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F A Wiesel

Publications and source records attributed to F A Wiesel.

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Mass fragmentographic analysis of clomipramine and its mono-demethylated metabolite in human plasma.

A mass fragmentographic method for the quantification of clomipramine (CIM) and monodemethyl-clomipramine (DCIM) in human plasma was developed. The deuterium labelled analogues of the compounds were used as internal standards. The sensitivity of the method allows the determination of CIM and DCIM in plasma after oral doses with a standard deviation less than 7% at concentrations of 25 ng/ml. The method was applied to the analysis of drug concentrations in plasma of clomipramine treated healthy volunteers and depressed patients. After acute treatment the level of DCIM in plasma was low as compared to chronical treatment.

Adult↗

Determination of conjugated monoamine metabolites in brain tissue.

Levels of free and conjugated monoamine metabolites were analysed in brain tissue of rat and man. In the rat the conjugates were mainly of the sulfate ester type. The levels of conjugated dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) constituted 40--50% of the total amount of the metabolites. 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenylglycol (HMPG) and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were present as conjugates in 90 and 10% of the total levels. Chlorpromazine treatment resulted in an elevation of both the free and the conjugated forms of the dopamine metabolites and HMPG. In a human caudate nucleus obtained at autopsy both DOPAC and HMPG were present in the free form and as sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. The major dopamine metabolite found in this human brain was HVA. This metabolite and 5-HIAA occurred predominantly as free metabolites.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

The distribution and metabolism of chlorpromazine in rats and the relationship to effects on cerebral monoamine metabolism.

Rats were injected with chlorpromazine (CPZ), 21 mumoles/kg (7.5 mg/kg) i.p., and killed after different time intervals up to 24 h. Mass fragmentographic methods were used to determine the levels of CPZ, monodemethyl-chlorpromazine (nor1-CPZ) and 7-hydroxy-chlorpromazine (7-OH-CPZ) in brain and blood and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the striatum. Significant correlations between the brain and blood concentrations of CPZ as well as its active metabolites and the levels of DOPAC and HVA were obtained at several time points. The similarity between the time curves for CPZ dominantly the unchanged drug in the brain which determines the acceleration of DA metabolism.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Microfluorimetric quantitation of catecholamine fluorescence in rat median eminence. II. Turnover changes in hormonal states.

Catecholamine nerve terminals in the rat median eminence have been studied using the fluorescence histochemical technique of Falck and Hillarp in combination with quantitative microfluorimetry. The catecholamine fluorescence intensities recorded from various parts of the median eminence were all found to be within the linear part of the dopamine or noradrenaline concentration-fluorescence relationship as studied in an agar-albumin model system. The catecholamine fluorescence was also found to disappear with time in an exponential manner following tyrosine hydroxylase inhibition produced by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine methylester (H44/68). Similar results were obtained when measuring the dopamine decline by mass fragmentography in the median eminence after H44/68 treatment. These results and analysis of fluorescence frequency histograms strongly indicate that the catecholamine fluorescence values recorded are proportional to the catecholamine concentration. It is concluded that the microfluorimetric technique used is a reliable method for catecholamine quantitation in discrete nerve terminal areas of the median eminence. The main advantages of the technique are that a high sensitivity and quantitative data on the transmitter content can be obtained in strict relation to the neuroanatomy. Measurement of the catecholamine fluorescence disappearance after H44/68 was used to evaluate catecholamine turnover during various endocrine states. The results showed that two dopamine systems with different transmitter turnover may be distinguished. Tuberinfundibular dopamine neurons projecting to the lateral palisade zone were thus shown to have a slower turnover than those projecting medially to the capillary loops. No definite changes in catecholamine turnover were observed after adrenalectomy and castration in the male, although there was a tendency toward increased noradrenaline turnover in both states. During pregnancy an increase in noradrenaline as well as dopamine turnover was noted. The present results therefore give further evidence for the view that catecholamine nerve terminals in the median eminence may participate in the regulation of gonadotrophin secretion.

Adrenalectomy↗

Effect of antipsychotic drugs on homovanillic acid levels in striatum and olfactory tubercle of the rat.

Dose-response curves for the elevation of homovanillic acid levels in corpus striatum and olfactory tubercle of rats were determined by mass fragmentography after treatment with antipsychotic drugs. The older of potency in both regions was: haloperidol greater than chlorpromazine greater than thioridazine and clozapine. The relative elevation of the content of homovanillic acid was significantly greater in the striatum than in the olfactory tubercle for all drugs except thioridazine. The antipsychotic effect of the drugs tested may be related to the interference with dopaminergic mechanisms in striatal and/or limbic areas.

Animals↗

Neuromuscular and psychomotor abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives.

In previous studies of schizophrenic patients, neuromuscular (histopathological and electrophysiological) and psychomotor (finger tapping) abnormalities were found. The present study was designed to investigate relationships between these abnormalities and a family history of psychosis in 14 schizophrenic patients and 25 unaffected first-degree relatives compared to 14 healthy controls. Muscle biopsies were performed in either m. tibialis anterior or m. lateralis. Macro EMG recordings were made from m. tibialis anterior. A finger tapping test was used to investigate psychomotor performance. Neuromuscular abnormalities (muscle biopsies and/or macro EMG) and/or aberrant psychomotor performance (finger tapping test) were found in 13 (93%) patients, 14 (56%) first-degree relatives and in three (21%) controls. A statistically significant relationship for the psychomotor, but not neuromuscular changes to a family history of psychosis was found using a logistic regression method. The percentage of patients, relatives and healthy controls exhibiting were 36/40/7% in the muscle biopsy, 50/20/0% in the macro EMG, and 71/82/14% in the finger tapping investigations. A higher frequency of neuromuscular and psychomotor abnormalities was found in patients with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives compared to healthy controls. The relationship between psychomotor findings and a family history of psychosis indicate that central aspects of motor aberrations are associated with a hereditary disposition of psychosis. The neuromuscular as well as psychomotor changes indicate that schizophrenia may be a systemic disease involving the central nervous system as well as peripheral organs. An altered cell membrane is suggested to be an underlying factor based on the type of neuromuscular findings.

Adult↗