title: Distribution of S(-)-zacopride-insensitive [125I]R(+)-zacopride binding sites in the rat brain and peripheral tissues.
abstract: Increasing evidence indicates that the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist R(+)-zacopride labels an additional site in brain tissue that is not sensitive to 5-HT (non-5-HT R(+)-zacopride site, R(+)-site). Since the levels of R(+)-sites in the brain are relatively low, the present studies explored the use of [125I]R(+)-zacopride to label the R(+)-site; the incorporation of an [125I] atom considerably increasing the specific activity of the radioligand relative to [3H]R(+)-zacopride that has been utilised previously. Competition experiments with [125I]R(+)-zacopride (1.0 nM) binding to rat whole brain homogenates, in the presence of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist granisetron (1.0 microM), identified that R(+)-zacopride and prazosin bound to two sites (pIC50: 7.59 and 5.28, respectively, for R(+)-zacopride; 6.75 and 4.42, respectively, for prazosin) whereas S(-)-zacopride and mianserin possessed relatively low affinity (pIC50: 4.37 and 3.80, respectively) while (-)sulpiride and 5-HT failed to compete for [125I]R(+)-zacopride binding at concentrations up to 10 microM. Autoradiographic radioligand binding studies using [125I]R(+)-zacopride (0.5 nM) identified a heterogeneous distribution of specific binding sites (defined by unlabelled R(+)-zacopride, 1.0 microM) throughout the rat brain. In the presence of a saturating concentration of granisetron (1.0 microM), highest levels of specific [125I]R(+)-zacopride, binding sites (defined by R(+)-zacopride, 1.0 microM; R(+)-site), were detected in the olfactory tubercle, thalamus, corpus callosum, colliculus, dorsal and median raphe nucleus, spinal cord and the pons (8.0-13.0 fmol/mg). Moderate densities of R(+)-sites were located in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, globus pallidus, septal nuclei, frontal cortex and cerebellum (2.0-7.9 fmol/mg). In the hippocampus, amygdala and cortical areas. R(+)-site levels were low but detectable (0.1-1.9 fmol/mg). [125I]R(+)-zacopride labelled R(+)-sites were also detected in some rat peripheral tissues, for instance kidney cortex, adrenal gland and liver (2.4-6.8 fmol/mg). The present results indicate that specific non-5-HT [125I]R(+)-zacopride sites are heterogeneously distributed throughout the rat brain and are expressed in various peripheral tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK. j.ge@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Towers
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001549:Benzamides / Q000378:metabolism*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000378:metabolism; D011224:Prazosin / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008803:Mianserin; D012701:Serotonin; D013469:Sulpiride; C055971:zacopride; D011224:Prazosin