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Biomedical subjects

G S Patrick

Publications and source records attributed to G S Patrick.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Antinociceptive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol side chain analogs: dependence upon route of administration.

The role of flexibility of the alkyl side chain in the tetrahydrocannabinols to cannabinoid activity has been delineated in previous studies with side chain analogs of Delta(8)-tetrahydrocannabinol with double or triple bonds. This study investigated the site of antinociceptive action for these analogs through analysis of structure-activity relationships following different routes of administration. In analogs without terminal substitutions, potency was greater following intrathecal (i. t.) injection than with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.). Further, optimal structural features differed for each route of administration. Absolute position of the double or triple bond best predicted i.t. potency. In contrast, i.c.v. potency was best predicted by the size of the alkyl substituent beyond the point of unsaturation. Terminal substitutions tended to increase i.c.v. potency while decreasing or not affecting i.t. These results suggest that receptor mechanisms for cannabinoid antinociceptive effects differ in brain and spinal cord, although potential pharmacokinetic differences in rate of local distribution cannot be eliminated.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic↗

Pharmacology of lobeline, a nicotinic receptor ligand.

In this study we investigated the pharmacology of lobeline, a high affinity nicotinic ligand with a unique pharmacological profile, in different in vitro and in vivo tests. Although lobeline displaced [3H]-nicotine binding sites in the rat brain with a Ki of 4.4 nM, it did not activate alpha4beta2 expressed receptors in frog oocytes. The in vivo pharmacological effects of lobeline were highly complex. Lobeline, at the time of maximal effect, dose-dependently produced motor impairment and decreased locomotor activity and body temperature in mice after s.c. treatment. However, antinociception was present after intrathecal but not after s.c. administration of lobeline in the tail-flick tests. The behavioral effects of lobeline were not blocked by pretreatment with either mecamylamine or dihydro-beta-erythroidine. In addition, lobeline given s.c. enhanced nicotine-induced antinociception in a dose-related manner. No acute tolerance developed to either lobeline's behavioral or antinociceptive effect after s.c. or intrathecal administration, respectively. However, tolerance developed to lobeline's pharmacological effects after chronic treatment with the drug for 10 days (15 mg/kg, s.c. twice a day). Furthermore, cross-tolerance between lobeline and nicotine developed after chronic treatment with either drug. Although the alpha4beta2 receptor is unlikely to mediate the agonist effects of lobeline, our results indicate that lobeline does interact with the nicotinic receptor in a novel fashion.

Animals↗

Characterization of anandamide- and fluoroanandamide-induced antinociception and cross-tolerance to delta 9-THC after intrathecal administration to mice: blockade of delta 9-THC-induced antinociception.

The antinociceptive effects of the putative endogenous cannabinoid ligand anandamide (ANA) and its fluorinated analog, fluoroanandamide (FA), were determined as measured by the tail-flick and p-phenylquinone (PPQ) stretch tests. The ED50 values (confidence limits) for ANA and FA were 77 (52-13) and 7 (2-21) micrograms/mouse, respectively, for the tail-flick test and 30 (23-41) and 0.5 (0.1-2) micrograms/mouse, respectively, for the PPQ test after intrathecal (i.t.) administration. ANA was not significantly less potent than delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the tail-flick test, but it was less potent in the PPQ test. FA was more potent than either ANA or THC in tail-flick test. The antinociceptive effects of all drugs (administered i.t.) were blocked significantly or nearly abolished by the pretreatment of the mice with pertussis toxin (i.t.). Pretreatment of the mice with 5 and 25 micrograms forskolin per mouse or 10 micrograms 8-(4-chlorophenyl-thio)-adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate cyclic monosodium salt per mouse (both i.t.) significantly attenuated the antinociception produced by THC but not by ANA or FA. Various calcium modulators were tested in combination with THC, ANA, and FA, but they failed to alter the antinociceptive effects of the drugs. Various potassium channel blockers were tested in combination with the drugs. Apamin, a blocker of small (low)-conductance calcium-gated potassium channels that attenuates THC-induced antinociception, failed to alter ANA- or FA-induced antinociception. In contrast to THC, which is blocked by the kappa antagonist nor-binaltorphimine, ANA- and FA-induced antinociception was not altered by classic opioid antagonists. Also in contrast to THC, which enhances mu and delta opioid-induced antinociceptive effects, ANA failed to significantly alter opioid antinociception. ANA significantly shifted the THC dose-effect curve to the right. Thus, ED50 for DMSO/THC in the tail-flick test was shifted from 14 (7-29) to 54 (38-77) micrograms/mouse and was shifted in the hot-plate test from 22 (12-42) to 63 (43-92) micrograms/mouse. The magnitude of the shift in the ED50 was 3.8-fold in the tail-flick test and 2.9-fold in the hot-plate test. The shifts were parallel and significant. The Ki for the displacement of 3H-CP 55,940 binding by ANA and FA was 214 nM (+/- 45 S.E.M.) and 72 nM (+/- 5 S.E.M.), respectively, in pure spinal cord synaptosomes from the rat. ANA and FA were significantly cross-tolerant to THC. Although similarities between ANA and cannabinoids were shown, several marked differences were observed between ANA and the classic cannabinoids. ANA appears to function as both a cannabimimetic and a blocker of cannabinoid-induced antinociception.

Analgesics↗

Modulation of cannabinoid-induced antinociception after intracerebroventricular versus intrathecal administration to mice: possible mechanisms for interaction with morphine.

Dose-effect curves were generated for the cannabinoids [intracerebroventricularly (icv.)] and compared with those previously generated after administration intrathecally (i.t.). The ED50 values after administration of levonantradol, CP 55,940, delta 9-THC and delta 8-THC i.t. vs. icv. did not differ significantly. CP 56,667 was significantly more potent after icv. administration than i.t. administration, and was nearly 10 times more potent than CP 55,940 (icv.). CP 55,940 and CP 56,667, which did not produce greater than additive effects in combination with morphine when the drugs were administered i.t., shifted the morphine (icv.) dose-effect curve in a parallel manner nearly 10-fold after icv. administration. The antinociceptive effects of the cannabinoids (icv.) were not blocked by ICI 174,864 (20 micrograms/mouse), nor-BNI (70 micrograms/mouse) or naloxone (20 micrograms/mouse or 10 mg/kg s.c.). Pertussis toxin pretreatment i.t. for 7 days totally abolished the antinociception produced by the cannabinoids (icv. and i.t.). Pretreatment of the mice with forskolin (i.t.) or Cl-cAMP (10 micrograms/mouse i.t.), which produced no antinociception, significantly attenuated the antinociception produced by the delta 9-THC and CP 55,940. However, when administered icv., forskolin and Cl-cAMP produced antinociception, but did not block or produce greater than additive effects with the antinociception produced by the cannabinoids administered icv. The i.t. administration of calcium and calcium modulators failed to alter the antinociception produced by the i.t. administration of the cannabinoids. Conversely, calcium (icv.) blocked the antinociceptive effects of the cannabinoids. The AD50 values (+/- CL) for calcium-induced block of delta 9-THC, delta 8-THC and CP 55,940 were 215 (94-489), 176 (122-253) and 123 (81-186) nmol/mouse, respectively. omega-Conotoxin (1 micrograms/mouse icv.), which did not alter the antinociceptive effects of delta 9-THC, significantly reversed the calcium-induced blockade of delta 9-THC. Thapsigargin (icv.) blocked the antinociception produced by delta 9-THC and CP 55,940. Apamin, blocker calcium-gated potassium channels, produced a parallel rightward shift in the dose-effect curves of delta 9-THC, delta 8-THC and CP 55,940 (i.t.). However, apamin (5 ng/mouse icv.) failed to block icv. administered cannabinoids. Because acute administration of opiates/opioids have been shown to interact with Gi/o protein-coupled receptors, decrease calcium entry to and content of neurons, reduce cAMP levels and produce hyperpolarization of neurons via both ATP- and apamin-sensitive potassium channels, these three intracellular systems may be common points of interaction with the cannabinoids.

Animals↗

Defining Staphylococcus epidermidis cell wall proteins.

Three Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates of differing bacteriophage types were studied to define proteins confined to the cell wall, which were surface exposed and thus available to interact with the host. Three major proteins of 37, 41, and 51 kDa were identified in all whole-cell lysates and cell wall extracts by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Two additional proteins of 18 and 25 kDa became evident by using 125I labeling to delineate surface-exposed proteins. A classification scheme using P1 to P5 to delineate the 51-, 41-, 37-, 25- and 18-kDa proteins is proposed. Additionally, murine immune sera were used to identify two immunodominant proteins of 51 and 25 kDa (P1 and P4, respectively).

Bacterial Proteins↗

Invasion of the inner ear by Haemophilus influenzae type b in experimental meningitis.

Bacterial interstrain variation for cochlear invasion was studied by intraperitoneal inoculation of infant rats with Haemophilus influenzae type b. Eight pairs of CSF isolates from children with or without deafness due to meningitis were injected into half of each litter in separate experiments. At 48 h, quantitative CSF culture results and CSF white blood cell counts were equivalent for the two groups. Organisms within the cochlea were detected in four of eight animals in each group. There was no difference between the deaf and nondeaf isolates in the degree or frequency of inner ear inflammation in formalin-fixed sections. In separate experiments, animals were inoculated with H. influenzae type b and 24 h later treated with ampicillin, or ampicillin plus dexamethasone. At 48 h, although CSF white blood cell counts were significantly reduced in the steroid group, no difference was noted in the degree of cochlear inflammation between the two groups. The ability of H. influenzae type b to invade the inner ear of infant rats does not correlate with the development of sensorineural deafness in children following H. influenzae type b meningitis. Steroid administration does not appear to diminish the inflammatory reaction within the cochlea more than antibiotics alone in this model, but may delay CSF sterilization by ampicillin.

Ampicillin↗

Adherence kinetics of Haemophilus influenzae type b to eucaryotic cells.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) adhere in vitro to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) via pili (fimbriae). In vivo studies have conflicting lines of evidence concerning the role of pili in adherence. This study characterizes the kinetics of Hib binding to BEC and compares pilus versus nonpilus adherence. Adherence was assessed using radioactive, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic techniques. Paired Hib strains were obtained from three children with Hib meningitis; piliated Hib were isolated from the nasopharynx and nonpiliated isolates from the cerebrospinal fluid. Piliated strains adhered avidly to BEC after a 1-h incubation, whereas nonpiliated strains adhered poorly (p = 0.002). Kinetic analysis revealed increased adherence to BEC by piliated and nonpiliated strains with time, with maximum adherence occurring between 24-36 h. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopic assays visually confirmed the radioactive adherence findings. These results characterize the kinetics of Hib adherence to BEC. BEC incubated with nonpiliated Hib for 30 h were found to be coated with piliated strains, suggesting the induction of pilus production or the selection of a piliated subpopulation.

Bacterial Adhesion↗