benztropine and 2-aminotetralin

The mechanism underlying the modulation, by dextroamphetamine and compounds related to phenylethanolamine, of responses to dopamine and serotonin has been studied in the isolated ventricle and aortic bulb of the clam Tapes watlingi. Dextroamphetamine and phenylethanolamine but not cocaine and benztropine have the ability to unmask inhibitory responses to both dopamine and serotonin in the ventricle. Chlordimeform but not clozapine attenuates the inhibitory response to both dextroamphetamine and phenylethanolamine in concentrations which have little or no effect on the inhibitory response to dopamine in the ventricle. Phenylethanolamine, dextroamphetamine, phenylpropylolamine and p-chloro-phenylethanolamine but not octopamine or noradrenaline attenuate the contractile responses to both dopamine and serotonin in preparations of the quiescent aortic bulb. These data show that there are specific receptors for phenylethanolamine in the Tapes heart capable of modulating responses to dopamine and serotonin, and suggests that this biogenic phenethylamine can act as an environmental and physiological factor which may determine how the mollusc heart responds to dopamine.

Topics: Adenosine Monophosphate; Amantadine; Animals; Benztropine; Bivalvia; Chlorphenamidine; Clozapine; Cocaine; Dextroamphetamine; Dopamine; Ethanolamines; Heart Rate; Myocardial Contraction; Receptors, Dopamine; Serotonin; Tetrahydronaphthalenes

The present study evaluated whether 2-amino-5,6-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4,-tetrahydronaphthalene (A-5,6 DTN) and its 6,7-dihydroxy isomer (A-6,7 DTN) had effects on striatal dopaminergic terminals in addition to their well known action as agonists on postsynaptic dopamine (DA)-receptors. The presynaptic effects of 2-aminotetralins were evaluated on rat striatal tissue slices prelabeled with [3H]DA. Both, A-5,6 and A-6,7 DTN enhanced the basal efflux of radioactive products in a concentration-dependent fashion. Benztropine (1 microM) antagonized the releasing effects of low concentrations of both drugs (0.1-3.0 microM). Apomorphine and A-5,6 DTN (alpha rotamers, trans conformation) were 3 to 5 times more potent than A-6,7 DTN (beta rotamer, trans conformation) in inhibiting rat striatal monamine oxidase. This effect could account for the 50-fold greater potency of A-6,7 than A-5,6 DTN in enhancing the efflux of [3H]dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. A-5,6 DTN, A-6,7 DTN and apomorphine (0.3 microM each), reduced by 30% the depolarization elicited overflow of radioactive products. In summary, A-5,6 and A-6,7 DTN seem to enter DA-terminals and storage vesicles to accelerate the efflux of [3H]DA and 3H-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and act upon presynapatic receptors to inhibit transmitter release. A greater selectivity for monamine oxidase inhibition was found with the alpha rotameric agents. The present study indicates that A-5,6 and A-6,7 DTN have marked presynaptic effects on rat striatal DA-containing neurons in addition to their well known effects as agonists on postsynaptic DA receptors.

Topics: 2-Naphthylamine; Animals; Benztropine; Corpus Striatum; Dopamine; Male; Monoamine Oxidase; Naphthalenes; Neurons; Potassium; Rats; Receptors, Dopamine; Tetrahydronaphthalenes