Effect of benactyzine and arecoline on the45Ca uptake by rat brain nerve endings

The effect of the central cholinolytic benactyzine and the cholinomimetic arecoline on the uptake of⁴⁵Ca by rat brain synaptosomes was studied in vitro. Benactyzine was shown to cause biphasic changes (a decrease followed by an increase) in the intensity of uptake of the isotope, whereas arecoline led to a rapid initial increase in⁴⁵Ca uptake. Benactyzine was shown to depress the effect of arecoline and depolarization on uptake of the isotope. It is concluded that the increase in⁴⁵Ca uptake through the action of arecoline is connected with activation of Nachannels. Benactyzine, on the other hand, reduces the permeability of the these channels for⁴⁵Ca and activates the Ca-channels proper.(Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. S. Golikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 301–304, September, 1978.     

Changes in striatal cholinergic, gabaergic, dopaminergic and serotoninergic biochemical markers after kainic acid-induced thalamic lesions in the rat

Summary Kinetic parameters of³H-choline,³H-GABA and³H-dopamine (DA) uptakes in striatal homogenates containing nerve endings were determined 2 to 3 weeks after kainic acid injection into the ipsilateral centre médian-parafascicular complex area of the thalamus in the rat. Results showed a marked decrease in³H-choline uptake concomitant with a selective decrease in Vmax. Data also showed a large decrease in³H-GABA uptake resulting from a decreased affinity of uptake sites for their substrate. These data were asociated with the previously described decrease in choline acetyltransferase and increase in glutamic acid decarboxylase apparent activity, respectively. An apparent marked increase in³H-DA uptake was likewise measured, mainly related to an increase in Vmax. Determination of serotonin (5HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5HIAA) endogenous contents showed in the deafferented striatum a decrease in 5HT concentrations associated with an increase in 5HIAA levels. Taken together, all these changes in neurotransmitter markers suggest that, directly through the thalamostriatal pathway or indirectly, the thalamus can exert a complex influence on striatal cholinergic and GABAergic neuronal functions as well as on the activity of dopaminergic and serotoninergic striatal afferent fibers.     

耳鸣相关脑区的正电子发射断层成像

目的　探讨与耳鸣相关的脑区并观察听力损失、耳鸣侧别、优势半球等因素的影响。方法　用正电子发射断层成像 (positronemissiontomograph ,PET)研究 17例耳鸣患者的脑葡萄糖代谢活动 ,并与 15例无耳鸣者作对照。示踪剂为18F标记的去葡萄糖。按有无听力损失将所有受试者分为 4组 ,第 1组耳鸣伴听力损失 ,13例 ;第 2组耳呜但听力正常 ,4例 ;第 3组无耳呜有听力损失 ,2例 ;第 4组无耳呜且听力正常 ,13例。用专门统计分析软件Statisticalparametersmapping(SPM)进行统计分析 ,按照Talairach坐标确定与耳呜相关脑区的解剖部位 (brodmannarea ,BA)。结果　耳呜相关脑区位于左侧颞横回 (BA41)、左侧颞上回 (BA42、2 2 )、左侧颞中回前部 (BA38)和左侧海马 ,这一结果不依赖于耳呜的侧别 ,而且与优势关球无关。听力损失相关的脑区主要是双侧颞上回后部 (BA42、2 2 )、颞中回中部 (BA2 1)、联合听区 (BA39)、左侧额中回 (BA8、9)、左侧额下回 (BA45 )等。结论　PET为主观耳呜提供了客观证据 ,有望成为耳呜的客观检测方法。     

Selective cortical decrease of high-affinity choline uptake carrier in Alzheimer's disease: An autoradiographic study using3H-hemicholinium-3

Summary ³H-hemicholinium-3 (³H-HC-3) binding, a marker of the presynaptic high-affinity choline uptake carrier (HACU), was measured by autoradiography in several brain regions of 17 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and of 11 matched controls. A significant decrease in the density of³H-HC-3 binding sites was found in entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and layers I–III of the frontal cortex. By contrast, in the caudate-putamen the number of³H-HC-3 binding sites in AD cases was comparable to that of control striata. These data concur with previous results using classical presynaptic markers and reflect the loss in the activity of HACU, and, hence, in the synthesis of acetylcholine, that selectively occurs in cortical areas of AD brains due to the degeneration of presynaptic cholinergic terminals arising from the basal forebrain. However, the relatively low mean reduction in HACU in cortical areas (–40%), together with the apparent indemnity of this marker in certain severely demented AD cases, suggest that AD dementia cannot be explained simply by the loss of presynaptic terminals originating in the basal forebrain. These data seem to be a good explanation for the poor response to cholinergic replacement in AD.     

Caffeine inhibits cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations induced by carbachol and guanosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) in hyperpolarized pancreatic ß-cells

The effects of caffeine on cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ oscillations induced by carbachol and guanosine 5-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP--S) were studied in individual mouse pancreatic ß-cells clamped at a hyperpolarized potential. Addition of 10 mM caffeine did not affect the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]₁) in ß-cells exposed to 20 mM glucose and hyperpolarized with diazoxide. Under similar conditions 100 M carbachol induced a typical response with a marked [Ca²⁺]_i peak followed by a lower sustained elevation. Irrespective of whether 10 mM caffeine was present, there were [Ca²⁺]_i transients with frequencies of 1–5/min superimposed on the sustained phase in 50–60% of the cells. In previously non-exposed cells the introduction of 10 mM caffeine caused temporary lowering of the sustained phase with disappearance of the transients. Subsequent omission of caffeine in the continued presence of carbachol caused a marked [Ca²⁺]_i peak followed by reappearance of the [Ca²⁺]_i, transients. However, in cells oscillating in the presence of caffeine its omission caused disappearance of the transients. In this case reintroduction of caffeine restored the transients.In cells kept at –70 mV by a patch pipette containing 100 M GTP--S and 3 mM Mg-ATP there were [Ca²⁺]_i transients with frequencies of 0.5–2.5/min. These transients were sufficiently pronounced to activate repetitively a K⁺ current. Addition of 10 mM caffeine caused disappearance of the [Ca²⁺]_i transients or reduction of their amplitudes and frequencies.The results indicate that caffeine does not activate Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release in hyperpolarized ß-cells but inhibits the Ca²⁺-mobilizing effect of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Correspondence to: E. Gylfe at the above address     

Excitatory amino acid release from astrocytes during energy failure by reversal of sodium-dependent uptake

Non-synaptic release may be the major route of excitatory amino acid (EAA) efflux during cerebral ischemia. Possible routes of non-synaptic release include non-specific anion channels, reversal of Na⁺-, CI^?-, or Ca²⁺-dependent uptake, and cell lysis. In the present study we employ a novel approach to show reversal of Na⁺-dependent uptake as a major route of EAA efflux from astrocyte cultures under conditions of energy failure. Primary rat astrocyte cultures were subjected to combined blockade of glycolytic and oxidative metabolism after incubation with [³H]-D-aspartate (D-ASP). Energy failure produced an efflux of D-ASP that was maximal by 90 minutes. The efflux over this period was reduced by more than 50% in cells that had been pre-loaded with PDC (L-transpyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid) or TBHA (threo-β-hydroxyaspartic acid), compounds that are competitive inhibitors of Na⁺-dependent glutamate uptake. The effect of pre-loading with the inhibitors was concentration dependent. No effect was seen if the inhibitors were added after induction of energy failure, suggesting that the attenuation of D-ASP efflux resulted from binding of the inhibitors to an intracellular site. These results provide strong evidence that EAA efflux from astrocytes under conditions of energy failure occurs largely through reversal of Na⁺-dependent uptake. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

High prevalence of type 2 diabetes in an urban settlement in Kerala, India

Background. Prevalence of type 2 or non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is high among Indians living in India as well as abroad. Prevalence among persons of Indian origin in many countries is greater than that of people of other ethnic extraction. The Indian state of Kerala is distinguished by a high level of achievement in the health sector, characterised by both lower mortality rates and greater density of health care institutions that ensure access to most people. These attributes make the prevalence of diabetes and the pattern of its management in Kerala worth studying. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of diabetes among persons 20 years or older in an urban housing settlement in Trivandrum city, the capital of Kerala, as well as study the management of the disease in subjects affected. Design. Cross sectional survey for detecting diabetes and other chronic diseases in all willing residents of an urban housing settlement in Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, as part of a preventive campaign against lifestyle diseases. Fasting plasma glucose, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, height, weight and blood pressure were measured, and a detailed questionnaire administered to ascertain previous diabetic status and management. Results. Overall prevalence of type 2 diabetes is 16.3%. In the 30-64 age group, age standardised prevalence is 13.7%. Gender differences in prevalence are negligible. Greater prevalence is associated with advancing age, body mass index above 24.99, sedentary habits, serum total cholesterol > 239, serum triglycerides > 149, hypertension and smoking. Compared to non-diabetics, diabetics have greater mean and range of fasting plasma glucose values (8.87 + /-3.6 mM/l as against 4.34 + /-0.53 mM/l). 32 out of 38 diabetics among the subjects (82.4%) were already diagnosed even before the survey; of them, 89% were on medication. 3% of subjects had impaired fasting glucose, or FPG level between 110-125 mg/dl. Conclusion. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes among a group of urban residents in Trivandrum city in Kerala is very high. This is associated also with a high detection rate and compliance to treatment.     

胰高血糖素对胆道梗阻大鼠肝脏葡萄糖和酮体合成的作用

目的观察胰高血糖素对胆道梗阻大鼠肝脏葡萄糖和酮体合成作用的影响。方法大鼠胆道结扎４８小时后,用胶原酶灌流后分离肝细胞,加入胰高血糖素温育,用分光光度计按标准酶学方法检测葡萄糖、乙酰乙酸和三羟基丁酸。结果在基础或最大刺激条件下,加胰高血糖素结扎组、假手术组葡萄糖异生均明显大于未加胰高血糖素组（Ｐ＜０．０５）,加胰高血糖素对结扎组和假手术组的酮体异生无促进作用。结论胰高血糖素对胆道梗阻４８小时大鼠肝细胞的糖异生存在有意义的刺激作用,对酮体异生则无刺激作用     

Trans-inhibition of glutamate transport prevents excitatory amino acid-induced glycolysis in astrocytes

Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of glutamate transporters promotes glycolysis in astrocytes. Current evidence indicates that compounds such as threo-beta-hydroxyaspartate (THA) are both competitive inhibitors and substrates for glutamate transporters. In this study, we have analyzed the effect of THA on excitatory amino acid (EAA) transport and on EAA-induced glycolysis in mouse primary astrocyte cultures. In agreement with previous studies in rat astrocytes, THA competitively inhibited 3H-D-aspartate (3H-D-Asp) uptake with an IC50 of 319 microM (Ki = 36.6 microM). In contrast, it did not prevent D-aspartate-induced 3H-2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake in these conditions. Preexposure of cells to THA for at least 15 min revealed another form of glutamate transport inhibition. This effect was concentration-dependent with an apparent IC50 of 47.7 microM and showed kinetic characteristics consistent with a mechanism of trans-inhibition. Preincubation with THA also inhibited D-aspartate-induced 3H-2DG uptake in a concentration-dependent manner with an apparent IC50 of 59.8 microM. Comparison with other transportable analogues reveals that they share with THA the ability to cause trans-inhibition of glutamate transport and to prevent glutamate-stimulated glycolysis; THA, however, is unique in that it has no effect alone on glucose utilization after preexposure. These data indicate that trans-inhibition of glutamate transport may be a mechanism by which certain glutamate transport inhibitors can prevent the stimulation of aerobic glycolysis by glutamate in astrocytes.     

Contribution of cholinergic and gabaergic functions to memory processes in BALB/cANnCrlBR mice

Several lines of evidence indicate that glucose influences on memory depend on interactions between glucose, glucoregulation and hippocampal cholinergic function. We previously demonstrated that glucose and scopolamine differentially affected memory consolidation for an operant bar pressing task in two closely-related BALB/c mouse strains. Whereas glucose normally improves memory in several animal strains, memory consolidation was not effected by systemic glucose injections in BALB/cANnCrlBR mice. Moreover, these mice were relatively insensitive to the normally observed amnestic effects of scopolamine. We therefore sought to determine whether cholinergic mechanisms in the dorsal hippocampus were involved in such atypical drug effects on memory processing in that strain of mice. In Experiment 1, we examined whether post-training oxotremorine would also atypically influence memory consolidation for an appetitively reinforced operant bar pressing task following microinjection in the dorsal hippocampus. In Experiment 2, we examined the effects of intrahippocampal GABAA drugs on memory consolidation. The non-selective muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine, dose-dependently impaired memory and the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline, improved retention in BALB/cANnCrlBR mice. It was concluded that GABA-mediated influences on hippocampal pyramidal output in BALB/cANnCrlBR mice and other strains are similar; but the amnestic effects of oxotremorine from the dorsal hippocampus were opposite to facilitating effects normally observed in other animal strains. Results are discussed relative to possible altered septo-hippocampal cholinergic neurotransmission in BALB/cANnCrlBR mice.