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This study was designed to investigate the effects on single skeletal muscle fibers of a novel thienylhydrazone, referred to as LASSBio-294, which is a bioisoster of pyridazinone compounds that inhibit the cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4. Twitch and fatigue were analyzed in single skeletal muscle fibers isolated from either the semitendinous or the tibialis anterior muscles dissected from the frog Rana pipiens. LASSBio-294 (12.5-100 microM) increased twitch tension, accelerated the maximal rate of tension decay during relaxation, and had very little effect in the maximal rate of tension development of muscle fibers directly stimulated ator =30 Hz. The positive inotropic effect of LASSBio-294 developed slowly, reaching its maximum at 40 min and was inversely proportional to the frequency of stimulation, becoming negligible at 60 and 90 Hz. The concentration-response relationship for LASSBio-294-induced potentiation of twitch tension was bell-shaped, with maximal effect occurring at 25 microM. In addition, LASSBio-294 reduced development of fatigue induced by tetanic stimulation of the muscle fibers and reduced the time needed for 80% prefatigue tension recovery after fatigue had developed to 50% of the maximal pretetanic force. These effects of LASSBio-294 can be fully explained by stimulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump and could be ascribed to an increase in cellular levels of cyclic AMP due to PDE inhibition. The novel thienylhydrazone LASSBio-294 may be useful for treatment of patients suffering from conditions in which muscle fatigue is a debilitating symptom (e.g., chronic heart failure).

The patch-clamp technique was used to characterize the nicotinic currents in individual neurons acutely dissociated from the hippocampi of postnatal rats of different ages, and to investigate the effects of Pb2+ on these currents, both in acutely dissociated and in cultured hippocampal neurons. The effects of Pb2+ on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) expressed in frog muscle fibers were also investigated. Acetylcholine could activate fast- and slowly desensitizing whole-cell currents in neurons dissociated from the hippocampi of 4- to 20-day-old rats. Similar to the currents elicited in cultured hippocampal neurons, the rapidly desensitizing currents were blocked by methyllycaconitine, and were the nicotinic responses that could be elicited in most of the acutely dissociated neurons tested, whereas the slowly desensitizing currents could be evoked only in a few neurons. Although the peak amplitude of nicotinic currents recorded from acutely dissociated neurons increased with age of the neurons as it did in cultured neurons, the mean amplitude of the currents was at least an order of magnitude smaller in acutely dissociated neurons than in cultured neurons. Pb2+ could potently and specifically inhibit activation of fast-desensitizing nicotinic currents in hippocampal neurons. Pb2+ reduced the peak amplitude of fast-desensitizing currents with an IC50 of about 3 microM and an apparent Hill coefficient of 1.0, whereas only at 30 microM could Pb2+ decrease the peak amplitude of slowly desensitizing currents by about 50%. Inhibition of fast-desensitizing currents by Pb2+ was voltage independent and noncompetitive. However, Pb2+ had no effect on acetylcholine-activated single channels in frog muscle fibers. Our results indicate that the hippocampus of the developing rat expresses functional nAChRs of diverse types, and that methyllycaconitine-sensitive neuronal nAChRs, which are highly permeable to Ca2+, are much more sensitive to Pb2+ than other nAChR subtypes.

Anatoxin analogs were designed to evaluate the importance of H-bonding, planarity, size and steric configuration of the anatoxin side chain moiety with regard to nicotinic potency and efficacy. This report examines the actions of these analogs on the somatic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at two different loci: the agonist recognition site and the ion channel site. Agonist effects were evaluated using stimulation of contracture and radioligand binding competition for [125I]alpha bungarotoxin sites in Rana pipiens muscle, and stimulation of [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin binding and competition for [125I]alpha bungarotoxin sites in Torpedo californica electric organ. Antagonist effects were evident in the inhibition of neurally evoked twitch of the frog sciatic nerve-sartorius muscle preparation and in inhibition of [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin binding to Torpedo receptors. The affinity of these analogs for the agonist locus was consistently associated with activation of the AChR. Our results show that side chain steric configuration has an important role in affinity of the (+)-anatoxin-a analogs for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ion channel sites. Several analogs also revealed stereospecific noncompetitive actions. The (+)-anatoxin-a-related structures are important probes for characterizing both agonist and ion channel target sites on the peripheral nicotinic receptor.

The effects of MK-801 [( +]-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-di-benzo[a, d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine) on peripheral and central nicotinic receptors were studied using electrophysiological and biochemical techniques. MK-801 depressed the peak amplitude and accelerated the decay of end-plate currents. The drug (1-10 microM) decreased the frequency of activation of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced single-channel currents in addition to shortening the mean open and burst times of channels activated by either ACh or (+)anatoxin-a (AnTX). MK-801 (10-40 microM) depressed the single potentials and trains of ACh and AnTX-induced potentials in chronically denervated rat soleus muscles. MK-801 blocked the twitch responses (20-100 microM) of both frog sartorius and rat diaphragm muscles evoked by stimulation of their respective nerves. Also this drug (less than 1 microM) decreased the frequency of channels activated by AnTX or ACh in outside-out patch membranes of rat retinal ganglion cells with minimal changes in the channel open time. MK-801 (10-25 microM) depressed (-)nicotine-evoked gamma-amino[2,3-3H]butyric acid release from rat hippocampal synaptosomes; however, it failed to affect the binding of [3H](-)nicotine to brain membranes and also failed to interfere with the binding of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin to either frog muscle or Torpedo membranes. On the other hand, MK-801 inhibited the binding of [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin to Torpedo membranes and such an effect was more pronounced in the presence of carbamylcholine. Neither AnTX nor any other nicotinic agonist increased the binding of [3H]MK-801 to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ion channel complex. The actions of MK-801 were evident at concentrations comparable with those needed to block N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. These results demonstrate the existence of at least three different types of nicotinic AChR, all of which were blocked noncompetitively by MK-801.

Triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP) blocked the nerve-elicited twitch tension of frog sartorius muscles by 50% at a concentration of about 20 microM. This neuromuscular blockade by TPMP, which originated at the level of the nicotinic receptor, was due in part to the ability of the drug to block the quiescent receptor by degrees that depended on the TPMP concentration and on membrane potential. In addition, the blockade was markedly enhanced when the receptor was activated by acetylcholine. Finally, TPMP shortened the lifetimes of ACh-activated ion channels. These findings were interpreted as follows. Under resting conditions, TPMP shifted the equilibrium of the receptor channel complex toward the desensitized state. TPMP united with the activated ion channel to shorten channel lifetime and to deepen the blockade. High concentrations (greater than or equal to 50 microM) of TPMP altered muscle action potentials and often increased, by about 30-fold, the frequency of miniature endplate potentials.

The novel tricyclic alkaloid, gephyrotoxin ( GyTX ), found in the skin secretions of the frog Dendrobates histrionicus , potentiates and blocks the indirectly elicited muscle twitch in a concentration-dependent manner. GyTX prolongs the falling phase of the muscle action potential and decreases delayed rectification, supporting the idea that the alkaloid blocks the voltage-sensitive potassium conductance of the electrically excitable membrane. The peak amplitude of the end-plate currents (EPC) and miniature end-plate currents ( MEPC ) were depressed, but no significant deviation from linearity relative to control was seen in the current-voltage relationship. The decay time constant of the EPC (tau EPC) was markedly shortened by GyTX , the effect being greater at 10 degrees than at 22 degrees. The relationship between the log of tau EPC and membrane potential disclosed a linear relationship at all concentrations tested, but a progressive loss of voltage sensitivity of tau EPC was seen when GyTX concentrations were increased. Also, the plot of 1/tau EPC against GyTX concentration revealed a linear relationship. The lack of voltage and time dependence suggests that GyTX has little effect on the ACh receptor-ionic channel complex in the closed conformation. Single-channel conductance studied by means of fluctuation analysis did not change after GyTX application, but the channel lifetime decreased by about 40% at clamp potentials of -105 mV and at a toxin concentration of 7.5 microM. Repetitive nerve stimulation led to a pronounced " rundown " in the EPCs which was frequency-dependent. These findings were taken as evidence that GyTX interacts with the acetylcholine receptor complex, causing a blockade of its channel mainly in the open conformation.

The effects of atropine sulfate and scopolamine hydrobromide were investigated on the end-plate current (EPC) of frog sartorius muscle by standard voltage-clamp techniques. Both atropine and scopolamine reduced the peak EPC amplitude although scopolamine was only one-third as potent as atropine. The reduction of amplitude became more pronounced with increasing membrane hyperpolarization resulting in nonlinear current-voltage characteristics. Atropine shortened the EPC duration and decreased the voltage-sensitivity of the falling phase; the latter, however, continued to remain a single exponential function of time as in the control. Scopolamine reduced the time to peak, and in addition, converted the falling phase to a double exponential function, consisting of a rapid initial phase followed by a slow terminal phase. Both phases of fall were altered by changes in drug concentration but only the terminal phase responded appreciably to changes in membrane potential. Atropine and scopolamine were without effect on the EPC reversal potential, indicating that the drugs do not exhibit a preference for the ionic species carrying the synaptic current.

The multiple actions of nicotine enantiomers at the peripheral nicotinic acetylcholine receptor were evaluated using electrophysiological and biochemical techniques. The alpha-bungarotoxin binding site showed a 6-fold greater affinity for (-)-nicotine than for the (+)-isomer, and this stereoselectivity was reflected in differences in the ability of the alkaloids to activate physiological responses in the forms of single ion channel currents, endplate depolarizations and muscle contractures. (-)-Nicotine was also more potent to induce slow desensitization. In contrast, both (-)- and (+)-nicotine were equipotent as ion channel blockers. Ion channel blockade occurred at effective agonist concentrations for (+)-nicotine but above the effective concentration for (-)-nicotine. The rapid and reversible interaction of nicotine enantiomers with the ion channel occurred at concentrations which implicate a significant contribution of channel blockade to the inhibition of indirect muscle twitch. The agonistic and ion channel blocking effects of the nicotine enantiomers provide important clues regarding the mechanisms by which nicotine may affect central nervous system nicotinic receptors.

Various histrionicotoxins tested on frog nerve-muscle preparations showed a qualitative family resemblance to one another. They blocked the nerve-evoked muscle twitch and depressed both the peak amplitudes and the decay time constants of end-plate currents. During repetitive stimulation they progressively decreased the rate of rise and prolonged the falling phase of muscle action potentials, the latter resulting, at least in part, from blockade of voltage-sensitive potassium channels. These results indicated that the histrionicotoxins act at three membrane channels: the channel associated with the acetylcholine receptor, the sodium channel, and the potassium channel. Closer study of perhydrohistrionicotoxin suggested either two topographically distinct sites of action at the acetylcholine receptor-ion channel complex, or one site and two ion channel complex conformations. One site or conformation only alters the kinetics of channel closure. As these sites become saturated, the end-plate current decay time constant asymptotically approaches a limiting value. The other site or conformation prevents the channel from opening altogether. Further analysis indicated that the binding site for perhydrohistrionicotoxin that alters the kinetics of channel closure has an affinity constant of 0.1 microM-1 at -90 mV and that this affinity may be sensitive to the membrane potential. The lipid protein interface is a suggested site of histrionicotoxin action, common to the three channels studied here as well as to other intrinsic membrane proteins affected by histrionicotoxins.

The secondary amine, mecamylamine, interacts with the nicotinic receptor ionic channel complex as a noncompetitive antagonist. Mecamylamine (1-10 microM) blocked indirect muscle twitches with no discernible effect on the membrane potential, overshoot, or amplitude of the action potential. It also produced a voltage- and concentration-dependent depression of the peak amplitude of the endplate currents (EPC) and induced nonlinearity in the current-voltage relationship. The decay time constant of the EPC (TEPC) was significantly shortened. The linear relationship between the reciprocal of TEPC and the drug concentration suggested an open channel blockade. Patch-clamp studies, in agreement with the noise analysis results, revealed that mecamylamine (1-8 microM) shortened the lifetime of the open channels. Further, the single channel studies showed that at high concentrations mecamylamine reduced the double exponential nature of the distribution of open times characteristic of channels recorded from myoballs. Closed times had a complex distribution that could not be fitted to a single exponential function because of the presence of short closures or "flickers" during the open state. Although the frequency of channel openings progressively decreased with increasing drug concentration, the single channel conductance remained unchanged at all the concentrations tested. Biochemical studies showed that mecamylamine (up to 100 microM) did not block [3H]acetylcholine binding to the nicotinic receptor of the Torpedo electroplax, but inhibited the binding of [3H]perhydrohistionicotoxin to its channel site, both in the resting and the activated state. These results suggested that, at the nicotinic receptors of the neuromuscular junction, mecamylamine acted as a noncompetitive blocker, binding primarily to the receptor's open channel conformation. Most of the alterations of EPCs were consistent with the predictions of a sequential model for open channel blockade. Biochemical and patch-clamp results, however, could not be fully explained by this model and provided some evidence of the existence of additional blocked states most likely through pathways into desensitized species. In contrast to a competitive antagonism of acetylcholine receptors reported at autonomic ganglia, there was no such action of the drug at the neuromuscular junction; thus, mecamylamine is a useful tool to characterize the nicotinic receptors from different synapses.

A series of bicyclo-octane analogs of amantadine was investigated for their actions on ionic channels of electrically excitable membrane and of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in frog sartorius muscles. Amantadine and three of its amine-substituted bicyclo-octane analogs (ID 11, 33 and 36) blocked neuromuscular transmission in a concentration-dependent manner. The dipropylaminomethyl analog (ID 36) also potentiated the directly elicited twitch concurrent with a prolongation of the directly elicited action potential; there was no block of delayed rectification. The peak amplitude of the end-plate current at -90 mV was reduced in a nearly equipotent manner by amantadine and ID 11, 33 and 36, but these three analogs were more potent than amantadine in shortening the time constant of end-plate current decay. The pattern of nonlinearity in the current/voltage relationship and area of negative slope conductance coupled with the depression and shortening of the end-plate current suggest that these analogs block neuromuscular transmission by interacting with the ionic channel of the acetylcholine receptor. Because carboxy-substituted analogs were ineffective and amine-substituted ones were effective, it appears that the site(s) which controls the opening and closing of the ionic channel require(s) a drug to penetrate a lipid barrier to a hydrophilic site in the membrane.

The effects of SAD-128 [1,1'-oxybis(methylene) bis 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl) pyridinium dichloride], a nonoxime bispyridinium compound, were investigated on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ion channels of frog muscle fibers using end-plate current (EPC) and single channel current measurement techniques. SAD-128 decreased the EPC peak amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner and caused nonlinearity in the current-voltage plots. The time constant of EPC decay was prolonged by SAD-128 (10-200 microM) at potentials between +50 and -90 mV without loss of the single exponential decay. However, at -100 mV and below, biphasic decays of the EPCs were observed in the presence of the drug. The time constant of the fast phase of the EPC decay decreased, whereas that of the slow phase increased, with either hyperpolarization or increasing concentration of the drug. SAD-128 weakly inhibited acetylcholinesterase in frog sartorius muscle. At the single-channel current level, SAD-128 reduced the mean channel open time and produced a blocked state evidenced as an additional phase in the closed time distribution. The agent induced a biphasic burst time distribution whose fast component became faster and slow component slower with increasing concentration and hyperpolarization. The present study provides more details regarding the kinetics of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ion channel-blocking mechanisms and a correlation between single-channel currents and macroscopic events. The ability of SAD-128 to block the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor may underlie its efficacy in counteracting lethal effect of organophosphorus compounds.

Interactions of the oximes pyridine-2-aldoxime (2-PAM) and 1-(2-hydroxyiminomethyl-1-pyridino)-3-(4-carbamoyl-1-pyridino++ +)-2-oxapropane dichloride (HI-6), reactivators of phosphorylated acetylcholinesterase enzyme, with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ion channel complex were studied using electrophysiological techniques. Single channel studies revealed that both oximes increased the opening probability of channels that were activated by acetylcholine. The oximes reduced mean channel open time and burst time in a concentration- and voltage-dependent manner. End-plate current amplitude was increased by 2-PAM (10-100 microM) and HI-6 (1 microM) but depressed at higher concentrations of these agents. The oximes decreased the time constant of end-plate current decay, particularly at hyperpolarized membrane potentials. HI-6 depressed indirect twitch response of the sartorius muscle, whereas 2-PAM caused a facilitation followed by depression. Both agents directly hydrolyzed acetylthiocholine, in addition to weakly inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. Our study demonstrates a direct molecular interaction of the oximes HI-6 and 2-PAM with the natural agonist molecule and with the acetylcholine receptor-ion channel complex. These effects can explain the excitatory and inhibitory actions of both agents, and may form the basis for their antidotal effectiveness against organophosphorus poisoning. The quantitative differences between the effects of 2-PAM and HI-6 on the above parameters are important in view of their differential antidotal efficacies.

1. We have shown that all cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors, in addition to their well-known anti-ChE activity, have multiple effects on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ion channel (AChR) macromolecule resulting from interactions with the agonist recognition site and with sites located at the ion channel component. Activation, competitive antagonism and different types of noncompetitive blockade occurring at similar concentration ranges and contributing in different proportions result in complex and somewhat unpredictable alterations in AChR function. The question is now raised as to how each effect of these compounds contributes to their antidotal property against organophosphorus (OP) poisoning, and what set of actions makes one reversible ChE inhibitor a better antidote. Many lines of evidence support the importance of direct interactions with various sites on the AChR: 1) morphological and toxicological studies with (+) physostigmine showed that anti-ChE activity is not essential to protect animals against toxicity by irreversible ChE inhibitors; 2) (-)physostigmine is far more effective against OP poisoning; 3) open channel blockers such as mecamylamine with no significant anti-ChE activity enhance the protective action of (-)physostigmine; 4) neostigmine, pyridostigmine, (-)physostigmine and (+)physostigmine showed qualitatively and quantitatively distinct toxicity and damage to endplate morphology and function. 2. In prophylaxis and during the very early phase of OP poisoning, carbamates, especially (-)physostigmine combined with mecamylamine and atropine, could protect almost 100% of the animals exposed to multiple lethal doses of OPs. Electrophysiological data showed that (-)physostigmine, among several reversible ChE inhibitors, showed greater potency in depressing both endplate current (EPC) peak amplitude and tau EPC. Therefore, concerning neuromuscular transmission, it seems that the higher the potency of a drug in reducing endplate permeability, the better is its protection against OP toxicity. A reversible open channel blockade combined with some agonist property helps to decrease the effect of ACh at its agonist site and to reduce the ion permeability of open channels. It should be pointed out that, during the later phase of OP poisoning, AChR desensitization should be most prevalent. Thus, a drug that can remove the AChR from this rather irreversible state to a more reversible blocked state should be a better protector. Indeed, oximes such as 2-PAM and a more potent analog, HI-6, produce multiple alterations in AChR function that comprise increased channel activation and open-channel blockade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

1. At rat and frog neuromuscular junctions, perhydrohistrionicotoxin (H12-HTX), at concentrations below 10(-6) M, blocked end-plate currents and potentials generated by ionophoretic application of ACh (extrinsic responses) more effectively than end-plate currents and potentials generated by neurotransmitter secreted from the motor nerve (intrinsic responses). 2. In contrast, (+)-tubocurarine affected both extrinsic and intrinsic responses in a parallel manner. 3. There was no change in the time course and little or no change in the amplitude of intrinsic end-plate currents when extrinsic currents were depressed by H12-HTX nor was there any change in the conductance or lifetime of channels activated by applied ACh. 4. The depressant effect of H12-HTX on extrinsic responses persisted both when carbachol was used as the agonist and when acetylcholinesterase was inhibited with diisopropylfluorophosphate. 5. Large end-plate currents elicited by nerve stimulation that presumably activate the whole end-plate area were not depressed by H12-HTX to the same degree as extrinsic end-plate currents generated by ionophoresis of ACh at the same end-plate. 6. Brief (50 microsec) pulses of ACh produced brief end-plate potentials which were depressed by concentrations of H12-HTX that had little or no effect on miniature end-plate potentials. 7. Extrinsic responses to ACh at extrajunctional regions of denervated fibres were also depressed by low concentrations of H12-HTX. 8. It was concluded that the differential effects of H12-HTX on intrinsic and extrinsic end-plate responses could be due to the existence of two populations of receptor-channel complexes or to protection of local receptor-channel complexes from the toxin by a substance secreted from motor nerve terminals.

The interactions of d-tubocurarine (d-TC) with the ionic channel of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor were studied by biochemical methods in Torpedo electric organ membranes and by electrophysiological methods on frog sciatic nerve-sartorius muscle preparation. Torpedo membranes were treated with alpha-bungarotoxin to inhibit the acetylcholine receptor sites, then binding of [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin to the ionic channel sites was studied and found to be inhibited by d-TC. At 37 degrees C, the Ki of d-TC was 10 microM, and at 22 degrees C it was 100 microM. The affinity of d-TC for the ionic channel sites relative to that of perhydrohistrionicotoxin was constant at temperatures from 2-20 degrees C, but increased at higher temperatures up to 37 degrees C. The peak endplate current amplitude was depressed with 1 to 2 microM d-TC in a voltage-dependent manner, with considerable departure from linearity at 10 and 30 degrees C. The effect of d-TC on spontaneous miniature endplate currents was similar and slightly more potent. The time constant of endplate current decay was decreased by d-TC (1 and 2 microM) at temperatures of 10, 15 and 30 degrees C. The channel lifetime was reduced by d-TC, but channel conductance was unaffected. It is suggested that d-TC interacts with both the acetylcholine receptor sites as well as its ionic channel sites in closed and open conformations.

The actions of the tertiary local anesthetic bupivacaine were studied on the nicotinic receptor-ionic channel complex (AChR) using electrophysiological and biochemical methods. Voltage clamp studies of the frog sartorius and cutaneous pectoris neuromuscular junction revealed a concentration-dependent depression of the decay time constant of the end-plate (tau EPC) and spontaneous miniature end-plate (tau MEPC) currents. The relationship of the reciprocal of either tau EPC or tau MEPC and bupivacaine concentration up to 100 microM was linear. Voltage dependence of EPC over the range +60 to -150 mV was reduced, whereas both EPC and MEPC decays were adequately described by a single exponential function at all concentrations tested. Peak MEPC and EPC amplitudes were also depressed in a concentration-dependent manner such that 100 microM bupivacaine reduced peak amplitude by about 50%. The current-voltage relationship remained linear under all conditions tested. Nerve-evoked responses were difficult to study at concentrations greater than 100 microM because of apparent blockade of nerve conduction. Extracellular recording of the MEPC afforded results similar to those obtained with EPCs. The tau MEPC could be reduced to less than 300 mu sec at a bupivacaine concentration of 400 microM. Fluctuation analysis showed that bupivacaine at concentrations of 10 and 25 microM did not change channel conductance but decreased single-channel lifetime to 76% and 39% of control values, respectively. Biochemical studies were performed on Torpedo californica membrane fragments using [3H]phencyclidine ([3H]PCP) and [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin ([3H]H12-HTX) as channel probes. Bupivacaine inhibited the binding of [3H]PCP and [3H]H12-HTX with inhibition constants (Ki) of 32 and 25 microM, respectively. The corresponding inhibition constants for bupivacaine methiodide were 1.8 and 3.2 microM. The preincubation of the membranes with carbamylcholine increased the affinity of bupivacaine for the ionic channel sites 5- to 8-fold and the affinity of bupivacaine methiodide 3- to 4-fold. Bupivacaine, however, had no affinity for the agonist recognition site as determined by [3H]ACh and [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin bindings. The electrophysiological and biochemical studies indicate that bupivacaine reacts primarily with the ionic channel of the nicotinic AChR. The results are consistent with a sequential model in which the drug interacts with the sites at the ionic channel of AChR in its open conformation, producing species with little or no conductance. From the present studies there is no evidence for an interaction of bupivacaine with the agonist binding site or closed states of AChR.

In this study the effects of amantadine (1-adamantanamine) and its N-alkyl-substituted analogues [N-methyl- (NMA), N-ethyl- (NEA), N-propyl- (NPA), N-butyl- (NBA), and N,N-diethyl-amantidine (NNDEA)] were investigated on ionic channels of the electrically excitable membrane and of the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors in frog sartorius muscles and on the binding of perhydrohistrionicotoxin (H12-HTX) to isolated membranes of the electric organ of the electric ray Torpedo. Amantadine and each analogue blocked the indirectly elicited twitch, but NPA, NBA, and NNDEA also potentiated the directly elicited twitch. The order of potency in inhibiting the indirect twitch was: NEA = NPA = NNDEA (10 microM) greater than NMA (15 microM) greater than NBA (40 microM) much greater than amantadine (130 microM). Neither amantadine nor its N-alkyl analogues affected miniature end-plate potential frequency or resting membrane potential but decreased miniature end-plate potential amplitude. Each compound prolonged the directly elicited action potential but did not alter delayed rectification. All of the compounds induced a concentration-dependent depression of the peak end-plate current (EPC) amplitude at negative membrane potentials and induced nonlinearity in the response at membrane potentials more negative than -40 mV. The order of potency in inhibiting the EPC (at -90 mV) was NNDEA (less than 0.5 microM) greater than NPA (less than 1.0 microM) greater than NBA (less than 2.0 microM) greater than NEA (19 microM) greater than NMA (42 microM) greater than amantadine (64 microM). Only NPA, NBA, and NNDEA depressed the peak EPC amplitude at positive membrane potentials as well. The shortening of the time constant of EPC decay by all compounds was concentration-dependent. At the higher concentrations examined, the slope of the relationship between the time constant of decay and membrane potential was reversed for all compounds. Only NPA induced a double-exponential decay of the EPC at positive membrane potentials. Neither amantadine nor its N-alkyl analogues inhibited the binding of [3H]ACh to its receptor in Torpedo electroplax but they inhibited the binding of [3H]H12-HTX binding to the ionic channel sites of the ACh receptor. The Ki for inhibition of [3H]H12-HTX binding was NEA = NNDEA (15 microM) greater than NMA (30 microM) greater than NPA = NBA (40 microM) greater than amantadine (60 microM). A gross correlation exists between their ability to block the indirect muscle twitch, miniature end-plate potential amplitude, peak EPC amplitude and the binding of [3H]H12-HTX. But, no correlation was found between these potencies and their antiviral activity. It is suggested that these compounds may interact with the ionic channel of the ACh receptor in its open and closed conformation.

The effects of the thienyl analog of phencyclidine, 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP), were examined on the end-plate region of the frog neuromuscular junction using a two microelectrode voltage clamp technique. Among the phencyclidine analogs studied, TCP was the most potent in blocking the end-plate current (EPC), producing the largest voltage- and time-dependent blockade. The current-voltage relationship in the presence of TCP (5-25 microM) displayed a large hysteresis loop and a negative slope conductance at hyperpolarized membrane potentials. The rate of decay of the EPC increased linearly with drug concentration, but the voltage-sensitivity of this parameter remained essentially unchanged. The reduction of the peak amplitude, in contrast to the alterations in the kinetics of EPC decay, were influenced by temperature and length of the conditioning pulse. The hysteresis loop in the EPC amplitudes was eliminated at low temperatures (10 degrees C) and when short conditioning voltage pulses (less than 100 msec) were used. At negative membrane potentials, trains of EPCs evoked at a rate of 0.33 Hz decreased progressively in amplitude, the relationship between peak and amplitude and time being approximately exponential. The rate of blockade was voltage-dependent, increasing by about 1.7-fold with a 70-mV membrane hyperpolarization. However, at positive membrane potentials, the peak amplitude of the EPC recovered linearly with time such that by the 150th pulse it was about 4 times the first EPC, a value similar to that obtained under control conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The action of cocaine on neuromuscular transmission of the frog has been studied to unveil the molecular site upon which this agent acts to block synaptic function. Indirectly elicited twitches of the sciatic nerve-sartorius muscle were reduced at greater than or equal to 50 microM cocaine. The electrically evoked action potentials of muscle membrane were inhibited at 200 microM cocaine, in a manner consistent with a local anesthetic effect. At the synaptic region, the quantal release of transmitter from the nerve terminal was not affected by cocaine at concentrations up to 100 microM. The most potent action of cocaine was the blockade of the ion channel of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Transient membrane depolarization induced by microiontophoresis of acetylcholine was reduced to 7% of control at 50 microM cocaine in a dose-related manner; receptor desensitization was affected to a lesser extent by cocaine at all concentrations tested. The decay time constants of endplate currents were reduced at concentrations greater than or equal to 10 microM. The single channel conductances remained unchanged whereas the channel lifetimes were greatly reduced at 25 and 50 microM of the drug. Unblocking could not be discerned from the observed kinetics of either endplate current decay or single channel closed durations. However, with a combination of 10 microM cocaine and 0.4 M ethanol the endplate currents became biphasic. This suggested a blocking of open ion channels of the nicotinic receptor by cocaine followed by dissociation of acetylcholine from the blocked channel (in the absence of ethanol).

The present study demonstrates that the reversible and irreversible anti-ChE agents have direct actions on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ionic channel (AChR) and on the locust glutamatergic neuromuscular junction. In addition, the prophylaxis of lethality of organophosphorus anti-ChE compounds was studied. The lethality of VX and sarin was diminished when the rats were pretreated with physostigmine and atropine. The effectiveness of this protection, however, was markedly increased when a ganglionic blocker, either mecamylamine or chlorisondamine, was added, such that all the animals survived after receiving four times a lethal dose of VX. Pretreated animals receiving sarin showed significant recovery of morphological and functional properties of the neuromuscular junction as compared to the damage of structures from animals without pretreatment. Blood ChE inhibition was slightly decreased while brain and muscle AChE levels were significantly recovered (from 98 and 70% to 56 and 32%, respectively) by the pretreatment. This effect may partially explain the protection given by physostigmine but not that afforded by addition of a non-anti-ChE agent. Physostigmine, at concentrations greater than 20 microM, showed both a marked depression of the peak amplitudes of the endplate current (EPC) and a shortening of the decay time constants tau EPC. These effects were mostly due to a direct drug interaction with the nicotinic AChR blocking the ionic channel in its open conformation. Single-channel recordings showed that physostigmine decreases conductance and open times of the channels activated in the presence of ACh and in addition has an agonistic property on the nicotinic AChR. VX, on the other hand, only shortened the open times of ACh-activated channels without affecting the conductance. No agonist property was detected with VX. On glutamatergic synapses, the ChE inhibitors generated spontaneous firing of end-plate potentials (EPPs) and action potentials (APs). This effect was blocked in the presence of low external Ca2+ concentration or tetrodotoxin. It seems that the spontaneous EPP and AP firing resulted from an increased transmitter release induced by an increase in Na+ influx at the presynpatic nerve terminal. Physostigmine and some irreversible ChE inhibitors (VX and DFP) also blocked the postjunctional glutamate receptors. Similar to the nicotinic AChR, this effect was mostly related to a blockade of the open channels. In conclusion, the present studies showed significant protection of rats by physostigmine in combination with some ganglionic antagonists against lethality by organophosphate agents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Interactions of O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl]methylphosphonothioate (VX), an irreversible, organophosphorus, anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) agent, with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ion channel complex (AChR) of the frog Rana pipiens were investigated using electrophysiological techniques. At low concentrations (0.1-0.5 microM) of VX, typical effects due to cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition, such as potentiation of indirect muscle twitches as well as increases in the peak amplitude and decay time constant (tau EPC) of end-plate currents (EPC), were observed. At concentrations greater than or equal to 1.0 microM, VX produced opposite effects. The indirectly elicited muscle twitches and EPC peak amplitude were depressed with an IC50 of about 33 microM. tau EPC was reduced, and at a higher concentration of 100 microM, VX split the decays into faster and slower components. Similar results were also obtained with the amplitude and decays of miniature end-plate currents (MEPC). However, although the MEPC peak amplitude and tau MEPC were not decreased to levels below control values, EPC peak amplitude (but not its tau EPC) was markedly depressed beyond the control values, in a concentration-dependent manner. The fact that nerve action potential-evoked events were more affected than the spontaneous MEPCs suggested an interference with the depolarization-evoked release process. Indeed, VX caused a reduction of the quantal content and, in addition, induced a significant increase in the frequency of MEPCs. All these effects, except the anti-ChE activity, were reversible upon wash. The results from both EPC fluctuation analysis and single channel recordings disclosed a concentration-dependent shortening of the channel open times without change in single channel conductance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The mechanism of the twitch potentiating action of pumiliotoxin-B (PTX-B), an indolizidine alkaloid from the skin of the frog Dendrobates pumilio, was studied on frog skeletal muscles. In the presence of PTX-B, a single stimulus to the muscle produced either a burst of repetitive action potentials superimposed on a depolarizing afterpotential or a single potential with a prolonged afterpotential at junctional as well as extrajunctional regions of the frog skeletal muscle fibers. The alkaloid did not cause repetitive activity in quiescent cells or spontaneous contractions. The duration of the burst of action potentials was related inversely and the amplitude and duration of postburst depolarizing after-potential was related directly to the concentration of PTX-B. The typical pattern of repetitive action potentials and postburst depolarization induced by PTX-B could be mimicked by depolarizing the muscle membrane with current pulses of long duration (150-470 ms). Lowering the external calcium or sodium concentration reduced the ability of PTX-B to initiate repetitive action potentials, whereas a low external chloride concentration had no effect. The frequency of MEPPs evoked by potassium, but not the spontaneous MEPP frequency, was increased by PTX-B, suggesting a selective effect on evoked transmitter release. PTX-B evoked repetitive EPPs in response to a single stimulus applied to the nerve, which was dependent upon the external calcium ion concentration. The amplitudes of EPPs in the train were facilitated, and their amplitude increased linearly at the lowest calcium concentration, but not at concentrations from 0.45 to 1.8 mM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The interactions of the hallucinogenic drug PCP [1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine] and some of its analogs with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ionic channel complex were studied using electrophysiological techniques. The peak amplitude and the decay time constant of the nerve-evoked end-plate current (EPCs) recorded from the frog sartorius muscle were reduced by all the analogs in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 between 5 and 90 microM). PCP, TCP [1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]-piperidine] and PCE (N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine), among other analogs, caused a negative slope conductance in the current-voltage relationship at hyperpolarized potentials and a voltage- and time-dependent depression of the peak amplitude of the EPC. When the piperidine ring of the PCP molecule was substituted by a morpholino ring, as in 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)morpholine and 1-[1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl]morpholine, the potency decreased and the negative conductance was eliminated. The removal of the piperidine ring of PCP in 1-phenylcyclohexylamine and the hydroxylation of the cyclohexane ring in 4-phenyl-4-piperidino-cyclohexanol reduced the potency and produced double exponential decays at potentials between +50 and -50 mV. At -100 mV, the potency for decreasing peak EPC amplitude was well correlated with the potency for reducing the decay time constant for all the analogs. The voltage- and time-dependent depression of the EPC amplitude was reduced by substitution of a morpholino ring and by the elimination of the piperidine ring of PCP. The behaviorally active analogs were the most potent EPC blockers, which suggests a synaptic role for the production of depressant behavioral effects observed with PCP.

The actions of pyridostigmine (Pyr), an anticholinesterase agent, were studied on the acetylcholine (ACh) receptor-ion channel complex and on the electrically excitable membrane of the frog cutaneous pectoris and sartorius muscles and the chronically denervated soleus muscle of the rat. Pyr at concentrations of 0.2-0.4 mM potentiated the indirect evoked muscle twitch and at concentrations greater than or equal to 0.8 mM depressed the indirect twitch with an IC50 of about 2 mM. Twitch depression produced by Pyr was reversed slowly, and after a 60-min wash only 59% of the control muscle twitch had returned. Pyr did not affect either the membrane potential or the muscle action potential. Pyr had several effects at the neuromuscular junction of the frog and rat. It decreased the peak amplitude of the end-plate current (EPC) in a voltage- and concentration-dependent manner. In contrast to diisopropylfluorophosphate, which depresses the EPC amplitude and induces a double exponential decay of the EPC and miniature end-plate current (MEPC), Pyr produced a marked prolongation of the time constants of EPC and MEPC decay while maintaining a single exponential decay. The decrease caused by Pyr of indirect twitch tension, EPC amplitude, and ACh sensitivity indicates mechanisms which limit the number and/or properties of conducting channels. The drug decreased channel conductance and prolonged channel lifetime as revealed by Fourier analysis of ACh-induced end-plate current fluctuations. An altered form of the conducting species induced by Pyr appears to be responsible for either the apparent agonist-induced depolarization or its ability to increase the affinity of ACh for its recognition site. Pyr was also found to inhibit the binding of ACh and alpha-bungarotoxin to receptor-rich membrane from the electric organ of Torpedo nobiliana, and to have a higher affinity for the receptor than for the ion channel binding sites. These actions are distinct from acetylcholinesterase inhibition caused by the agent. Strong evidence suggests that the direct influences of the agent on neuromuscular transmission involve at least three distinct, although possibly interacting, mechanisms: (a) a weak agonist action, (b) the formation of desensitized receptor-complex intermediates, and (c) the alteration of the conductance properties of active channels.

Structure-activity relationships were investigated in a series of semirigid nicotinic agonists. Three of the agonists, (-)-ferruginine methiodide, arecoline methiodide, and its ketonic analogue arecolone methiodide, were cyclic analogues of anatoxin-a, a potent, naturally occurring, bicyclic alkaloid. Two other cyclic agonists, (-)-cytisine and (+/-)-muscarone, and the simplest agonist, the tetramethylammonium ion, were also tested. Arecolone methiodide and (-)-ferruginine methiodide have been tested as nicotinic agonists for the first time. Relative potency was assayed by contracture on the rectus abdominis muscle of the frog Rana pipiens. Natural, (+)-anatoxin-a, the most active of all of the agonists, was more than twice as potent as racemic anatoxin-a. Arecolone methiodide ranked after anatoxin-a in potency, being 8.6 times more potent than carbamycholine. A correlation between nicotinic potency and steric requirements probably involves the position of positively charged groups out of the plane defined by the carbonyl group and its two substituents. Channel properties induced by the agonists were evaluated by Fourier analysis of the end-plate current noise that resulted when the agonists were iontophoretically applied to frog sartorius muscle fibers. Average channel lifetimes were exponential functions of membrane potential, but the voltage sensitivity of channel lifetime seemed to vary among the agonists. Channel conductance, which was independent of membrane potential, also varied significantly among the agonists. The average charge traversing the membrane through each open channel, calculated from the product of average channel lifetime and current, did not correlate with potency. Therefore, the dominant component of potency is the frequency of channel opening. No clear relationship between the structure of the agonist and channel lifetime or conductance was evident.

Histrionicotoxin, a toxin isolated from skin secretions of a Colombian arrow poison frog, Dendrobates histrionicus, decreased the amplitude and time-course of the endplate current, and altered the voltage dependence of the half-decay time. In addition, the toxin produced a characteristic nonlinearity in the current-voltage relationship of the endplate current when 3-s voltage conditioning steps were used. Reduction in time of the conditioning steps to 10 ms made the current-voltage relationship linear. The decrease in peak amplitude of the endplate current (epc) produced by histrionicotoxin measured during long hyperpolarizing conditioning steps was fitted by a single exponential function. The calculated rate constants ranged from 0.03 to 0.14 s-1 and varied with membrane potential at hyperpolarizing levels. The voltage- and time-dependent action of histrionicotoxin does not require an initial activation of receptors by acetylcholine (ACh). The characteristic of the current-voltage relationship can be accounted for by the observed voltage and time dependency of the attenuation of the endplate current amplitude in the presence of histrionicotoxin during long conditioning steps. These effects of histrionicotoxin on the peak amplitude, and on the voltage and time dependence of the epc were concentration-dependent and slowly reversible upon washing out the toxin. Thus, the voltage- and time-dependent action of histrionicotoxin at the endplate is related to an increase in the affinity between the toxin and the ACh receptor-ionic channel complex. This increase in affinity is postulated to be due to a conformational change of the macromolecule in the presence of histrionicotoxin which is demonstrated to be relatively slow, i.e., on the order of tens of seconds.

The actions of the nicotinic noncompetitive antagonist meproadifen on both the acetylcholine (ACh) receptor-ion channel complex and electrically excitable membrane were examined in frog sciatic-nerve sartorius muscle preparations. Meproadifen (10-25 microM) blocked the nerve-evoked twitch without affecting the directly evoked twitch, the threshold, overshoot, amplitude, rate of rise, or falling phase of the directly elicited action potential in muscle. This suggests that this agent, at the concentrations that affect the nicotinic receptor, had negligible effect on the excitable membrane. In addition, the drug did not affect either the quantal content or quantal size of the end-plate potential. Meproadifen caused a voltage- and time-dependent decrease in the peak amplitude of the end-plate current (EPC) without significantly shortening the time constant of EPC decay. The voltage- and time-dependent effects of meproadifen were more pronounced at more negative potentials, as evidenced by hysteresis loops and nonlinearity in the current-voltage relationship of the EPC. Both hysteresis and nonlinearity in the current-voltage relationship of the EPC were eliminated when brief conditioning pulses were used for stepwise changes of membrane potentials. The decay time constant of the EPC in the presence of meproadifen remained an exponential function of time. Meproadifen blocked iontophoretically elicited EPCs but did not affect single-channel lifetime, conductance, or the decay time constant of the miniature EPC. Thus, the blockade was more marked on iontophoretically elicited EPCs than on miniature EPCs. Meproadifen also caused desensitization of both the junctional and extrajunctional ACh receptors, but, more important, meproadifen accelerated steady-state desensitization by several-fold (compared with the agonist). The marked depression of peak EPC amplitude and miniature EPC, its high affinity for the binding sites in the presence of the agonist, and acceleration of agonist-induced desensitization suggest that meproadifen interacts with the ACh-bound but nonconducting state of the ACh receptor-ion channel complex. Therefore, it appears that meproadifen interacts with the closed ionic channel of the ACh receptor in its resting and activated but nonconducting states, and only slightly affects the open conformation of the ionic channel.

Anatoxin-a (AnTX) was shown to be a highly potent and stereospecific agonist at nicotinic synapses in frog skeletal muscle and Torpedo electric organs. AnTX binds to the nicotinic-acetylcholine receptor with a higher affinity than for acetylcholine (ACh) but does not bind to sites in the receptor-gated ionic channel. (+)AnTX caused receptor desensitization, i.e., the loss of agonist-stimulated binding of histrionicotoxin to an allosteric site with time, at a rate significantly slower than that of ACh. Single channel patch clamp recordings indicated that the conductance of channels activated by (+)AnTX (28 pS) and ACh (27 pS) were similar. The (+)AnTX-activated channels contained rapid closing events, the burst times caused by the toxin were shorter than those caused by ACh but had similar voltage dependencies, and the number of short closures per burst was constant at all potentials with both agonists. The bursts of rapid openings and rapid closures (tau = 0.4 msec) appear to result from repetitive opening and closing of the (+)AnTX-bound receptor-ion channel. It is concluded that the semirigid molecule and secondary amine (+)AnTX is a more potent agonist than ACh or carbamylcholine because of a higher affinity for the receptor. At various concentrations the toxin activates the appearance of channels with the same conductances as ACh-induced channels but with a shorter channel lifetime.

The effects of pure philanthotoxin (PhTX), a component of the venom of the wasp Philanthus triangulum, were studied on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of vertebrates and insects so as to compare their sensitivities and the mechanism of action of PhTX. Electrophysiological techniques were used on frog muscles and cockroach thoracic ganglia and biochemical techniques were applied to membranes from Torpedo electric organ and honeybee brain. PhTX (1-20 microM) inhibited reversibly the indirectly elicited muscle twitch and reduced the endplate current peak amplitude and its decay time constant in a concentration-dependent manner. In patch clamp studies, PhTX (1-5 microM) when combined with acetylcholine, induced a concentration-dependent decrease in frequency of channel openings and in channel open and burst times. The cockroach fast coxal depressor neuron was inhibited by PhTX in a time- and voltage-dependent manner. The initial rate of binding of [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin to Torpedo nAChR in the presence of carbamylcholine was inhibited competitively by PhTX. Binding of alpha-[125I] bungarotoxin to electric organ and honeybee brain membranes was inhibited by PhTX. Binding of [3H]acetylcholine to the electric organ receptor was potentiated by low concentrations of PhTX but inhibited by high concentrations. PhTX, therefore, inhibits both vertebrate and insect nAChRs, which may be important molecular targets for its toxicity. It is suggested that PhTX at high concentration may have some competitive action on nAChR, but it acts mainly as a blocker of the ion channel of the nAChR in its open conformation.