Receptor Heteroreceptors

Nefazodone antagonizes a2 receptors (heteroreceptors), which mediates an increase in serotonin outflow. In addition, the drug is a potent antagonist at 5-HT2 receptors, and, additionally, inhibits presynaptic reuptake of serotonin. Thus, the actions of serotonin in mood elevation are maximally potentiated. 

Studies have now started to clarify the role of histamine Hi and H2 receptors in the cardiovascular manifestations of anaphylaxis. However, histamine can activate H3 and H4 receptors [56, 57]. Levi and coworkers [58-60] identified H3 receptors as inhibitory heteroreceptors in cardiac adrenergic nerve endings. This suggests a mechanism by which endogenous histamine can activate norepinephrine release in normal and ischemic conditions [61,62]. The functional identification ofH3 receptors in the human heart [59] means that these receptors might be directly and/or indirectly involved in the cardiovascular manifestations of anaphylactic reactions. 

The key to an understanding of the biology of the histamine H3 receptor is the fact that it is an inhibitory auto- and heteroreceptor. Activation of the H3... 

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. 

Presynaptic receptor A receptor, either an autoreceptor or heteroreceptor, located on the presynaptic neuronal membrane which regulates the release of the neurotransmitter. 

Histaminergic neurons can regulate and be regulated by other neurotransmitter systems. A number of other transmitter systems can interact with histaminergic neurons (Table 14-1). As mentioned, the H3 receptor is thought to function as an inhibitory heteroreceptor. Thus, activation of brain H3 receptors decreases the release of acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin and certain peptides. However, histamine may also increase the activity of some of these systems through H, and/or H2 receptors. Activation of NMDA, p opioid, dopamine D2 and some serotonin receptors can increase the release of neuronal histamine, whereas other transmitter receptors seem to decrease release. Different patterns of interactions may also be found in discrete brain regions. 

Dopamine acts on G-protein-coupled receptors belonging to the D1 -family of receptors (so-called D1-like receptors , or DlLRs, comprised of Dl- and D5-receptors), and the D2-family of receptors ( D2-like receptors , or D2LRs comprised of D2-, D3- and D4-receptors). Dl LRs stimulate adenylate cyclase activity and, possibly, also phosphoinosit-ide hydrolysis, while D2LRs reduce adenylate cyclase activity. In the striatum, DlLRs are predominately associated with medium spiny neurons of the direct pathway, while D2LRs have been found as autoreceptors on dopaminergic terminals, as heteroreceptors on cholinergic interneurons, and on indirect pathway neurons. In the SNr, DlLRs are located on terminals of the direct pathway projection, while D2LRs appear to function as autoreceptors. 

Mirtazapine enhances central noradrenergic and serotonergic activity through the antagonism of central presynaptic a2-adrenergic autoreceptors and heteroreceptors. It also antagonizes 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors. It also blocks histamine receptors. 

Membrane-bound receptors bind the intrinsic neurotransmitter (autoreceptor) or transmitters of neighboring neurons (heteroreceptor) and affect the cell via intracellular messengers. One response, for example, is the modulation of neurotransmitter release (Tanger, 1997). 

Control of transmitter release is not limited to modulation by the transmitter itself. Nerve terminals also carry regulatory receptors that respond to many other substances. Such heteroreceptors may be activated by substances released from other nerve terminals that synapse with the nerve ending. For example, some vagal fibers in the myocardium synapse on sympathetic noradrenergic nerve terminals and inhibit norepinephrine release. Alternatively, the ligands for these receptors may diffuse to the receptors from the blood or from nearby tissues. Some of the transmitters and receptors identified to date are listed in Table 6-4. Presynaptic regulation by a variety of endogenous chemicals probably occurs in all nerve fibers. 

A heteroreceptor is a receptor regulating the synthesis and/or the release of mediators other than its own ligand (IUPAC). 

FIGURE 5—44. This figure shows how norepinephrine can function as a brake for serotonin release. When norepinephrine is released from nearby noradrenergic neurons, it can diffuse to alpha 2 receptors, not only to those on noradrenergic neurons but as shown here, also to these same receptors on serotonin neurons. Like its actions on noradrenergic neurons, norepinephrine occupancy of alpha 2 receptors on serotonin neurons will turn off serotonin release. Thus, serotonin release can be inhibited not only by serotonin but, as shown here, also by norepinephrine. Alpha 2 receptors on a norepinephrine neuron are called autoreceptors, but alpha 2 receptors on serotonin neurons are called heteroreceptors. 

The term "H3 receptor" has been coined by Arrang et al.1 H3 receptors are located on paracrine cells and on neurones activation of H3 receptors usually causes inhibition of the release of the respective mediator or neurotransmitter. The receptor characterized by Arrang et al.1 is an example of an autoreceptor, i.e. of a receptor via which the transmitter released from a given neurone influences its own release. H3 receptor-mediated inhibition of the release of transmitters other than histamine has also been described such receptors are known as heteroreceptors. The present review will focus on H3 heteroreceptors in the central nervous system (CNS) in separate chapters of this book, H3 autoreceptors, H3 heteroreceptors in the neuroendocrine system as well as H3 receptor-mediated modulation of transmitter release in vivo will be considered. A separate article will also deal with H3 heteroreceptors in peripheral tissues although an example of an H3 receptor in the retina will be covered in our chapter, due to the close relationship between CNS and retina2. 

In the first part of our chapter the occurrence of H3 heteroreceptors in the CNS and in the retina will be described. Then the location of the H3 heteroreceptors will be discussed. (The term "heteroreceptor" will be used in a relatively broad sense in this article, i.e. regardless of whether the presynaptic location on the nerve endings themselves has been proven or not.) Next, interactions between H3 heteroreceptors and other types of presynaptic receptors will be considered. Finally, some general remarks with respect to H3 heteroreceptors as targets for new drugs will be given. 

Fig. 1. Occurrence of H3 receptors inhibiting release of acetylcholine, of amino acid and monoamine neurotransmitters in the mammalian CNS in vitro. The schematic drawing represents a midsagittal section of the human brain three areas with a more lateral position are shown by broken line (substantia nigra and part of the hippocampus and of the striatum). For each of the six regions of the CNS (subregions given in brackets), in which H3 heteroreceptors have been identified, the neurotransmitter(s) and the species are indicated. The superscripts refer to the numbers of the papers as listed under References. Own unpublished data suggest that an H3 receptor-mediated inhibition of noradrenaline release also occurs in the human cerebral cortex and hippocampus and in the guinea-pig cerebral cortex. Note that a presynaptic location has not been verified for each of the H3 heteroreceptors or has been even excluded (for details, see Table 1). Abbreviations ACh, acetylcholine DA, dopamine GABA, y-aminobutyric acid Glu, glutamate 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine, serotonin NA, noradrenaline...

Standard superfusion and electrophysiological techniques do not allow to decide whether an H3 heteroreceptor involved in the inhibition of release of a given transmitter is actually located presynaptically (i.e. on the axon terminals) of the respective neurone. Recent (unpublished) data from our laboratory may serve to illustrate this point. In guinea-pig cerebral cortex slices, noradrenaline release is inhibited by histamine via H3 receptors and facilitated via H2 receptors. Using an appropriate technique (see next paragraph) we found that only the H3 but not the H2 receptor is located presynaptically. 

Table 1. Location of H3 heteroreceptors inhibiting the release of monoamines, acetylcholine and glutamate in the brain. To prove or disprove the presynaptic location of H3 receptors, transmitter release was studied in isolated nerve endings (synaptosomes) or in brain slices superfused with K+-rich Ca2+-free medium containing tetrodotoxin (TTX) (in the latter case, transmitter release was evoked by introduction of Ca2+ ions into the medium). The experimental approaches used in the electrophysiological study to show the presynaptic location of H3 receptors on glutamatergic neurones are described in the text.

INTERACTIONS OF PRESYNAPTIC H, HETERORECEPTORS WITH OTHER TYPES OF PRESYNAPTIC RECEPTORS... 

Axon terminals are usually endowed with several types of presynaptic receptors which do not act independently. It has been described, in particular, for noradrenergic neurones that activation of a given presynaptic receptor blunts the effect mediated via another type of presynaptic receptor32-3 activated subsequently. H3 heteroreceptors on noradrenergic neurones also participate in such receptor interactions. When, e.g., the... 

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