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Within the context of the discussion about rational polytherapy, we determined the effects of four anaesthetics on the binding of [3H]t-butylbicycloorthobenzoate ([3H]TBOB) to the GABA(A) receptor complex in the presence of several concentrations of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), in order to build a molecular model that can describe and quantify the interactions between the compounds. The empirical isobole method revealed that GABA and the anaesthetics acted synergically in displacing [3H]TBOB. This synergy could be described by a simple molecular model in which both GABA and the anaesthetics displaced [3H]TBOB allosterically and in which GABA allosterically enhanced the binding of the anaesthetics. To get information about the interaction between GABA and anaesthetics, we used [3H]TBOB as a tracer ligand. The model indicated that GABA enhanced the affinity of thiopental 3.0-fold, propofol 5.0-fold, the neuroactive steroids Org 20599 3.5-fold and Org 20549 13-fold. Insight into the molecular mechanism and strength of these interactions can help clinicians to choose therapeutically optimal drug and dose combinations: a step towards rational polytherapy.

Muscarinic receptors in mammalian kidney seem to be involved in diuresis. In this study we give a detailed characterization of receptors in rat kidney. Specific binding of [3H](-)-quinuclidinylbenzilate ([3H]QNB) to membranes of rat kidney cortex was saturable and of high affinity. A dissociation constant of 0.063 +/- 0.003 nM and a receptor density of 1.46 +/- 0.07 pmol/g wet weight were obtained. The dissociation kinetics could be best described by assuming a mono-exponential function (k-1 = (0.52 +/- 0.1) x 10(-4) s-1). The binding of [3H]QNB reached a maximum in 60 min at 0.6 nM at 37 degrees C. Competition experiments with the enantiomers of benzetimide confirmed the muscarinic nature of the [3H]QNB binding sites. The inhibition constants of pirenzepine (0.23 +/- 0.02 microM), (+-)-hexahydrosiladifenidol (0.040 +/- 0.002 microM), AF-DX 116 (1.45 +/- 0.07 microM), methoctramine (1.67 +/- 0.02 microM) and gallamine (78 +/- 3 microM) classified this receptor as an M3 receptor. Inhibition of [3H]QNB binding by the agonists methylfurtrethonium, arecoline, isoarecoline methiodide, arecaidine propargyl ester and McN-A-343 displayed monophasic inhibition curves. With (+/-)-cis-2-methyl-4-dimethylaminomethyl-1,3- dioxolane methiodide in two out of four experiments a small (11%) population of high affinity agonist sites could be detected. The potassium sparing diuretic amiloride inhibited [3H]QNB binding (36 +/- 3 microM). Although in a way related to the amiloride binding site, the muscarinic receptors in rat kidney are unlikely to be the primary target of diuretic action of this drug.

A method was developed to determine the affinities of antimuscarinic drugs at M1 receptors. [3H](+/-)-Telenzepine served as radioligand in crude preparations of calf superior cervical ganglia and showed high affinity for a single receptor population, consisting of M1 receptors (KD = 1.12 nM). Kinetic experiments showed monophasic association (k1 = 0.017 min-1 nM-1) and dissociation (k-1 = 0.017 min-1) kinetics, the half-life of dissociation being 41 min at 37 degrees C. The kinetic KD value amounted to 1.00 nM. M1 affinities for pirenzepine, methoctramine, hexahydro-sila-difenidol and p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol determined in competition experiments were similar to those found in functional studies with M1 receptors in rabbit isolated vas deferens. The binding assay was used to determine the affinities of the (R) and (S) enantiomers of tertiary (trihexyphenidyl, hexahydro-difenidol, hexbutinol, p-fluoro-hexbutinol) and quaternary muscarinic antagonists (trihexyphenidyl methiodide, hexbutinol methiodide). Comparison of results obtained with the rabbit vas deferens suggested that the ionic environment may influence the affinities.

Prejunctional inhibitory muscarinic receptors in guinea pig tracheal strips were investigated by electrical field stimulation. Pilocarpine and methacholine caused, in a similar way, a dose-dependent increase in baseline with a concomitant decrease in twitch response. We showed by using selective muscarinic antagonists, such as pirenzepine (M1-selective), methoctramine (M2-selective), AF-DX 116 (11-[[2-[diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]-acetyl]-5,11-dihydro- 6H-pyrido[2,3-b] [1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one, M2-selective), gallamine (M2-selective) and 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N- methylpiperidinemethiodide, M3-selective), that the prejunctional inhibitory muscarinic receptor is of the M2 subtype.

The specific binding of [3H]rauwolscine to rat nasal mucosa membranes was saturable, stereoselective and of high affinity. The Scatchard plot pointed to a homogeneous population of binding sites (Kd = 3.6 +/- 0.6 nM; Bmax = 5.1 +/- 0.7 pmol/g). The non-specific binding appeared to be non-linear, probably due to filter binding. Inhibition of [3H]rauwolscine binding with the subtype-selective antagonist, prazosin, suggested the presence of alpha 2-adrenoceptor subclasses in rat nasal mucosa. The (-)-epinephrine inhibition curves demonstrated high- and low-affinity agonist binding sites. A monophasic (-)-epinephrine inhibition curve was obtained in the presence of guanine nucleotides.

The specific binding of 125I-(-)-cyanopindolol (125I-(-)-CYP) to homogenates and cryostat sections of rat nasal mucosa was saturable, stereoselective and of high affinity (Kd = 5.0 +/- 0.4 pM. Bmax = 204 +/- 12 fmol/mg protein and Kd = 7.2 +/- 0.7 pM; Bmax = 15 +/- 1 fmol/mg protein respectively). The subtype-selective antagonists, LK203-030 and ICI118,551, inhibited specific 125I-(-)-CYP binding according to a two-binding site model, indicating the presence of 57 and 45% beta 1-adrenoceptors in homogenates and cryostat sections, respectively. Competition of isoprenaline for antagonist binding to homogenates demonstrated 30 +/- 3% high-affinity agonist binding sites. A steepening of the curve was observed in presence of guanine nucleotides. In vitro labelling of cryostat sections of rat nasal mucosa was combined with autoradiography. The autoradiographs generated after incubation with 20 pM 125I-(-)-CYP showed specific labelling of the epithelium and glandular excretory ducts. It appeared from autoradiographs generated with subtype-selective antagonists in addition to the radioligand that beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors were present in both structures.

[3H]t-Butylbicycloorthobenzoate ([3H]TBOB) binds to specific sites on crude synaptic rat brain membranes. The dissociation constant, Kd, determined from saturation experiments is near 8 nM and the receptor density Bmax is about 20 pmol/g wet tissue. Non-specific binding constitutes about 35% of the total binding at 4 nM [3H]TBOB. The association of [3H]TBOB is monophasic but its dissociation is biphasic. Kd values of 8 nM (70% of the binding sites) and 20 nM (30% of the binding sites) were estimated from the kinetic data. These values differ from those previously reported. Specifically bound [3H]TBOB is displaced by picrotoxin and by t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS). No simple competitive interaction of picrotoxin with [3H]TBOB binding was found. Micromolar quantities of the GABAergic facilitating compounds, GABA, muscimol and diazepam inhibited [3H]TBOB binding in an allosteric manner.

Specific [3H]l-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to rat nasal mucosa homogenates occurs to a homogeneous class of binding sites with Kd = 60 +/- 2 10(-12) M and Bmax = 8.1 +/- 2 pmol/g tissue. Binding is stereoselectively inhibited by benzetimide enantiomers. Pirenzepine inhibits [3H]l-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding with low affinity (Ki = 5.0 10(-7) M), classifying the binding sites as muscarinic M2-receptors. Methylfurtrethonium and methacholine inhibit [3H]l-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding following an almost sigmoid curve at high concentrations pointing to the presence of mainly low affinity agonist binding sites.

Both the enantiomers of bethanechol displaced R(-)-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate from muscarinic binding sites in homogenates from rat jejunum, nasal mucosa, atrial and ventricular myocardium. Stereoselectivity of receptor binding for S(+)- and R(-)-bethanechol was found in all tissues investigated (Ki S(+) less than Ki R(-)). Different proportions of high and low affinity binding sites for bethanechol enantiomers and S(+)-methacholine in jejunal smooth muscle, atrial and ventricular muscle and the presence of only low affinity binding sites in nasal mucosa point to differences in receptor-effector coupling in these tissues. The relative insensitivity of cardiac tissue for bethanechol compared to methacholine might be related to the much smaller proportion of high affinity binding sites found for S(+)-bethanechol in heart ventricular muscle.

An in vitro method was developed for the biochemical and autoradiographic demonstration of low muscarinic receptor densities in peripheral tissue. Histological criteria point clearly to the necessity for fixation to preserve tissue quality. [3H]l-Quinuclidinylbenzilate bound specifically to a homogeneous class of binding sites in 0.5% glutardialdehyde-fixed cryostat sections (10 microns) of rat nasal glands with high affinity (Kd = 0.47 +/- 0.06 nM) and with a receptor density (Bmax) of 41 +/- 1 fmol/mg protein. This binding was linearly dependent on the thickness of the sections. Kinetic experiments resulted in a Kd value of 0.19 nM. Binding was stereoselectively inhibited by benzetimide enantiomers. Autoradiograms, generated after incubation with 0.6 nM [3H]l-quinuclidinylbenzilate and dipping in nuclear K2 emulsion, showed specific labelling of the glandular acini and excretory ducts. These in vitro observations provide conclusive evidence for the presence of acetylcholine receptors in the nasal glands of the rat.