Bicuculline-induced epileptogenesis in the human neocortex maintained in vitro

Summary Intracellular and extracellular recordings were made from human neocortical slices of the temporal lobe maintained in vitro. The slices were treated with bicuculline methiodide to reduce synaptic inhibition mediated by tha gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA_A) receptor. Spontaneously occurring epileptiform activity was never observed in over 60 slices examined. All epileptiform discharges were elicited by single-shock stimuli delivered in the underlying white matter or within the cortical layers. Intracellularly, the stimulus-induced epileptiform discharge resembled the paroxysmal depolarization shift (PDS). This potential was observed in neurons located between 200 and 2200 m from the pia. It was characterized by a 100–1800 ms long depolarization which triggered burst firing of action potentials, and was at times followed by an afterdischarge. Simultaneous intracellular and extracellular recordings showed that each PDS was reflected by the synchronous discharge of a neuronal aggregate. The voltage behaviour of the PDS and its preceding EPSP was analyzed in cells that were injected with the lidocaine derivative QX-314. The amplitudes of the PDS depolarizing envelope measured at its peak and during its falling phase both behaved as a monotonic function of the membrane potential by increasing in amplitude during hyperpolarization. In addition, the PDS peak amplitude showed a much greater rate of increase than the early EPSP peak amplitude, thus suggesting that the synaptic conductance underlying the PDS was much greater. Perfusion of the neocortical slices with the N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist DL-2-amino-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) reduced both the duration and the amplitude of the paroxysmal field discharge in a dose related fashion. The effects of APV were reflected intracellularly by an attenuation of the PDS's late phase and a blockade of the afterdischarge. Similar findings were also obtained by using the NMDA receptor antagonist 3-((±)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid. These data indicate that reduction or blockade of the GABA_A receptor is sufficient to elicit epileptiform discharges in the human neocortex maintained in vitro. Mechanisms dependent upon the NMDA receptor contribute to this type of epileptiform response mainly by prolonging the stimulus-induced depolarizing potential and the associated burst of firing.     

中药治疗中风的分子靶点

“中风”是中医学对急性脑血管疾病的统称,具有极高的死亡率和致残率。中医药治疗中风有着悠久的历史,临床实验也证实了其疗效。然而由于中药常常需要多味药物联合使用,其有效成分很难明确,对其有效性评价具有挑战性,因此很难将中药制剂推向世界。综述中药治疗中风的分子靶点作用,列举了一些可能起效的天然化学物质,调查结果表明多成分多靶点的中药理论具有科学性。现代分子医学和传统中医理论的结合能促进医学界的广泛交流,值得深入探讨。     

Nitrosamine Contamination in Pharmaceuticals: Threat,Impact, and Control

Nitrosamine-contaminated medicinal products have raised safety concerns towards the use of various drugs, not only valsartan and all tetrazole-containing angiotensin II receptor blockers, but also ranitidine, metformin, and other medicines, many of which have been recalled and prone to shortage. At any stages, from drug substance synthesis throughout each product's lifetime, these impurities may evolve if an amine reacts with a nitrosating agent coexisting under appropriate conditions. Consequently, drug regulatory authorities worldwide have established stringent guidelines on nitrosamine contamination for all drug products in the market. This review encompasses various critical elements contributing to successful control measures against current and upcoming nitrosamine issues, ranging from accumulated knowledge of their toxicity concerns and potential root causes, precise risk evaluation, as well as suitable analytical techniques with sufficient sensitivity for impurity determination. With all these tools equipped, the impact of nitrosamine contamination in pharmaceuticals should be mitigated. An evaluation aid to tackle challenges in risk identification, as well as suitable industry-friendly analytical techniques to determine nitrosamines and other mutagenic impurities, are among unmet needs that will significantly simplify the risk assessment process.     

大鼠螺旋神经节神经元r-氨基丁酸A受体及N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸受体亚单位的表达

目的：研究大鼠耳蜗螺旋神经节神经元A型γ-氨基丁酸受体（Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor GABAAR）和N—甲基—D—天门冬氨酸受体(N-methyl D-aspartat receptor,NMDAR)亚单位的表达及意义。 方法：原代培养大鼠螺旋神经节神经元，采用RT-PCR检测大鼠螺旋神经节神经元GABAAR和NMDAR亚单位的mRNA表达。 结果：大鼠螺旋神经节神经元mRNA表达GABAAR亚单位有α1-6,β1-3,γ1-3，且在α亚单位族中, α1，α3表达较高，差别无统计学意义（P>0.05）, α1,α3的表达量与其余亚单位表达量以及其余GABAAR亚单位之间表达量的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），各亚单位表达量大小排列顺序是:α1/α3＞α6＞α5＞α4＞α2。β亚单位族中,β亚单位族中各亚单位表达量两两比较差异有统计学意义，表达量排列顺序β1＞β3＞β2（P<0.05）；γ亚单位族中各亚单位表达量两两比较差别有统计学意义（P<0.05），表达量排列顺序是γ2＞γ1＞γ3；NMDAR表达的亚单位有NR1,NR2A,NR2B,NR2C,NR2D,NR3A,NR3B，其中NR1亚单位的表达最高(P<0.05)。 结论：大鼠螺旋节神经元mRNA上表达GABAAR的主要亚单位α1-6,β1-3,γ1-3和NMDAR NR1,NR2-D,NR3A-B亚单位.     

中药治疗中风的分子靶点

“中风”是中医学对急性脑血管疾病的统称,具有极高的死亡率和致残率。中医药治疗中风有着悠久的历史,临床实验也证实了其疗效。然而由于中药常常需要多味药物联合使用,其有效成分很难明确,对其有效性评价具有挑战性,因此很难将中药制剂推向世界。综述中药治疗中风的分子靶点作用,列举了一些可能起效的天然化学物质,调查结果表明多成分多靶点的中药理论具有科学性。现代分子医学和传统中医理论的结合能促进医学界的广泛交流,值得深入探讨。     

Facilitation and Feedback in the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis during Food Restriction in Rats

After 4 weeks of food restriction to 50% of ad libitum intake in rats, plasma corticosterone levels were increased, without any change in adrenal weight, and with no evidence of sympathetic nervous system activation (as measured by Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Phenylethanolamine N-Methyl Transferase activities in the adrenal gland). Plasma corticosterone levels were normalized with the addition of 35% of the calories as sugar. The adrenocortical axis activity was therefore investigated in more detail (nycthemeral cycle of corticosterone levels, ACTH and corticosterone response to a CRF challenge) in ad libitum fed rats and in animals fed 85% or 50% of the intake of the control animals, just before switching the lights off in order to maintain the diurnal rhythm of food intake. Food restriction to 85% did not change mean plasma corticosterone levels but sharpened the peak of corticosterone measured in the evening, indicating that the adrenocortical axis is more sensitive to the endogenous signals responsible for its diurnal cycle of activity. Indeed, the ACTH response to CRF was also increased. A 50% food restriction regimen increased mean corticosterone levels and attenuated the day/night difference, with high corticosterone levels maintained throughout the day. However, the ACTH response to CRF was not different from that measured in ad libitum fed rats, but the corticosterone response was lower, confirming that the adrenal gland is hyposensitive to ACTH. The results are discussed in terms of the balance between inhibiting/activating mechanisms and endocrine/neural influences at each level of the hypothalamo-hypophyso-adrenal axis, depending on the level of food deprivation.     

IQ23 对豚鼠心室肌细胞钙通道和CHO H10细胞异源表达的钙通道α1亚单位的作用

应用膜片钳全细胞记录技术, 观察了具有正性肌力作用的苄基异喹啉衍化物IQ₂₃,即1-〔对甲氧苄基-2-（N-苄基, N-甲基)〕-6,7-二甲氧基异喹啉盐酸盐,对豚鼠心室肌分离细胞的Ca²⁺通道, 以及CHO H₁₀细胞表达的Ca²⁺通道α₁亚单位的作用. 结果显示, 当豚鼠心室肌细胞从保持电位(V_h)-50 mV除极至测试电位(V_t)0 mV时, IQ₂₃ 3, 10 μmol·L^-1分别使Ca²⁺电流(I_Ca)由对照的(0.47±0.23) nA增至(0.57±0.23)和(0.79±0.31) nA (P<0.05). 在CHO H₁₀细胞V_t 为20 mV时, IQ₂₃ 10 μmol·L^-1电压依赖性的增强Ba²⁺电流(I_Ba), I_Ba从(0.45±0.10) nA增至(0.67±0.20) nA (V_h=-80 mV), 或从(0.43±0.08) nA增至(0.60±0.14) nA (V_h=-40 mV). IQ₂₃ 10和30 μmol·L^-1还分别使电流-电压曲线的峰值和失活曲线的半失活电位向负膜电位方向移动. 实验结果表明, IQ₂₃通过作用于通道的α₁亚单位, 对心肌L型Ca²⁺通道产生电压依赖性激动作用, 此作用为其正性肌力效应提供了部分解释.     

Asymmetry in D-2 binding in female rat striata

An asymmetry in D-2 receptor densities (Bmax) measured by [3H]N-methyl spiperone binding was found in striata from female Sprague-Dawley rats. The D-2 Bmax on the right side was on average 40% greater than the D-2 Bmax on the left side. This asymmetry is greater in magnitude and opposite in direction to that reported for males and is independent of directional preference exhibited during nocturnal circling.     

Pre-ischemic treatment with memantine reversed the neurochemical and behavioural parameters but not energy metabolites in middle cerebral artery occluded rats

In the present study, Memantine (MN) an uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) open channel blocker has been investigated for its suitable therapeutic time-window on the basis of its influence on behavioural and biochemical changes in rats subjected to transient focal ischemia. MN (20 mg/kg, ip) was administered at pre, during and post ischemic state and the extent of neuroprotection was compared to ascertain its therapeutic time-window in stroke treatment. Neuroprotective effect was assessed by measuring glutamate, glutamine synthetase, glutathione, Na⁺K⁺ATPase, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), lactate and pyruvate levels. Middle cerebral artery occlusion produced neurological deficits, anxiogenic behaviour, histological changes, increased glutamate levels along with depletion of Na⁺K⁺ATPase, energy stores such as ATP, NAD, lactate, and antioxidant glutathione. MN significantly restored glutamate, glutamine synthetase, Na⁺K⁺ATPase and lactate levels on preischemic administration. In addition, MN reversed the altered neurological and behavioural paradigms significantly and prevented the neurodegeneration on preischemic treatment. However, it failed to exert any effect on energy metabolite (ATP and NAD) levels irrespective of the treatment phase. Based on the present data, it is summarized that the suitable therapeutic time window of MN is preischemic phase in stroke and it possesses only a subjective role in reversing ischemic brain biochemical alterations preferentially in favor of neuronal homeostasis.     

Utility of frozen cell lines in medium throughput electrophysiology screening of hERG and NaV1.5 blockade

Introduction

The development of drug candidates must take into account that many compounds have off-target activity against voltage-gated ion channels (VGIC) which may prevent their progression to market. Of particular concern are hERG and hNa_V1.5. Screening against these ion channels is necessary but expensive, partially due to maintenance of constantly cultured cell lines. Here, we show that frozen HEK-293 cells can be maintained indefinitely, reducing variability in cell performance, time and expense of cell culture.

Methods

Cells, constantly cultured or frozen, were assayed on the PatchXpress 7000A using tool compounds.

Results

Amitriptyline, quinidine, compound A, fluoxetine and imipramine inhibited hERG with IC₅₀s (paired values denote constantly cultured and frozen, respectively) of 4.8 ± 0.4 and 5.1 ± 0.4, 1.4 ± 0.1 and 1.1 ± 0.1, 24.4 ± 2.4 and 21.9 ± 1.8, 2.1 ± 0.4 and 2.1 ± 0.1, 5.2 ± 0.4 and 4.0 ± 0.2 μM. Quinidine, flecainide, mexiletine and amitriptyline inhibited hNa_V1.5 with IC₅₀s of 46.6 ± 4.3 and 28.0 ± 2.3, 7.6 ± 0.7 and 6.2 ± 0.5, 153.5 ± 13.0 and 106.0 ± 4.7, 5.5 ± 0.5 and 4.8 ± 0.2 μM. Voltage dependences of activation (V_1/2) for hERG were statistically identical, 0.4 ± 0.8 mV and 2.5 ± 0.5 mV. In hNa_V1.5, the V_1/2 of inactivation and activation were statistically identical, −82.7 ± 0.1 mV versus − 84.9 ± 0.3 mV, −47.5 ± 0.3 mV versus − 45.0 ± 0.6 mV. Current density in both conditions in hERG experiments was similar, 47.0 ± 4.1 pA versus 42.3 ± 6.0 pA/pF.

Discussion

hERG and hNa_V1.5 screens run using frozen cells have statistically identical IC₅₀s, voltage dependence of activation, IV relationships and current density to screens using continuously cultured cells. Frozen cells have more constant performance and allow rapid switching between experiments on several cell lines without sacrificing data quality.