vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and apraclonidine

To determine whether a nocturnal increase of ciliary process beta-adrenergic receptor responsiveness can explain the observation that timolol decreased the aqueous flow rate and intraocular pressure (IOP) during the night but not during the day in rabbits.. Rabbits were housed in alternating 12-hour periods of light and dark. In vitro stimulation of tissue cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels by isoproterenol (ISO), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), or a soluble derivative of forskolin (sFSK) was measured in ciliary processes harvested at mid-light phase and early and late dark phase. Inhibition of ISO and VIP stimulation of ciliary process cAMP by an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist and maximal binding of [125I]I-pindolol, [125I]I-VIP, and [125I]I-PACAP in ciliary process membranes were measured at the same three times.. Although there may have been a nocturnal increase in the sensitivity of ciliary process cAMP levels to stimulation by ISO, this was not observed consistently, VIP, but not PACAP, stimulation increased at night, but there was no change in the response to sFSK. Inhibition by apraclonidine of elevated ciliary process cAMP levels was constant at all three times. Ligand-binding studies showed little change in ciliary process beta-adrenergic, VIP-, or PACAP-receptor levels at the three times.. There is no convincing evidence for a nocturnal increase in beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity in rabbit ciliary processes that could explain the difference between day and night effects of timolol on aqueous flow and IOP.

Topics: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Animals; Aqueous Humor; Ciliary Body; Circadian Rhythm; Clonidine; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Isoproterenol; Ligands; Male; Rabbits; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; Receptors, Pituitary Hormone; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

To determine whether the intact isolated ciliary epithelial bilayer retains the alpha-2 and beta adrenergic receptor activation and interaction described for whole ciliary processes and whether this pure epithelial bilayer displays bioelectric parameters sensitive to alterations in cyclic adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) production induced by adrenergic compounds.. The intact ciliary epithelial bilayer of the rabbit eye isolated by perfusion was mounted in a specially constructed Ussing-type chamber. The transepithelial potential difference and short-circuit current were monitored for effects induced by agents that stimulated or blocked (some did both) caMP production. Using a radioimmunoassay, the latter were studied in the pure epithelial bilayers and in whole ciliary processes.. A reproducible increase in cAMP production and an increase in the short-circuit current induced in the bilayer by isoproterenol, a nonspecific beta adrenergic agonist, were both blocked by pretreatment with either timolol, a nonspecific beta adrenergic blocking agent, or with para-aminoclonidine, an alpha-2 agonist. Maximal stimulation of cAMP with forskolin in this pure isolated epithelial preparation yields a response that is 60% of the value found in whole processes, indicating that the latter tissue contains responsive sites that are nonepithelial, probably vascular, or perhaps stromal. The degree of inhibition of the beta adrenergic receptor by alpha-2 agonists was not very different in the two preparations. On the other hand, inhibition of the epithelial vasointestinal peptide receptor by neuropeptide Y or alpha-2 agonism was considerably heightened in the pure bilayered epithelial preparation.. The isolated intact ciliary epithelial bilayer, when stimulated with beta adrenergic receptor agonists, vasointestinal peptide, or forskolin, produces increased cAMP and its transepithelial potential becomes hyperpolarized. These chemical and bioelectrical effects are prevented by pretreatment with either alpha-2 adrenergic agonists or beta adrenergic blocking agents. The results obtained in the isolated intact purely epithelial ciliary bilayer confirm that the ciliary epithelium is the source of adrenergic receptor activation and interaction and support the hypothesis that aqueous humor production is regulated by interactions between epithelial alpha-2 and beta adrenergic receptors.

Topics: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Aqueous Humor; Ciliary Body; Clonidine; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Electrophysiology; Isoproterenol; Male; Membrane Potentials; Pigment Epithelium of Eye; Rabbits; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Timolol; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Cyclic AMP production in intact ciliary processes from elderly human donors is subject to stimulatory and inhibitory control by various agents. Stimulation of cAMP production is observed with forskolin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, or the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production is observed with endothelin-2 or PAC. The inhibitory effect of PAC is blocked by the specific alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, yohimbine. Endothelin-2 has no effect on basal cAMP production. These data document the positive and negative regulation of cAMP responses in adult human ciliary processes and support the idea that cAMP is a key intermediate in the regulation of aqueous humor formation.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Ciliary Body; Clonidine; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Endothelins; Humans; Isoproterenol; Stimulation, Chemical; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

We have characterized the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor in membranes from the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29, using the recently introduced alpha 2-agonist 5-bromo-6-[2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino]quinoxaline [( 3H]UK-14,304), two other radioligands, and a series of adrenergic agonists and antagonists. We also investigated alpha 2-agonist inhibition of HT29 cell adenylate cyclase and reversal of inhibition by alpha-adrenergic antagonists. [3H] Yohimbine saturation experiments indicated a single class of sites with a KD of 0.61 nM which agreed with the kinetically determined KD of 0.62 nM. Computer analysis of kinetic and saturation experiments with [3H]UK-14,304 revealed two classes of sites. From the saturation data, one site had high affinity for the radioligand (0.14 nM) and comprised 33% of the total number of sites, whereas the other site had lower affinity (6.1 nM). The total number of sites labeled by [3H]UK-14,304 (360 fmol/mg of protein) was approximately equal to the number of sites labeled by [3H]yohimbine (330 fmol/mg), whereas [3H]para-aminoclonidine labeled fewer sites of a single class. Rank order potencies of adrenergic agonists and antagonists obtained from competition binding assays indicated that: the same receptors were labeled by the three radioligands, and the receptors were of the alpha 2 subtype. UK-14,304 and epinephrine inhibited forskolin- and vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner up to 32%. Inhibition of the enzyme was reversed by yohimbine and, less potently, by phentolamine and prazosin in a dose-dependent manner. The HT29 cell line appears to be a useful model system for the investigation of the regulation and mechanism of action of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in human tissues.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Brimonidine Tartrate; Cell Line; Clonidine; Colforsin; Colonic Neoplasms; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Kinetics; Magnesium; Quinoxalines; Radioligand Assay; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; Yohimbine