone was added to the culture medium, the radioactivity was co-eluted with digitalis-like activity, suggesting that at least one of the DLC might originate in hydroxycholesterol. In contrast, when the culture medium was supplemented with [26,27-(3)H]-25-hydroxycholesterol, the radioactivity was not co-eluted with the digitalis-like activity, indicating that side chain cleavage is the first step in the synthesis of digitalis-like compounds by rat adrenal.

Digitalis-like compounds and Na+, K+-ATPase activity in bovine lens.

Digitalis-like compounds in bovine lens capsule, cortex and nucleus were determined quantitatively, following extraction, by their ability to inhibit [3H]ouabain binding to red blood cells. These compounds were found to be highly concentrated in the epithelium capsule and were significantly diminished in the cortex and nucleus. Na+, K+-ATPase density in the different regions was determined by [3H]ouabain binding to membranes and by autoradiography of lens slices. The highest concentration of [3H]ouabain-binding sites was observed to occur in membranes prepared from the epithelial cells of the capsule, and was almost 100- and 200-fold higher than the concentrations observed in membranes prepared from fiber cells of the cortex and nucleus, respectively. In the autoradiography studies, strong labeling of [3H]ouabain appeared in the epithelial cell zone, and only weak specific labeling appeared in the lens cortex and nucleus. Almost all (99%) of the Na+,K+-ATPase specific activity was found to be in the capsule epithelium and only 0.5% was measured in the cortex and no activity was detected in the nucleus. These results indicate that the digitalis-like compounds and Na+, K+-ATPase are concentrated in the lens capsule epithelium and are present only at low levels in the cortex and nucleus, thus implying that the lens capsular epithelial layer is the major region of the lens responsible for the homeostasis of ions and water in this tissue.

Identification of digitalis-like compounds in human cataractous lenses.

Human cataractous lens nuclei extract inhibited, in a dose-dependent fashion, [3H]ouabain binding to rat brain synaptosomes and microsomal Na(+)- and K(+)-dependent adenosine triphosphate (Na+, K(+)-ATPase) activity and interacted with anti-digoxin antibodies. The compounds responsible for these activities, termed digitalis-like compounds (DLC), were also detected in bovine, rat, cat and rabbit, normal, transparent lenses, but the levels were only 0.7-5.4% of the average levels in the cataractous human lenses. DLC from the human cataractous lenses were purified by a procedure consisting of organic extractions and batch chromatography followed by filtration through a 3000 Da cut-off filter and subsequent separations using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The presence of DLC in the different fractions obtained in the chromatograms was monitored by their ability to inhibit [3H]ouabain binding and Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity. Based on chemical ionization mass spectrometry together with ultraviolet spectrometry and biological characterization, it is suggested that new bufodienolides, 19-norbufalin and 19-norbufalin peptide derivatives are responsible for the endogenous DLC activity. It is proposed that these compounds may regulate Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity in the lens under some physiological and pathological conditions.

Digitalis-like compounds in animal tissues.

The Na+, K+ activated adenosine triphosphatase is present in the membrane of eukaryotic cells and represents a major pathway for Na+ and K+ transport across the plasma membrane. Cardiac glycosides such as ouabain or digoxin suppress this enzyme activity by binding to a specific receptor on the membrane. Studies conducted in this and other laboratories have proven the existence of digitalis-like compounds in animal tissues which may serve as in vivo regulators of the Na+, K(+)-pump activity. This review summarizes the attempts to identify these compounds from animal tissues and examines the potential physiological role of some of the identified compounds.

Comparison of the effects of a bufodienolide and ouabain on neuronal and smooth muscle preparations.

The effect of a bufodienolide (monohydroxy-14,15-epoxy-20,22-dienolide glycoside) purified from toad skin was compared with that of ouabain on 3H-noradrenaline release and on the tension of rabbit pulmonary arterial strips. This compound exerted an ouabain-like activity. The neuronal effects of this bufodienolide derivative on squid axon were also studied and compared with those of ouabain. Both compounds enhanced the resting and stimulation-evoked (2 Hz, 360 shocks) release of 3H-noradrenaline. Moreover, in the presence of either this bufodienolide or ouabain, the tension of the rabbit artery increased gradually, and the contraction evoked by electrical stimulation was potentiated. Both compounds enhanced, in a prazosin-sensitive way, smooth muscle responses to noradrenaline and to electrical stimulation. In higher concentrations, they contracted smooth muscle cells of pulmonary artery, an action which was insensitive to prazosin. The bufodienolide was about 8 times more active in inhibition of 22Na efflux than was ouabain, but did not affect Ca efflux, which is not sensitive to ouabain. It is therefore concluded that compounds with an inhibitory effect on Na+,K(+)-ATPase are able to affect chemical neurotransmission of blood vessels in such a way that in lower concentrations they potentiate the release of noradrenaline, and in higher concentrations they contract directly the smooth muscle. These findings indicate that such compounds if they are present in the circulation might be involved in the physiological regulation of blood pressure or in the genesis of hypertension.

Identification of 11,13-dihydroxy-14-octadecaenoic acid as a circulating Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor.

Two digitalis-like compounds (DLC) were purified to homogeneity from bovine plasma. The purification procedure consisted of organic extractions and batch chromatography followed by three subsequent separations using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The presence of a DLC in the different fractions was monitored by their ability to inhibit (a) [3H]ouabain binding to rat brain synaptosomes, and (b) microsomal Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity. Using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy the structure of one of the DLCs was identified as 11,13-dihydroxy-14-octadecaenoic acid. It is suggested that this new hydroxy, unsaturated, fatty acid derivative may regulate Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity under some physiological and pathological conditions.

The ouabain receptor in animal tissues and its endogenous ligand.

Cardiac glycosides bind to the Na+,K+-ATPase and inhibit its activity. Low concentrations (less than 10(-7) M) of ouabain stimulate the activity of Na+,K+-ATPase in whole homogenates of rat brain. The magnitude of this stimulation varies from 5 to 70%. The concentration of ouabain which induces maximal stimulation is also highly variable and ranges between 10(-9) to 10(-7) M. This stimulation may be explained by the presence of an endogenous ouabain-like compound (OLC) in the brain homogenate. Mammalian tissues and body fluids including brain, heart, kidney, plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid contain a unidentified OLC. An endogenous OLC was also demonstrated in toad skin and plasma. This compound was purified to homogeneity and identified using UV, NMR and Mass spectroscopies to be 3-hydroxy-14, 15-epoxy-20,22-dienolide glycoside (resibufogenin). Several reports have suggested that unsaturated fatty acids are the ouabain-like regulators of the Na+,K+-ATPase. Furthermore, Saline infusion to WKY rats, which was shown to increase OLC in the plasma causes also an elevation of free fatty acids. Thus, the interaction of fatty acids with several plasma membrane components was studied. Ouabain binding, opiate binding and binding to the beta-adrenergic receptor were all inhibited by micromolar concentrations of the unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic, oleic and arachidonic. Binding to the opiate receptor was inhibited with IC50 of 40-90 microM and binding to beta-adrenergic receptor with IC50 of 350-450 microM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the stimulation of neuronal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity by low concentrations of ouabain.

Low concentrations (< 10(?7) M) of ouabain stimulate the activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase in whole homogenates of rat brain. The magnitude of this stimulation varies from 5 to 70%. The concentrations of ouabain which induces maximal stimulation is also highly variable and ranges between 10(?9) to 10(?7) M. The ouabain stimulation disappears following 1:50 dilution and 2 h preincubation or freezing and thawing of the membranes or their treatment with deoxycholate. "Aging" of a preparation of ATPase also results in loss of its ability to be stimulated by ouabain but ouabain inhibition is preserved. No stimulation of enzyme activity by ouabain is observed in rat brain microsomal fraction. The ?-adrenergic blocker propranolol does not inhibit the ouabain induced stimulation of ATPase activity. It is suggested that the stimulation of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity by low concentrations of cardiac glycosides if a result of either the displacement of an endogenous ouabain-like compound from the enzyme or an indirect effect by changing membrane surrounding environment of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase.

Membrane potential changes induced by the ouabain-like compound extracted from mammalian brain.

The electrical membrane potential (delta psi) of chicken embryo fibroblasts in tissue culture was determined to be -30.5 +/- 2.9 mV as measured by distribution of the lipophilic [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium cation (Ph4P+). Stimulation of the electrogenic activity of the Na+,K+-ATPase by the ionophore monensin induces a hyperpolarization of approximately 47 mV and a new delta psi of -77.3 +/- 5.7 mV. The effects of the cardiac glycoside ouabain and an "ouabain-like compound" (OLC), which was extracted and partially purified from sheep brain, were contrasted using both the resting and hyperpolarized fibroblasts. Addition of OLC or ouabain to the incubation medium for short periods of time does not alter the cells' resting delta psi. However, OLC and ouabain block monensin-induced hyperpolarization. The inhibitory effects of OLC, like ouabain, are dose dependent, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at an amount of OLC equivalent to that found in 1.6 g of brain (wet weight) per ml and at 0.85 microM ouabain. In addition, the maximal actions of ouabain and OLC are not additive. These results show that the endogenous OLC specifically affects the delta psi of intact cells by a mechanism analogous to that of ouabain--i.e., inhibition of the Na+,K+-ATPase.

Characterization of ouabain receptor in neuronal tissue: evidence for endogenous ouabain-like compound.

This study shows that [3H]ouabain binds specifically to a single, saturable binding site located on rat brain membranes with an affinity constant of 6.21 X 10(-8) M. As expected from studies on the mechanics of the Na+,K+-ATPase, sodium increased while potassium and lithium decreased ouabain binding. The occupation of other neurotransmitter receptors did not affect [3H]ouabain binding. Based on its ability to compete with [3H]ouabain binding and to inhibit Na+,K+-ATPase, it is suggested that rat brain extract contains an endogenous ouabain-like compound. The results are discussed with respect to the possibility that the ouabain receptor is a physiological regulatory site of the Na+,K+-ATPase activity.