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E A Lock

Publications and source records attributed to E A Lock.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Influence of age on the passage of paraquat through the blood-brain barrier in rats: a distribution and pathological examination.

Experiments were performed to determine the extent of paraquat entry into the brain of neonatal and elderly rats, as compared with adult rats, which may be dependent on the efficacy of the blood-brain barrier. A single, median lethal dose (20 mg/kg s.c.) of paraquat containing [14C]paraquat was administered to neonatal (10 day old), adult (3 month old) and elderly (18 month old) rats. In contrast to the adult and elderly rats where paraquat levels fell over the 24 h post-dosing period to negligible levels, paraquat concentrations in neonatal brains did not decrease with time between 0.5 and 24 h following dosing. The distribution of [14C]paraquat was measured in selective brain regions using quantitative autoradiography in all three age groups of rats, 30 min and 24 h following dosing. Autoradiography demonstrated that brain paraquat distributions were similar in the rat age groups. Most of the paraquat was confined to regions outside the blood-brain barrier and to brain regions that lack a complete blood-brain barrier e.g. dorsal hypothalamus, area postrema and the anterior olfactory bulb. Between 0.5 h and 24 h following dosing, paraquat concentrations in deeper brain structures, some distance away from the sites of entry, began to slowly increase in all the rat age groups. By 24 h following dosing, a majority of brain regions examined using quantitative autoradiography revealed significantly higher paraquat concentrations in neonatal brains as compared to brain regions of adult and elderly rats. Despite increased paraquat entry into neonatal brain, we could find no evidence for paraquat-induced neuronal cell damage following a detailed histopathological examination of perfused-fixed brains. In conclusion, impaired blood-brain barrier integrity in neonatal brain thus permitting more paraquat to enter than in adult brain, did not result in neuronal damage.

Age Factors↗

Neuropathological changes in rat brain following oral administration of 2-chloropropionic acid.

The agrochemical intermediate, L-2-Chloropropionic acid (L-2-CPA) and D-2-chloropropionic acid (D-CPA), when administered separately by oral gavage to rats, produced extensive cerebellar granule cell necrosis (> 80%) characterised by varying degrees of nuclear condensation and nuclear karyorrhexis. In contrast a few necrotic Purkinje cells (< 5%) were observed. Purkinje cell damage consisted of cytoplasmic and nuclear shrinkage and hyperchromasia. Karyorrhexis was not seen in Purkinje cells. Extensive vacuolation (edema) was present both in the cerebellar granular layer and Purkinje cell layer. Astrogliosis (hypertrophy and hyperplasia) was seen at lesion sites and activity was recognised by positive glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) staining. Proliferative activity of astrocytes at lesion sites was confirmed by positive proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining. Astrogliosis was focused exclusively in the necrotic granule cell layer. A single oral dose of 750 mg/kg of either stereoisomer or three consecutive daily doses of 250mg/kg L-2-CPA. produced the lesion. Cerebellar water content increased with time in parallel with the edematous response noted by neuropathological examination. The earliest onset of the lesion was observed at 36 hours appearing more extensive at 48 and 72 hours post-dosing. No other major neuropathological changes were detected in the brain, spinal cord, spinal ganglia, Gasserian ganglia, peripheral nerves and voluntary muscle following L-2-CPA administration. In conclusion, both stereoisomers of CPA were found to be selective neurotoxicants of the rat central nervous system.

Administration, Oral↗

Inhibition of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase by 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-cyclohexane-1,3-dione and 2-(2-chloro-4-methanesulfonylbenzoyl)-cyclohexane-1,3-dione.

The administration of the compound 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-cyclohexane-1,3-dione (NTBC) to rats (10 mg/kg body wt) caused an elevation in the concentration of plasma tyrosine and gave products in urine that were identified as 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPPA) and 4-hydroxyphenyllactate (HPLA). This observed chemically induced tyrosinemia established that this compound perturbs tyrosine catabolism and suggested that the causal effect is the inhibition of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD). This was confirmed when rat liver HPPD was found to be markedly inhibited by NTBC when the enzyme and chemical were incubated, in vitro, for 3 min at 37 degrees C prior to the initiation of the enzyme reaction by the addition of substrate. At 100 nM NTBC, approximately 90% of the enzyme activity was lost and an IC50 was calculated at approximately 40 nM. The inhibition of HPPD by NTBC (50 nM) is time-dependent; the enzyme activity was reduced by > 50% within 30 sec. Progress curve data of loss of enzyme activity with time gave a rate constant for the inactivation of rat liver HPPD [k*, formation of an HPPD-inhibitor (EI) complex] by NTBC of 9.9 +/- 2.5 x 10(-5) sec-1 nM-1. It was established that NTBC is not irreversibly bound in the EI complex but slowly dissociates with a recovery of enzyme activity of 13.7 +/- 1.0% over a 7-hr period (t1/2, 25 degrees C estimated at 63 hours). In comparison, the compound 2-(2-chloro-4-methanesulfonylbenzoyl)-cyclohexane-1,3-dione (CMBC), an analog of NTBC, gave a similar rate for the inactivation of HPPD (k*, 3.3 +/- 0.8 x 10(-5) sec-1 nM-1), whereas 45 +/- 8% of the enzyme activity was recovered over a 7-hr period (t1/2, 25 degrees C approximately 10 hr). These studies establish that NTBC and CMBC are potent, time-dependent (tight-binding) reversible inhibitors of HPPD. The inhibition is characterized by a rapid inactivation of the enzyme by the formation of an HPPD-inhibitor complex that dissociates with recovery of enzyme activity. In vivo, the inhibition of HPPD causes a tyrosinemia that abates with the recovery of enzyme activity. The understanding of the mechanism by which NTBC perturbs tyrosine catabolism has led to the clinical use of this chemical as the first effective pharmacological therapy for the hereditary disorder tyrosinemia I.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase↗

Chloropropionic acid-induced alterations in glucose metabolic status: possible relevance to cerebellar granule cell necrosis.

We have examined the effect of L- and D-2-chloropropionic acid (L-CPA and D-CPA) on the concentrations of pyruvate, lactate, glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate in the blood at various times after doses which produce cerebellar granule cell necrosis. Blood pyruvate and lactate concentrations were reduced in these animals 4 h after dosing and remained below those of controls for up to 48 h. No changes were seen in concentrations of plasma glucose of beta-hydroxybutyrate at any time point. Similarly, no changes in cerebellar glucose, pyruvate or lactate were seen 24 h after 750 mg/kg L-CPA. Oxidation of [14C] pyruvate or [14C] glucose to [14CO2] by cerebellar slices from control rats was not altered by the presence of L- or D-CPA (1-10 mM for 2 h). Nor were these parameters affected in cerebellar slices from rats killed 24 h after a dose of 750 mg/kg L-CPA. We conclude that the activation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is unlikely to be a critical factor in the selective toxicity of CPA to the cerebellum.

Animals↗

Olfactory toxicity of methyl iodide in the rat.

The monohalomethanes (methyl iodide, methyl bromide and methyl chloride) are widely used industrial methylating agents with pronounced acute and chronic toxicity in both experimental animals and man. Recently inhalation exposure of rats to methyl bromide has been shown to result in severe olfactory toxicity. This study examined the effects on the rat nasal cavity of inhalation of methyl iodide (100 ppm for 0.5-6 h), and demonstrated that methyl iodide is a more potent olfactory toxin than methyl bromide. Within the nasal cavity the olfactory epithelium was the principle target tissue, and it was only at high doses (600 ppm.h) that limited damage to transitional epithelium occurred. The squamous and respiratory epithelia were consistently unaffected. Within olfactory epithelium the sustentacular cells were the primary cellular target and damage to sensory cells appeared to be a secondary event. Methyl iodide induced olfactory damage was reversible, and 2 weeks after exposure almost complete repair had taken place.

Administration, Intranasal↗

[125I]endothelin binding in rat cerebellum is increased following L-2-chloropropionic-acid-induced granule cell necrosis.

The systemic administration of L-2-chloropropionic acid (L-CPA) to rats produced a marked depletion of cerebellar granule cells (> 80% of the total) when administered in a single oral dose of 750 or 250 mg/kg/day for 3 days. The nature of the L-CPA-induced neurotoxicity is currently unknown but it exhibits a number of features in common with excitatory amino acid-induced neuronal cell death. We observed an increase in [125I]endothelin-1 (ET-1) binding in the cerebellar cortex, as measured by quantitative receptor autoradiography, which occurs at 48 h, but not 24 h, following the 750 mg/kg L-CPA dosing regimen. The increase in [125I]ET-1 binding did not parallel the cellular damage and resultant astrocyte proliferation, as measured by GFAP immunoreactivity, which was primarily confined to the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex. The increased [125I]ET-1 binding occurred in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex (controls 2.03 +/- 0.26 fmol/mg tissue; L-CPA-treated 6.69 +/- 0.45 fmol/mg tissue, n = 6; p < 0.01, Student's t-test) which appeared to contain astrocytic processes originating from the large increase in astrocyte number situated in the granular layer. Pretreatment of the rats with the irreversible NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, protected the cerebellar granule cells against the L-CPA neurotoxicity and also prevented the increase in [125I]ET-1 binding in the cerebellar cortex. The increased [125I]ET-1 binding in rat cerebellum appears to be linked to the reactive gliosis that occurs in association with neuronal cell injury.

Animals↗

NMDA receptors in rat cerebellum and forebrain: subtle differences in pharmacology and modulation.

Binding of [3H]glutamate, [3H]glycine, and the glutamate antagonist [3H]CGS-19755 to NMDA-type glutamate receptors was examined in homogenates of rat forebrain and cerebellum. Most glutamate agonists had a higher affinity at the [3H]glutamate binding site of cerebellar NMDA receptors as compared with forebrain, whereas all the glutamate antagonists examined showed the reverse relationship. The [3H]glycine binding site of forebrain and cerebellar NMDA receptors showed a similar pharmacology in both brain regions. In the cerebellum, however, [3H]glycine bound to a second site with a 10-fold lower affinity and with a pharmacology that resembled that of the glycine/strychnine chloride channel. [3H]-Glutamate binding was not affected by glycine agonists or antagonists, nor was [3H]glycine binding affected by glutamate agonists in either forebrain or cerebellum. Both CGS-19755 and 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid, glutamate antagonists, reduced [3H]-glycine binding in cerebellum, whereas only CGS-19755 was effective in forebrain. Glycine agonists and antagonists modulated [3H]CGS-19755 binding in forebrain and cerebellum to different extents in the two brain regions. From these studies we conclude that the cerebellar NMDA receptor has a different pattern of modulation at glutamate and glycine sites and that glycine may play a more important role in the control of NMDA function in the cerebellum as compared with forebrain.

Animals↗

Further evidence that the blood/brain barrier impedes paraquat entry into the brain.

The distribution of the non-selective herbicide paraquat was examined in the brain following subcutaneous administration of 20 mg kg-1 paraquat ion containing [14C]paraquat to male adult rats in order to determine whether paraquat crosses the blood/brain barrier. Following administration, [14C]paraquat reached a maximal concentration in the brain (0.05% of administered dose) within the first hour and then rapidly disappeared from the brain. However, 24 h after administration of the herbicide, about 13% of the maximal recorded concentration of paraquat remained in the brain (1.6 nmol g-1 wet weight) and could not be removed by intracardiac perfusion. Using measurements of [14C]paraquat in dissected brain regions and using quantitative autoradiography we demonstrated an asymmetrical distribution in and around the brain at 30 min (maximal concentration) and 24 h after administration. Most of the paraquat was associated with five structures, two of which, the pineal gland and linings of the cerebral ventricles lie outside the blood/brain barrier whilst the remaining three brain areas, the anterior portion of the olfactory bulb, hypothalamus and area postrema do not have a blood/brain barrier. Overall, the distribution of [14C]paraquat in the brain 24 h after systemic administration was highly correlated to the blood volume. These data indicate that any remaining paraquat in the brain 24 h after systemic administration is associated with elements of the cerebro-circulatory system, such as the endothelial cells that make up the capillary network and that there is a limited entry of paraquat into brain regions without a blood/brain barrier.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Piggy-back race.

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Acetylcysteine↗

Strychnine and glycine protect renal proximal tubules from various nephrotoxicants and act in the late phase of necrotic cell injury.

We have previously shown that strychnine mimics the cytoprotective properties of glycine in renal proximal tubule (RPT) suspensions exposed to antimycin A (AA). The aims of this study were to determine whether the cytoprotective properties of strychnine applied to various types of nephrotoxicants and to examine the temporal aspects of the cytoprotection of glycine and strychnine. Tubular release of LDH activity was used as a marker of cell death. Glycine (2 mM) or strychnine (1 mM) added 5 min prior to the toxicant decreased LDH release in rabbit RPT suspensions exposed to 25 microM tetrafluoroethyl-L-cysteine (TFEC), 10 microM HgCl2, 0.5 mM t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), or 0.2 mM bromohydroquinone (BHQ) for 4 hr, or 2 mM sodium cyanide (NaCN) for 2 hr. The relative rank order of effectiveness of glycine and strychnine was NaCN = TFEC > BHQ > DCVC >> TBHP > HgCl2. The temporal aspects of strychnine and glycine protection were examined by exposing RPT to either AA or TFEC for 1 or 3 hr, respectively, and then adding either 1 mM glycine or 1 mM strychnine. Glycine and strychnine decreased LDH release in AA-treated RPT at 1.25 and 2 hr and TFEC-treated RPT at 4 hr. In addition, when RPT exposed to AA or TFEC and treated with strychnine or glycine were washed at either 1 or 4 hr, protection was eliminated at later time points. When glycine was added to RPT treated with either PCBC, TFEC, or DCVC 5 min prior to or 30, 60, 120, and 180 min following toxicant addition, LDH release was reduced at all time points. These results demonstrate that strychnine and glycine protect RPT from a variety of diverse nephrotoxicants, strychnine and glycine do not need to be present at the time of toxic insult, strychnine and glycine cytoprotection is reversible, and strychnine and glycine act in the late phase of necrotic cell injury.

Animals↗

Nephrotoxicity of 4-amino-3-S-glutathionylphenol and its modulation by metabolism or transport inhibitors.

The nephrotoxicity of 4-amino-3-S-glutathionylphenol (PAP-GSH), a known metabolite of 4-amino-phenol (PAP), was determined in male Fischer 344 rats. Administration of a single dose of 40 or 60 mumol kg-1 caused a marked elevation in blood urea nitrogen and an increase in the urinary excretion of glucose, protein and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). These changes were associated with histological alterations in the proximal tubule, where at the lower dose the lesion was restricted to the S3 region of the proximal tubule in the medullary rays, while at the higher dose the lesion extended to affect the S3 region in both the medullary rays and the outer stripe of the outer medulla. Studies with [35S]-PAP-GSH at 40 mumol kg-1 showed selective retention of radioactivity in the kidney, relative to other organs 24 h after dosing and that some radioactivity was covalently bound to renal proteins. Pretreatment of animals with probenecid, an inhibitor of renal organic anion transport, or aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of cysteine conjugate beta-lyase, had little or no effect on the toxicity. In contrast, pretreatment of animals with acivicin, an inhibitor of gamma-glutamyltransferase, or co-administration of PAP-GSH with ascorbic acid almost completely protected against the nephrotoxicity. This protection was associated with a decreased concentration of radioactivity from [35S]-PAP-GSH in the kidneys and a decrease in the amount covalently bound to renal protein. Thus, the nephrotoxicity of PAP-GSH may be mediated by oxidation and further processing of the glutathione conjugate via gamma-glutamyltransferase.

Aminooxyacetic Acid↗

Immunohistochemical localisation of six glutathione S-transferases within the nasal cavity of the rat.

Many xenobiotics induce lesions within the nasal cavity of experimental animals which are site specific. This site selectivity may be due to regional deposition within the nasal cavity and/or the localisation of biotransformation enzymes. We have developed methodology which allows immunohistochemical localisation of xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes in transverse sections of the rat nasal cavity identical to those normally taken for pathological examination. We report the application of this methodology to six isoenzymes of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). All six isoenzymes were predominantly located within olfactory epithelium covering the ethmoturbinates (levels III and IV) and extending forwards into the dorsal meatus (level II). Squamous and transitional epithelia showed little or no staining while respiratory epithelium was weakly stained. Within the respiratory epithelium only the ciliated columnar cells and, to a lesser extent, some of the seromucous glands contained GSTs. Within olfactory epithelium the sustentacular cells, basal cells and subepithelial glands all stained positive for GSTs. The different cell types of olfactory epithelium preferentially express different GST isoenzymes: 1-1 and 2-2 were predominantly located in the subepithelial glands; 3-3, 4-4 and 8-8 in sustentacular and basal cells; 7-7 in basal cells.

Animals↗

Effects of 2-[1-(ethoxyimino)propyl]-3-hydroxy-5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) cyclohex-2-enone on hepatic haem biosynthesis: species differences in hepatic porphyria.

2-[1-(Ethoxyimino)propyl]-3-hydroxy-5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) cyclohex-2-enone (ETC) is a novel alkyl ketone herbicide. Continuous administration of ETC to mice for 28 days resulted in marked liver enlargement and severe intrahepatic cholestasis. These effects have been shown to result directly from a rapid and marked accumulation of porphyrin in the liver. The porphyrin which accumulates in the liver has been identified as protoporphyrin IX and dose response and time course studies confirm prior inhibition of mitochondrial ferrochelatase as the causal lesion. ETC was a very potent porphyrinogenic compound in mice, with a no-effect level for a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg. Rats and hamsters were insensitive to this type of hepatotoxicity following single oral doses of up to 750 mg/kg or following repeated, and indeed prolonged administration. The sensitivity of different species to ETC-induced porphyria correlated with the effect of ETC on hepatic ferrochelatase activity. The inhibition of ferrochelatase activity and the hepatic porphyria in mice were both found to be readily reversible upon withdrawal of ETC.

Administration, Oral↗

The characterization of glutathione S-transferases from rat olfactory epithelium.

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of rat olfactory epithelium have been characterized with regard to substrate specificity and subunit composition and compared to those of the liver. The presence of cytosolic GST activity in rat olfactory epithelium was confirmed and, using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate, was found to be approximately one-third that of the liver. Olfactory microsomal GST activity was greater than that of liver microsomes and could be activated by treatment with the sulphydryl agent N-ethylmaleimide. The subunit and isoenzyme profile of GSTs in the olfactory epithelium was investigated using a number of techniques. (1) Olfactory GSTs were characterized using a range of relatively subunit-specific substrates. Activities ranged from 40-90% of those found in liver. Most noticeable was the extremely low olfactory activity with the substrate specific for subunit 1. (2) Immunoblotting with antibodies against specific rat hepatic GSTs confirmed the presence of a number of subunits and the absence of subunit 1. (3) F.p.l.c. chromatofocusing and reverse-phase h.p.l.c. indicated that the cytosolic GST profile of olfactory epithelium is unique and is made up of subunits 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 11 with subunits 3 and 4 predominating. There is an absence of isoenzymes containing subunit 1.

Animals↗