scholarly journals α-1-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist Activity of Clinical α-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists Interferes with α-2-Mediated Analgesia

2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Gil ◽  
Cynthia V. Cheevers ◽  
Karen M. Kedzie ◽  
Cynthia A. Manlapaz ◽  
Sandhya Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Adrenergic Receptor ◽  
Receptor Agonist ◽  
Intraperitoneal Administration ◽  
Analgesic Efficacy ◽  
Therapeutic Window ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Agonist Activity ◽  
Wild Type

Background The use of alpha-2 adrenergic agonists for analgesia is limited due to a narrow therapeutic window. Definition of the role of alpha receptor subtypes in alpha agonist mediated analgesia may identify strategies to separate the analgesic from sedative and cardiovascular effects. Methods Analgesic activity of brimonidine, clonidine, and tizanidine was investigated in wild-type C57B/6, alpha-2A, and alpha-2C knockout mice with allodynia induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate or sulprostone. The alpha receptor selectivity of the alpha agonists was assessed using functional in vitro recombinant assays. Results Brimonidine, clonidine, and tizanidine reduced N-methyl-D-aspartate- and sulprostone-induced allodynia in wild-type mice, but not alpha-2A knockout mice. In alpha-2C knockout mice, brimonidine and tizanidine reduced allodynia in both models, whereas clonidine only reduced N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced allodynia. In vitro, clonidine and tizanidine activated alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptors with similar potencies, whereas brimonidine was selective for alpha-2 receptors. In alpha-2C knockout mice with sulprostone-induced allodynia, blockade of clonidine's alpha-1 receptor agonist activity restored clonidine's analgesic efficacy. In wild-type mice, the analgesic potency of intrathecal clonidine and tizanidine was increased 3- to 10-fold by coadministration with the alpha-1A-selective antagonist 5-methylurapidil without affecting sedation. Following intraperitoneal administration, the therapeutic window was negligible for clonidine and tizanidine, but greater for brimonidine. 5-Methylurapidil enhanced the therapeutic window of intraperitoneal clonidine and tizanidine approximately 10-fold. Conclusions Alpha-1A receptor agonist activity can counterbalance alpha-2 receptor agonist-induced analgesia. Greater alpha-2 selectivity may enhance the therapeutic window of alpha-2 agonists in the treatment of pain.

Differential cardioprotective/cardiotoxic effects mediated by β-adrenergic receptor subtypes

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (6) ◽  
pp. H2441-H2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Bernstein ◽  
Giovanni Fajardo ◽  
Mingming Zhao ◽  
Takashi Urashima ◽  
Jennifer Powers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adrenergic Receptors ◽  
Adrenergic Receptor ◽  
Contractile Function ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Selective Antagonist

Recent data suggest that β-adrenergic receptor subtypes couple differentially to signaling pathways regulating cardiac function vs. cardiac remodeling. To dissect the roles of β1- vs. β2-receptors in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy, doxorubicin was administered to β1, β2, and β1/β2 knockout (−/−) and wild-type mice. Expression and activation of MAPKs were measured. Wild-type and β1−/− mice showed no acute cardiovascular effects, whereas β2−/− mice all died within 30 min. The additional deletion of the β1-receptor (β1/β2−/−) totally rescued this toxicity. β2−/− mice developed decreased contractile function, hypotension, QTc prolongation, and ST segment changes and a 20-fold increase in p38 MAPK activity not seen in the other genotypes. The MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 rescued β2−/− mice from this acute toxicity. The enhanced toxicity in β2−/− mice was also recapitulated in wild-type mice with the β2-selective antagonist ICI-118,551, although the rescue effect of the β1-deletion was not recapitulated using the β1-selective antagonist metoprolol or the nonselective β-antagonist propranolol. These data suggest that β2-adrenergic receptors play a cardioprotective role in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy, whereas β1-adrenergic receptors mediate at least some of the acute cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines. Differential activation of MAPK isoforms, previously shown in vitro to regulate β-agonist as well as doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, appears to play a role in mediating the differential effects of these β-adrenergic receptor subtypes in vivo.

Further pharmacological evaluation of a novel synthetic peptide bradykinin B2 receptor agonist

2013 ◽  
Vol 394 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Savard ◽  
Julie Labonté ◽  
Céléna Dubuc ◽  
Witold Neugebauer ◽  
Pedro D’Orléans-Juste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Synthetic Peptide ◽  
Receptor Agonist ◽  
Rabbit Lung ◽  
Hypotensive Action ◽  
Duration Of Action ◽  
Selective Agonist ◽  
Comparable Magnitude

Abstract We recently identified a novel human B2 receptor (B2R) agonist [Hyp3,Thi5,NChg7,Thi8]-bradykinin (NG291) with greater in vitro and in vivo potency and duration of action than natural bradykinin (BK). Here, we further examined its stability and selectivity toward B2R. The hypotensive, antithrombotic, and profibrinolytic functions of NG291 relative to BK and its analogue ([Hyp3,Thi5,(4-Me)Tyr8(ΨCH2NH)Arg9]-BK) (RMP-7) were also tested. Contraction assays using isolated mouse stomachs (containing kinin B1R, B2R, and kininase I- and II-like activities) showed that NG291 is a more potent contractant than BK and is inhibited by HOE-140 (B2R antagonist) but unaffected by R954 (B1R antagonist), whereas both decreased the potency of BK. In stomach tissues from B2R knockout mice, BK maintained its activity via B1R, whereas NG291 had no contractile effect, indicating that it was selective for B2R. Unlike BK, NG291 was not degraded by rabbit lung ACE. Comparing intravenously administered BK and NG291 revealed that NG291 exhibited more potent and prolonged hypotensive action and greater antithrombotic and profibrinolytic activities. These effects were of comparable magnitude to RMP-7 and were absent in B2R knockout mice. We concluded that NG291 is a novel biostable B2R-selective agonist that may prove suitable for investigating the (pre)clinical cardioprotective efficacy of B2R activation.

scholarly journals Role of α1-adrenergic receptor subtypes in contractility of the rabbit abdominal aorta in vitro

2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Gnus ◽  
Albert Czerski ◽  
Stanisław Ferenc ◽  
Wojciech Zawadzki ◽  
Wojciech Witkiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Abdominal Aorta ◽  
Adrenergic Receptor ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Organ Bath ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Selective Antagonists

Investigation of the effect of α1-adrenergic receptor subtypes on the contraction of the abdominal aorta will allow for more effective treatment of hypertension by use of selective antagonists. The aim of the study was to evaluate the participation of α1-adrenergic receptor subtypes in the contractility of the aortic smooth muscle cells in rabbits. The in vitro experiments were performed in isolated tissue preparations from 30 adult female New Zealand rabbits. The abdominal aortic sections were placed in organ bath chambers and contracted with increasing doses of non-selective α1-adrenergic receptor agonist phenylephrine without pre-incubation or after incubation in α1-adrenergic receptor subtype-selective or non-selective antagonists. Separate sections were incubated with increasing concentrations of antagonists. Phenylephrine caused maximal rise in arterial smooth muscle tone to 4.75 ± 0.47 mN. The most potent in blocking phenylephrine induced contraction was 5-metylurapidil (α1A-adrenergic receptor antagonist) followed by phentolamine and prazosin (non-selective α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists); BMY 7378 (α1D-adrenergic receptor antagonist), cyclazosin and L-765.314 (α1B-adrenergic receptor antagonists) were less effective. All antagonists, except BMY 7378 elicited relaxation of non-precontracted aorta in dose dependent manner. Our results indicate that postsynaptic α1A receptors are the most potent in producing rabbit abdominal aorta contraction, while α1B and α1D subtypes are less effective.

scholarly journals The sperm protein SPACA4 is required for efficient fertilization in mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Herberg ◽  
Yoshitaka Fujihara ◽  
Andreas Blaha ◽  
Karin Panser ◽  
Kiyonari Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sperm Protein ◽  
Mammalian Sperm ◽  
Fundamental Process ◽  
Mammalian Fertilization

Fertilization is the fundamental process that initiates the development of a new individual in all sexually reproducing species. Despite its importance, our understanding of the molecular players that govern mammalian sperm-egg interaction is incomplete, partly because many of the essential factors found in non-mammalian species do not have obvious mammalian homologs. We have recently identified the Ly6/uPAR protein Bouncer as a new, essential fertilization factor in zebrafish (Herberg et al., 2018). Here, we show that Bouncer's homolog in mammals, SPACA4, is also required for efficient fertilization in mice. In contrast to fish, where Bouncer is expressed specifically in the egg, SPACA4 is expressed exclusively in the testis. Male knockout mice are severely sub-fertile, and sperm lacking SPACA4 fail to fertilize wild-type eggs in vitro. Interestingly, removal of the zona pellucida rescues the fertilization defect of Spaca4-deficient sperm in vitro, indicating that SPACA4 is not required for the interaction of sperm and the oolemma but rather of sperm and zona pellucida. Our work identifies SPACA4 as an important sperm protein necessary for zona pellucida penetration during mammalian fertilization.

scholarly journals Identification of Zinc-Dependent Mechanisms Used by Group B Streptococcus To Overcome Calprotectin-Mediated Stress

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey R. Burcham ◽  
Yoann Le Breton ◽  
Jana N. Radin ◽  
Brady L. Spencer ◽  
Liwen Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Zinc Uptake ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Metal Transporters ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Group B

ABSTRACT Nutritional immunity is an elegant host mechanism used to starve invading pathogens of necessary nutrient metals. Calprotectin, a metal-binding protein, is produced abundantly by neutrophils and is found in high concentrations within inflammatory sites during infection. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the gastrointestinal and female reproductive tracts and is commonly associated with severe invasive infections in newborns such as pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Although GBS infections induce robust neutrophil recruitment and inflammation, the dynamics of GBS and calprotectin interactions remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that disease and colonizing isolate strains exhibit susceptibility to metal starvation by calprotectin. We constructed a mariner transposon (Krmit) mutant library in GBS and identified 258 genes that contribute to surviving calprotectin stress. Nearly 20% of all underrepresented mutants following treatment with calprotectin are predicted metal transporters, including known zinc systems. As calprotectin binds zinc with picomolar affinity, we investigated the contribution of GBS zinc uptake to overcoming calprotectin-imposed starvation. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed a significant upregulation of genes encoding zinc-binding proteins, adcA, adcAII, and lmb, following calprotectin exposure, while growth in calprotectin revealed a significant defect for a global zinc acquisition mutant (ΔadcAΔadcAIIΔlmb) compared to growth of the GBS wild-type (WT) strain. Furthermore, mice challenged with the ΔadcAΔadcAIIΔlmb mutant exhibited decreased mortality and significantly reduced bacterial burden in the brain compared to mice infected with WT GBS; this difference was abrogated in calprotectin knockout mice. Collectively, these data suggest that GBS zinc transport machinery is important for combatting zinc chelation by calprotectin and establishing invasive disease. IMPORTANCE Group B Streptococcus (GBS) asymptomatically colonizes the female reproductive tract but is a common causative agent of meningitis. GBS meningitis is characterized by extensive infiltration of neutrophils carrying high concentrations of calprotectin, a metal chelator. To persist within inflammatory sites and cause invasive disease, GBS must circumvent host starvation attempts. Here, we identified global requirements for GBS survival during calprotectin challenge, including known and putative systems involved in metal ion transport. We characterized the role of zinc import in tolerating calprotectin stress in vitro and in a mouse model of infection. We observed that a global zinc uptake mutant was less virulent than the parental GBS strain and found calprotectin knockout mice to be equally susceptible to infection by wild-type (WT) and mutant strains. These findings suggest that calprotectin production at the site of infection results in a zinc-limited environment and reveals the importance of GBS metal homeostasis to invasive disease.

Blocking properties of terguride at the 5-HT2 receptor subtypes mediating cardiovascular responses in the rat

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 511-521
Author(s):  
Oscar Alcántara-Vázquez ◽  
Ma. Trinidad Villamil-Hernández ◽  
Araceli Sánchez-López ◽  
Heinz H. Pertz ◽  
Carlos M. Villalón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Receptor Agonist ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Pithed Rats ◽  
Anaesthetized Rats ◽  
Dose Dependent

In vitro studies have suggested that terguride blocks the contractile and relaxant responses produced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) via 5-HT2A/2B receptors. This study has now investigated terguride’s blocking properties on central/peripheral 5-HT2 receptors in anaesthetized or pithed rats. Male Wistar anaesthetized/pithed rats were cannulated for recording blood pressure and heart rate and for i.v. administration of several compounds. In both groups of rats, i.v. bolus injections of 5-HT or (±)-DOI (a 5-HT2 receptor agonist; 1–1000 μg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. These responses were dose-dependently antagonized by terguride (10–3000 μg/kg). In anaesthetized rats, i.v. bolus injections of BW723C86 (a 5-HT2B receptor agonist; 1–1000 μg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in diastolic blood pressure and not dose-dependent increases in heart rate, while in pithed rats, these responses were attenuated. The vasopressor responses elicited by BW723C86 in anaesthetized rats were dose-dependently blocked by terguride (10–300 μg/kg), whereas its the tachycardic responses were dose-independently blocked. These results, taken together, suggest that terguride behaved as an antagonist at the 5-HT2 receptors located in the central nervous system and (or) the systemic vasculature. This is the first evidence demonstrating that terguride can block central/peripheral 5-HT2 receptors mediating cardiovascular responses in anaesthetized or pithed rats.

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