The anandamide transport inhibitor AM404 activates vanilloid receptors

Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 May 12;396(1):39-42. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(00)00207-7.

Abstract

The possibility that the anandamide transport inhibitor N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenamide (AM404), structurally similar to the vanilloid receptor agonists anandamide and capsaicin, may also activate vanilloid receptors and cause vasodilation was examined. AM404 evoked concentration-dependent relaxations in segments of rat isolated hepatic artery contracted with phenylephrine. Relaxations were abolished in preparations pre-treated with capsaicin. The calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist CGRP-(8-37) also abolished relaxations. The vanilloid receptor antagonist capsazepine inhibited vasodilation by AM404 and blocked AM404-induced currents in patch-clamp experiments on Xenopus oocytes expressing the vanilloid subtype 1 receptor (VR1). In conclusion, AM404 activates native and cloned vanilloid receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / metabolism*
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / pharmacology
  • Cannabinoids / metabolism*
  • Capsaicin / pharmacology
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Female
  • Hepatic Artery / drug effects
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Drug / agonists*
  • Receptors, Drug / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Rimonabant
  • Vasodilation / drug effects
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Cannabinoids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Piperidines
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptors, Drug
  • calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37)
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Rimonabant
  • Capsaicin
  • anandamide
  • N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)arachidonylamide