Effects of 6R-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin on the dopaminergic and cholinergic receptors as evaluated by positron emission tomography in the Rhesus monkey

Summary The effects of 6R-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (R-THBP) on the central cholinergic and dopaminergic systems in the Rhesus monkey brain were investigated by positron emission tomography (PET) with the muscarinic cholinergic receptor ligands (N-[¹¹C]methyl-benztropine) and dopaminergic receptor ligands selective for D₁ D₂, and D₃ subtypes ([¹¹C]SCH23390, N-[¹¹C]methyl-spiperone, and (+)[¹¹C]UH232, respectively). None of the doses (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg i.v.) of R-THBP used significantly affected the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF as determined by Raichle's H₂ ¹⁵O method), and 10 mg/kg of R-THBP had little effect on the regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRglc) in the Rhesus monkey brain, as assessed by the graphical [¹⁸F]fluoro-deoxyglucose method. The effect of R-THBP on the muscarinic cholinergic system was dose dependent; while 3 mg/kg of R-THBP did not significantly alter the uptake ratio of N-[¹¹C]methyl-benztropine in several brain regions to that in the cerebellum, 10 and 30 mg/kg of R-THBP significantly reduced the uptake ratio in the thalamus, as well as in the frontal and temporal cortices. None of the doses (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg i.v.) of R-THBP tested affected [¹¹C]SCH23390 (dopamine D₁ receptor) binding. However, the k3 value for N-[¹¹C]methyl-spiperone (dopamine D₂ receptor) binding, which represents the association rate × B_max value, was significantly decreased in the striatum. The uptake ratio of (+)[¹¹C]UH232 (dopamine D₃ receptor) in the striatum to that in the cerebellum was also decreased by administration of R-THBP (3 and 30 mg/kg i.v.). These findings suggest that R-THBP acts on dopamine D₂ and D₃ receptors selectively without markedly affecting dopamine D₁ receptor binding. Furthermore, the changes in cholinergic and dopamine D₂ and D₃ receptors in vivo can not be attributed to a change in rCBF but may depend on the action of R-THBP.Abbreviations R-THBP 6R-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin - PET positron emission tomography - rCBF regional cerebral blood flow - rCMRglc regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose     

Effect of amyloid peptides on the increase in TrkA receptor expression induced by nicotine in vitro and in vivo

The ability of nicotine to induce a cytoprotective or neuroprotective action occurs through several down-stream mechanisms. One possibility is that the drug increases the expression of tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors. Certain β-amyloid peptides (e.g., Aβ1–42) have been shown to bind with high affinity to α7 nicotinic receptors and thus interfere with a potentially neurotrophic influence. Treatment of differentiated PC-12 cells with nicotine produced a concentration-dependent increase in cell-surface TrkA receptors that occurred concomitantly with cytoprotection. The effect of nicotine was blocked by either of the α7 receptor antagonists α-bungarotoxin (α-BTX) or methyllycaconatine. The cytoprotective action of nicotine also was inhibited by pretreatment with 10–100 nM Aβ1–42. Nicotine also was administered (four injections of 30 μg, spaced evenly over 24 h) to rats by direct injection into a lateral cerebral ventricle. Brain TrkA expression was increased significantly in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (up to 32% above control), with no changes found in cerebral cortex or hypothalamus. The nicotine-induced increases in TrKA expression in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex were significantly inhibited by 10 μg α-BTX or by 10 nmol Aβ1–42. Therefore, physiologically relevant concentrations of Aβ1–42 can prevent nicotine-induced TrkA receptor expression in brain regions containing cholinergic neurons susceptible to the neurotoxicity associated with Alzheimer’s disease.     

Effect of estradiol and progesterone on muscle weight and acetylcholine receptors in “myasthenic” rats

Summary Clinical evidence suggests that endocrinal factors are involved in fluctuations of the symptoms of women with myasthenia gravis. We studied the effect of estradiol and progesterone in an animal model for myasthenia gravis in rats. Although it was found that the mass of muscles was dependent on sex, and in female rats affected by estradiol, the number of acetylcholine receptors in these muscles was independent of sex and hormone administration. Sex hormones failed to influence the severity of muscle weakness in myasthenic rats.     

Antagonism of novel inotropic agents at A1 adenosine receptors and m-cholinoceptors in human myocardium

Summary The effects of the new inotropic agents saterinone, sulmazole, UD-CG 212.C1 and milrinone at A₁ adenosine receptors and m-cholinoceptors were evaluated in human myocardium from patients with heart failure. At A₁ adenosine receptors, all compounds inhibited ³H-DPCPX-binding to ventricular membrane preparations at micromolar concentrations. As judged from the K_i-values, the rank order of potency was saterinone > sulmazole > UD-CG 212.C1 > milrinone. The new inotropic agents also displaced the binding of ³H-QNB at m-cholinoceptors. Except for saterinone, the concentration ranges of mean K_i-values were considerably higher at m-cholinoceptors than at A₁ adenosine receptors. The rank order of potency was saterinone > sulmazole > UD-CG 212.Cl > milrinone. Competition of the A₁ adenosine receptor agonist R-PIA to ³H-DPCPX-binding showed a biphasic curve with a shallow slope (Hill coefficient n_H = 0.63) and revealed two affinity states of the A₁ adenosine receptor. In the presence of guanine nucleotides [Gpp(NH)p], the competition curve showed one low affinity class of binding sites and was shifted to the right. In contrast, the competition curves of the new inotropic agents were characterized by a monophasic, steeper slope (mean Hill coefficient n_H = 0.98). Guanine nucleotides had no effect. Similar results were obtained with saterinone and carbachol at m-cholinoceptors. Competition with carbachol revealed three affinity states of the m-cholinoceptor, the superhigh affinity binding was reversed by Gpp(NH)p. Competition with saterinone revealed one class of binding sites which was not influenced by Gpp(NH)p. Accordingly, in isolated, electrically driven human atrial trabeculae, the negative inotropic effect of adenosine was antagonized concentration-dependently by saterinone, sulmazole and UD-CG 212.Cl. Similarly the negative inotropic effect of carbachol was antagonized concentration-dependently by saterinone. It is concluded that the new inotropic agents bind to A₁ adenosine receptors and that their interaction is of antagonist nature. This mechanism might contribute to their capacity to enhance force of contraction by stimulation of cAMP-formation in addition to phosphodiesterase inhibition. The effects of saterinone may be partially due to antagonism at m-cholinoceptors. This is presumably not the case with the other inotropic agents studied given their low affinity for this receptor.Send offprint requests to M. Böhm at the above addressSupported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

TPA诱导的血小板聚集的研究

应用不同浓度ＴＰＡ诱发血小板聚集，观察２０名正常人血小板的聚集率。结果显示：ＴＰＡ从５ｎｇ／ｍｌ到１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ之间，随着浓度的增加，血小板聚集率逐渐增加，最佳浓度为１０ｎｇ／ｍｌ。当ＴＰＡ浓度〉１０ｍｇ／ｍｌ时，继续增加ＴＰＡ浓度，血小板聚集率将不再升高，且于２０ｍｇ／ｍｌ时出现明显的解聚现象。     

Mast cell activation involves plasma membrane potential- and thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular calcium pools

Summary— The regulation and role of the intracellular Ca²⁺ pools were studied in rat peritoneal mast cells. Cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) was monitored in fura-2 loaded mast cells. In the presence of Ca²⁺ and K+, compound 48/80 induced a biphasic increase in [Ca²⁺]i composed of a fast transient phase and an apparent sustained phase. The sustained phase was partially inhibited by the addition of Mn²⁺. DTPA, a cell-impermeant chelator of Mn²⁺, reversed this inhibition, suggesting that a quenching of fura-2 fluorescence occurs in the extracellular medium. In the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, the transient phase, but not the sustained one, could be preserved, provided that mast cells were depolarized. The transient phase was completely abolished by thapsigargin, a microsomal Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor. Maximum histamine release induced by either compound 48/80 or antigen was obtained in the absence of added Ca²⁺ only when mast cells were depolarized. These histamine releases were inhibited by low doses (< 30 nM) of thapsigargin. Thapsigargin at higher doses induced histamine release which was unaffected by changing the plasma membrane potential, but was completely dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺, showing that a Ca²⁺ influx is required for thapsigargin-induced exocytosis. Together, these results suggest that the mobilization of Ca²⁺ from thapsigargin sensitive-intracellular pools induced by compound 48/80 or antigen is sufficient to trigger histamine release. The modulation of these pools by the plasma membrane potential suggest their localization is close to the plasma membrane.     

烟碱对脑M胆碱能受体信息跨膜转导的调节

采用体外实验研究烟碱对大鼠脑Ｍ受体信息跨膜转导的调节作用．脑突触体以烟碱１．０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１预处理后，［３Ｈ］ｌ－二苯羟乙酸奎宁酯与Ｍ受体结合及解离动力学过程减慢．在溶脱的大脑皮层Ｍ受体与Ｇ蛋白复合体上，烟碱１．０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１可减慢［３５Ｓ］－腺苷５＇－［γ－硫］三磷酸与Ｇ蛋白的结合，并增强Ｍ受体与Ｇ蛋白之间的偶联关系．烟碱０．１～１０００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１既不影响纹状体腺苷酸环化酶的基础活性，也不影响氟化钠激活腺苷酸环化酶的作用．烟碱０．１～３０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１浓度依赖性地提高脑细胞内Ｃａ２＋浓度．据此提出烟碱对脑Ｍ受体信息跨膜转导系统有多点调节作用．     

去纤酶对高血脂兔血小板功能、纤溶系统、血液流变学的影响

观察了食饵性高血脂对新西兰兔血小板功能、纤溶系统和血液流变学的影响以及去纤酶的调节作用,并动态观察了指标的变化.结果发现,高血脂能引起兔的血小板数增加,粘附力增强,血液粘滞性增加,红细胞流动变慢,呈现高凝和低纤溶状态,且主动脉形成明显粥样斑块.去纤酶在降低血脂的同时,可明显降低血小板的粘附力,降低血液粘滞性,呈现低凝和高纤溶状态,其主动脉粥样斑块亦明显减轻和缩小.提示去纤酶既能降低血脂又能降低血粘稠度,促进纤溶,起到抗凝及防止血栓形成,抑制动脉硬化的形成和发展.     

肠溶阿斯匹林剂量和血阿斯匹林及水杨酸盐浓度与药效关系探讨

本文探讨了ＡＳＡ剂量与药效的关系及血ＡＳＡ、ＳＡ药物浓度监测的临床意义，结果表明：（１）ＡＳＡ剂量与６－ｋｅｔｏ－ＰＧＦ_（１α）抑制率呈正相关（Ｐ＜０．０１），而与ＴＸＢ_２及ＰＡｇＲ抑制率无相关性（Ｐ＞０．１）；（２）本文采用ＨＰＬＣ内标法同时测定血ＡＳＡ和ＳＡ浓度，结果准确，方法简便；（３）当口服小剂量ＡＳＡ防治ＣＩ时，监测血ＡＳＡ和ＳＡ以调整ＡＳＡ用药剂量的临床价值并非十分重要。     

Serotonin 5- HT (2C) receptor knockout mice: autoradiographic analysis of multiple serotonin receptors.

Quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to study possible alterations of the densities of multiple serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes and of serotonin transporter in the brain of 5-HT(2C) receptor knockout mice. The radioligands employed were [(3)H]citalopram, [(3)H]WAY100,635, [(3)H]8-OH-DPAT, [(3)H]GR125743, [(3)H]sumatriptan, [(3)H]MDL100,907, [(125)I](+/-)DOI, [(3)H]mesulergine, [(3)H]5-HT, [(3)H]GR113808, and [(3)H]5-CT. As expected, radioligands that label 5-HT(2C) receptors showed a complete absence of labeling in mutant mice choroid plexus and significantly reduced densities in other brain regions expressing 5-HT(2C) receptors. With the rest of the radioligands, no significant alterations in the densities of labeled sites were found in any brain region. In situ hybridization showed no changes in 5-HT(2A) receptor and serotonin transporter mRNA levels, whereas 5-HT(2C) receptor mRNA levels were reduced in certain brain regions. The present results indicate that the mouse serotonergic system does not exhibit compensatory up- or down-regulation of the majority of its components (serotonin transporter and most 5-HT receptor subtypes) in response to the absence of 5-HT(2C) receptors.