Cross-desensitization Reveals Pharmacological Specificity of Excitatory Amino Acid Receptors in Isolated Hippocampal Neurons

Ionic currents elicited by excitatory amino acids were studied, using the concentration clamp method, in enzymatically isolated rat hippocampal neurons. Cross-desensitization between the responses to various agonists was applied to separate the activity of two types of receptors, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA. NMDA receptors were selectively activated by NMDA, l- and d-aspartate, d-glutamate and quinolinate. Kainate and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate appeared to be selective, and quisqualate relatively less selective non-NMDA agonists, acting on the same receptor type. l-Glutamate, l- and d-homocysteate activated both receptor types. It is supposed that two receptor sites, activation site and desensitization site, control the action of agonists at the non-NMDA receptor. When examined in the cross-desensitization experiments, NMDA and non-NMDA receptors appear to be represented by the two homogeneous and independent receptor populations operating different ionic channels.     

Clinical toxicity associated with tiazofurin

Summary Tiazofurin, an investigational antimetabolite, is undergoing clinical evaluation in leukemia. We analyzed the data base of 198 patients entered in Phase I trials to characterize the incidence and severity of toxicities associated with tiazofurin according to dose and schedule. Severe myelosuppression occurred infrequently, and was not dose-dependent. A five day bolus schedule had a higher incidence of severe or life-threatening neutropenia than other schedules. Tiazofurin produced lymphopenia which was not dose-dependent in the range of 23–36% decrease from baseline, and the effect on lymphocyte count was generally greater than the decline in neutrophil count. Non-hematologic toxicity of a moderate or worse severity ( grade 2) included nausea and vomiting (18% of all courses), serum transaminase elevations (SGOT, 16%; SGPT, 9%), rash (9%), stomatitis (3%), conjunctivitis (3%), headache (10%), other signs of central nervous system toxicity (8%), and cardiac toxicity, primarily pleuropericarditis (4%). Dose-related cutaneous toxicity, headache, and nausea and vomiting were evident in the five day bolus schedule, and myalgia was more frequently reported at higher doses on the single dose schedule. The five day continuous infusion (CI) schedule had a higher incidence of neurotoxicity, cardiac toxicity, SGPT elevations and ocular toxicity than the daily for five days bolus schedule, but none of these differences attained statistical significance. Although the peak plasma concentrations of tiazofurin achieved with the five day bolus schedule were 3-fold higher than the steady-state plasma levels seen with an equal dose given by CI, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was approximately 1.6-fold higher with CI. These observations suggest that both high peak plasma concentrations (above 400 uM) and prolonged exposure to plasma levels exceeding 50 uM may result in a higher incidence of serious non-hematologic toxicity.     

Regional alterations of brain biogenic amines and GABA/glutamate levels in rats following chronic lead exposure during neonatal development

Wistar rat pups were administered either a high dose of lead acetate (400 g lead/g body weight/day) or a low dose (100 g lead/g body weight/day) by gastric intubation, from 2 days through 60 days of age. The rats on both these doses exhibited statistically significant decreases in body and brain weights throughout the lead treatment period. A group of rats on high dose was also rehabilitated by discontinuing the lead from 60 days of age. In these rats, at 160 days of age, the body weight but not the brain weight recovered to normal levels. During the lead intake, the rats on high dose revealed significant elevations in the levels of noradrenaline (NA) in the hippocampus (HI), cerebellum (CE), hypothalamus (HY), brainstem (BS), and accumbens-striatum (SA). The elevated levels in all the above regions except in the HY persisted even after rehabilitation. The dopamine (DA) levels changed significantly in opposite directions in HY (elevation) and BS (reduction) during the lead treatment, and the HY recovered after rehabilitation. Under lead, the serotonin (5HT) levels were elevated significantly in the HI, BS and MC (motor cortex), while after rehabilitation the abnormality persisted only in the MC. Low dose lead treatment was also effective on the same areas of brain. In the low dose group, estimation of the levels of GABA and glutamate were also done, and a significant decrease of GABA in CE and glutamate in MC was observed. The differences observed in the neurotoxic effects (none or significant) of lead in the different regions for each of the transmitters (NA, DA, 5HT) supports the interesting conclusion that the vulnerability of the axon terminals of any given type is dependent on some regional factors, although the projections of the different regions originate from an apparently similar category of neurons in the brain stem.     

Histochemical study of transmyocardial laser channels in dogs

目的　了解激光心肌血运重建术时激光对心肌的损伤。方法　在狗心肌上用CO2 激光打孔。术后即刻、两周时于打孔处取材 ,用硝基蓝四唑法作琥珀酸脱氢酶、乳酸脱氢酶组织化学染色。结果　术后即刻 ,孔道及其周围心肌分为五个区。中央为孔道即组织汽化区 ,向外依次为碳化区、酶消失区、酶减少区、酶浓缩区。两周后孔道区被肉芽组织取代 ,周围心肌细胞酶活性正常。结论　激光心肌血运重建术术后即刻 ,孔道周围心肌细胞酶活性由内向外依次呈消失、减少、浓缩改变。术后两周可逆性损伤的心肌细胞酶活性恢复。     

A novel mis-sense mutation (G1381A) in the G6PD gene identified in a Chinese man

Objective　To detect new mutations among 29 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient individuals from Yunnan province. Methods　The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) method was used to screen G6PD deficient individuals. Mutation was identified by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), amplification created restriction site (ACRS), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and DNA sequencing. Results　Among 29 cases, 18 cases of G1388A, 1 case of C1004A, and 1 case of G1381A were identified. Nine cases remained to be defined. The G1381A mutation is a novel mis-sense mutation, with a substitution of threonine for alanine (A461T). The resultant G6PD had reduced enzymatic activity. In addition, G1381A caused a restriction site of Stu I to disappear, providing a rapid method for the detection of this mutation. Conclusion　A novel mis-sense mutation G1381A was found. This mutation results in a substitution of threonine for alanine, producing enzyme with reduced activity. The loss of the Stu I restriction site offers a rapid method for the detection of this mutation.     

尾部悬吊对大鼠比目鱼肌梭内外肌纤维SDH活性的影响

:【目的】研究尾部悬吊对大鼠比目鱼肌梭内、外肌纤维琥珀酸脱氢酶 (succinicdehydrogenase,SDH)活性的影响 ,旨在探讨失重或模拟失重状态下肌梭的代谢和功能变化。【方法】用尾部悬吊法模拟失重 ,雌性Sprague Dawley大鼠按体质量配对原则 ,随机分为尾部悬吊 3、7、14、30d组及同步饲养的对照组。以氯化硝基四氮唑蓝盐 (nitrobluetetrazolium ,Nitro BT)法检测比目鱼肌梭内、外肌纤维SDH的活性。【结果】尾部悬吊导致Ⅰ型肌纤维的构成比减少 ,Ⅱ型肌纤维各亚型的构成比增加 ,以Ⅱb型增加最显著。尾部悬吊 3、7、14、30d组的Ⅰ型肌纤维构成比分别为 87.92 % ,84.0 0 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ,6 9.90 %(P <0 .0 1) ,6 7.90 % (P <0 .0 1) ;Ⅱb型肌纤维的构成比分别是 3 .75 % ,5 .6 3% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,15 .35 % (P <0 .0 1) ,18.33%(P <0 .0 1)。梭内肌纤维SDH活性增强 ,核袋 1纤维SDH染色由阳性转变为强阳性 ,核袋 2纤维由阴性转变为中等以上阳性 ,核链纤维由仅有一条呈弱阳性转变为均呈强阳性。【结论】模拟失重导致梭内、外肌纤维代谢改变 ,骨骼肌发生肌纤维类型转换 ,肌梭的功能活动可能受影响。     

L-Arg-NO通路对大鼠延髓腹面加压区心血管活动的影响及与L-Glu通路的关系

目的：研究一氧化氮（ＮＯ）前体Ｌ－精氨酸（Ｌ－Ａｒｇ）单侧微量注入大鼠延髓腹面加压区（ＶＳＭｐ）对动脉血压（ＡＰ）、心率（ＨＲ）、肾灌流压（ＰＰｋ）的影响及与Ｌ－谷氨酸（Ｌ－Ｇｌｕ）升压作用的关系。方法 采用延髓腹外侧部微量注射法,以整体灌流肾为模型观察与ＮＯ有关药物对心血管活动的影响。结果 （１）ＶＳＭｐ内微量注入Ｌ－Ａｒｇ（４０～１００ｎｍｏｌ）,ＡＰ和ＨＲ呈剂量依赖性下降,与生理盐水注入后的变化相比较,差异均有显著性。如预先注入ＮＯ合酶抑制剂Ｌ－硝基－精氨酸甲酯（Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ）或鸟苷酸环化酶抑制剂甲基蓝,Ｌ－Ａｒｇ的降压效应被衰减。（２）ＶＳＭｐ内微量注入Ｌ－Ａｒｇ（１００ｎｍｏｌ）,ＰＰｋ与ＡＰ同步下降,与基础值比较,差异有显著性。（３）ＶＳＭｐ内微量注入Ｌ－Ｇｌｕ（３５０ｎｍｏｌ）,ＡＰ上升。如预先注     

清开灵对脑组织谷氨酸含量及NMDA受体的影响

观察清开灵对脑组织中谷氨酸 (Glu)和γ 氨基丁酸 (GABA)含量及NMDA受体的数目、亲和力的影响。结果发现 ,清开灵对脑组织中Glu ,GABA含量及Glu GABA值无明显影响 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;能明显下调神经细胞膜上NMDA受体的数目 (P <0 .0 5 )。提示清开灵的脑保护机制与下调NMDA受体的数目有关     

针刺防治GE对豚鼠内耳损害的实验研究

目的 观察针刺对庆大霉素（ＧＥ）耳中毒豚鼠的防治作用。方法 用脑干听觉诱发电位（ＢＡＥＰ）和组织化学方法,检测动物耳聋程度及听神经功能的变化和耳蜗毛细胞酶活性的改变。结果 电针能降低ＧＥ引起的ＢＡＥＰ反应阈的上升幅度,降低ＢＡＥＰ波峰潜伏期及波间期的延长;能保护毛细胞线粒体呼吸酶的活性,维持毛细胞溶酶体的完整性。结论 针刺能降低ＧＥ的耳毒性。保护毛细胞线粒体酶的活性,维持溶酶体的完整性,保证毛细胞     

I269S Mutation in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase S isoenzyme and its reactivity for steroids and retinoids

Ile-269 in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme S(HLADH-S) was mutated to serine by phosphorothioate-based site-directed mutagenesis in order to study the role of the residue in coenzyme binding. The specific activity of the mutant(I269S) enzyme to ethanol was increased 49-fold. All turnover numbers of I269S enzyme toward 9 primary alcohols were increased. The mutant enzyme showed 3.6, 4.6, 11.6-fold higher catalytic efficiency for 5β-androstane-3,17-dione, 5β-cholanic acid-3-one and retinal than wild-type, respectively. The reaction mechanism of I269S enzyme was ordered bi bi as wild-type's. These results indicate that the hydrophobic interaction of Ile-269 residue with coenzyme plays an important role in dissociation of coenzyme from enzyme-coenzyme complex, which has been known as the rate limiting step of ADH reaction.