title: Brain pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins are involved in the flavoxate hydrochloride-induced suppression of the micturition reflex in rats.
abstract: The effect of flavoxate hydrochloride (flavoxate), an anti-pollakiurea agent, on cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation was investigated in the rat brain and a possible involvement of brain G proteins in the action of flavoxate on the bladder function was subsequently examined. Flavoxate (10(-8)-10(-5) M) inhibited cAMP formation in a concentration-dependent manner, an action which was completely abolished by pretreating the membranes with pertussis toxin (PTX). The inhibitory effect of flavoxate was also completely antagonized by combined treatment with any two antagonists for adenosine A1 (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine), dopamine D2 (sulpiride) or adrenergic alpha 2 (yohimbine) receptors, although each antagonist alone did not significantly block the flavoxate-induced inhibition of cAMP formation. Radioligand binding studies indicated that flavoxate at micro- or submicromolar concentrations has affinity for Gi-coupled receptors such as A1, D2 and alpha 2 receptors. Therefore, flavoxate may inhibit cAMP formation by the stimulation of A1, D2 and alpha 2 receptors. To clarify the involvement of brain Gi proteins in the flavoxate-induced inhibition of the micturition reflex, the effect of pretreatment with PTX (i.c.v.) on the flavoxate-induced inhibition of isovolumetric rhythmic bladder contractions was examined in rats. Flavoxate (3 mg/kg, i.v.) completely abolished rhythmic bladder contractions in vehicle-pretreated rats, but not in PTX-pretreated rats. These findings suggest that signal transduction via Gi-coupled receptors is involved, at least in part, in the inhibition of the micturition reflex by flavoxate in rats. These results also provide the first evidence suggesting a negative role of brain PTX-sensitive G proteins in the micturition reflex.
authors.affiliation: Discovery Research Laboratories I, Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ukai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikuni
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005422:Flavoxate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects*; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014970:Xanthines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D014970:Xanthines; D015016:Yohimbine; D005422:Flavoxate; D013469:Sulpiride; C051360:1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins