20 research outputs found
[3H]Spiroperidol binding in normal and denervated carotid bodies
Producción CientíficaSpecific dopamine receptors were studied in freshly dissected, unhomogenized rabbit carotid bodies
incubated in [3H]spiroperidol. Total binding and non-specific binding were determined in the absence
and presence of 0.2 #M (+)-butaclamol, respectively. Specific binding in normal carotid bodies
incubated at near saturating concentrations (0.38 nM) was 1.63 _+ 0.58 pmol/g of tissue. Chronic section
of the carotid sinus nerve (14 days) resulted in a 64070 reduction (P < 0.05) in specific binding. We
conclude that the majority of specific dopaminergic receptors are located on carotid sinus nerve afferent
terminals
Reciprocal modulation of tyrosine hydroxylasea activity in rat carotid body
The carotid body is an arterial chemoreceptor organ responsive to blood levels
of pO2, pCOe and pH 13. The parenchymal tissue of the carotid body is composed
mainly of two cell types: the glomus or Type I cells, which are disposed together in
groups or glomeruli, and the sustentacular or Type II cells, which appear as glial-like
elements enclosing the glomeruli in capsular fashion 3,4. The Type I cells, which have
abundant dense-cored vesicles and are known to contain catecholaminesl, 2,11,15,
receive a sensory innervation from afferent fibers of the carotid sinus nerve 3. Recent
studies have also shown the presence of reciprocal synapses at these junctions between
afferent nerve terminals and Type I cells TM. In addition, these cells receive an efferent
innervation from both preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic fibers which
reach the carotid body from the superior cervical ganglion 1
Localization and Function of Cat Carotid Body Nicotinic Receptors
Producción CientíficaAcetylcholine and nicotinic agents excite cat carotid body chemoreceptors and modify their response to natural stimuli. The present
experiments utilized [125I]a-bungarotoxin ([125I]a-BGT) to localize within the chemosensory tissue the possible sites of action of exogenous
and endogenous nicotinic cholinergic substances. In vitro equilibrium binding studies of intact carotid bodies determined a K d of
5.57 nM and a Bma x of 9.21 pmol/g of tissue. Chronic section (12-15 days) of the carotid sinus nerve (CSN) did not change the amount
of displaceable toxin binding. In contrast, the specific binding was reduced by 46% following removal of the superior cervical ganglion.
Light microscope autoradiography of normal, CSN-denervated and sympathectomized carotid bodies revealed displaceable binding
sites concentrated in lobules of type I and type II cells. Treatment of carotid bodies with 50 nM a-BGT in vitro reduced by 50% the
release of [3H]dopamine (synthesized from [3H]tyrosine) caused by hypoxia or nicotine, and also significantly reduced the stimulus-.
evoked discharges recorded from the CSN. The data suggest (1) an absence of ct-BGT binding sites on the afferent terminals of the
CSN and (2) that nicotinic receptors located within parenchymal cell lobules may modulate the release of catecholamines from these cells
Alpha-bungarotoxin binding in cat carotid body
Producción CientíficaThe carotid body is an arterial chemosensory organ which detects changes in
blood gas tensions and pH, and reflexly contributes to the cardiorespiratory adjustments
which occur during hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidosis. However, the sensory
mechanisms involved in carotid chemoreception remain to be elucidated.
Morphologically, the carotid body consists of an association of elemental units,
or glomeruli, within a connective tissue stroma penetrated by a dense capillary net 5.
The glomeruli are comprised of catecholamine-rich type I, or chief cells, which are enveloped
by glial-like processes of type II, or sustentacular, cellsa,4,19. Sensory fibers
from the carotid sinus nerve penetrate the glomeruli to terminate in synaptic-like
apposition on type I cellst,18, 21
Effects of low pH on synthesis and release of catecholamines in the cat carotid body in vitro
Producción CientíficaThe rates of dopamine and noradrenaline synthesis in the cat carotid body (c.b.) are 5.9 _+ 0.58 pmol/c.b./2 h and 0.3 + 0.02
pmol/c.b./2 h, respectively. The synthesis is doubled when the organs are incubated at pH 7. Similarly, low pH induces a release of dopamine
from the c.b. which is proportional to increased activity in the carotid sinus nerve
Differential stimulus coupling to dopamine and norepinephrine stores in rabbit carotid body type I cells
Recent studies suggest that preneural type I (glomus) cells in the arterial chemoreceptor tissue of the carotid body act as primary transducer
elements which respond to natural stimuli (low 02, pH or increased CO2) by releasing chemical transmitter agents capable of exciting the closely
apposed afferent nerve terminals. These type I cells contain multiple putative transmitters, but the identity of the natural excitatory agents
remains an unresolved problem in carotid body physiology. Characterization of putative transmitter involvement in the response to natural
and pharmacological stimuli has therefore become fundamental to further understanding of chemotransmission in this organ. The present study
demonstrates that a natural stimulus (hypoxia) evokes the release of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in approximate proportion to
their unequal stores in rabbit carotid body (DA release/NE release = 8.2). In contrast, nicotine (100/~M), a cholinornimetic agent thought
to act on the nicotinic receptors present on the type I cells, evokes the preferential release of NE (DA release/NE release = 0.17). These
findings suggest that distinct mechanisms are involved in a differential mobilization of these two cateeholamines from the rabbit carotid body
Synthesis and Release of Catecholamines by the Cat Carotid Body in Vitro: Effects of Hypoxic Stimulation
Producción CientíficaThe role of catecholamines (CAs) in cat carotid body chemoreception has been controversial. On the basis of pharmacological experiments,
it would appear that endogenous dopamine (DA) may act either as an inhibitory or excitatory transmitter. Neurochemical
studies on the effects of natural stimulation on the release of carotid body CAs in the cat have also been inconclusive. In the present
study, we have characterized the synthesis and release of CAs in the in vitro cat carotid body preparation in response to different levels
of hypoxic stimulation and have correlated these measures with the chemosensory activity of the carotid sinus nerve. The synthesis of
[3H]DA and [3H]norepinephrine was linear for at least 4 h in carotid bodies incubated with their natural precursor [~H]tyrosine. Synthesis
of both [3H]CAs plateaued when the [3H]tyrosine concentration in the media reached 40 uM, which is a concentration similar to
that found in cat plasma. Exposure of the animals to an atmosphere of 10% 02 in N~ for 3 h prior to removal and incubation of the carotid
bodies with [3H]tyrosine resulted in an approximately 100% increase in the rate of [3H]DA synthesis but no change in [3H]norepinephrine
synthesis. This selective increase in [3H]DA synthesis was not detected when [3H]dihydroxyphenylalanine was used as precursor.
Carotid bodies first incubated with [3H]tyrosine and later superfused with solutions equilibrated with different gas mixtures (0
100% 0 2 in N2) exhibited an increase in [3H]DA release and carotid sinus nerve discharge which were inversely related to the oxygen
concentration. This relationship was strongest for the weaker stimuli (between 50% and 20% O 2 in N2), where both nerve activity and
[3H]DA release increased almost in parallel. With lower oxygen concentrations (10% O 2 and 0% 02 equilibrated solutions), the increase
in the release of [3H]DA was proportionally greater than the increase in carotid sinus nerve discharge. Our results demonstrate
that hypoxic stimulation increases both the rate of synthesis and release of DA in the cat carotid body. Although the precise role of DA
in this chemoreceptor organ is presently unknown, our findings suggest that this biogenic amine plays a direct role in generating or
controlling the electrical activity in the carotid sinus nerve.
INTRODUCTION
The mammalian carotid body is an arterial chemoreceptor
organ activated by low paO2, low pH and
high p~CO2 (ref. 21). Structurally, the receptor complex
is formed by clusters of two types of cells, the
type I and type II cells; the clusters lie within a supporting
connective tissue matrix containing a dense
capillary net24, 41. Sensory fibers of the carotid sinus
nerve (CSN) penetrate these cell clusters to end in
synaptic apposition with type I cells, which are considered
to be preneural (receptor) elements. Two
perennial issues pertaining to arterial chemoreception,
concern first, whether the type 1 cells are in fac
A chronic pain: inflammation-dependent chemoreceptor adaptation in rat carotid body
Producción CientíficaExperiments in recent years have revealed labile electrophysiological and neurochemical
phenotypes in primary afferent neurons exposed to specific stimulus conditions associated with
the development of chronic pain. These studies collectively demonstrate that the mechanisms
responsible for functional plasticity are primarily mediated by novel neuroimmune interactions
involving circulating and resident immune cells and their secretory products, which together
induce hyperexcitability in the primary sensory neurons. In another peripheral sensory modality,
namely the arterial chemoreceptors, sustained stimulation in the form of chronic hypoxia (CH)
elicits increased chemoafferent excitability from the mammalian carotid body. Previous studies
which focused on functional changes in oxygen-sensitive type I cells in this organ have only
partially elucidated the molecular and cellular mechanisms which initiate and control this adaptive
response. Recent studies in our laboratory indicate a unique role for the immune system in
regulating the chemo-adaptive response of the carotid body to physiologically relevant levels of
hypoxia
Muscarinic receptor localization and function in rabbit carotid body
Producción CientíficaAcetylcholine and muscarinic agonists inhibit chemosensory activity in the rabbit carotid sinus nerve (CSN). Because the mechanism of
this inhibition is poorly understood, we have investigated the kinetics and distribution of muscarinic receptors in the rabbit carotid body with
the specific muscarinic antagonist [SH]quinuclidinylbenzitate ([3H]QNB). Equilibrium binding experiments identified displaceable binding sites
(1/~M atropine) with a K d = 71.46 pM and a Bm~ x = 9.23 pmol/g tissue. These binding parameters and the pharmacology of the displaceable
[SH]QNB binding sites are similar to specific muscannic receptors identified in numerous other nervous, muscular and glandular tissues.
Comparisons of specific binding in normal and chronic CSN-denervated carotid bodies suggest that musearinic receptors are absent on afferent
terminals in the carotid body; however, nearly 50% of the specific [3H]QNB binding is lost following chronic sympathectomy, suggesting
the presence of presynaptic muscarinic receptors on the sympathetic innervation supplying the carotid body vasculature. Autoradiographic
studies have localized the remainder of [3H]QNB binding sites to Iobules of type I and type II parenchymal cells. In separate
experiments, the muscarinic agonists, oxotremorine (100/~M) and bethanechol (100 ~tM) were shown to inhibit both the release of catecholamines
and the increased CSN activity evoked by nicotine (50/~M) stimulation of the in vitro carotid body, Our data suggest that muscarinic
inhibition in the rabbit carotid body is mediated by receptors located on type I cells which are able to modulate the excitatory actions
of acetylcholine at nicotinic sites
Evidence for two types of nicotinic receptors in the cat carotid body chemoreceptor cells
Producción CientíficaCurrent concepts on the location and functional significance of nicotinic receptors in the carotid body rest on a-bungarotoxin binding
and autoradiographic studies. Using an in vitro preparation of the cat carotid body whose catecholamine deposits have been labeled by
prior incubation with the tritiated natural precursor w3Hxtyrosine, we have found that nicotine induces release of w3Hxcatecholamines in a
dose-dependent manner IC50s9.81 mM.. We also found that mecamylamine 50 mM. completely abolished the nicotine-induced
release, while a-bungarotoxin 100 nM; f20 times its binding Kd. only reduced the release by 56%. These findings indicate that
chemoreceptor cells, and perhaps other carotid body structures, contain nicotinic receptors that are not sensitive to a-bungarotoxin and
force a revision of the current concepts on cholinergic mechanisms in the carotid body chemoreception