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Biomedical subjects

A C Collins

Publications and source records attributed to A C Collins.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Dissociation of the apparent relationship between nicotine tolerance and up-regulation of nicotinic receptors.

Saline or nicotine (0.8 mg/kg/hr) was administered chronically to rats via subcutaneous infusion for 7 days. After chronic treatment, the effects of a challenge dose of nicotine, injected subcutaneously, on open-field activity and body temperature were measured. Nicotine responses were measured 2 hours after infusion had been stopped (day 0) or 1, 2, 4, 8, or 21 days after cessation of treatment. Brain nicotinic receptors were measured using nicotine binding or bungarotoxin binding in six brain regions. Tolerance to nicotine's effects on open-field activity and body temperature were observed; this tolerance was lost before the fourth day of withdrawal. Both nicotine and BTX binding were increased after chronic nicotine treatment. The return of the receptors to control values was dependent on brain region, but in general receptors were still increased at 4 days after withdrawal. The half-lives for receptors returning to normal were greater for nicotine binding compared to BTX binding. These results suggest that a relatively short-lived tolerance results from chronic nicotine infusion and that alterations in nicotinic receptors can be dissociated from behavioral tolerance.

Animals↗

Postnatal development of two nicotinic cholinergic receptors in seven mouse brain regions.

The developmental profiles for binding of alpha-[125I]bungarotoxin and L-[3H]nicotine to putative nicotinic cholinergic receptors were determined in seven mouse brain regions. The overall pattern of development of alpha-bungarotoxin binding was similar in all of the regions. Neonatal binding values tended to be greater than those observed in adult brain regions. Maximal binding occurred within 10 days of birth and adult binding values were reached by 20 days of age. The patterns of development of nicotine binding in each of the seven brain regions differed according to region. Gross similarities in developmental profiles for nicotine binding were found among the more caudal and among the more rostral regions. In hindbrain and cerebellum, maximal nicotine binding was found at birth (5 days of age in cerebellum); binding declined approximately 4-fold by 20 days and remained relatively constant thereafter. In midbrain and hypothalamus, a less extensive decrease in nicotine binding occurred from birth to adulthood (midbrain, 25%; hypothalamus, 50%). Nicotine binding in hippocampus and cortex remained unchanged between birth and adulthood. The developmental pattern for nicotine binding in striatum differed from that found in the other brain regions. At 5 days of age, binding was about 65% of adult binding, which was reached at 30 days of age. In most of the brain regions the developmental profile for alpha-bungarotoxin binding was different from that of nicotine. This difference was especially notable in striatum, where adult nicotine binding was higher than neonatal nicotine binding, whereas adult alpha-bungarotoxin binding was lower than neonatal alpha-bungarotoxin binding.

Aging↗

Mortality on dialysis--on the influence of early start, patient characteristics, and transplantation and acceptance rates.

We compared changes from 1965 to 1987 in patients accepted to chronic dialysis, in a Swedish and a US dialysis center, by medical and clinical parameters at the start of dialysis and by duration of the dialysis. We also studied cause of death, outcome, and cumulative survival and tried to relate them to changes in patients and procedures. Finally, we studied how cumulative survival of dialysis patients was dependent on acceptance rates and transplant rates in five European regions and the United States. At both centers, the number of patients accepted grew, but since 1980, the only patient group that has increased has been older patients with many other diseases; these comorbid conditions have increased from approximately 1.2 to 1.4. In both centers, the number of patients with systemic disease, diabetes, and nephrosclerosis doubled. Cause of death showed a decrease in cardiovascular deaths and an increase in deaths due to stopping dialysis. The hemoglobin level increased from 70 to 90 g/L (7.0 to 9.0 g/dL) and the diastolic blood pressure decreased from 100 to 90 mmHg. The creatinine level decreased 30%, with an unchanged urea. Cumulative 3-year survival for patients without complications increased from 60% to approximately 90% and in patients with complications, it improved from 20% to 60% in Sweden and remained at approximately 60% in the US center. In the United States, many more patients were accepted to dialysis and the transplant rate was high. Cumulative survival on dialysis was inversely correlated both to the acceptance rates to dialysis and to the percent of patients transplanted. These factors explained over 90% of the differences in dialysis survival.

Aged↗

A comparison of sensitivity to oxotremorine and muscarinic receptors in LS and SS mice.

Several studies have suggested that ethanol interacts with muscarinic cholinergic systems in the brain. In order to assess whether muscarinic systems regulate sensitivity to ethanol, the effects of oxotremorine pretreatment on sensitivity to ethanol were determined in the long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) mice, which were selectively bred for differential sensitivity to ethanol. In addition, the relative sensitivity of these two lines to intraperitoneally (ip) injected oxotremorine and total muscarinic receptors, as measured by quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding, M1 receptor subtypes, as measured by pirenzepine (PZ) binding, and ratios of high and low agonist affinity were measured in seven brain regions. SS mice were more sensitive to oxotremorine-induced increases in sensitivity to ethanol but the LS mice were more sensitive to the effects elicited by ip oxotremorine injection. Because the effects of oxotremorine were blocked by scopolamine but not by methylscopolamine, it is likely that the effects of oxotremorine that were measured are centrally mediated. QNB binding did not differ between the LS and SS mice except for cortex where the SS mice exhibited slightly larger numbers. The mouse lines did not differ in the number of M1 receptors or in ratio of high to low affinity agonist sites. Therefore, it does not seem likely that differences in receptor numbers are important in regulating the differential sensitivities of the LS and SS mice to oxotremorine or ethanol. Differences in receptor coupling processes may be critically involved.

Animals↗

An analysis of the addiction liability of nicotine.

Even though the percent of adults who smoke has been reduced dramatically in the last 20 years, more than 50 million people continue to use tobacco on a daily basis. A majority of these people claim that they would like to stop smoking, but cannot. This review discusses the data suggesting that tobacco smokers are seeking nicotine. The behavioral effects elicited by nicotine and its relative reinforcing properties, as well as the development of tolerance to nicotine and the role of nicotine in the tobacco withdrawal syndrome are discussed. The data indicate that nicotine has addiction liability, but this liability is probably not equal to that of other agents such as cocaine and the opiates.

Animals↗

Interactions of ethanol and nicotine at the receptor level.

Several studies have demonstrated that alcohol use is generally accompanied by an increase in smoking in humans. In rats, nicotine administration increases alcohol consumption. Genetic evidence from animal studies also suggests ethanol-nicotine interactions in that mouse lines that were selectively bred for differential sensitivity to ethanol also differ in sensitivity to nicotine. In addition, animals that have been chronically treated with alcohol are cross-tolerant to some of the actions of nicotine and chronic nicotine-treated animals are cross-tolerant to alcohol. This review summarizes the data which indicate that lipids and lipid membranes modify the binding of nicotinic agonists and antagonists to non-neuronal nicotinic receptors as well as modifying the function of these well characterized receptors. These results suggest that studies of ethanol disruption of membrane lipid regulation of brain nicotinic receptor binding, structure, and function may provide insights into why humans frequently use and abuse alcohol and tobacco together.

Acetylcholine↗

Selective changes in sensitivity to cholinergic agonists and receptor changes elicited by continuous physostigmine infusion.

A reduction in nicotinic receptors has been observed in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, and physostigmine, an indirect acting cholinergic agonist, has been suggested as a treatment of this disease. However, the effects of physostigmine treatment have not been thoroughly characterized. The central and peripheral effects of physostigmine were evaluated in C57BL/6 mice using a battery of behavioral and physiological tests that included respiratory rate, Y maze crossing and rearing activities, heart rate and body temperature. With the exception of the heart rate test, which was blocked by a peripheral muscarinic antagonist, all responses to physostigmine measured in the test battery seem to be mediated centrally. Sensitivity to physostigmine and to nicotine and oxotremorine were examined as were nicotinic and muscarinic receptors after continuous infusion of physostigmine. Mice (C57BL/6) continuously infused with physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg/h) for 10 days developed marked tolerance to physostigmine and exhibited a slight decrease in sensitivity to nicotine; sensitivity to oxotremorine was largely unaltered. Chronic physostigmine treatment resulted in a 62% inhibition of AChE activity and elicited a significant increase in the amount of L-[3H] nicotine binding in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum and colliculi; alpha-[125I]bungarotoxin and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilatl binding were not changed. Although physostigmine treatment might partially reverse the reduction of brain nicotinic receptors seen with Alzheimer's disease, it is questionable whether it would be effective for a prolonged period since the up-regulated nicotinic receptors may not have normal function.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Selective mouse breeding for short ethanol sleep time has led to high levels of hepatic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor.

Following a selective breeding program of heterogeneous mice for more than 30 generations, SS ("short sleep") and LS ("long sleep") lines have been developed on the basis of their sleep times when challenged with a single intraperitoneal dose of ethanol. The aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness (Ah) locus encodes the Ah receptor, which regulates the induction of certain drug-metabolizing enzymes by polycyclic aromatic compounds such as 3-methylcholanthrene and tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. The C57BL/6 inbred mouse strain (B6; Ahb/Ahb) has a high-affinity Ah receptor, while the DBA/2 inbred mouse strain (D2; Ahd/Ahd) has a low-affinity Ah receptor. We show here that the SS inbred mouse line exhibits markedly elevated hepatic levels of the high-affinity Ah receptor, while the LS outbred mouse line contains the low-affinity Ah receptor. Among progeny of (B6D2)F1 X D2 backcross, the b/d heterozygote (having the high-affinity Ah receptor) was found to be several times more resistant than the d/d homozygote to a single dose of intraperitoneal ethanol. The D2.B6-Ahb congenic line is also several times more resistant to intraperitoneal ethanol than the B6.D2-Ahb congenic line is also several times more resistant to intraperitoneal ethanol than B6.D2-Ahd congenic line. We found that the waking blood ethanol levels are the same in b/d and d/d mice, suggesting that the relative ethanol resistance in b/d mice cannot be explained on the basis of a difference in central nervous system sensitivity. There are no differences between SS and LS mice or between b/d and d/d mice with regard to (i) blood acetaldehyde levels after a single intraperitoneal dose of ethanol, or (ii) hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activities. There is a difference in the rate of ethanol elimination: SS more rapid than LS; b/d more rapid than d/d. Although SS mice have lower hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities (cytosolic, mitochondrial low-Km: and mitochondrial high-Km forms) than LS mice, b/d and d/d do not show this difference. These data suggest that a selected mouse breeding program, based on resistance to a single intraperitoneal dose of ethanol, selects concurrently for the hepatic high-affinity Ah receptor. This selective advantage cannot be explained on the basis of changes in alcohol dehydrogenase or aldehyde dehydrogenase activities and might provide insight into the nature of the endogenous ligand for the Ah receptor.

Acetaldehyde↗

Differential sensitivity of long-sleep and short-sleep mice to high doses of cocaine.

The cocaine sensitivity of male and female long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) mice, which have been selectively bred for differential ethanol-induced "sleep-time," was examined in a battery of behavioral and physiological tests. Differences between these two mouse lines were subtle and were seen primarily at high doses. At high doses, SS mice were more sensitive than LS mice, particularly to cocaine-induced hypothermia; however, significant hypothermia was not seen except at doses which were very near to the seizure threshold. During a 60-min test of locomotor activity, LS mice showed greater stimulation of Y-maze activity by 20 mg/kg cocaine than SS mice. Consistent with the finding of subtle differences in sensitivity to low doses of cocaine. LS and SS mice did not differ in sensitivity to cocaine inhibition of synaptosomal uptake of [3H]-dopamine, [3H]-norepinephrine or [3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine. However, consistent with the finding of differential sensitivity to high doses of cocaine, SS mice were more sensitive to the seizure-producing effects of the cocaine and lidocaine, a local anesthetic. It is hypothesized that the differential sensitivity of these mouse lines to high doses of cocaine is due to differential sensitivity to cocaine's actions on systems that regulate local anesthetic effects. Selective breeding for differential duration of alcohol-induced "sleep-time" may have resulted in differential ion channel structure or function in these mice.

Animals↗

Genetic influences on nicotine responses.

Male mice from 19 inbred strains were tested for the effects of nicotine on six responses: respiratory rate, acoustic startle response, Y-maze crosses, Y-maze rears, heart rate and body temperature. Dose-response curves were constructed for each strain on each test in a multitest battery. Results indicated that the responses were strongly influenced by the genotype of the animal. Comparison of the results from the six tests measured in this study and the results previously reported for nicotine-induced seizures in these same strains indicated that the responses could be grouped into two major classes: a set characterized by Y-maze crosses, Y-maze rears and body temperature and a set characterized by seizure sensitivity and seizure latency. Responses observed for respiratory rate and startle response shared characteristics with both of these sets, while nicotine effect on heart rate was fairly unique. The results have identified strains of mice which are differentially sensitive to the effects of nicotine.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Variation of nicotinic binding sites among inbred strains.

The specific binding of L-nicotine and alpha-bungarotoxin, two ligands which label different populations of putative nicotinic receptors, was determined in eight brain regions of 19 inbred mouse strains. The dissociation constants for L-nicotine (average = 2.26 nM) and alpha-bungarotoxin (average = 0.31 nM) did not vary significantly among the brain regions or strains. In contrast, significant variability among the maximal binding sites was observed between regions and among the strains within a region. Significant differences in L-nicotine binding were observed among the strains in midbrain, hindbrain, hippocampus, hypothalamus and colliculi, while little variability was noted in cortex or cerebellum. In general, those strains that had high L-nicotine binding in one region had high nicotine binding in the other regions. The strains clustered into two large groups: one group expressing relatively low binding and a second group expressing relatively high binding. Significant differences in alpha-bungarotoxin binding were observed in seven of the eight regions measured and, in general, those strains with high binding in one region tended to have high binding in the other regions. The strains clustered into three groups: those with low binding (DBA/1 and DBA/2), those with high binding (ST/b alone) and those with intermediate binding (the remaining 16 strains). The amount of binding of the two ligands did not correlate with each other. Comparison of nicotinic ligand binding with physiological response to nicotine suggests a relationship of L-nicotine binding with several responses observed after injection of low doses of nicotine and a relationship between alpha-bungarotoxin binding and nicotine-induced seizures.

Animals↗

Strain comparison of nicotine-induced seizure sensitivity and nicotinic receptors.

Nicotine-induced seizure sensitivity was assessed in 19 inbred mouse strains. Two routes of drug administration were utilized: acute intravenous (IV) infusion and intraperitoneal (IP) injection. Dose-response curves for sensitivity to IP nicotine-induced seizures were constructed for the 19 inbred strains and a heterogeneous stock (HS/Ibg) of mice. Differences were observed among the strains both in ED50 values and slopes of the dose-response curves following IP injection of nicotine. ST/bJ mice were the most sensitive having an ED50 of 2.34 +/- 0.09 mg/kg nicotine. DBA/1J mice were the most resistant strain with an ED50 value of 6.16 +/- 0.02 m/kg nicotine. Latency to clonic seizure was measured in the 19 inbred mouse strains using the acute IV route of drug administration. Again, ST/bJ mice were the most sensitive and DBA/2Ibg were the most resistant to IV nicotine-induced seizures. Significant correlations were observed between latency to IV nicotine-induced seizures and both ED50 values and the slope of the dose-response curves for IP nicotine-induced seizures. However, the pattern of results differed between the two routes of drug administration. The relationship between seizure sensitivity and nicotinic receptor concentration in three brain regions, cortex, midbrain and hippocampus, was also assessed using alpha-bungarotoxin (BTX) as the ligand. A significant relationship was observed between BTX binding in the three brain regions and sensitivity to IV nicotine-induced seizures such that strains with greater concentrations of BTX binding sites were more sensitive to nicotine-induced seizures than were strains with lower concentrations of BTX binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

An autoradiographic analysis of cholinergic receptors in mouse brain.

Autoradiographic techniques were used to localize cholinergic receptors in the central nervous system of female DBA mice. Nicotinic receptors were identified using [3H]-L-nicotine and alpha-[125I]-bungarotoxin (BTX); [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) was used to examine muscarinic receptor binding. There was little overlap between the regional distribution of binding sites for these ligands. Nicotine binding was highest in thalamic nuclei, the superior colliculus and the interpeduncular nucleus. For BTX binding, high density receptor populations were identified in the hippocampus, caudate putamen, colliculi (superior and inferior) and various nuclei in the hypothalamus and hindbrain. Muscarinic receptors were distributed more uniformly than nicotinic receptors; the colliculi, hippocampus and cerebral cortex had the highest level of QNB binding. Species differences between rats and mice in terms of cholinergic receptor binding are discussed.

Animals↗

Patterns of hyperinsulinaemia in type 1 diabetic patients with and without nephropathy.

The prevalence and patterns of insulinaemia in five groups of patients with Type 1 diabetes have been reinvestigated using a free insulin assay which minimizes in vitro redistribution of the free and antibody-bound insulin components. In 18 diabetic patients managed by conventional insulin injection treatment and 19 patients treated by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), the mean 24-h serum free insulin level exceeded a non-diabetic reference range in 78% (injections) and 68% (CSII). Twenty-four-hour profiles showed that hyperinsulinaemia occurred in the basal state before meals and at night, but not immediately post-prandially. The serum free insulin concentration at 0800 h, 1200 h, and 1600 h was significantly (p less than 0.001) correlated with mean 24-h free insulin in injection-treated and CSII patients, and samples at one of these time-points may thus provide a simple, single measure of integrated insulinaemia for population studies. There was no significant difference in 24-h mean free insulin levels in 7 patients randomly crossed-over between injection treatment and CSII, but the profiles had a more physiological pattern during CSII, with a mean post-prandial serum free insulin level which was significantly higher on CSII than injections (mean +/- SE = 37.2 +/- 3.1 vs 26.9 +/- 2.5 mU l-1, p = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Differential effect of chronic nicotine treatment on nicotinic receptor numbers in various brain regions of mice.

Studies of smoking behavior in human twin pairs indicate that genetic factors may influence whether people do, or do not, smoke. Because the ability to develop tolerance to behavioral and physiological effects of nicotine may regulate nicotine intake, studies of potential genetic influences on tolerance development were carried out using inbred mouse strains that differ in initial (first dose) sensitivity to nicotine. Nicotine-sensitive strains such as the C57BL and DBA strains develop tolerance to nicotine following chronic intravenous infusion of lower doses of nicotine than are required to elicit tolerance to nicotine in the nicotine-resistant strains such as C3H and BUB. Chronic nicotine infusion results in a dose-related increase in binding of [3H]-nicotine to brain membranes in all strains. Differences in this effect were seen among brain regions as well as between the strains. A quantitative autoradiographic analysis of the effects of chronic nicotine infusion on DBA/2 mice, which develop marked tolerance to nicotine, clearly indicates that nicotine binding is affected to various degrees in various brain nuclei. These results are discussed in terms of genetic influences on tolerance development.

Animals↗

Evidence for modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission by nicotine.

Bath-application of nicotine (800 microM) to mouse hippocampal slices resulted in an increase in the amplitude of the population spike and the appearance of multiple population spikes in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer. Similar effects were observed after perfusion of the GABAA antagonist bicuculline methiodide (2 microM) and the glutamate decarboxylase inhibitor L-C-allylglycine (4 mM). These apparently excitatory effects of nicotine (800 microM) could be reversed by bath-application of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA; 400 microM), as well as by the GABA uptake inhibitor nipecotic acid (5 mM) and the benzodiazepine flurazepam (4 microM). Nicotine did not alter binding of [3H]GABA or [3H]flunitrazepam to whole brain plasma membranes. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the electrophysiological effects of nicotine on CA1 pyramidal cell excitability is mediated by disruption of GABAergic transmission.

Action Potentials↗

Chronic ethanol or nicotine treatment results in partial cross-tolerance between these agents.

Female DBA/2Ibg mice were treated chronically (21 days) with ethanol- or dextrin-containing liquid diets or infused chronically with nicotine (8 mg/kg/h) or saline for 10 days. The responses of these animals to challenge doses of ethanol (2.5 g/kg) or nicotine (1 or 2 mg/kg) were measured using a test battery consisting of respiration rate, acoustic startle response, Y-maze crosses and rears, heart rate and body temperature. Chronic ethanol-treated animals were tolerant to the effects elicited by a challenge dose of ethanol on four of the six measures and were cross-tolerant to nicotine's effects on the acoustic startle test. Chronic nicotine-treated animals were tolerant to nicotine's effects on five of the six measures and cross-tolerant to ethanol's effects on heart rate and body temperature. Thus, partial cross-tolerance between ethanol and nicotine exists. Chronic nicotine treatment resulted in significant increases in L-[3H]-nicotine binding in six of seven brain regions and in alpha-[125I]-bungarotoxin binding in three of seven brain regions. Chronic ethanol treatment failed to alter the binding of either ligand. Therefore, the cross-tolerance that develops between ethanol and nicotine is not totally dependent on alterations in the number of brain nicotinic receptors.

Animals↗