Effects of Spiradoline Mesylate, a Selective κ-Opioid-Receptor Agonist, on the Central Dopamine System with Relation to Mouse Locomotor Activity and Analgesia

We characterized the angiotensin II (AII) receptor in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). This receptor binds [125I]Sar1,Ile8-angiotensin II with a high affinity of 0.20 +/- 0.04 nM and a low capacity of 5.3 +/- 0.4 fmol/mg protein (230 +/- 17 sites/cell). Based on the Ki values, the ranking order of [125I]Sar1,Ile8-AII binding inhibition was as follows: Sar1,Ile8-AII > AII > Dup 753 > AII > AI >> PD 123319. The addition of AII to HASMCs induced a rapid, transient increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration followed by a lower, sustained phase. When extracellular Ca2+ was removed by adding 3 mM EGTA, this initial transient increase was not changed, but the sustained phase was abolished. These results revealed AII receptors in HASMCs to be of the type 1 receptor subtype, which induce Ca2+ mobilization mainly from intracellular Ca2+ stores.