Biochemical characterisation of para-aminophenol-induced nephrotoxic lesions in the F344 rat

The acute biochemical effects of the nephrotoxin p-aminophenol (PAP) were studied in detail using a combination of conventional bioanalytical and ¹H-NMR spectroscopic methods. Dosing PAP (25–100 mg/kg) to male F344 rats resulted in a dose-related proximal nephropathy with consequent elevations in urinary enzymes, glucose, and urine total protein as shown by conventional methodology. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy at 400 MHz of urine from PAP-treated rats also revealed a characteristic glycosuria, with concomitant amino aciduria. The increased excretion of these compounds indicates functional defects in the proximal tubule and reduced solute reabsorption efficiency. In addition, ¹H-NMR urinalysis and conventional enzymatic analysis showed a dose-related lactic aciduria. Other changes detected by ¹H-NMR included a dose-related reduction in the excretion of citrate (confirmed by a conventional biochemical method) and an increase in the excretion of acetate. The degree of abnormalities shown by ¹H-NMR urinalysis agreed well with histopathological observations and conventional biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity. ¹H-NMR urinalysis therefore serves to highlight changes in the excretion of low MW urine components not routinely studied by conventional biochemical analysis.Abbreviations ALP alkaline phosphatase - APAP paracetamol - BUN blood urea nitrogen - GFR glomerular filtration rate - GOT glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase - LAP leucine aminopeptidase - LDH lactate dehydrogenase - MW molecular weight - NAG N-acetyl--D-glucosaminidase - PAP p-aminophenol - ppm parts per million - TMAO trimethylamine N-oxide - UFR urine flow rate     

Metabolism and distribution in the rat of peak E substance,a constituent inl-tryptophan product implicated in eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome

Peak E substance, 1,1-ethylidenebis[tryptophan], a contaminant found inl-tryptophan tablets, has been suggested as a causative agent for eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS). Peak E substance (50 mg/kg) was administered perorally to Wistar rats to determine its metabolism and distribution. A purification procedure using Bond Elut C₈ cartridges followed by HPLC was developed for the determination of peak E substance. The plasma concentration of peak E substance was 136 ng/ml at 1 h, and urinary excretion was 717 ng at 5 h and 10342 ng for 5–24 h, showing slow excretion of peak E substance into urine. The amount of peak E substance in the contents of the large intestine at 5 h, however, was 3136 g, much greater than urinary excretion for 24 h, indicating considerable transfer of peak E substance to large intestine without decomposition by gastric fluid in the stomach. We have detected for the first time not only the occurrence of peak E substance in plasma and urine, but also 1-methyl-tetrahydro--carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) in blood and organs of rats treated with peak E substance, thereby suggesting MTCA as one of the the metabolites of peak E substance. The amount of MTCA in the contents of the large intestine as well as in urine of rats treated with peak E substance was significantly greater than inl-tryptophantreated rats (50 mg/kg p.o.), demonstrating that MTCA was more readily produced from peak E substance than froml-tryptophan. Finally, we propose acetaldehydeinduced production of MTCA from peak E substance.     

Studies on the comparative toxicity of S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine,S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-homocysteine and 1,1,2-trichloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene in the Fischer 344 rat

The renal tubular toxicity of various halogenated xenobiotics has been attributed to their enzymatic bioactivation to reactive intermediates by S-conjugation. A combination of high resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy of urine, renal histopathology and more routinely used clinical chemistry methods has been used to explore the acute toxic and biochemical effects of S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-homocysteine (DCVHC) and 1,1,2-trichloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene (TCTFP) up to 48 h following their administration to male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. In the absence of gross renal pathology, ¹H NMR urinalysis revealed increased excretion of the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates citrate and succinate following DCVC administration. In contrast, both DCVHC and TCTFP produced functional defects in the S₂ and S₃ segments of the proximal tubule that were confirmed histologically. In these cases, ¹H NMR urinalysis revealed increased excretion of glucose, L-lactate, acetate and 3-D-hydroxybutyrate (HB) as well as selective amino aciduria (alanine, valine, glutamate and glutamine). The significance of the proximal nephropathies induced by DCVHC and TCTFP is discussed in relation to biochemical observations on other xenobiotics that are toxic by similar mechanisms. Received: 25 April 1994 / Accepted: 13 June 1994     

Studies of the biochemical toxicology of uranyl nitrate in the rat

High resolution ¹H NMR spectroscopy of urine and plasma, conventional clinical chemical methods and histopathology have been applied to investigate the effects of uranyl nitrate (UN) on renal function and biochemistry in the Fischer 344 (F344) rat. Administration of UN (5 – 20 mg/kg) to male F344 rats resulted in a dose-related proximal nephropathy assessed conventionally by histopathology and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), and related to changes in the patterns of low MW metabolites observed in 400 MHz ¹H NMR spectra of urine. The changes in urinary metabolite profiles included elevations in glucose accompanied by minor elevations in certain amino acids (alanine, valine and glutamate). ¹H NMR urinalysis also revealed altered excretion of low MW metabolites which are not routinely measured, such as l-lactate, acetate, citrate, succinate and 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG). In addition, the striking appearance of high concentrations of 3-d-hydroxybutyrate (HB) in the urine was noted, in the absence of acetoacetate or acetone, and it is suggested that this may provide a new marker of proximal tubular damage for certain types of nephrotoxic mechanism. Broadening of the ¹H NMR signals of citrate following 10 mg/kg UN was shown to be due to a dynamic exchange process involving chelation with urinary Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions. Conventional biochemical analysis of plasma from UN-treated rats revealed dose-related increases in creatinine, urea and HB concentrations. ¹H NMR-detected evidence of raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in rats administered the highest dose of UN was indicated by the partial deuteration of alanine in lyophilised plasma reconstituted in ²H₂O. The degree of ¹H NMR-detected abnormalities agreed well with histopathological observations and conventional biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity and more fully characterised the renal changes produced by UN. The significance of HB-uria in UN-induced proximal nephropathy is discussed in relation to biochemical observations on other proximal nephrotoxins. Received 7 June 1993/Accepted 23 August 1993     

Interindividual differences in the pharmacokinetics of digitoxin and digoxin during long-term treatment

Summary Patients suffering from congestive heart failure received maintenance doses of digitoxin (N=10) or digoxin (N=8). The plasma glycoside concentration was determined, and after a single dose of³H-digitoxin or³H-digoxin, the decline and excretion of radioactivity were measured over a period of 7 (digitoxin) and 3 days (digoxin). Plasma radioactivity declined with a ^x T_1/2 between 77 and 234 h (mean 138 h) in the case of digitoxin and with a ^x T_1/2 between 9.2 and 38.6 h (mean 23.5 h) for digoxin. A close correlation between ^x T_1/2 and excreted radioactivity and ^x T_1/2 and total plasma level was found for digitoxin. In 4 patients TLC of urine showed that interindividual variations in digitoxin elimination could possibly be attributed to variation in metabolism, resulting in the production of different metabolites. Predicted digitoxin plasma levels agreed well with measured values. The maintenance dose could be calculated from the total body clearance (V_Cl) and a presumed plasma glycoside level. The recommended technique facilitates dosage calculations in patients treated with digitoxin.Abbreviations AUC ₀ ^x area under curve - average steady state plasma concentration - F fraction of the dose which is absorbed - D dose - D_M maintenance dose - V_Cl plasma (body) clearance - dosage interval - kinetic parameter of the corresponding - ³H glycoside     

Toxicometabolomics approach to urinary biomarkers for mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced nephrotoxicity using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) in rats

The primary objective of this study was to determine and characterize surrogate biomarkers that can predict nephrotoxicity induced by mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) using urinary proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectral data. A procedure for ¹H NMR urinalysis using pattern recognition was proposed to evaluate nephrotoxicity induced by HgCl₂ in Sprague-Dawley rats. HgCl₂ at 0.1 or 0.75 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), and urine was collected every 24 h for 6 days. Animals (n = 6 per group) were sacrificed 3 or 6 days post-dosing in order to perform clinical blood chemistry tests and histopathologic examinations. Urinary ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed apparent differential clustering between the control and HgCl₂ treatment groups as evidenced by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square (PLS)-discriminant analysis (DA). Time- and dose-dependent separation of HgCl₂-treated animals from controls was observed by PCA of ¹H NMR spectral data. In HgCl₂-treated rats, the concentrations of endogenous urinary metabolites of glucose, acetate, alanine, lactate, succinate, and ethanol were significantly increased, whereas the concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate, allantoin, citrate, formate, taurine, and hippurate were significantly decreased. These endogenous metabolites were selected as putative biomarkers for HgCl₂-induced nephrotoxicity. A dose response was observed in concentrations of lactate, acetate, succinate, and ethanol, where severe disruption of the concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate, citrate, formate, glucose, and taurine was observed at the higher dose (0.75 mg/kg) of HgCl₂. Correlation of urinary ¹H NMR PLS-DA data with renal histopathologic changes suggests that ¹H NMR urinalysis can be used to predict or screen for HgCl₂-induced nephrotoxicity_.     

Renal and hormonal effects and tolerance of an ANP analogue in healthy man

Summary The effect of an analogue of atrial natriuretic peptide (P-ANP) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), urinary flow rate, urinary sodium excretion, tubular function estimated by the lithium clearance technique, and plasma levels of sodium and water homeostatic hormones, has been studied in 40 healthy males. Placebo or P-ANP 0.3, 1.5, or 3.0 g·kg^–1 bwt were given as an intravenous bolus injection to different groups.P-ANP did not cause any immediate change in GFR or RPF, but significant dose-dependent increases in filtration fraction, urinary flow rate and urinary excretion rate of sodium were detected during the first 30 min after administration. Proximal absolute and fractional tubular reabsorption and distal absolute tubular reabsorption of sodium did not change after injection of P-ANP, while the distal fractional reabsorption of sodium was reduced in a dose dependent manner during the first 30 min.Plasma angiotensin II and aldosterone were significantly increased 30 and 150 min after dosage, whereas plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma arginine vasopressin, and urinary excretion of prostaglandin E₂ were unchanged. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate both in plasma and urine were increased in a dose-dependent manner.P-ANP cause a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure and an increase in pulse rate. Two subjects had vasovagal syncope 30–60 min after injection of P-ANP.It is concluded that P-ANP has natriuretic, diuretic and hypotensive properties in healthy man.     

Choleresis and hepatic transport mechanisms

Summary The influence of the bile salts taurocholate and dehydrocholate on the hepatic transport of two quaternary ammonium compounds,d-tubocurarine (dTc) andN ⁴-acetylprocainamide ethobromide (APAEB) was investigated in rats. The biliary excretion of APAEB and dTc in vivo was not enhanced by 106 moles/h of taurocholate or dehydrocholate. Infusion of 268 moles/h dehydrocholate caused an inhibition of the plasma disappearance and hepatic transport of dTc. This inhibition, which presumably occurred at the hepatic uptake level, was also observed in isolated perfused rat liver experiments. In animals with an intact renal function, the high dose of dehydrocholate caused a decreased biliary excretion and an increased renal excretion of dTc.The observed concentration gradients, plasma/liver cytosol and bile/liver cytosol 20 min after injection of both drugs were 1.6 and 23 for APAEB and 2.2 and 190 for dTc. These concentration ratios were based on free drug concentrations; corrections were made for plasma protein binding, intracellular binding and biliary micelle binding. No substantial binding of both compounds to ligandin and Z proteins was found. From the amount in the liver 20 min after injection of both drugs 70% of APAEB and 90% of dTc was bound to cellular particles.The rate limiting step in hepatic transport of APAEB from plasma into bile was concluded to be the hepatic uptake, which may explain the lack of effect of bile salt induced choleresis on its biliary excretion.     

Pharmacodynamic analysis of intravenous recombinant urate oxidase using an indirect pharmacological response model in healthy subjects

Aim:

Pharmacodynamic analysis of intravenous recombinant urate oxidase produced by Escherichia coli was performed in healthy subjects using a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model.

Methods:

A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed in 40 healthy Chinese subjects (4 groups of 10 subjects each, placebo 4:1 ratio) who received infusions of uricase (single doses of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg; multiple doses of 0.2 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ for 7 d). PK profiles were determined through plasma uricase activity, and PD profiles were established using uric acid levels in plasma and urine. The plasma PD parameter was estimated as changes in plasma uric acid levels as the effect in the indirect response model. Adverse events were also monitored.

Results:

A two-compartment PK model with constant iv input and first-order output was used to describe the kinetic process of plasma uricase. The low value (2.8 U/L) of drug concentration that achieved 50% of maximum effect (EC₅₀) indicated that low plasma uricase concentrations were sufficient to produce pharmacological effects. A strong relationship (r²=0.9991) between the mean uric acid concentration in blood and the mean uric acid excretion rate in urine in the range of 11 to 30 h after single dosing was found. Infusions of uricase were well tolerated in all subjects.

Conclusion:

The PK/PD model predicted the effective dose to be 0.1 mg/kg in healthy subjects. The excretion rate of uric acid in urine may be used as a new index for pharmacological effects in further clinical trials.     

Interaction of carbamazepine and other drugs with adenosine (A1 and A2) receptors

The tricyclic anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CBZ) is effective in pain and affective disorder, but the mechanism of action for this drug has not been defined. Recently it was reported that CBZ had interaction with adenosine receptor, which is related to the inhibition of release of neurotransmitter.In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of CBZ and other drugs upon adenosine receptor binding using ³H-l-phenylisopropyladenosine (A₁) and ³H-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (A₂). The following results were obtained: 1) CBZ and its derivative oxcarbazepine inhibit ³H-PIA binding at therapeutic plasma level (20–30 M) more than they inhibit ³H-NECA binding; 2) Theophylline and caffeine, methylxanthines, which are adenosine antagonists, inhibit both bindings; 3) Other anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital, phenytoin and valproate and still other psychotropic drugs such as diazepam, imipramine and chlorpromazine have little or no effect on both bindings.These findings suggest that anticonvulsive and sedative effects of CBZ and its derivatives appear due to action on adenosine receptors (A₁ and partially A₂) at the therapeutic level and methylxanthines have stimulant and convulsant effects due to occupation on both A₁ and A₂ adenosine receptors.     

Studies on the effects ofl(αS,5S)-α-amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (AT-125) on 4-aminophenol-induced nephrotoxicity in the Fischer 344 rat

4-Aminophenol (para-aminophenol; PAP) causes selective necrosis to the S₃ segment of the proximal tubule in experimental animals. The mechanism of PAP nephrotoxicity has not been fully elucidated, although it has been suggested to involve glutathione (GSH)-dependentS-conjugation followed by processing by the enzyme -glutamyl transpeptidase (GT) to the corresponding cysteineS-conjugate. This proposed toxicity mechanism was probed further by administering L-(S,5S)--amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (AT-125), a potent GT inhibitor, to Fischer 344 (F344) rats before treatment with PAP (100 mg/kg). AT-125 pretreatment did not appear to protect against PAP-induced nephrotoxicity as assessed by renal histopathology, clinical chemistry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy of urine. These data suggest that renal GT activity is not a prerequisite for PAP nephrotoxicity and that the generation of a cysteineS-conjugate is not a unique requirement for the induction of PAP nephrotoxicity.     

Enantioselective Pharmacokinetics of dl-threo-Methylphenidate in Humans

A definitive enantioselective pharmacokinetic evaluation of dl-threo-methylphenidate (MPH) was carried out in 11 healthy volunteers, all of whom received, in a randomized crossover design, three oral administrations of MPH: immediate release (IR), slow release (SR), and SR chewed before swallowing (CH). In addition, all subjects received MPH intravenously (IV) on a separate occasion. Both plasma and urine samples were collected for up to 16 hr after each drug administration. Significant enantioselective differences were found in pharmacokinetic parameters such as CL, MRT, Vd_ss, AUC₀ , and t_1/2. A profound distortion of the enantiomeric ratio for MPH (d 1) was evident in all plasma samples harvested after oral administration. After IV MPH, however, there was no significant distortion in the plasma d/1 ratio until 1.5 hr after dosing, whereafter there was a divergence of the plasma levels of the enantiomers. After oral administration of dl-MPH, the absolute bioavailability (F) of d-MPH was 0.23 and that of l-MPH was 0.05. There were no significant differences in renal clearance for d- or l-MPH after oral or IV administration, although the fraction of the dose excreted unchanged in the urine was significantly greater after IV MPH. These data suggest that enantioselective differences in the pharmacokinetics of oral MPH are the result of enantioselectivity in presystemic metabolism rather than in renal excretion, such that l-MPH is preferentially converted into l-ritalinic acid. Finally, it was found that chewing the slow release formulation led to a pharmacokinetic profile very similar to that of MPH-IR, suggesting that MPH-SR should not be prescribed for children who chew tablets.     

Intestinal decarboxylation of L-Dopa in relation to dose requirement in Parkinson's disease

Summary The magnitude of the decarboxylation of L-Dopa in the intestinal organs was determined by a method based on oral and intravenous administration of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-1-¹⁴C (carboxyl labelled L-Dopa) and analysis of the radioactivity in urine.In 11 parkinsonian patients studied under standardized conditions 74% of L-Dopa given orally as a 0.5 g tablet was decarboxylated in the intestinal organs. Thus less than 26% of the ingested L-Dopa reached the general circulation.The possibility that individual variations in the magnitude of intestinal decarboxylation might be at least partly responsible for the individual variations in the dose requirement of parkinsonian patients was tested. There was neither any correlation between dose requirement of L-Dopa and the intestinal decarboxylation nor between that dose and the plasma disappearance rate of L-Dopa.It is concluded that other factors than those responsible for the peripheral metabolism of L-Dopa determine the individual dose requirement.     

Dose proportionality of nadolol pharmacokinetics after intravenous administration to healthy subjects

Summary To support the increasing use of intravenous -blockers during cardiovascular emergency and surgery, dose proportionality of pharmacokinetics of nadolol was evaluated after intravenous administration of ¹⁴C-nadolol at doses of 1, 2 and 4 mg to nine healthy volunteers. There were no observed differences in the excretion or the pharmacokinetics of nadolol with respect to the dose administered. Over a 72-h period after drug administration, an average of about 60% of the dose was excreted in the urine and about 15% was excreted in the feces. The range of values for total body clearance (219 to 250 ml·min^–1), renal clearance (131 to 150 ml·min^–1), mean residence time (10.5 to 11.3 h), half-life (8.8 to 9.4 h), and steady-state volume of distribution (V_ss) (147 to 157 l) indicated that nadolol was extensively distributed and slowly cleared from the body. There was a linear correlation (r ²=0.97) between the area under the plasma concentration of nadolol versus time curve (AUC) and the dose. All pharmacokinetics parameters, except V_ss, were slightly, but significantly, different at the 4 mg dose. Superposition of the dose-normalized average concentrations indicated that despite these minor differences in parameters, the pharmacokinetic behavior of nadolol was linear with respect to dose. Urinary excretion of nadolol was dose independent.     

Electrical stimulation-evoked release of endogenous aspartate from rat medulla oblongata slices

Summary The effects of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), an aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) inhibitor, L-canaline, an ornithine aminotransferase inhibitor, and -acetylenic GABA and gabaculine, both y-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitors, on the release of aspartate from slices of rat medulla oblongata and hippocampus were studied. The slices were superfused and electrically stimulated. There was ₁- Ca²⁺-dependent stimulus-evoked release of endogenous aspartate. AOAA (10^–4 and 10^–3 M) decreased the evoked release of aspartate in the medulla oblongata but not in the hippocampus. In addition, AOAA produced a decrease in the spontaneous efflux and tissue content of aspartate in the medulla oblongata. L-Canaline (5 × 10^–5 M), -acetylenic GABA (10^-4 M) and gabaculine (10^-5 M) did not affect the evoked release of aspartate in the medulla oblongata, while these agents produced ₁- decrease in spontaneous efflux and tissue content of aspartate. These findings suggest that AAT participates in the synthesis of transmitter aspartate in the medulla oblongata of the rat. It appears that there are the pools of transmitter aspartate and non-transmitter aspartate in the rat medulla oblongata Send offprint requests to T. Kubo at the above address     

Inhibition of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and l-glutamate-induced noradrenaline and acetylcholine release in the rat brain by ethanol

Summary The influence of ethanol on stimulation-evoked ³H-transmitter release was examined in slices of the rat brain cortex and corpus striatum preincubated with ³H-noradrenaline and ³H-choline, respectively. ³H-Transmitter release was stimulated by NMDA, l-glutamate, electrical impulses, reintroduction of Ca²⁺ ions (Ca²⁺-evoked release; after superfusion with Ca²⁺-free, K⁺-rich solution) or veratridine. In cortical slices preincubated with ³H-noradrenaline and superfused with Mg²⁺-free, otherwise physiologically composed salt solution, ethanol inhibited the NMDA- or l-glutamate-induced tritium overflow (IC₅₀ 45 and 37 mmol/l, respectively). In contrast, the tritium overflow in response to electrical stimulation, reintroduction of Ca²⁺ ions or veratridine was not affected by ethanol at concentrations up to 320 mmol/l; these experiments were carried out in cortical slices superfused with solution containing a physiological Mg²⁺ concentration. Ethanol also failed to inhibit Ca²⁺-evoked release in the absence of Mg2⁺ ions. In the presence of 1 mol/l veratridine, but not in its absence, NMDA induced tritium overflow even when cortical slices were superfused with salt solution containing a physiological Mg²⁺ concentration; again, ethanol inhibited this NMDA-evoked tritium overflow (IC₅₀ 73 mmol/l). In striatal slices preincubated with ³H-choline and superfused with Mg²⁺-free physiological salt solution, the NMDA-evoked tritium overflow was also, although at lower potency, inhibited by ethanol (IC₅₀ 192 mmol/l).In spite of the differences between the IC₅₀ values of ethanol determined for the inhibition of cortical noradrenaline and striatal acetylcholine release, it may be concluded that the NMDA receptor-ion channel complex is one of the sites of action underlying the ethanol-induced inhibition of neurotransmitter release. Since in the brain cortex the NMDA-induced ³H-noradrenaline release appears to be mediated by an excitatory interneurone activated by NMDA, this neuronal system may be involved in the cortical actions of ethanol.     

Spectrophotometric determination of pyrrole-like substances in urine of rat and man: An assay for the evaluation of 2,5-hexanedione formed fromn-hexane

Male Wistar rats exposed to atmosphericn-hexane excreted in their urine substances which gave rise to absorption spectra like those of pyrroles after the reaction with Ehrlich's reagent. A simple spectrophometric assay was developed to determine these pyrrole-like substances in urine. Their excretion kinetics were evaluated by exposing rats for 8 h to atmosphericn-hexane concentrations between 50 and 3000 ppm. The dose-response curve revealed saturation kinetics according to Michaelis-Menten, V_max being 1.12 [E ⁵²⁶ml urine/8 hn-hexane exposure] and Km, the atmosphericn-hexane concentration at V_max/2, being 250 ppm. The excretion of pyrrolelike substances closely correlated with that of 2,5-hexanedione measured by Fedtke and Bolt (1987). Pyrrole-like substances were also found in the urine of a male volunteer. When exposing the person for 3 h to atmosphericn-hexane at a concentration of 146 ppm (equivalent to 55 ppm/8 h) the excreted amount was twice the background value. Due to the sensitivity of this assay it is possible to determine pyrrole-like substances in urine according to the present German MAK or US TLV conditions forn-hexane (50 ppm/8 h).     

Immunomodulatory effect and quantitation of a cytotoxic glycosphingolipid from Murdannia loriformis

NMR signal reassignments for a cytotoxic glycosphingolipid compound, 2, -O-D-glucopyranosyl-2-(2-hydroxy-Z-6-enecosamide)sphingosine, isolated from an ethanolic extract of the herb Murdannia loriformis, have been achieved by use of FAB-MS, and 1D and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The amount of 2 in the herb juice was quantitatively determined by use of a validated HPLC method (RP-18, MeOH–H₂O, UV detection at 210 nm). The immunomodulatory effect of the herb juice and of 2 was proved by means of in vitro cellular immunological assays. Compound 2 at a concentration of 13 nmol L^–1 stimulated PBMC proliferation and increased the CD 3,4:CD 3,8 ratio in T lymphocytes.     

Application of a radioreceptor assay in a pharmacokinetic study of oxitropium bromide in healthy volunteers after single i.v., oral and inhalation doses

Summary Oxitropium bromide (OXBR) is a new anticholinergic drug, which is expected to be useful in the treatment of nocturnal asthma. The only pharmacokinetic data were obtained with the¹⁴C-labelled compound. A sensitive radioreceptor assay for the determination of unlabelled OXBR in plasma was developed, based on competition between OXBR and³H-N-methylscopolamine for binding to muscarinic receptors. OXBR was isolated from plasma by ion-pair extraction and re-extraction. Active metabolites present in significant amounts might interfere in the assay, but this was not the case for OXBR metabolites. Detection limits were 300 pg·ml^–1 and 3 ng·ml^–1 for plasma and urine, respectively. For the latter no extraction step was required. The single dose pharmacokinetics of OXBR was studied following inhalation (3 mg), oral (2 mg) and i.v. (1 mg) administration to 12 men, following an open, cross-over design.After i.v. administration the kinetic parameters were: V_c 38.4 l; t_1/2 5.3 min; t_1/2 142 min; AUC 8.9 h·ng·ml^–1; renal excretion 50.2%, k₁₀ 3.5 l·h^–1 and total clearance 1874 ml/min. The apparent bioavailabilities were 0.48% and 12.4% by the oral and inhalation routes, respectively, based on the cumulative renal excretion. There were moderate adverse reactions due to the anticholinergic properties of the drug.     

Differential effects of fluphenazine-N-mustard,on calmodulin activity and on D1 and D2 dopaminergic responses

Fluphenazine-N-mustard (FNM) has been shown to irreversibly block dopaminergic receptor sites and inhibit certain dopaminergically-mediated behaviors. In this study we measured whether FNM has any differential effects on D₁ and D₂ dopaminergic events. Accordingly, we examined the relative effects of FNM on rotational behavior induced by SKF 38393 (D₁ agonist) and Ly 171555 (D₂ agonist) in mice with unilateral, 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of the striatum and the effects of FNM on the binding of [³H]Sch 23390 (D₁ ligand) and [³H]spiroperidol (D₂ ligand) to mouse striatal membranes. FNM inhibited rotational behavior induced by Ly 171555 at doses 10-fold lower than those required to block rotations induced by SKF 38393 (ID₅₀ values: Ly 171555=1.8 mole/kg, IP; SKF 38393=16 mole/kg, IP). The inhibitory effect of high doses of FNM (20 mole/kg) on rotational behavior was overcome by increasing the dose of SKF 38393 and apomorphine, a nonselective dopaminergic agonist. By contrast, the inhibitory effect of FNM was not overcome by Ly 171555, even when given in doses more than 100 times its ED₅₀. Using striatal homogenates in vitro, FNM inhibited the specific binding of [³H]spiroperidol at concentrations about 10-fold lower than those required to inhibit the binding of [³H]Sch 23390 (IC₅₀ values: [³H]spiroperidol=90 nM; [³H]Sch 23390=840 nM). Considerably higher concentrations of FNM were needed to irreversibly inhibit calmodulin activity in striatal homogenates (IC₅₀=10 M). In vivo, FNM inhibited the binding of [³H]spiroperidol measured ex vivo (ID₅₀=4 mole/kg), but did not inhibit the binding of [³H]Sch 23390, even when given in doses as high as 100 mole/kg. These studies indicate that FNM was approximately 10 times more potent at inhibiting D₂-than D₁-mediated behavior and at displacing D₂ versus D₁ ligands and suggest that FNM may be useful for studying and differentiating D₂- and D₁-mediated events.