Identified serotonergic neurons in the Tritonia swim CPG activate both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors.

Although G-protein-coupled (metabotropic) receptors are known to modulate the production of motor patterns, evidence from the escape swim central pattern generator (CPG) of the nudibranch mollusk, Tritonia diomedea, suggests that they might also participate in the generation of the motor pattern itself. The dorsal swim interneurons (DSIs), identified serotonergic neurons intrinsic to the Tritonia swim CPG, evoke dual component synaptic potentials onto other CPG neurons and premotor interneurons. Both the fast and slow components were previously shown to be due to serotonin (5-HT) acting at distinct postsynaptic receptors. We find that blocking or facilitating metabotropic receptors in a postsynaptic premotor interneuron differentially affects the fast and slow synaptic responses to DSI stimulation. Blocking G-protein activation by iontophoretically injecting the GDP-analogue guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP-beta-S) did not significantly affect the DSI-evoked fast excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) but decreased the amplitude of the slow component more than 50%. Injection of the GTP analogues guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-gamma-S) and 5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate, to prolong G-protein activation, had mixed effects on the fast component but increased the amplitude and duration of the slow component of the DSI-evoked response and, with repeated DSI stimulation, led to a persistent depolarization. These results indicate that the fast component of the biphasic synaptic potential evoked by a serotonergic CPG neuron onto premotor interneurons is mediated by ionotropic receptors (5-HT-gated ion channels), whereas the slow component is mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors. A similar synaptic activation of metabotropic receptors might also be found within the CPG itself, where it could exert a direct influence onto motor pattern generation.

COPI vesicles accumulating in the presence of a GTP restricted arf1 mutant are depleted of anterograde and retrograde cargo.

Microinjection of the slowly hydrolyzable GTP analogue GTP(gamma)S or the ectopic expression of a GTP restricted mutant of the small GTPase arf1 (arf1[Q71L]) leads to the rapid accumulation of COPI coated vesicles and buds in living cells. This effect is blocked at 15 degrees C and by microinjection of antibodies against (beta)-COP. Anterograde and retrograde membrane protein transport markers, which have been previously shown to be incorporated into COPI vesicles between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, are depleted from the GTP(gamma)S or arf1[Q71L] induced COPI coated vesicles and buds. In contrast, in control cells 30 to 60% of the COPI carriers co-localize with these markers. These in vivo data corroborate recent in vitro work, suggesting that GTP(gamma)S and arf1[Q71L] interfere with the sorting of membrane proteins into Golgi derived COPI vesicles, and provide the first in vivo evidence for a role of GTP hydrolysis by arf1 in the sorting of cargo into COPI coated vesicles and buds.

Differential localization of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes in brain.

The pharmacological identification and characterization of subtypes of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors have been confirmed by molecular biological investigations. Using receptor autoradiographic techniques, it has been possible to show regions of the brain where alpha 2 agonist binding ([3H]para-aminoclonidine) is preferentially labeling the presumed guaninenucleotide-sensitive, high-affinity conformations of the alpha 2 receptor. Careful examination of autoradiograms generated using the tritiated antagonists yohimbine, idazoxan, and rauwolscine also indicates some disparity in the regions occupied by these radiolabeled ligands. Inhibition of [3H]rauwolscine binding with the subtype selective compounds, ARC-239, or oxymetazoline demonstrates that there are discrete regions of the brain where one receptor subtype predominates over the other. These studies indicate that previous investigations utilizing the agonist para-aminoclonidine as the ligand for obtaining labeling of alpha 2 receptors have overlooked some regions of binding due to the subtype selectivity of this ligand. A more complete localization of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors can be obtained using the tritiated antagonist rauwolscine, and the differential distribution of at least two subtypes of the alpha 2 receptor can be obtained by selective inhibition of this binding.

Effect of dexamethasone on the adenylate cyclase system of cultured hepatocytes of fetal rats.

During treatment of primary cultured hepatocytes with dexamethasone for several hours, cyclic AMP formation and glycolysis by glucagon increased dose dependently. In the cells pretreated with dexamethasone, the output of intracellular cyclic AMP increased significantly (p less than 0.01) with glucagon of 2.8 X 10(-9) M or more, and the amount of glucose released also increased significantly (p less than 0.01) with glucagon of 2.8 X 10(-8) M or more, compared to the control cells. Moreover, treatment with dexamethasone increased the stimulatory effect of guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP), guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate on adenylate cyclase and significantly increased the stimulatory effect of fluoride. In the rat hepatocytes primarily cultured with dexamethasone for several hours, the stimulatory effect of GTP and fluoride on adenylate cyclase increased time dependently. These data indicate that the glucocorticoid regulates the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase at distinct loci of the postreceptor system.

Central blood pressure effects of guanylyl-imido-diphosphate and cyclic guanosine-monophosphate.

Injections of guanylyl-imido-diphosphate (250, 500 and 1,000 microgram/kg) into the lateral cerebral ventricle of the anaesthetized cat induced increases in blood pressure and heart rate while the intravenous injections of the same doses were ineffective, thus indicating a central mechanism of action of this compound which activates adenylcyclase at the catalytic subunit. The results support the hypothesis that the activity of cardiovascular centres depends on the prevailing concentration of cAMP. Intracerebroventricular injection of cGMP (125, 250 and 500 microgram/kg) caused hypotension and bradycardia. The effects increased with the dose but were subject to tachyphylaxis. The lack of an effect after intravenous administration indicates a central site of action. This result is in agreement with the Yin Yang hypothesis and suggests that cGMP is a second transmitter in cardiovascular centres which may be involved in central cardiovascular effects in response to stimulation by putative neurotransmitter substances such as acetylcholine.