A2-Receptors

Neurotropic and antistress properties of 2,4-dimethylpyrido[l, 2-u]pyr-imidinium perchlorate were compared with those of piracetam (95MI7). AH-Pyrido[l,2-u]pyrimidin-4-one binds selectively to rat A3 receptors with a A", value of 48/xM. No affinities were observed to rat Ai and A2 receptors (96MI17). 4-Oxo-4//-pyrido[l,2-u]pyrimidine-3-carboxylic acid and -3-carbonitrile did not exhibit significant antibacterial activities (97MI6). 

Adenosine is produced by many tissues, mainly as a byproduct of ATP breakdown. It is released from neurons, glia and other cells, possibly through the operation of the membrane transport system. Its rate of production varies with the functional state of the tissue and it may play a role as an autocrine or paracrine mediator (e.g. controlling blood flow). The uptake of adenosine is blocked by dipyridamole, which has vasodilatory effects. The effects of adenosine are mediated by a group of G protein-coupled receptors (the Gi/o-coupled Ai- and A3 receptors, and the Gs-coupled A2a-/A2B receptors). Ai receptors can mediate vasoconstriction, block of cardiac atrioventricular conduction and reduction of force of contraction, bronchoconstriction, and inhibition of neurotransmitter release. A2 receptors mediate vasodilatation and are involved in the stimulation of nociceptive afferent neurons. A3 receptors mediate the release of mediators from mast cells. Methylxanthines (e.g. caffeine) function as antagonists of Ai and A2 receptors. Adenosine itself is used to terminate supraventricular tachycardia by intravenous bolus injection. 

There are not yet any agonists that are truly selective for the A2BAR, known as the low affinity adenosine A2 receptor. A novel agonist, the 2-(6-bromotryptophol) ether derivative MRS3997 16, is a full agonist with mixed selectivity at A2a and A2BARs. 

At present, no diugs exist that can selectively activate a2-receptor subtypes. Clonidine stimulates all three a2-subtypes with similar potency. Clonidine lowers blood pressure in patients with hypertension and it decreases sympathetic overactivity during opioid withdrawal. In intensive and postoperative care, clonidine is a potent sedative and analgesic and can prevent postoperative shivering. Clonidine and its derivative brimonidine lower... 

Centrally acting a2-Receptor agonists Sedation, dry mouth, rebound hypertension... 

A large number of diugs interfere with the smooth muscle contraction. These compounds lower blood pressure and are referred to as antihypertensive. In this section, only those coumpounds will be mentioned that have a direct effect on smooth muscle tone. Phenylephrine is an agonist on most smooth muscles and activates ax adrenoceptors. Carbachol is an agonist on some smooth muscles and activates contraction through muscarinic receptors. Blockers of the ax-adrenoceptors such as prazosin and urapidil are competitive inhibitors of the ax-receptor in vascular and bladder smooth muscle. Phenoxybenzamine is an ineversible blocker of ax receptors and phentol-amine blocks ax and a2 receptors. Ca2+ channel blockers such as the dihydropyiidines, phenylalkyla-mines and benzothiazepines lower smooth muscle tone by blocking the L-type calcium channel. 

Many of the neuroleptics are a-adrenoceptor antagonists. Some, like chlorpromazine, block d postsynaptic receptors while clozapine (and risperidone) are as potent at 2 as D2 receptors. There is no evidence that either of these actions could influence striatal or mesolimbic function but NA is considered important for function of the prefrontal cortex and any increase in its release, achieved by blocking a2-mediated autoinhibition, might contribute to a reduction in negative symptoms and provide a further plus for clozapine (see Nutt et al. 1997). Centrally, however, most a2-receptors are found postsynaptically and their function, and the effect of blocking them, is uncertain. 

Tizanidine Centrally-acting a2-receptor agonist 4 mg orally daily, increase by 2-4 mg 3-4 times daily to a maximum of 36 mg/day... 

Pharmacodynamic interaction clonidine acts as an agonist at a2-receptors, and these TCAs block this receptor to varying degrees the result is an increase in blood pressure either avoid this interaction by choosing another antidepressant or increase the dose of clonidine. 

This interaction is the same as the one when clonidine is combined with TCAs however, mirtazapine is a more potent a2-receptor blocker than the TCAs avoid this interaction and choose an alternative antidepressant without a2-blocking effects. 

Drugs that target other sites of platelet action include thromboxane synthetase inhibitors, serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT2) receptor blockers, and thromboxane A2 receptor blockers, in addition to cyclooxygenase inhibitors and prostaglandin analogues. 

Compared to a,-receptors, a2-receptors have only moderate distribution on the effector tissues however, they have important presynaptic effects. Alpha-one receptors are found on effector tissue cells at the neuroeffector junction the a2-receptors are found on the varicosities of the postganglionic neuron. Norepinephrine released from this neuron not only binds to the a.j-receptors on the effector tissue to cause some physiological effect but also binds to the a2-receptors on the neuron. Alpha-two receptor stimulation results in presynaptic inhibition" or in a decrease in the release of norepinephrine. In this way, norepinephrine inhibits its own release from the sympathetic postganglionic neuron and controls its own activity. Both ar and a2-receptors have equal affinity for norepinephrine released directly from sympathetic neurons as well as circulating epinephrine released from the adrenal medulla. 

Noradrenaline acts on three types of receptor. The ai receptors mediate the main excitatory effects of noradrenaline upon wake-active neurons in the dorsal raphe, basal forebrain, and elsewhere (Vandermaelen Aghajanian, 1983 Nicoll, 1988 Fort et al., 1995 Brown et al., 2002). The a2 receptors mediate inhibitory effects of noradrenaline, e.g. on noradrenaline neurons themselves and on cholinergic brainstem neurons (Williams et al., 1985 Williams Reiner, 1993). The (3-receptors modulate neurons in a more subtle fashion, increasing excitability via blockade of afterhyperpolarizations in hippocampal and cortical neurons (Haas Konnerth, 1983). Activation of (3-receptors also promotes synaptic plasticity via activation of the cyclic-AMP-dependent kinase (PKA) and cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) signal transduction pathway (Stanton Sarvey, 1987 Cirelli et al., 1996). 

Ferre, S., von Euler, G., Johansson, B., Fredholm, B. B. Fuxe, K. (1991). Stimulation of high-affinity adenosine A2 receptors decreases the affinity of dopamine D2 receptors in rat striatal membranes. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 88 (16), 7238-41. 

Kessey, K. 8r Mogul, D. J. (1998). Adenosine A2 receptors modulate hippocampal synaptic transmission via a cyclic-AMP-dependent pathway. Neuroscience 84 (1), 59-69. 

Sebastiao, A. M. Ribeiro, J. A. (1996). Adenosine A2 receptor-mediated excitatory actions on the nervous system. Prog. Neurobiol. 48 (3), 167-89. 

G -protein-coupled receptors are often located on the presynaptic plasma membrane where they inhibit neurotransmitter release by reducing the opening of Ca2+ channels like inactivation and breakdown of the neurotransmitter by enzymes, this contributes to the neuron s ability to produce a sharply timed signal. An a2 receptor located on the presynaptic membrane of a noradrenaline-containing neuron is called an autoreceptor but, if located on any other type of presynaptic neuronal membrane (e.g., a 5-HT neuron), then it is referred to as a heteroreceptor (Langer, 1997). Autoreceptors are also located on the soma (cell body) and dendrites of the neuron for example, somatodendritic 5-HTia receptors reduce the electrical activity of 5-HT neurons. 

Maenhaut, C., Van Sande, J., Liebert, F. et al. RDC8 codes for an adenosine A2 receptor with physiological constitutive activity. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 173 1169-1178, 1990. 

Growth hormone. Mood disorders have been related to alterations in the activity of the growth-hormone axis. A blunted growth-hormone response to clonidine, an a2 receptor agonist, has been consistently found in depression. Increased growth-hormone secretion during the day and decreased nocturnal growth-hormone secretion have also been observed in depressed patients. Depressed patients have lower CSF concentrations of somatostatin, compared to those with schizophrenia and normal controls. While lower CSF somatostatin is a state-dependent marker of depression, it occurs in a number of unrelated nonpsychiatric conditions, and thus appears to be relatively nonspecific. 

Nekooeian, A.A. and Tabrizchi, R., Effects of adenosine a2 receptor agonist, cgs 21680, on blood pressure, cardiac index and arterial conductance in anaesthetized rats, Eur. J. 

Hirata, T., Ushikubi, E., Kakizuka, A., Okuma, M., and Narumiya, S. (1996) Two thromboxane A2 receptor isoforms in human platelets. Opposite coupling to adenylyl cyclase with different sensitivity to Arg60 to Leu mutation. J. Clin. Invest. 97,949-956. 

The a.1 receptors are excitatory in their action, while the a2 receptors are inhibitory, these activities being related to the different types of second messengers or ion channels to which they are linked. Thus, a2 receptors hyperpolarize presynaptic membranes by opening potassium ion channels, and thereby reduce noradrenaline release. Conversely, stimulation of ai receptors increases intracellular calcium via the phosphatidyl inositol cycle which causes the release of calcium from its intracellular stores protein kinase C activity is increased as a result of the free calcium, which then brings about further changes in the membrane activity. 

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