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This investigation was performed to assess the importance of interaction in the bindings of selective and nonselective alpha(1)-antagonists to alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(1)-AR) subtypes using molecular modeling. The alpha(1)-antagonists used in this study were prazosin, tamsulosin and KMD-3213. Molecular modeling was performed on Octane 2 workstation (Silicon Graphics) using Discover/Insight II software (Molecular Simulations Inc.). Through molecular modeling, possible binding sites for these drugs were suggested to lie between transmembrane domains (TM) 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the alpha(1)-AR subtypes. In prazosin, the 4-amino group, 1-nitrogen atom and two methoxy groups of quinazoline ring possibly interact with the amino acids in TM3, TM5 and TM6 of alpha(1)-ARs. In tamsulosin, amine group of ethanyl amine chain, methoxy group of benzene ring and sulfonamide nitrogen of benzene ring interacts in TM3, TM4 and TM5 of alpha(1)-ARs. In KMD-3213, amine of ethyl amine chain and indoline nitrogen of this compound possibly interact within TM3 and TM5 of alpha(1)-ARs. Amide nitrogen of KMD-3213 also interacts within TM4 of alpha(1A)-AR. The results of the present study suggested that prazosin has similar binding sites in all the alpha(1)-AR subtypes while tamsulosin interacts at higher number of sites with alpha(1D)-subtype than other alpha(1)-AR subtypes. KMD-3213 being an alpha(1A)-AR selective ligand, binds to higher number of sites of alpha(1A) subtype than to other subtypes. All these amino acids are located near the extracellular loop. These findings are consistent with the previous studies that antagonists bind higher in the pocket closer to the extracellular surface unlike agonist binding.

Effects of long-term sarpogrelate (5-HT2 antagonist) administration on the systolic blood pressure of Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats (WKYs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were studied and compared with those of quinapril (ACE-I). Sarpogrelate and quinapril were administered orally for 12 weeks and body and heart weights, systolic blood pressure and the relationships between heart weight and systolic blood pressure were determined. Although both drug treatments caused decreases in the body weight of WKYs and SHRs, only quinapril induced a decrease in the heart weight of SHRs. In addition, quinapril induced a dose-dependent decrease in systolic blood pressure in WKYs and SHRs while sarpogrelate had no effect on systolic blood pressure. Thus, quinapril showed hemodynamic effects on WKYs and SHRs, but the 5-HT2 antagonists sarpogrelate did not shown such effects, suggesting that 5-HT2 receptor antagonists may not be important for controlling systolic blood pressure.

Recent progress in analyzing the structures and functions of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) including beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) has been made by pharmacological, physiological and molecular biological techniques. The three-dimensional (3D) structures, interaction sites with ligands and conformational changes of these receptor subtypes due to ligand binding are now better understood by the simulation of these receptors using computer-aided molecular modeling. Based on these techniques, numbers and conformations of amino acid sequences of each subtype (beta1-, beta2- and beta3-ARs) were defined and also interaction sites or modes of interaction between ligands and beta-ARs could be analyzed three-dimensionally. In addition, simulation of 3D structures of beta-ARs by molecular modeling could clearly determine the limited size, space or pocket for fitting with ligands. These studies will give some clues for the clarification of other GPCRs. Thus, this review summarizes current findings on chemical structures of ligands, amino acid sequences, 3D structures and important amino acids of beta-AR subtypes for interacting with ligands obtained from mutagenesis, chimeric studies and molecular modeling techniques.

This study was performed to assess the affinities of propranolol, bopindolol, its two metabolites (18-502, 20-785), pindolol, metoprolol, and atenolol to β1- and β2-adrenoceptor (β1- and β2-AR) subtypes using the membranes of COS-7 cells transiently expressing β1- and β2-AR subtypes. Radioligand-binding assays were performed and the results were compared with those (pKi or pA2 values) obtained from the membrane-enriched fractions from the rat heart, cerebral cortex, bovine heart, tracheal smooth muscle or guinea-pig heart muscle. The pKi values of propranolol, bopindolol, its two metabolites, atenolol, pindolol and metoprolol to β1-AR subtypes obtained from COS-7 cell membranes were 9.02 ± 0.04, 7.44 ± 0.12, 9.38 ± 0.31, 6.65 ± 0.16, 5.55 ± 0.14, 8.17 ± 0.15 and 5.99 ± 0.13, respectively. The rank order of pKi values for these agents to β-2-ARs in COS-7 cell membranes was the same as that of β1-ARs. In addition, good correlations were observed between pKi values of homogenates from various tissues and those of transfected COS-7 cell membranes to β1- and β2-ARs. Although good correlations were also observed between pA2 values obtained from tracheal smooth muscle (β2-ARs) and pKi values obtained from transfected COS-7 cell membranes to β2-ARs, low correlation coefficient values to β1-ARs were observed, however. In conclusion, these results suggested that binding characteristics of 3H-CGP-12177 to β-AR subtypes in these membranes from transfected COS-7 cells are similar to those from membrane fractions of various tissues.

In isolated porcine coronary arteries, concentrations of 5-HT (10–8 to 3 × 10–5 mol/l), α-methylserotonin (α-Me-5-HT, 10–8 to 3 × 10–5 mol/l) and ergonovine (10–9 to 3 × 10–4 mol/l) produced contraction, whereas high concentrations (10–5 to 10–4 mol/l) of these drugs produced relaxation. Both sarpogrelate and ketanserin produced rightward shifts of contraction concentration-response curves induced by 5-HT and α-Me-5-HT at the concentration from 10–9 to 3 × 10–5 mol/l, and only sarpogrelate inhibited the relaxation at high concentrations of 5-HT and displayed 155% of maximal contraction at 10–4 mol/l 5-HT. On the other hand, sarpogrelate and ketanserin did not show any inhibitory effects on the relaxation induced by high concentrations of ergonovine. These results suggested that sarpogrelate and ketanserin show different inhibitory effects on the relaxation induced by high concentrations of 5-HT, indicating that these two drugs may have different affinities to 5-HT receptor subtypes that may be involved in relaxation.

The dissociating and/or residual inhibitory effects of bopindolol from β-adrenoceptors (ARs) of atria strips pretreated with this drug and washed out with buffers on isoprenaline-induced chronotropic actions were determined. The effects of this drug were compared with those of its active metabolite 18-502, propranolol, and pindolol. Our results are as follows: (1) Lower concentrations of bopindolol (10–9 and 10–8 mol/l) and the active metabolite 18-502 (10–9 mol/l), propranolol (10–8 and 10–6 mol/l) and pindolol (10–8 mol/l) produced rightward shifts of concentration-response curves of isoprenaline. (2) Higher concentrations of bopindolol (10–7 mol/l) and 18-502 (10–8 and 10–7 mol/l) produced a reduced maximum response by isoprenaline. (3) Bopindolol (10–9–10–7 mol/l), 18-502 (10–9–10–7 mol/l) and propranolol (10–7 and 10–6 mol/l) did not recover to control levels at 180 min even after washout with buffers. In conclusion, bopindolol and 18-502 may slowly dissociate and act as noncompetitive β-antagonists rather than readily reversible β-AR antagonists. These effects may differ from those of propranolol and pindolol, although propranolol did not recover to control levels after washout with buffer.

This study was designed to examine the importance of interaction in the bindings of nonselective β-blockers to β1-adrenoceptors (β1-ARs) as compared with β2-ARs, using molecular modeling. The β-blockers used in this study were bopindolol [4-(benzoyloxy-3-t- butylaminopropyl)-2-methylindol hydrogen malomate], its two metabolites [18-502 – hydrolyzed bopindolol or 4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-2-methyl indole – and 20-785 – 4-(3-t-butylaminopropoxy)-2-carboxyl indole], and propranolol. Molecular modeling was performed on an Indigo2 workstation (Silicon Graphic) using Discover/Insight II (Molecular Simulations) software. Through molecular modeling, possible binding sites for these drugs were suggested to lie between helices 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the β1-AR. The amine, benzoic acid, indole methyl, t-butyl, phenyl, and indole functional groups of bopindolol possibly interact with Asp138 (transmembrane – TM – 3), Ser190 (TM 4), Ala343 (TM 6), Val137 (TM 3), Pro339 (TM6), Cys336 (TM 4), Leu237 (TM 5), and Pro236 (TM 5) of β1-AR, respectively, by either hydrogen bonding or hydrophobic interactions. In addition, 18-502, 20-785, and propranolol also interacted with sites at the same positions as those of β2-ARs. Thus, the results of the present study suggested that although Ala343 and Val137 of β1-AR among these amino acids were different from those of β2-AR, the interactions at the same sites between ligands and amino acids of β1-AR as those of β2-ARs may occur because these drugs are nonselective.

This study was performed to assess the affinity of tamsulosin to the α1L- in addition to α1B-adrenoceptor (α1-AR) subtypes coexisting in the canine aorta using the radioligand binding assay. The antagonistic effects of this drug on contraction of the rat aorta were also assessed, and the results were compared with those obtained with prazosin, amosulalol, labetalol, ketanserin, clonidine and propranolol. The pKi value of tamsulosin to the α1L-subtype was lower than those of prazosin and HV-723, but higher than those of amosulalol, ketanserin and labetalol. The pKi value of tamsulosin for the α1B-subtype in the canine aorta was similar to that of prazosin. However, this drug showed a higher pKi value than amosulalol, HV-723, labetalol and ketanserin. On the other hand, the order of inhibition potencies for contraction of the rat aorta by phenylephrine was as follows: prazosin > tamsulosin > amosulalol > HV-723 > labetalol > ketanserin > clonidine > propranolol. Thus, although the affinity of tamsulosin to the α1B-AR subtype in the canine aorta was as high as that in the bovine prostate reported in our previous study, the affinity (pKi 7.87) of this drug to α1L-AR in the canine aorta was lower than that (pKi 8.99) in the bovine prostate. These observations suggested that the pharmacological potencies of tamsulosin in the aorta and prostate may be different.

1. The present study was designed to assess the displacement potencies of tamsulosin to 3H-prazosin bindings in two alpha1-adrenoceptor (AR) subtypes (alpha1H and alpha1L) in bovine prostate, rat heart and brain compared with those of amosulalol, labetalol, ketanserin, clonidine and propranolol. 2. The pKi values of tamsulosin to alpha1H and alpha1L subtypes in bovine prostate were 9.13 and 8.99 and these values were almost the same as those of prazosin. On the other hand, low pKi binding values of amosulalol, labetalol, ketanserin, clonidine and propranolol to these subtypes were observed. 3. Low pKi values of tamsulosin to alpha2- and beta-ARs and muscarinic and 5HT2 receptors in the rat brain were observed. 4. These results suggest that tamsulosin has high affinities to alpha1L-AR subtypes in bovine prostate and rat hearts as well as alpha1H-AR subtypes, implying an inhibitory effect of this drug on the contraction of the prostate.

The dissociating and/or residual inhibitory effects of bopindolol from β-adrenoceptors of atria strips pretreated with this drug which was then washed out with buffers on the responses to isoprenaline were determined and compared with those of propranolol, pindolol, atenolol, and the two active metabolites of bopindolol: 18-502 and 20-785. Low concentrations of bopindolol (10–9 to 10–8 mol/l) and the active metabolite 18-502 (10–9 mol/l) produced rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves. On the other hand, high concentrations of bopindolol (10–7 mol/l) and metabolite 18-502 (10–8 and 10–7 mol/l) produced a reduced maximum response by isoprenaline, suggesting that these nonparallel rightward shifts have pD2 values of 7.57 (bopindolol) and 7.67 (18-502), respectively, at 0 min after washout with buffers. Pindolol (10–7 mol/l) and propranolol (10–7 and 10–8 mol/l) also produced a rightward shift of isoprenaline response curves, and these concentration-response curves in guinea pig atria strips pretreated with pindolol (10–7 mol/l) and propranolol (10–6 mol/l) recovered to control levels. Neither of these drugs, however, reduced the maximum response by isoprenaline. A high concentration (10–5 mol/l) of atenolol was required for a rightward shift of the isoprenaline concentration-response curve, and this drug also did not reduce the maximum response. Thus, we conclude that bopindolol and metabolite 18-502 slowly dissociate and act as noncompetitive β-antagonists rather than easily reversible β-adrenoceptor antagonists.

This study was designed to further discriminate α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat aorta and prostate using functional experiments. Responses induced by phenylephrine were equilibrated in both tissues. The pA2 values and slope factors of several α1-antagonists were assessed using concentration-response curves. The antagonists used were prazosin, WB-4101, 5-methylurapidil (5-MU), HV-723, and tamsulosin. In addition, the effects of chloroethylclonidine (CEC) and nifedipine on phenylephrine-induced contractions were investigated. A high pA2 value for prazosin was observed in both tissues (aorta 9.84, prostate 9.19) and the ranking of each drug’s pA2 value is as follows: tamsulosin > prazosin > WB-4101 > HV-723 > 5-MU in the aorta, and tamsulosin > prazosin > 5-MU > WB-4101 = HV-723 in the prostate. A significant difference between the pA2 value of each drug except for tamsulosin in the aorta and in prostate was observed (p < 0.01). Inhibition of contraction by pretreatment with CEC was 83.9 ± 2.42% in the aorta, and 6.17 ± 0.94% in the prostate. On the other hand, inhibition of maximal response by pretreatment with nifedipine (1 µmol/l) was 35.1 ± 2.2% in the aorta and 24.5 ± 3.1% in the prostate. A good correlation between these pA2 values and pKi values for recombinant human α1b-adrenoceptor expressed in CHO cells (aorta) and α1a-subtypes of CEC pretreated rat hippocampus (prostate) were observed. In conclusion, these results suggest that: (1) the contraction of these two tissues is mediated by α1H-adrenoceptor with a high affinity for prazosin; (2) α1H-adrenoceptors correspond to α1b-(aorta) and α1a-subtypes (prostate), and (3) each α1-adrenoceptor subtype in the aorta and prostate may be α1b-(aorta) and α1a-subtypes (prostate), respectively.

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP8) is a useful murine model of accelerated aging and learning deficiency. We examined bindings of [3H]pirenzepine, [3H]dizocilpine (MK-801), [3H]flunitrazepam, [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutylate (PDBu) in SAMP8 brains, and compared them to those of SAMR1 (control). In the hippocampus of SAMP8 at 12 months, bindings of [3H]pirenzepine, [3H]MK-801, [3H]flunitrazepam, [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [3H]PDBu were significantly lower than those in SAMR1. In the cerebral cortex, bindings of [3H]pirenzepine, [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]8-OH-DPAT were higher in SAMP8 than in SAMR1 at 12 months. [3H]PDBu binding was decreased in both the fractions of the membrane and cytosol in the hippocampus of SAMP8. The neurochemical findings presented here support behavioral and pharmacological findings that SAMP8 is a useful model of learning dysfunction and anxiety-deficiency. The usefulness of SAMP8 in studies on cognitive enhancers is also discussed.

Production of blood cells is regulated by the interplay of various cytokines and bone marrow stromal cells. Recently, a ligand for the orphan receptor Mpl was identified as thrombopoietin (TPO), which specifically regulates megakaryocyte differentiation, and it was reported to be expressed mainly in liver and kidney. As it was found that thrombopoietin is also produced in bone marrow stromal cells, we studied further the roles of bone marrow stromal cells on megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet formation. The stromal cells stimulated growth and maturation of bone-marrow-derived megakaryocytes in the presence of thrombopoietin, and also supported growth of BaF3 cells expressing exogenous Mpl without thrombopoietin. Thrombopoietin induces drastic morphological change of megakaryocytes in bone marrow cells in vitro, ie, the formation of lengthy beaded cytoplasmic processes (proplatelet formation). However, when the purified megakaryocytes were cocultured with the stromal cells with or without thrombopoietin, most of the megakaryocytes adhered to the stromal cells and remained unchanged, while free megakaryocytes induced proplatelet formation. These observations indicated that the stromal cells in a hematopoietic microenvironment in bone marrow secrete thrombopoietin and stimulate proliferation and maturation of megakaryocytes, but the interaction of megakaryocytes with the stromal cells may suppress proplatelet formation.

To clarify the physiological roles of muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptor subtypes, M1 and M2, on learning and memory, we examined the effects of three antagonists, atropine (non-selective), pirenzepine (M1 selective) and 11-[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5, 11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2, 3-b][1, 4]benzodiazepine-6-one, AF-DX 116 (M2 selective), on step-through passive avoidance tasks in mice. During acquisition tests, mice were trained repeatedly until they achieved criterion latency (300 s). In all experiments, drugs or vehicles were intracerebroventricularly administered. Pre-training (5 min before) administration of atropine (1-40 nmol) and pirenzepine(10 and 40 nmol) shortened the response latency in retention tests at 14 d after acquisition training. Pre-test (5 min before) and post-training (immediately after the acquisition training) administration of atropine slightly but not significantly impaired retention scores. The administration of AF-DX 116 did not apparently affect the scores in any of tests. Thus, the M1 receptor subtype coupling systems seem to be more important in the acquisition-consolidation process rather than in the retrieval process.

The effects of the chronic administration of bopindolol on the binding characteristics of [3H]CGP12177 and [3H]prazosin to cardiac α1H-, α1L-, β1- and β2-adrenoceptor subtypes of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were compared with those of two other β-blockers, atenolol and propranolol. Bopindolol (1 and 3 mg/kg/d), atenolol (50 mg/kg/d) and propranolol (60 mg/kg/d) were given to 10-week-old SHR for 12 weeks. The changes in Kd and Bmax values of the myocardium of SHR treated without and with those drugs were assessed by Scatchard analysis, and the ratio and Bmax values of the β1- and β2-adrenoceptor subtypes were also calculated from displacemental curves using ICI 118, 551. The systolic blood pressure in SHR was dose-dependently lowered by the administration of dopindolol, and was also lowered by the administration of atenolol and propranolol. The Bmax values of β1- and β2-adrenoceptors were lowered by the administration of bopindolol (1 and 3 mg/kg/d) without any changes in the Kd values or the ratio of β1- and β2-adrenoceptors. Propranolol lowered 3-fold the affinity to the β-adrenoceptor. On the other hand, the Kd and Bmax values of α1H- and α1L-adrenoceptor subtypes (high and low affinity binding sites for [3H]prazosin) were not changed by these drugs. These findings suggest that bopidolol had a beneficial effect on β-adrenoceptors in the membranes of cardiac muscles of SHR, simplying that these effects may contribute to lowering hypertension.

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P/8) is known as a murine model of aging and memory dysfunction. In the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of P/8, the contents of glutamic acid and glutamine were significantly higher than those of normal strain R/1 during 2 and 14 months. High K + -evoked endogenous glutamic acid release from the slices of P/8 was increased in comparison with R/1 at 9 and 11 months. In addition, the B max of [ 3 H]dizocilpine (MK-801, channel blocker for N- methyl- d -aspartic acid receptor/channel) binding in the cerebral cortex was age-dependently decreased in P/8 but not in R/1. These results suggest that synaptic dysfunctions in the glutamatergic system occur in the CNS of SAM-P/8.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity,malondialdehyde (MDA) content and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity were measured in the brain, liver and kidney of a normal aging strain (R/1) and an accelerating aging strain (P/8) senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) at 9-10 months of age, and the effects of facteur thymique sérique (FTS) were examined. The activity of Cu,Zn-SOD in the kidney and MAO-B in the liver was significantly low and high in SAM-P/8 compared to SAM-R/1. FTS enhanced the activity of Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD in the kidney of SAM-P/8 and Cu,Zn-SOD activity in the brain of both SAM-P/8 and SAM-R/1. It decreased the activity of MAO-B in the liver and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain and kidney of SAM-P/8. Thus, FTS affects the biochemical factors related to senescence in SAM-P/8, a particular senescent animal model, and may thus possibly be effective as an anti-senescent medicine.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the molecular interactions involved in prazosin binding to the human alpha(1b)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(1b)-AR) receptor. Based on molecular modeling studies, Thr130 and Asp125 in transmembrane region III of the alpha(1b)-AR receptor were found to interact with prazosin. Thr130 and Asp125 were mutated to alanine (Ala) and expressed in HEK293 cells. The radioligand [(3)H]prazosin did not show any binding to Asp125Ala mutant of alpha(1b)-AR. Therefore, it was not possible to find any prazosin affinity to the mutant using the radioligand [(3)H]prazosin. The mutation also abolished phenylephrine-stimulated inositol phosphate (IP) formation of [(3)H]myo-inositol. On the other hand, the Thr130Ala mutant showed reduced binding affinity for [(3)H]prazosin (dissociation constant, K(d) 674.27 pM versus 90.27 pM for the wild-type receptor) and had reduced affinity for both tamsulosin and prazosin (11-fold and 9-fold, respectively). However, the Thr130Ala mutant receptor retained the ability to stimulate the formation of [(3)H]myo-inositol. The results provide direct evidence that Asp125 and Thr130 are responsible for the interactions between alpha(1b)-AR receptor and radioligand [(3)H]prazosin as well as tamsulosin.

Effects of the intracerebroventricular administration of 1-[[[5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-furanyl]methylene]imino]-2,4-imidazolidinedi one (dantrolene, an inhibitor of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization) on learning/ memory were investigated in mice using step-through passive avoidance and radial-arm maze tests. In the passive avoidance test, the administration of 6 nmol of dantrolene shortened the response latency in the retention test. The number of times of acquisition training required to achieve the criterion latency (300 s) did not change in the acquisition test. Ten nmol of administration of dantrolene increased the number of times of acquisition training required to achieve the criterion latency in the acquisition test and shortened the response latency in the retention test. In the radial-arm maze tests, 20 nmol of administration of dantrolene disrupted maze-choice accuracy and increased error numbers. These results suggest that intraneuronal Ca2+ mobilization plays important roles in learning and memory.

Background—Although immunosuppressive therapy for myocarditis has attracted a great deal of attention, its effectiveness is controversial. Interleukin (IL)-10 has a variety of immunomodulatory properties. Among the nonviral techniques for gene transfer in vivo, the direct injection of plasmid DNA into muscle is simple, inexpensive, and safe.Methods and Results—We examined the applicability of murine IL-10 (mIL-10) gene transfer to the treatment of rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis. Nine-week-old Lewis rats were inoculated with pig myosin (day 0). A plasmid vector expressing mIL-10 cDNA (800 μg per rat) was transferred into the tibialis anterior muscles by electroporation 3 times (5 days before immunization and at days 4 and 13); control rats received empty plasmid. Electroporation increased the serum mIL-10 levels to >250 pg/mL. The 21-day survival rate in rats treated with mIL-10 cDNA was higher (15 of 15; 100%) than that of the control group (9 of 15; 60%). Furthermore, mIL-10 treatment significantly attenuated myocardial lesions and improved hemodynamic parameters.Conclusions—These findings showed that gene transfer into muscle by electroporation in vivo is an effective means of delivery of IL-10 for the treatment of autoimmune myocarditis.

Bopindolol, a non-selective antagonist of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors (ARs), has been found by pharmacological, molecular biological techniques and molecular modeling to have several unique properties. Bopindolol produces sustained blockade of beta 1- and beta 2-ARs, has intrinsic sympathomimetic as well as membrane stabilizing actions, inhibits renin secretion, and interacts with 5-HT receptors. Also, our recent molecular modeling studies identified possible interaction sites between bopindolol and beta-AR subtypes. The reviewed studies support our findings that bopindolol is non-selective for beta 1- and beta 2-ARs, has low affinity for beta 3-AR subtype and has pharmacological properties that are likely to be beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

We deduced the three dimensional structures of transmembrane regions in human beta adrenoceptors by computer simulating using the 2D electron density maps of bacteriorhodopsin and frog rhodopsin as templates. The deduced membrane-spanning helical regions, their arrangements and axes to the membrane plain were different between two models. Typical beta adrenergic antagonist, propranolol, and long-lasting beta antagonist, bopindolol, were docked in these models. The receptor-antagonist interactions were different between both models, in which the 3, 4, 5 and 6th transmembrane domains might participate in the antagonists-binding in both models, however, the amino acid residues in the domains contributing to the binding might be different between models. Propranolol and bopindolol have high affinity to beta 1 and beta 2 subtypes, but low affinity to beta 3 subtype. The simulated receptor-antagonist relationships could account, in part, for the selectivity of the antagonists to the beta subtypes.

The structure-activity relationships of bopindolol and its two metabolites (18-502 and 20-785) and their β-blocking potencies in the human β 2 -adrenoceptor (AR) were assessed using molecular modeling on an INDIGO2 workstation (SGI Co., Ltd.) and DISCOVER/INSIGHT II (Biosym Co., Ltd.). Through modeling, possible binding sites for these agents were hypothesized to involve the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th helices of the β 2 -AR, and these shared a common interaction site at Asp 113 in helix 3. The different chemical structure of these three agents, however, showed binding to different binding sites (amino acids). This study therefore suggests that different β-blocking potencies of these agents may be due to different chemical structure.

SM-10902 ((+)-methyl [2-[(2R,3aS,4R,5R,6aS)-octahydro-5-hydroxy-4-[(E)-(3S,5S)-3- hydroxy-5-methyl-1-nonenyl]-2-pentalenyl]ethoxy]acetate) and its free acid, SM-10906 are new stable 3-oxa-methano prostaglandin (PG) I1 analogs. Their affinities for [3H]iloprost and [3H]PGE2 binding sites in human platelets and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells were compared with those of the PGI2 analog iloprost, PGE1 and PGE2 by the radioligand binding assay method. The cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis activity of these drugs were also determined in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. We found that SM-10906 apparently displaced [3H]iloprost binding to the membrane fractions in those cells since the pKi values were 6.30 in platelets, 7.52 in vein endothelial cells and 6.31 in the arterial endothelial cells. The pKi values of SM-10906 for [3H]PGE2 binding sites were significantly lower than those obtained for [3H]iloprost binding. SM-10902, which is a prodrug of SM-10906, showed low affinity for [3H]iloprost binding sites in those cells. SM-10906 also dose-dependently enhanced the cAMP level in the vascular endothelial cells. Thus, these findings indicate that SM-10906 binds to [3H]iloprost binding sites and exhibits pharmacological functions such as an anti-platelet action and a cytoprotective action in endothelial cells through the elevation of intracellular cAMP contents.

We investigated the characteristics of beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) in rat white adipose tissues (WAT) with a radioligand receptor binding assay using (-)-[3H]-CGP12177. Scatchard analysis revealed that there are high- and low-affinity sites for (-)-[3H]-CGP12177 in WAT. The (-)-[3H]-CGP12177 bound to a high-affinity site was displaced by 1 microM propranolol. The rank of pKi values of catecholamines for the site was isoproterenol > epinephrine > norepinephrine. By contrast, BRL37344A, BRL35135A and SR59230A, beta 3-selective agonists had high affinity for the low-affinity site of (-)-[3H]-CGP12177, whereas (-)-[3H]-CGP12177 bound to a low-affinity site was completely displaced by 100 microM bupranolol but not 1 microM propranolol. The pKi values of the catecholamines (isoproterenol, norepinephrine, epinephrine) for this site were very low. In addition, the correlation between the pKi values of various beta-agonists for the low-affinity site of rat WAT and those obtained from rat cloned beta 3-ARs was significant, but those of human cloned beta 3-ARs were not. Consequently, the results suggested that the high- and low-affinity sites were beta 2-ARs and beta 3-ARs in rat WAT, respectively.

The non-selective beta-blocker bopindolol, which was developed as a pro-drug, possessed 50-60 times more potent long-acting hypotensive effects on the blood pressure than those of atenolol or propranolol. Because this drug has only a mild partial agonist activity, it did not cause the rapid decrease in heart rate observed with atenolol or propranolol or the increase in heart rate induced by pindolol. These hypotensive effects are due to beta 1-antagonistic effects, not effects on beta 2- or beta 3-adrenoceptors. In addition to these effects, benefits of this drug include the following: slow dissociation rate from beta-adrenoceptors in tissues, high affinity to 5-HT1A subtypes, less clinical effects on lipid metabolism and the inhibition of renin release. It is possible that this drug possesses different pharmacological characteristics from other beta-blockers.

Senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP8) is known as a murine model of accelerated aging and memory dysfunction. The binding activity of [3H] 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxam ide (PK-11195) as a neurochemical marker of gliosis markedly increased with aging in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of SAMP8. Immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was also enhanced. A beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP)-like immunoreactivity and 27-kDa-carboxyl terminal fragments of APP increased in SAMP8 brain. In addition, anti-APP antibody stained reactive astrocytes surrounding spongy degeneration in brain stern of SAMP8. These results suggest that astrocytosis and production of APP-derived fragments occur markedly in SAMP8 brains.

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover via muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptor was investigated using the cerebral cortex from adult rats. Activities in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum from senescent rats were compared with those from adult rat. Carbachol (1 mM)-stimulated [3H]IP accumulation in the presence of 10 mM LiCl was inhibited by pirenzepine more potently than by AF-DX 116. Although the displacing activity of carbachol for [3H]pirenzepine binding was decreased by 50 microM GTP gamma S, pretreatment of slices with pertussis toxin (PTX, 0.01-1.0 micrograms/ml) did not affect the carbachol-induced [3H]IP accumulation. In the slices from all 3 tissues, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum, both incorporation of [3H]inositol and carbachol-stimulated [3H]IP accumulation were reduced at 28 months compared to those at 2 months. Furthermore, the Bmax values of [3H]pirenzepine binding in membranes from these three regions were diminished at the senescent stage. Taken together, the results suggest that an M1-subtype of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor could be involved in PI turnover via GTP-binding proteins insensitive to PTX. Age-related changes in M1-receptor mediated PI turnover seem to be in part due to the decreased number of M1-receptors with increasing age in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum; and some qualitative changes also seem to have occurred in the hippocampus of senescent rats in the mACh receptor-PI turnover system.

Senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P/8) is known as a murine model of aging and memory dysfunction, compared with control mouse (SAM-R/1). In the hippocampus of 9-month-old SAM-P/8, the Bmax of [3H]QNB binding was decreased compared with that of SAM-R/1 at the same age. Single and repeated administrations of bifemelane to SAM-P/8 induced an increase in the Bmax of [3H]QNB binding in the hippocampus. From these results, bifemelane seems to exert pharmacological effects through possible activation of the cholinergic system in the hippocampus of SAM.

On March 7 this year, Prof. Robert J. Domenjoz died at the age of 89 years. Pharmacology is extremely indebted to him. He founded the journal in 1959, which was named Medicina Experimentalis and some years later renamed Medicina et Pharmacologia Experimentalis still in the tradition that Latin was the medical language.

The senescence accelerated mouse (SAM) is known as a murine model of aging and memory dysfunction. In the cerebral cortical membranes of male 9-month-old SAM mice, the B max values of [ 3 H]rauwolscine and [ 3 H]nitrendipine binding, and the values of both K d and B max of [ 3 H]TCP binding in the accelerated aging strain SAM-P 8 were significantly increased compared with the values in the control strain SAM-R 1 . In hippocampal membranes, however, the B max values of [ 3 H]quinuclidinyl benzilate and [ 3 H]nitrendipine binding were significantly decreased in SAM-P 8 compared with those in SAM-R 1 . These results suggest that muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, α 2 -adrenoceptors, N- methyl- d -aspartate receptor channels and L-type Ca 2+ channels are changed in cerebral cortex and hippocampus in SAM-P 8 at 9 months.