Receptor binding of N-(methyl-11C) clozapine in the brain of rhesus monkey studied by positron emission tomography (PET)

By means of positron emission tomography the uptake and kinetics of N-(methyl-¹¹C)clozapine in different brain regions have been studied in Rhesus monkeys. ¹¹C-clozapine rapidly entered the brain and maximum radioactive uptake was seen 5–12 min after administration. Highest uptake was measured in the striatum. Other regions with an uptake higher than in the cerebellum were thalamus and mesencephalon. The radioactivity from different brain regions decreased with an elimination half-life of about 5 h and parallelled the plasma kinetics of unlabelled clozapine. The striatum/cerebellum ratio of ¹¹C-clozapine-derived radioactivity remained constant during the period studied and did not change after pretreatment with atropine. In contrast, the striatum/cerebellum ratio was somewhat lower after pretreatment with N-methylspiperone (NMSP), indicating competition for the same binding sites in the striatum. After pretreatment with increasing doses of clozapine, a dose-dependent protection of binding sites in the striatum for ¹¹C-NMSP was seen. It is concluded that clozapine is more loosely bound to dopamine receptors in the striatum than N-methylspiperone and that the kinetics of clozapine in the brain parallel that in the plasma. The binding properties of clozapine within the brain may explain some of the clinical properties of the drug.     

Eccentric and concentric torque-velocity characteristics of the quadriceps femoris in man

Summary The primary purpose of this investigation was to study the eccentric and concentric torque-velocity characteristics of the quadriceps femoris in man using a recently developed combined isometric, concentric and eccentric controlled velocity dynamometer (the SPARK System). A secondary purpose was to compare the method error associated with maximal voluntary concentric and eccentric torque output over a range of testing velocities. 21 males (21–32 years) performed on two separate days maximal voluntary isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions of the quadriceps femoris at 4 isokinetic lever arm velocities of 0° · s^–1 (isometric), 30° · s^–1 120° · s^–1 and 270° · s^–1. Eccentric peak torque and angle-specific torques (measured every 10° from 30° to 70°) did not significantly change from 0° · s^–1 to 270° · s^–1 (p>0.05) (with the exception of angle-specific 40° torque, which significantly increased;p<0.05). The mean method error was significantly higher for the eccentric tests (10.6%±1.6%) than for the concentric tests (8.1%±1.7%) (p<0.05). The mean method error decreased slightly with increasing concentric velocity (p>0.05), and increased slightly with increasing eccentric velocity (p>0.05). A tension restricting neural mechanism, if active during maximal eccentric contractions, could possibly account for the large difference seen between the present eccentric torque-velocity results and the classic results obtained from isolated animal muscle.     

Changes in uptake of vitamin B(12) and trace metals in brains of mice treated with clioquinol

Clioquinol is a hydroxyquinoline antibiotic that has been associated with severe side-effects in the CNS. The syndrome caused by clioquinol treatment, subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON), is considered as one of the worst drug disasters of this century. The precise biochemical mechanism behind SMON is not fully understood. Clioquinol can form strong lipophilic chelates with divalent cations and therefore it has been speculated that the drug may disturb the retention of vitamin B(12) through chelation of Co(2+). In the present study, the tissue distribution and uptake capacity of [57Co]cyanocobalamin were estimated in mice treated with clioquinol or saline. The concentrations of some trace metals were also determined in brain tissue. Accumulation of vitamin B(12) in the brain and its concentration in blood were decreased by clioquinol treatment. The mean concentrations of several trace metals were also lowered in the brain while the concentration of cobalt in the brain was not affected, suggesting that clioquinol does not bind to the cobalt in vitamin B(12). Moreover, a significant decrease in the levels of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) was observed in the brain after clioquinol treatment. This may be a consequence of decreased vitamin B(12) levels. From these results, it can be concluded that chronic treatment with clioquinol may alter the tissue homeostasis of vitamin B(12) in the brain.     

An autoradiographic method of visualising semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity in mouse tissue sections

Under the influence of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), methylamine is deaminated to formaldehyde, which can react with various macromolecules and form irreversible adducts. We hereby present an autoradiographic method of visualising SSAO activity by measuring the in vivo formation of such adducts from 14C-methylamine. Our results revealed high concentrations of radioactive deposits in the intestinal wall, brown adipose tissue, spleen and bone marrow. Hydralazine is a potent SSAO inhibitor and pretreatment with this irreversible inactivator resulted in a nearly complete loss of radioactive deposits in the tissues. By giving 14C-methylamine at different time-points after irreversible inhibition of SSAO, it was also possible to determine the resynthesis rate of SSAO. Interestingly, the recovery rate of SSAO after such inactivation was tissue-specific. The possible therapeutic value of a specific SSAO inhibitory drug has been discussed.     

Cardiorespiratory fitness predicts insulin action and secretion in healthy individuals

Long-term cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus are inversely correlated. Here, we examined the relationships between peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak), on the one hand, and glucose infusion rate at rest (GIR(rest)) and during exercise (GIR(exercise)), as well as insulin secretion (both the early and late phases of response [area under the curve {AUC}(insulin)]), on the other. Eight male and 4 female healthy, lean, nonsmoking volunteers were recruited. The VO(2)peak was measured during graded exercise on a cycle ergometer until exhaustion was reached. The GIR(rest) and GIR(exercise) were determined using a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, and insulin secretion at rest was evaluated with an intravenous glucose tolerance test. The VO(2)peak correlated positively to GIR(rest) (r = 0.81, P = .001) and GIR(exercise) (r = 0.87, P < .001) and negatively to AUC(insulin) (r = -0.64, P = .03). The respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during insulin infusion was positively correlated to GIR(rest) (r = 0.83, P < .001) and GIR(exercise) (r = 0.86, P < .01) and negatively correlated to both the early insulin response (r = -0.86, P < .0001) and AUC(insulin) (r = -0.87, P = .001). The VO(2)peak accounted for 45% of the variability in RER (R(2) = 0.45, P = .035). In this healthy population, CRF and RER were highly correlated to insulin sensitivity and secretion, as well as to the ability to alter the substrate being oxidized during exercise. These findings highlight the importance of good CRF to maintaining normal insulin action.     

Amyloid-associated muscle pseudohypertrophy and multiple myeloma in a man with hypernephroma

Amyloidosis is known to occur both in renal adenocarcinoma and multiple myeloma. This paper describes a 52-year-old man who developed multiple myeloma and widespread amyloidosis after surgical removal of a hypernephroma. Multiple myeloma presented with osteolytic bone lesions and slight bone marrow plasmocytosis. Both kappa light chains and monoclonal IgG were secreted. Amyloidosis was seen as muscle pseudohypertrophy with wood-hard masses of amyloid in shoulders, girdle, buttocks and proximal limbs. Macroglossia was impressive and swelling of submandibular structures and the floor of the mouth was marked. Knowing the peculiar immunological potency of hypernephroma, attention is called to associations between renal carcinoma and monoclonal gammopathies, including amyloidosis.