Agonist and antagonist actions of yohimbine as compared to fluparoxan at alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors (AR)s, serotonin (5-HT)(1A), 5-HT(1B), 5-HT(1D) and dopamine D(2) and D(3) receptors. Significance for the modulation of frontocortical monoaminergic transmission and depressive states.

Article Details

Citation

Millan MJ, Newman-Tancredi A, Audinot V, Cussac D, Lejeune F, Nicolas JP, Coge F, Galizzi JP, Boutin JA, Rivet JM, Dekeyne A, Gobert A

Agonist and antagonist actions of yohimbine as compared to fluparoxan at alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors (AR)s, serotonin (5-HT)(1A), 5-HT(1B), 5-HT(1D) and dopamine D(2) and D(3) receptors. Significance for the modulation of frontocortical monoaminergic transmission and depressive states.

Synapse. 2000 Feb;35(2):79-95.

PubMed ID
10611634 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Herein, we evaluate the interaction of the alpha(2)-AR antagonist, yohimbine, as compared to fluparoxan, at multiple monoaminergic receptors and examine their roles in the modulation of adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission in freely-moving rats. Yohimbine displays marked affinity at human (h)alpha(2A)-, halpha(2B)- and halpha(2C)-ARs, significant affinity for h5-HT(1A), h5-HT(1B), h5-HT(1D), and hD(2) receptors and weak affinity for hD(3) receptors. In [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding protocols, yohimbine exerts antagonist actions at halpha(2A)-AR, h5-HT(1B), h5-HT(1D), and hD(2) sites, yet partial agonist actions at h5-HT(1A) sites. In vivo, agonist actions of yohimbine at 5-HT(1A) sites are revealed by WAY100,635-reversible induction of hypothermia in the rat. In guinea pigs, antagonist actions of yohimbine at 5-HT(1B) receptors are revealed by blockade of hypothermia evoked by the 5-HT(1B) agonist, GR46,611. In distinction to yohimbine, fluparoxan shows only modest partial agonist actions at h5-HT(1A) sites versus marked antagonist actions at halpha(2)-ARs. While fluparoxan selectively enhances hippocampal noradrenaline (NAD) turnover, yohimbine also enhances striatal dopamine (DA) turnover and suppresses striatal turnover of 5-HT. Further, yohimbine decreases firing of serotonergic neurones in raphe nuclei, an action reversed by WAY100,635. Fluparoxan increases extracellular levels of DA and NAD, but not 5-HT, in frontal cortex. In analogy, yohimbine enhances FCX levels of DA and NAD, yet suppresses those of 5-HT, the latter effect being antagonized by WAY100,635. The induction by fluoxetine of FCX levels of 5-HT, DA, and NAD is potentiated by fluparoxan. Yohimbine likewise facilitates the influence of fluoxetine upon DA and NAD levels, but not those of 5-HT. In conclusion, the alpha(2)-AR antagonist properties of yohimbine increase DA and NAD levels both alone and in association with fluoxetine. However, in contrast to the selective alpha(2)-AR antagonist, fluparoxan, the 5-HT(1A) agonist actions of yohimbine suppress 5-HT levels alone and underlie its inability to augment the influence of fluoxetine upon 5-HT levels.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1AProteinHumans
Unknown
Partial agonist
Details
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1BProteinHumans
Unknown
Partial agonist
Details
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1DProteinHumans
Unknown
Partial agonist
Details
YohimbineAlpha-2A adrenergic receptorProteinHumans
Yes
Antagonist
Details
YohimbineAlpha-2B adrenergic receptorProteinHumans
Yes
Antagonist
Details
YohimbineAlpha-2C adrenergic receptorProteinHumans
Yes
Antagonist
Details
YohimbineDopamine D2 receptorProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details
YohimbineDopamine D3 receptorProteinHumans
Unknown
Antagonist
Details
Binding Properties
DrugTargetPropertyMeasurementpHTemperature (°C)
Mianserin5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2AKi (nM)1.58N/AN/ADetails
Mianserin5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2CKi (nM)0.63N/AN/ADetails
PrazosinAlpha-1B adrenergic receptorKi (nM)0.06N/AN/ADetails
PrazosinAlpha-1D adrenergic receptorKi (nM)0.06N/AN/ADetails
Sumatriptan5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1BKi (nM)25.11N/AN/ADetails
Sumatriptan5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1DKi (nM)1.99N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1AKi (nM)1258.92N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1AKi (nM)50.11N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1BKi (nM)158.48N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1DKi (nM)19.95N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1DKi (nM)25.11N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2AKi (nM)1000N/AN/ADetails
Yohimbine5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2CKi (nM)1000N/AN/ADetails
YohimbineAlpha-2A adrenergic receptorKi (nM)7.94N/AN/ADetails
YohimbineAlpha-2A adrenergic receptorKi (nM)6.3N/AN/ADetails
YohimbineAlpha-2A adrenergic receptorKi (nM)3.16N/AN/ADetails
YohimbineAlpha-2B adrenergic receptorKi (nM)1.99N/AN/ADetails
YohimbineAlpha-2C adrenergic receptorKi (nM)0.25N/AN/ADetails