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Biomedical subjects

C B Ferry

Publications and source records attributed to C B Ferry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Effects of pyridostigmine on acetylcholinesterase in different muscles of the mouse.

1. Pyridostigmine bromide was administered subcutaneously in mice, in a dose of 4.0 or 2.0 mu moles/kg, and the activity of the predominant (G1, G4 and A12) molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase were examined in diaphragm, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and soleus muscles at 3 h, 6 h, 24 h and 5 days. 2. In diaphragm, no effect was apparent after the low dose, but after the high dose there was a reduction in activity of the functional A12 form at 24 h, followed by an increase which had overshot the control level at 5 days. 3. In the fast EDL, after the low dose, all three molecular forms were decreased at 3 h but had returned to normal by 6 h. This effect was not apparent after the high dose. 4. In the slow soleus the low dose caused a significant increase in total enzyme activity at 5 days, but the high dose caused significant increases in all molecular forms at 3 hours. 5. Thus pyridostigmine had delayed effects on the levels of acetylcholinesterase. The three muscles displayed different sensitivities to the drug, but the changes were consistent with initial inhibition of the activity leading to down-regulation of the enzyme followed by up-regulation, which could overshoot the normal levels.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1997

Effect of repeated treatment with pyridostigmine on acetylcholinesterase in mouse muscles.

1. Pyridostigmine bromide was administered subcutaneously (0.4 mumoles/kg) in mice twice a day for 3 weeks. The activities of the predominant (G1, G4 and A12) molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase were determined in diaphragm, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles. 2. After the treatment the G4 and A12 forms were reduced in diaphragm, but increased in EDL and soleus. One week later all forms were elevated in all three muscles. At 2 weeks the activity had returned to normal in diaphragm but not in EDL and soleus. 3. A single dose of pyridostigmine was administered in mice which had been pretreated for 3 weeks and left untreated for 2 weeks, and in control mice. 4. In the controls there was no significant effect on the enzyme activities in diaphragm up to 5 days, but there were decreases in EDL, and increases in soleus. In the pretreated group all three forms were increased in diaphragm, especially the A12 form. In soleus and EDL there was a prolonged decrease in all forms, although in the soleus the A12 activity remained above normal. 5. Repeated treatment with pyridostigmine caused delayed changes in functional acetylcholinesterase. Furthermore the treatment had altered the sensitivity of the muscles to the drug.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1994

The origin of the effects of an anticholinesterase on the latencies of action potentials in mouse skeletal muscles.

1. Subcutaneous injection in mice of a single dose of an organophosphorous anticholinesterase, ecothiopate (0.5 mumol kg-1), produced increased variability in the latency (jitter) of indirectly-elicited action potentials in diaphragm muscles 5 days after treatment, but there was no effect on the variability of latencies of endplate potentials. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism(s) of the increase in action potential jitter. 2. Action potentials evoked directly by electrical stimulation at one end of muscle fibres and recording near the other end had less jitter than indirectly-evoked action potentials and ecothiopate had no effect on directly-evoked action potentials. 3. In preparations with uncut fibres, pretreatment with ecothiopate reduced by about 20% both muscle fibre input resistance and the amplitude of spontaneous miniature endplate potentials. Ecothiopate had no effect on muscle fibre resting membrane potential or on the threshold potential for excitation. 4. In untreated preparations, indirectly-evoked action potentials recorded at the endplate had similar jitter to action potentials recorded at the tendon when latencies were measured at 10% of peak amplitude. However, when latencies were measured at peak, there was greater jitter of action potentials at the endplate. Ecothiopate increased jitter of action potentials recorded at the endplate at 10% of peak but did not significantly increase jitter of action potentials recorded at the endplate when measured at the peak. 5. In cut-fibre preparations, the first endplate potential of trains was significantly increased after ecothiopate but there was no effect of ecothiopate on the amplitude of plateau endplate potentials later in the train. Analysis of plateau endplate potentials showed that 5 days after administration, ecothiopateproduced an increase in the variance of endplate potential amplitudes and changes in the binomial parameters n and p.6. It was concluded that the increased jitter produced by ecothiopate is not a generalized effect on the plasma membrane and that none of the above observations could explain the increased jitter. The possibility is discussed that increased jitter is produced by variability in times to threshold of endplate potentials and/or by variability in the locus of generation of the action potential in the perijunctional area.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

Protection against the effects of anticholinesterases on the latencies of action potentials in mouse skeletal muscles.

1. Adult male albino mice were injected subcutaneously with an organophosphorous anticholinesterase to initiate excessive variability in the latency of indirectly elicited muscle action potentials (jitter) when assessed 5 days later. 2. Pretreatment of the mice with a single dose of pyridostigmine prevented the development of jitter after subsequent dosing with an organophosphate. 3. Treatment with one dose of pralidoxime (2PAM) prevented the development of jitter if given less than 1 h after treatment with ecothiopate, a reactivatable inhibitor of cholinesterase. Similar treatment with 2PAM after a non-reactivatable inhibitor did not prevent the development of jitter. The repeated administration of 2PAM over 12 h did ameliorate jitter. 4. Pretreatment of mice orally with alpha-tocopherol and N-acetylcysteine, known to prevent ecothiopate-induced myopathy, did not prevent the development of jitter after ecothiopate. 5. It is concluded that the development of jitter was a consequence of the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, and although jitter did not develop acutely, the potential for the full development of jitter was achieved about 1 h after intoxication with ecothiopate. The development of jitter did not involve the generation of free radicals. Reduction of the early effects of intoxication with anticholinesterases by pyridostigmine or 2PAM prevented the development of jitter.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1991

Myopathic changes in indirectly stimulated mouse diaphragm after ecothiopate in vitro.

Mouse phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms were stimulated in vitro in the presence of the anticholinesterase ecothiopate iodide and prepared for light and electron microscopy at different times during and after the appearance of prolonged contractions localized at the endplate. The earliest changes were at the subsynapse, without damage to the plasma membrane, and comprised hypercontraction of the sarcomeres, dilatation and vesiculation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria, and dissolution of the Z-lines. Later there was damage to the plasma membrane. Also appearing later in the junctional region, but separated from the subsynapse by apparently normal muscle, were extrasynaptic hypercontractions, with a plasma membrane initially undamaged, but which became permeable after the contractile material divided into contraction clots. A hypothesis is proposed for the formation of such hypercontractions by abnormal mechanical factors arising from different contractile states along the length of the fibre, and is discussed with the role of prolonged transmitter action in the aetiology of myopathy.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The effects of anticholinesterases on the latencies of action potentials in mouse skeletal muscles.

1. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the long-term effects of a single dose of persistent anticholinesterases on muscle action potentials evoked by nerve stimulation. 2. Action potentials (APs), elicited by stimulation of the phrenic nerve, were recorded intracellularly in muscle fibres of mouse diaphragm. The time between stimulus and AP was measured and the variability of this latency was calculated during trains of APs. At the beginning of trains of APs there was an increase in latency, and this delay was also measured. 3. Within 3 h of subcutaneous injection, a single dose (500 nmol kg-1) of the anticholinesterase, ecothiopate produced about 90% reduction in the acetylcholinesterase activity of homogenates of mouse diaphragm muscle, but five days after injection, this activity was not different from values in untreated animals. The initial delay of APs and the variability of latencies were increased four fold and two fold respectively, remained at these maxima from the 1st to the 5th day after ecothiopate, and returned to the values in untreated animals between 15 and 27 days after ecothiopate. 4. These effects of ecothiopate on AP latency were dose-dependent and were also seen in extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles. 5. Other anticholinesterases used were BOS (pinacolyl S-(2-trimethylaminoethyl)methylphosphonothioate), a quaternary compound, and diisopropyl fluorophosphate, a tertiary compound, which had effects similar to those of ecothiopate; the greater duration of the effects of this compound may be related to the greater duration of reduction in cholinesterase activity. 6. Ecothiopate had no effect on the delay or variability of latencies of endplate potentials which were recorded in cut-fibre preparations 5 days later. 7. It is concluded that the effects of ecothiopate on the latencies of indirectly-evoked muscle APs are postjunctional, may not be related to the degree of reduction in cholinesterase activity at the time of recording, and are not directly linked to necrosis.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1989

Accumulation of extracellular calcium at the endplate of mouse diaphragm after ecothiopate in vitro.

1. Experiments were carried out to investigate the accumulation from the extracellular medium of 45Ca2+ by the endplate region of skeletal muscle. 2. Mouse diaphragm muscle was incubated in physiological saline labelled with 45Ca at 37 degrees C for periods of up to 1.5 h. 3. The muscle was divided into junctional and non-junctional portions and the Ca from the extracellular fluid accumulated at the endplate determined from the 45Ca content of the portions. 4. The accumulation of extracellular Ca at the endplate region of muscles incubated in pysiological saline alone was nil, but there was accumulation in the presence of the anticholinesterase ecothiopate iodide 0.5 x 10(-6) M (ECO). Stimulation of the phrenic nerve at 0.02 Hz caused no further increase in accumulation but reduced the amount of spontaneous fasciculation. In tetrodotoxin (TTX) 10(-6) M, the accumulation was halved, and in 3.5 mM Mg2+ the accumulation was nil. Carbachol 10(-4) M resulted in an accumulation of Ca similar to that in ECO. 5. It is concluded that there was an accumulation of extracellular Ca following excitation of the nerve by stimulation at a low frequency and during the spontaneous fasciculations, and about half of the accumulation of extracellular Ca after ECO in the experiments was due to the postsynaptic action of ACh released non-quantally from the nerve terminals.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The origin of the anticholinesterase-induced repetitive activity of the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation of the rat in vitro.

1. Action potentials have been recorded in contracting muscle cells of the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation from rats. After the organophosphorous anticholinesterase, ecothiopate, some cells fired repetitive action potentials. In 0.1 mM [Mg2+]o the repetitive activity was generated presynaptically or postsynaptically, and in 1 mM [Mg2+]o, probably only postsynaptically. 2. The repetitive action potentials in muscle were generated ectopically about 0.2 mm away from the usual site. 3. In 1 mM [Mg2+]o, spontaneous action potentials in muscle were generated presynaptically. These were often followed by repetitive action potentials generated either presynaptically or postsynaptically. 4. The initiation of centripetal action potentials in the phrenic nerve was coincident with the repetitive firing in the muscle. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the manner of generation of repetitive activity in nerve and muscle after anticholinesterases.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1988

The nature of the presynaptic effects of (+)-tubocurarine at the mouse neuromuscular junction.

1. The effects of (+)-tubocurarine (TC) on tetanic run-down and quantum content of end-plate potentials (EPPs) were investigated in cut-fibre preparations of mouse diaphragm. 2. (+)-Tubocurarine, 0.15 microM, halved the amplitude of spontaneous miniature EPPs (MEPPs) and steepened the tetanic run-down of EPPs evoked at 10 Hz by increasing the quantum content of the first EPP of the train while having no effect on quantum content of plateau EPPs. With stimulation at 1 Hz, there was little run-down and the quantum content of all EPPs was increased by TC. 3. The use of binomial statistics to analyse release indicated that after TC the increase in the quantum content of the first EPP in the train at 10 Hz was due to an increase in n and that during the run-down there was a decrease in p so that plateau EPP quantum content at 10 Hz was not different from control. 4. To elucidate a possible role of cholinoreceptors in the presynaptic effects of TC, studies were made on the effects of pancuronium or of alpha-bungarotoxin (BTX), with concentrations and exposure times where they had postsynaptic effects equal to 0.15 microM-TC. The run-down of EPPs was unaffected by BTX, while pancuronium steepened it to a lesser extent than TC. 5. The anticholinesterase, ecothiopate, decreased the quantum content of plateau EPPs only at high frequencies of stimulation (50 Hz) and did not affect the presynaptic effects of TC at 10 Hz. 6. At concentrations which reduced MEPP amplitude, atropine (10 microM) or hexamethonium (50 microM) had no effect on EPP run-down. 7. These results indicate that TC could have presynaptic effects via a presynaptic acetylcholine receptor, but that such a receptor may not have the same binding specificities as the postsynaptic receptor.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

A prolonged contraction at the end-plate region of the diaphragm of rats and mice after anticholinesterases in vitro.

1. Experiments have been made on the phrenic nerve and diaphragm of rats and mice in vitro at 37 degrees C. 2. The administration of the anticholinesterase drugs ecothiopate, ambenonium or neostigmine resulted in enhancement of the 'twitch' response to nerve stimulation which was often followed by a prolonged contraction lasting several seconds. 3. The prolonged contraction was localized at the end-plate. 4. Associated with the prolonged localized contractions were prolonged end-plate currents and prolonged end-plate potentials. 5. Procedures which diminished transmitter release or action, i.e. high [Mg2+]o, alpha-bungarotoxin, (+)-tubocurarine, denervation and repetitive stimulation, also diminished or curtailed the prolonged localized contraction. 6. It is concluded that the prolonged localized contractions are due to prolonged transmitter actions as a consequence of inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase, at the end-plate.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1977

An electrophysiological study of the action of crude Enhydrina schistosa venom.

1 Electrophysiological studies on the rat diaphragm revealed that crude Enhydrina schistosa venom has a blocking action on postjunctional acetylcholine (ach) receptors. 2 This venom in concentrations of 0.125-1.0 microgram/ml abolished the extracellular endplate potential (e.e.p.p.) without altering the presynaptic spike. When the phrenic nerve was stimulated at a frequency of 1 Hz the degree of depression of successive e.e.p.ps was approximately the same in records made before and after treatment with venom. 3 In concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 microgram/ml the venom reduced significantly the amplitude of miniature endplate potentials (m.e.p.ps). The frequency of m.e.p.ps did not increase but was decreased when the amplitue of the m.e.p.ps was much reduced. 4 The crude venom did not alter the resting membrane potential (RMP) of the muscle cell. 5 The venom inhibited the depolarization of the muscle membrane caused by carbachol. 6 It is concluded that an active component in the crude venom is responsible for a blocking action on postjunctional receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1973

An anti-curare effect of hexamethonium at the mammalian neuromuscular junction.

1. Experiments were performed on the isolated phrenic nerve and diaphragm preparation of the rat.2. In preparations partly blocked with (+)-tubocurarine, the twitch amplitude increased after hexamethonium. This enhancement was not seen in preparations partly blocked with Mg(++) or with gallamine. High concentrations of hexamethonium produced failure of contraction.3. Extracellular endplate potentials were recorded from blocked preparations. The administration of hexamethonium resulted in an increased amplitude of these potentials only in curarized muscle.4. Hexamethonium had no anticholinesterase activity nor did it depolarize muscle cells or increase the quantal release of transmitter.5. It is concluded that hexamethonium exerts a specific anti-curare action. Experiments on the recovery of the twitch after washing out antagonists indicate that this process is limited by diffusion. The difference in rates of diffusion of hexamethonium and (+)-tubocurarine does not account for their interaction. The basis of the anti-curare action of hexamethonium is discussed.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1971

Actions of bretylium tosylate at the neuromuscular junction.

1. The actions of bretylium tosylate on neuromuscular transmission in the rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation have been investigated by electrophysiological methods. Additional experiments have been made on the effect of the drug on the frog rectus preparation and on the acetylcholinesterase of erythrocytes.2. After bretylium, there was a reduction in the amplitudes of miniature end-plate potentials (mepps), endplate potentials (epps) and acetylcholine potentials recorded in the diaphragm, and also in the contractures of the rectus in response to acetylcholine (ACh) and to carbachol.3. After bretylium, there was a prolongation of the time courses of epps and ACh potentials. Under certain circumstances there was enhancement of the amplitudes of epps and ACh potentials and of the contractile responses to ACh but not to carbachol.4. Bretylium reduced the velocity of hydrolysis of ACh by erythrocyte ghosts. This inhibition was competitive and the Ki of bretylium was 0.053 mM.5. Bretylium did not cause a reduction in the mean quantal content of the epp in junctions blocked with Mg(++).6. It is concluded that bretylium exerts both facilitatory and inhibitory influences on neuromuscular transmission, which, exerted simultaneously, may give the false appearance that the drug has little action at this synapse.

Acetylcholine↗