GABA(B1) knockout mice reveal alterations in prolactin levels, gonadotropic axis, and reproductive function

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been implicated in the control of hypophyseal functions. We evaluated whether the constitutive loss of functional GABA(B) receptors in GABA(B1) knockout (GABA(B1)(-/-)) mice alters hormonal levels, under basal and stimulated conditions, and reproductive function. The serum hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, the estrous cyclicity was evaluated by vaginal lavages, and the mating behavior was determined by the presence of vaginal plugs. A moderate hyperprolactinemic condition was observed, in which prolactin increase and thyroid-stimulating hormone decrease were similar between genotypes. Basal luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and growth hormone levels were similar between genotypes in each sex. Analysis of the gonadotropin axis revealed no differences in puberty onset between female genotypes. In con trast, the estrous cyclicity was significantly disrupted in GABA(B1)(-/-) female mice, showing significantly extended periods in estrus and shortened periods in proestrus. Reproduction was significantly compromised in GABA(B1)(-/-) females, with a significantly lower proportion of mice (37.5%) getting pregnant during the first 30 days of mating as compared with wild-type controls (87.5%). Moreover, only 14% of vaginal plug positive GABA(B1)(-/-) females had successful pregnancies as compared with 75% in the controls. In addition, the postovariectomy LH rise was significantly advanced in GABA(B1)(-/-) mice, while the response to estradiol feedback was similar in both genotypes. In conclusion, our endocrine analysis of GABA(B1)(-/-) mice reveals that GABA(B) receptors are involved in the regulation of basal prolactin titers. Moreover, the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-ovarian axis is seriously disturbed, with alterations in cyclicity, postcastration LH increase, and fertility indexes. The molecular mechanism underlying these hormonal disturbances remains to be addressed

Pharmacological profile of astemizole-derived compounds at the histamine H1 and H4 receptor - H1/H4 receptor selectivity

Astemizole, a H1R antagonist shows high affinity to the histamine H1 receptor but only a moderate affinity to the histamine H4 receptor. This study aims to modify the astemizole to keep high affinity to the histamine H1 receptor and to increase affinity to the histamine H4 receptor. Therefore, 13 astemizole-derived compounds and astemizole-JNJ7777120-derived hybrid compounds were synthesized and pharmacologically characterized at the histamine H1 and H4 receptors. The new compounds show affinity to the histamine H1 receptor in the pK i range from 5.3 to 8.8, whereas the affinity of these compounds to the histamine H4 receptor was surprisingly rather low (pK i from 4.4 to 5.6). Three representative compounds were docked into the histamine H1 receptor and molecular dynamic studies were performed to explain the binding mode and the experimental results on a molecular level. Furthermore, taking into account the binding mode of compounds with high affinity to the histamine H4 receptor, a H1/H4-pharmacophore hypothesis was developed