No abstract

No abstract

1) 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine, serotonin) induces inositol phosphate production in a pig choroid plexus preparation. This effect has been pharmacologically characterized and the data compared to those obtained from radioligand binding studies performed with [3H]mesulergine to 5-HT1C sites in pig choroid plexus membranes. 2) The rank order of potency of agonists stimulating inositol phosphate production was: alpha-methyl-5-HT greater than 1-methyl-5-HT greater than DOI greater than bufotenine = SKF 83566 = 5-HT greater than 5-MeO-DMT greater than 5-MeOT = RU 24969 greater than SCH 23390 greater than 5-CT. 8-OH-DPAT was virtually devoid of activity at 100 mumol/l. 3) The increase in inositol phosphate production induced by 5-HT and other agonists was surmountably antagonised by mesulergine, ketanserin and spiperone with pKB values of 8.7, 6.7 and 5.3, respectively. 4) The rank order of potency of antagonists was: metergoline greater than mesulergine greater than LY 53857 greater than ritanserin greater than methiothepin greater than mianserin greater than cyproheptadine greater than pirenperone greater than cinanserin greater than ketanserin greater than spiperone. The following antagonists were virtually devoid of activity at 100 mumol/l; pindolol, 21-009 and yohimbine. 5) The results obtained both with agonists and antagonists strongly support the view that 5-HT1C receptors mediate agonist induced production of inositol phosphates in pig choroid plexus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vitro axonal transport of tritiated protein decreased 40 to 60 percent when neuronal cell bodies were incubated in calcium-free medium, but was not affected when only nerve trunks were exposed to calcium-free conditions. In addition, calcium-45 was transported along axons at a rate similar to that of rapidly transported tritiated protein. These data are interpreted to suggest that calcium ions are involved in the initiation of axonal transport and in the coupling of transported proteins to the transport system.

Centrally acting alpha 1-agonists may be of therapeutic value in dementias and other CNS disorders characterized by symptoms of noradrenergic insufficiency. Therefore, on the basis of known peripherally acting alpha 1-agonists two new groups of centrally acting alpha 1-agonists with improved lipophilicity, the hexahydronaphth[2,3-b]-1,4-oxazines type A and the octahydrobenzo[g]quinolines type B were designed. The N-methylated derivatives 14 and 33 demonstrate potent, direct agonistic activity at postjunctional alpha 1-receptors. Ring substituent alterations in compounds of type A and B change the potency of compounds on the rabbit ear artery by over 3 orders of magnitude (pD2 = 5.35-8.40). The efficacy of these compounds varies from 42 to 110%. Those alpha 1-agonists which were selective in the pithed rat increase vigilance in rats. Compound 14 was found to be a centrally acting alpha 1-agonist with good tolerability in different animal species and in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, 14 selectively stimulates the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol in rat cerebral cortex slices. In vivo, the compound reverses behavioral deficits in animals which received noradrenergic lesions following DDC or DPS4 treatment. Oxazine 14 and its close derivatives are by far more lipophilic than commonly known alpha 1-agonists. This is demonstrated in a ClogP-PROBIS plot.