Serotonin receptor activation of phosphoinositide turnover in uterine, fundal, vascular, and tracheal smooth muscle.

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol is becoming recognized as the second messenger system for a number of hormones and neurotransmitters, including serotonin. The present study was designed to explore the effects of serotonin to enhance phosphoinositide turnover in several smooth muscle preparations, in an effort (a) to determine which smooth muscle preparation might provide a useful system for further study of phosphoinositide turnover and (b) to examine the role of 5-HT2 receptors in such responses. Basal-[3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP) formation was 10-fold higher in the uterus than in the rat jugular vein, aorta, stomach fundus, or guinea pig trachea. Serotonin produced significant elevations in [3H]IP in the rat aorta, uterus, and jugular vein. Maximal elevation in [3H]IP was greatest in the jugular vein (eightfold increase) with an ED50 for serotonin of 0.4 microM. Serotonin (10(-7)-10(-4) M), although a potent contractile agonist in both the guinea pig trachea and rat stomach fundus, did not increase [3H]IP levels in these tissues. The selective 5-HT2 receptor blocker LY53857 (10(-8) M) antagonized the increase in [3H]IP produced by serotonin in the jugular vein, aorta, and uterus. Pargyline (10(-5) M) added to the trachea and fundus did not unmask an effect of serotonin or enhance the response to serotonin in the rat aorta. Thus, the jugular vein was the tissue most sensitive to activation of [3H]IP by serotonin. Increases in [3H]IP produced by serotonin may be linked to activation of 5-HT2 receptors in the jugular vein, aorta, and uterus since the selective 5-HT2 antagonist LY53857 could block this biochemical effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2,3-Dialkyl(dimethylamino)indoles: interaction with 5HT1, 5HT2, and rat stomach fundal serotonin receptors.

2,3-Dialkyl(dimethylamino)indoles, synthesized via the Fisher indole synthesis, were found to weakly bind to 5HT1 and 5HT2 sites in brain cortical membranes (IC50 greater than 1 microM at both sites for all compounds). These (dimethylamino)indoles were relatively potent antagonists of the serotonin receptor in the rat stomach fundus. At higher concentrations, several of the compounds were weak agonists at this receptor. For direct comparison with data obtained in the isolated rat fundus, antagonism of serotonin-induced contractions at 5HT2 receptors in the rat jugular vein was also examined. Several of the compounds showed good selectivity for the fundus receptor relative to the 5HT2 receptor; together with minimal affinity for 5HT1 and 5HT2 binding sites in brain cortical membranes, these results support the idea that the serotonin receptor in the stomach fundus is distinct from 5HT1 and 5HT2 binding sites.

Effect of nitrendipine, diltiazem, trifluoperazine and pimozide on serotonin2 (5-HT2) receptor activation in the rat uterus and jugular vein.

The present study explored the calcium source used in serotonin (5-HT)-induced contractions mediated by 5-HT2 receptor activation in the rat uterus and jugular vein in vitro. In the rat uterus, the calcium channel antagonists, nitrendipine and diltiazem, and the neuroleptic agents, trifluoperazine (TFP) and pimozide, antagonized potently and noncompetitively 5-HT-induced contractions. These data are compatible with the contention that 5-HT-induced contractions in uterine smooth muscle require extracellular sources of calcium. In contrast, neither diltiazem nor nitrendipine inhibited the contractile response to 5-HT in the rat jugular vein although 5-HT-induced contractions in the jugular vein required the presence of extracellular calcium. This difference in sensitivity to calcium channel antagonists between the uterus and jugular vein was not related to differences in the receptor occupancy-response curves for 5-HT as these were similar in the rat uterus and jugular vein. Furthermore, in the jugular vein, neither diltiazem nor nitrendipine were markedly effective in blocking contractions produced by potassium chloride, an agent that activates voltage-dependent calcium channels, suggesting that this tissue lacks calcium channels susceptible to blockade by conventional calcium channel antagonists. Although responses to 5-HT in the jugular vein were only affected marginally by calcium channel antagonists, TFP and pimozide produced concentration-dependent rightward parallel shifts of 5-HT-induced contractions in the jugular vein. Furthermore, both TFP and pimozide showed high affinity at 5-HT2 binding sites in rat brain cortical membranes and the apparent dissociation constant at 5-HT2 receptors in the jugular vein was 38 and 31 nM, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Localization of a felodipine (dihydropyridine) binding site on calmodulin.

The fluorescent dihydropyridine calcium antagonist drug felodipine binds to calmodulin (CaM) in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Its binding can be regulated by the interaction of CaM antagonist drugs through allosteric mechanisms [Mills, J.S., & Johnson, J.D. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 4897]. Here, we have examined the binding of a nonspecific hydrophobic fluorescent probe molecule TNS (toluidinylnaphthalenesulfonate) and of felodipine to CAM and several of its proteolytic fragments. While TNS interacts with sites on both the amino-terminal half of the protein [proteolytic fragment TR1C (1-77)] and carboxy-terminal half [proteolytic fragment TR2C (78-148)], felodipine binding shows more selectivity. It binds in a Ca2+-dependent manner to the proteolytic fragments TM1 (1-106) and TR2E (1-90) but exhibits only weak affinity for TR1C (1-77) and TR2C (78-148). Furthermore, felodipine exhibits selectivity over TNS and trifluoperazine (TFP) in blocking the tryptic cleavage between residues 77 and 78. These studies indicate a selective binding of felodipine to a hydrophobic site existing in residues 1-90 and suggest that productive binding requires amino acids in the region 78-90. Although the felodipine binding site is preserved in fragment 1-106, the allosteric interactions between the prenylamine and the felodipine binding sites that are observed with intact CaM are not observed in this fragment. Rather, prenylamine simply displaces felodipine from its binding site on this fragment. Our results are consistent with calmodulin containing not less than two allosterically related hydrophobic drug binding sites. One of these sites (felodipine) appears to be localized in region 1-90 and the other one in region 78-148.

Further evidence that the serotonin receptor in the rat stomach fundus is not 5HT1A or 5HT1B.

The nature of the receptor mediating serotonin contraction in the rat stomach fundus has not been clearly associated with either 5HT1 or 5HT2 receptors. We have explored the possibility that such receptors in the rat fundus may better correlate with 5HT1A or 5HT1B receptor subtypes as defined by radiolabeled ligand binding studies with brain cortical membranes. Meta chlorophenylpiperazine (CPP) and meta trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), selective ligands for the 5HT1B receptor and LY165163, a selective ligand for the 5HT1A receptor, have been evaluated for their agonist and antagonist activity at serotonin receptors in the rat stomach fundus. CPP and TFMPP were partial agonists in the rat stomach fundus whereas LY165163 showed no agonist activity in this smooth muscle in concentrations up to 10(-4)M. All three phenylpiperazines antagonized serotonin-induced contractions in the rat stomach fundus. The affinity for serotonin receptors in the rat fundus was similar for all three phenylpiperazines in spite of the reported selectivity of MCPP and TFMPP for 5HT1B and of LY165163 for 5HT1A receptors. Furthermore, the affinity of these agents for serotonin receptors in the rat stomach fundus did not agree with their reported affinity for either 5HT1A or 5HT1B binding sites in rat cortical membranes. Thus, the similarity in affinities of these phenylpiperazine derivatives for serotonin receptors mediating contraction in the rat fundus along with their different affinities for 5HT1A and 5HT1B binding sites argues against the possibility that the serotonin receptor in the rat fundus is of the 5HT1A or 5HT1B subtype of serotonin receptor.

Relationship between serotonin and tryptamine receptors in the rat stomach fundus.

Tryptamine and serotonin (5-HT) are relatively potent contractile agonists in the rat fundus, a tissue in which contraction to 5-HT is not mediated by interaction with 5-HT1 or 5-HT2 receptors. The identification of [3H]tryptamine binding sites in the brain and fundus that show high affinity for certain beta-carbolines raised the possibility that 5-HT and tryptamine may be interacting with a similar receptor that is best described as a tryptaminergic receptor in the fundus. The affinity of five 5-HT receptor antagonists, ketanserin, metergoline, 1-(1-naphthyl)piperazine, LY154930 and LY175041 was similar when 5-HT or tryptamine was the agonist, indicating that 5-HT and tryptamine are interacting with the same receptor in the fundus. Furthermore, maximum contractile response to both 5-HT and tryptamine was reduced to the same extent by the calcium channel blocker, diltiazem, and by the calmodulin inhibitor, trifluoperazine. Inasmuch as diltiazem and trifluoperazine did not similarly inhibit contraction to agents interacting with other receptors (i.e., carbamylcholine), these data are consistent with the contention that 5-HT and tryptamine are interacting with the same receptor in the fundus. Consistent with this conclusion is the observation that affinity of the beta-carbolines, harmaline and harmine was also similar when tryptamine or 5-HT was used as the agonist. However, affinity of the beta-carbolines for the tryptamine/5-HT receptor in the fundus was dramatically lower than reported for [3H]tryptamine binding sites in brain membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of 5-HT2 receptors in serotonin-induced contractions of nonvascular smooth muscle.

Vascular receptors responsible for serotonin-induced contractions are of the 5-HT2 subtype (site in brain cortical membranes that is preferentially radiolabeled by [3H]spiperone) whereas serotonin receptors mediating contraction in nonvascular smooth muscle have not been extensively studied. The present in vitro studies using the 5-HT2 receptor antagonists ketanserin, LY53857 and 1-(1-naphthyl)piperazine show that serotonin-induced contractions in the rat uterus and guinea-pig trachea are also mediated by interaction with 5-HT2 receptors. Prazosin, but not the serotonin receptor antagonists, blocked serotonin-induced contractions in the rat vas deferens, indicating that alpha adrenergic and not 5-HT1 or 5-HT2 receptors mediate the contractile response to serotonin in this tissue. Because selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonists did not block contractions to serotonin in the rat fundus or guinea-pig ileum, receptors in these gastrointestinal tissues are clearly not 5-HT2. However, contractions to serotonin in the fundus but not in the ileum were blocked by certain antagonists [metergoline and 1-(1-naphthyl)piperazine] demonstrating that the receptors involved in serotonin-induced contractions in the fundus are different from the ileum. Other differences between the fundus and ileum in serotonin-induced contractions include: 1) the potency of serotonin is greater in the fundus than in the ileum; and 2) the primary action of serotonin in the fundus is activation of a postsynaptic receptor on the smooth muscle whereas, in the ileum, serotonin exerts an indirect neuronal action to effect acetylcholine release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hydrolysis of a fluorescent phospholipid substrate by phospholipase A2 and lipoprotein lipase.

The fluorescent phospholipid 1-acyl-2-[6-[(7-nitro-2,1,3benzoxadiazol-4 -yl) amino]-caproyl] phosphatidylcholine (C6-NBD-PC) was used as a substrate for porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PA2) and bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (LpL). Hydrolysis of C6-NBD-PC by either enzyme resulted in a greater than 50-fold fluorescence enhancement with no shift in the emission maximum at 540 nm; Ca++ was required for PA2 catalysis. Identification of the products of hydrolysis showed cleavage at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions for LpL and PA2, respectively. For PA2, but not for LpL, there was a marked enhancement of enzyme catalysis at lipid concentrations above the critical micellar concentration of the lipid. Furthermore, apolipoprotein C-II, the activator protein of LpL for long-chain fatty acyl substrates, did not enhance the rate of catalysis of the water-soluble fluorescent phospholipid for either enzyme.

A fluorescent calmodulin that reports the binding of hydrophobic inhibitory ligands.

Ca2+ binding to calmodulin in the pCa range 5.5-7.0 exposes hydrophobic sites that bind hydrophobic inhibitory ligands, including calmodulin antagonists, some Ca2+-antagonists and calmodulin-binding proteins. The binding of these hydrophobic ligands to calmodulin can be followed by the approx. 80% fluorescence increase they produce in dansylated (5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulphonylated) calmodulin (CDRDANS). In the presence of Ca2+, calmodulin binds the calmodulin inhibitor, R24571, with an affinity of approx. 2-3 nM and hydrophobic ligands, including trifluoperazine (TFP), W-7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulphonamide], fendiline, felodipine and prenylamine, with affinities in the micromolar range. This binding is strongly Ca2+-dependent and Mg2+-independent. Calmodulin shows a reasonably high degree of specificity in its binding of these ligands over other ligands tested. CDRDANS, therefore, provides a convenient and simple means of monitoring the interaction of a variety of hydrophobic ligands with the Ca2+-dependent regulatory protein, calmodulin. CDRDANS binds to phospholipid vesicles made of (dimyristoyl)phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or (dipalmitoyl)phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and produces fluorescence increases only in the presence of Ca2+ and at temperatures above their gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition. Although the fluorescence changes in CDRDANS accurately report phase transitions in these liposomes, its binding to these vesicles is weak. Calmodulin probably requires a high-affinity lipid-bound receptor protein for its high-affinity binding to natural membranes.

Calmodulin, Ca2+-antagonists and Ca2+-transporters in nerve and muscle.

Calcium is of fundamental importance in the regulation of both muscle contraction and neurosecretion. Its control of these processes is achieved by its binding and activation of various Ca2+-binding proteins (CBP), including those in the Ca2+ channel, the Na+-Ca2+ antiporter, and intracellular calmodulin (CDR). Generally, Ca2+-binding to regulatory CBP exposes hydrophobic sites on their surface at which the CBP interfaces with its receptor or binds inhibitory hydrophobic ligands. We find that some Ca2+-antagonist drugs (Ca-ANT) bind to and inhibit calmodulin and that some calmodulin antagonists (CDR-ANT) block Ca2+ channels. This suggests that CDR and the CBP that regulate the Ca2+ channel may be quite homologous proteins, Ca-ANT and CDR-ANT are not effective inhibitors of the Na+-Ca2+ antiporters of heart sarcolemma and brain synaptosomes, suggesting that these antiporters are fundamentally different from the antiporter of heart mitochondria. These results are discussed in terms of Ca2+-binding proteins being potential targets for pharmacological interventions designed to block specific aspects of the action of calcium.