title: Binding of [3H]prazosin and [3H]p-aminoclonidine to alpha-adrenoceptors in rat spinal cord.
abstract: alpha-Adrenoceptors in spinal cord appear to play a role in a number of physiologic processes including the control of blood pressure, pain and motor function. In order to evaluate more clearly these potential roles, the characteristics of binding of [3H]prazosin ([3H]PRZ) to spinal alpha 1 adrenoceptors and [3H]p-aminoclonidine ([3H]PAC) to spinal alpha 2 adrenoceptors were determined. Binding of each ligand to their respective adrenoceptors was saturable and Scatchard analysis revealed binding of each to a single class of adrenoceptors with characteristics of [3H]PRZ binding of Bmax = 78 fmol/mg protein and Kd = 0.75 nM and [3H]PAC binding Bmax = 70 fmol/mg protein and Kd = 1.39 nM. Whereas [3H]PRZ specific binding (Bmax) was unaltered by guanine nucleotides. [3H]PAC binding was increased with addition of 10 microM guanosine triphosphate (GTP) (P less than 0.05) and decreased with either 50 microM GTP or guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] (P less than 0.01). Competition for specific [3H]PRZ and [3H]PAC binding by various alpha 1 and alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists of known pharmacologic activity revealed that [3H]PRZ defines alpha 1 adrenoceptors (Ki = 2.1 nM for prazosin vs 4300 nM for yohimbine) and [3H]PAC defines alpha 2 adrenoceptors (Ki = 1.06 nM for yohimbine vs 15480 nM for prazosin). Regional spinal cord studies demonstrated that dorsal spinal cord in the lumbar region contains the highest density of both [3H]PRZ (Bmax = 93 +/- 14 fmol/mg protein) and [3H]PAC (Bmax = 101 +/- 6 fmol/mg protein) binding. In contrast, lowest binding was evident in thoracic cord with equal levels in both dorsal and ventral regions (Bmax = 44-48 fmol/mg protein). The regional distribution of both alpha 1 and alpha 2 adrenoceptors in spinal cord compares to the localization previously classified functionally utilizing various pharmacological agonists and antagonists at norepinephrine receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D006165:Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011224:Prazosin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D006165:Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; C016986:apraclonidine; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D003000:Clonidine; D011224:Prazosin