Potent, extra-channel influence of several calcium-channel modulators on striatal binding of [3H]tyramine.

A number of Ca(2+)-, K(+)-, and Na(+)-channel modulators has been tested with respect to their effects on [3H]tyramine (TY) binding, as a putative marker for the vesicular dopamine (DA) transporter in striatal membrane preparations containing vesicle ghosts. Among organic Ca(2+)-channel modulators, the diphenylalkylamines tested consistently inhibited TY binding: the order of potency was prenylamine > lidoflazine > flunarizine > cinnarizine, with Ki values of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.2 microM, respectively. Low (up to 100 nM) concentrations of prenylamine did competitively inhibit TY binding, and higher concentrations provoked a mixed-type inhibition. Furthermore, LIGAND-analysis of competition curves revealed a high- and a low-affinity binding site for prenylamine and flunarizine. The TY binding process was also sensitive to selected K(+)- and Na(+)-channel modulators. Since several Ca(2+)-antagonists are known to affect H(+)-ATPase and the bioenergetics of catecholamine storage vesicles in chromaffin granules, thus affecting monoamine storage, the energy requirements for the formation of the TY/carrier complex were here assessed, assuming similarity between chromaffin granules and synaptic vesicles. TY binding, though not reflecting endovesicle-sequestered TY, was indeed strongly sensitive (with Ki coefficients in the fM or low nM range) to the dissipation of the vesicular transmembrane proton concentration (delta pH), electrical (delta psi), and proton electrochemical (delta microH+) gradients, provoked by a number of specifically targeted agents. It is concluded that Ca(2+)-channel agents of the diphenylalkylamine group may directly affect striatal TY binding due to an extrachannel-regulated competition with TY for the vesicular carrier of DA, as well indirectly, by disruption of the transmembrane energization of the reserpine-sensitive carrier.