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Biomedical subjects

H Ladinsky

Publications and source records attributed to H Ladinsky.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

BM-5, a centrally active partial muscarinic agonist with low tremorogenic activity. In vivo and in vitro studies.

The acute and chronic effects of the centrally active oxotremorine analog, BM-5, [N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)-acetamide] were examined in rats and mice. In vivo studies in mice and rats indicated that this compound is a partial muscarinic agonist with large regional differences in its efficacy: BM-5 produced low tremor in doses which evoke full salivary response. The maximal tremor response to BM-5 was much smaller than that produced by oxotremorine, while the maximal salivary response to BM-5 was greater than that evoked by oxotremorine. The tremor response to BM-5 was bell-shaped, the peak dose being around 2 mg/kg. In contrast, the salivary response increased with increasing doses of BM-5. The apparent muscarinic antagonist properties of higher doses of BM-5 were specific to the striatum in which BM-5 (0.05-10 mg/kg) caused significant decreases in the level of acetylcholine while these levels were unaltered in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and brainstem. Pretreatment of rats with BM-5 (5 mg/kg) also prevented the increase in striatal acetylcholine induced by oxotremorine (0.75 mg/kg). Chronic treatment of mice with BM-5 (0.2-2 mg/kg) for 14 days also showed that BM-5 at higher doses, behaved as an antagonist, since it caused supersensitivity to oxotremorine on the tremor response. In addition, the number of receptor sites, as measured by binding of 3H-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3H-3-QNB), was increased in the striatum while no similar increase was observed in other brain areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine

In vivo and in vitro studies on the regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission in striatum, hippocampus and cortex of aged rats.

Young (3 months) and senescent (23 months) rats were challenged with oxotremorine both in vivo, to determine its effects on acetylcholine content in hemispheric regions, and in vitro, to assess its action on K+-evoked release of ACh from brain synaptosomes. The drug failed to inhibit KCl-induced [3H]ACh release from the P2 fraction of striatal and hippocampal homogenates of the senescent animals, whereas it was less efficient in increasing striatal ACh content. In contrast, oxotremorine was still able to stimulate an increase in ACh in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the aged rats to the same extent as it did in the young ones. The [3H]ACh output from striatal synaptosomes was lower in old rats with respect to young ones at low KCl depolarizing concentrations but was equal in the two groups at a high depolarizing concentration. In the hippocampus of the senescent rats, the release was significantly lower at each concentration of KCl used, resulting in a parallel downward-shift in the concentration-release plot. We also measured cholinergic muscarinic receptor binding in rat hemispheric regions using the radioligand [3H]dexetimide, a classical non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist. It was found, in conformity with some of the literature, that receptor binding was decreased by about 32% in striatum of aged female rats as compared to younger rats. Changes were not observed in cortex and hippocampus. Analysis of the binding data indicated that the observed decrease in specific ligand binding was due to a decrease in the number of binding sites without a change in affinity. The results favor, once again, the cholinergic hypothesis for geriatric dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine

Frontal decortication and adaptive changes in striatal cholinergic neurons in the rat.

Interruption of the corticostriatal pathway by undercutting the cortex resulted in a reduction of glutamate uptake by 55% and in a depression of acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis by 30% in striatum after two postlesion weeks without affecting the content of ACh and choline, the specific binding of [3H]dexetimide to muscarinic receptors, the activity of choline acetyltransferase and the levels of noradrenaline, serotonin, dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. The influence of this excitatory pathway on striatal cholinergic neuropharmacology was investigated. It was found that the effect of a number of agonists (R-apomorphine, bromocriptine, lisuride, quinpirole, JL-14389, 2-chloroadenosine, oxotremorine and methadone), capable of depressing cholinergic activity in the striatum through receptor-mediated responses--reflected as an increase in ACh content--is operative only when the corticostriatal pathway is intact. By contrast, antagonists capable of decreasing ACh content, i.e. the typical neuroleptics pimozide, haloperidol and the atypical ones clozapine, L-sulpiride, as well as the anti-muscarinic agent scopolamine, were not influenced by the lesion. The possibility that the lesion non-specifically damaged striatal cells on which the agonists, but not the antagonists acted was excluded by results showing, firstly, that the increase in striatal ACh elicited by the ACh precursor, choline, was not blocked by decortication, and secondly, that the degeneration of the corticostriatal neurons did not prevent the ACh-increasing effect of bromocriptine, a long-acting ergot alkaloid, when sufficient time was allowed for the drug to act. It was furthermore possible to restore the inhibitory action of apomorphine on cholinergic neurons either by short-term chemical lesion of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic input or by the administration of choline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine

Qualitative differences in the effects of adenosine analogs on the cholinergic systems of rat striatum and hippocampus.

The effect of the purinergic agonist, 2-chloroadenosine (2-CADO), on central cholinergic parameters was studied in the rat. The drug (20 micrograms, i.c.v.) increased acetylcholine (ACh) content (approximately 30%) and inhibited sodium dependent high affinity choline uptake (30%) in the hippocampus. In striatum, the increase of ACh content was less marked (approximately 15%) and was not associated with inhibition of choline uptake. In both areas, ACh accumulation was prevented by theophylline but not by atropine or oxotremorine pretreatments. Differences were noted in the purinergic control of cholinergic function in the hippocampus and striatum. In hippocampus, the selective degeneration of noradrenergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic afferent pathways or the destructions of intrinsic neurons did not prevent the rise in ACh content induced by 2-CADO. Differently, in striatum, the action of 2-CADO was potentiated both by raphe deafferentation and by inhibition of serotonin synthesis and was completely prevented by chronic unilateral decortication. The cholinergic effect of 2-CADO was unchanged after impairment of the noradrenergic or dopaminergic systems. In addition, the D- and L-isomers of phenylisopropyladenosine, which have different affinities for A1 purinergic receptors but equal affinity for the A2 purinergic subtype, differed in their ability to affect acetylcholine content in these two brain regions, suggesting that A1 purinergic receptor activation mediates the effect of 2-CADO in the hippocampus and A2 receptor activation mediates the drug's action in the striatum.

2-Chloroadenosine

Binding and functional profiles of the selective M1 muscarinic receptor antagonists trihexyphenidyl and dicyclomine.

The selectivity profiles of the muscarinic receptor antagonists dicyclomine and trihexyphenidyl have been examined in binding and functional studies and compared with those of pirenzepine and atropine. Dicyclomine, trihexyphenidyl and pirenzepine demonstrated the highest affinity for the M1 muscarinic receptor subtype as revealed in competition experiments against [3H]-pirenzepine labelling of cortical membranes. Their affinity values lay in a narrow range (3.7-14 nM) approaching that of atropine (1.6 nM). Competition experiments against [3H]-N-methylscopolamine in cardiac and glandular (salivary) membranes revealed differences between the drugs examined. Dicyclomine, trihexyphenidyl and pirenzepine displayed low affinity for the cardiac and intermediate affinity for the glandular receptors. Thus, the drugs appeared to discriminate between the M1 (cortical) and the peripheral muscarinic subtypes (cardiac and glandular). However, atropine displayed similar affinities for either subtype with IC50s varying only slightly (1.6-4.6 nM). The rank order of selectivity was: pirenzepine greater than dicyclomine greater than trihexyphenidyl greater than atropine. Mirroring the binding data, pirenzepine, dicyclomine and trihexyphenidyl showed a tenfold greater ability at inhibiting M1-receptor mediated ganglionic responses (McN A-343 pressor effect in pithed rats and nictitating membrane contraction in cats) than at inhibiting peripheral muscarinic responses in the heart and cardiovascular smooth muscle (vagal bradycardia in rats and cats and vagally-induced vasodilatation in cats). The muscarinic antagonists so far examined can be categorized into two groups. Trihexyphenidyl, dicyclomine and pirenzepine, included in one group, are characterized by a higher affinity for the neuronal (M1) muscarinic receptor, hence they antagonize functional responses mediated by the M1 subtype. Atropine, a member of the other group, shows essentially no selectivity. 6 Differentiation of M1 and peripheral muscarinic receptor subtypes appears to be a property not confined to tricyclics such as pirenzepine but shared by diverse chemical structures. Both trihexyphenidyl and dicyclomine appear to be useful pharmacological tools in the classification of muscarinic receptor subtypes.

(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethy

Intact human lymphocyte membranes respond to muscarinic receptor stimulation by oxotremorine with marked changes in microviscosity and an increase in cyclic GMP.

The muscarinic agonist oxotremorine produced a linear dose-dependent increase in membrane fluidity of intact and viable human lymphocytes in vitro. This effect proved to be receptor-mediated because preincubation with 10(-5)M atropine shifted the dose-response curve one order of magnitude rightward. Pirenzepine preincubation did not affect membrane fluidity variation. A cGMP increase was also found after oxotremorine treatment. The results are discussed in terms of possible modulation of guanyl cyclase and adenyl cyclase through membrane fluidity variations.

Atropine

Studies on the up regulation of alpha-adrenoceptors on rat hippocampal perikarya by chemical lesion of the median raphe nucleus.

Neurotoxin-induced lesion of the serotonergic raphe-hippocampal pathway produced about a 50% increase in the density of a nM affinity alpha-adrenergic binding site for (3H)WB-4101 in rat hippocampus 18 days postlesion without altering the specific binding of (3H)5-HT to serotonergic receptors. The chronic i.c.v. infusion of serotonin by minipump started at the appropriate time averted or reverted the effect. The dynamics of noradrenergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus was not impaired by lesion of the median raphe nucleus as determined by the uptake and turnover of noradrenaline as well as its release - as reflected by the normetanephrine concentration. In addition, neurotoxin-induced lesion of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle failed to alter either the Bmax or the Kd of (3H)WB-4101 binding to the nM site. Kainic acid-induced destruction of perikarya depressed the nM (3H)WB-4101 binding sites by 60% and completely prevented the up regulation caused by lesion of the median raphe nucleus. Thus, the supersensitivity-like response of the adrenoceptors to the lack of serotonin appears to be localized on kainate-sensitive cells within the hippocampus.

Animals

Blockade of the diazepam-induced increase in rat striatal acetylcholine content by the specific benzodiazepine antagonists ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate and Ro 15-1788.

Diazepam increased the acetylcholine content in the striatum and the hippocampus of the rat. This effect was antagonized in both brain areas by treatment with the specific central benzodiazepine blockers ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate and Ro 15-1788, whereas the peripheral antagonist Ro 5-4864 was ineffective. Pretreatment with picrotoxin, a known GABA antagonist did not interfere with the diazepam-induced acetylcholine increase. These results indicate a specific involvement of benzodiazepine receptors in the cholinergic action of diazepam and this effect appears to be independent of GABA receptor activation.

Acetylcholine

Characterization of the alpha adrenergic receptor population in hippocampus up regulated by serotonergic raphe deafferentiation.

Serotonergic raphe deafferentiation elicits an up regulation of a nM (3H)WB-4101 binding site in rat hippocampus for which norepinephrine displays high affinity and prazosin displays low affinity. Guanine nucleotide affects the nM binding to hippocampal alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Firstly, Gpp(NH)p, a nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, inhibits (3H)WB-4101 binding at 3 nM concentration of the radioligand, the ligand concentration labelling the lower affinity, nM, binding site. Secondly, the addition of Gpp(NH)p causes recovery of the heterogeneity of binding sites lost upon preincubation of the membranes with 100 microM epinephrine, apparently by decreasing the affinity of the nM (3H)WB-4101 binding site for the adrenergic receptors. The phenomenon was still observed in the presence of saturating concentrations of the alpha-2 antagonist, yohimbine, and the beta antagonist, propranolol. The results imply that Gpp(NH)p regulates ligand binding to hippocampal alpha-1 agonist sites. It is likely that agonist and antagonist binding sites for the alpha-1 receptor exist in hippocampus with the agonist site being modulated by serotonin.

Animals

Storage and release of acetylcholine in the isolated superior cervical ganglion of the rat.

The storage and release of acetylcholine and choline were studied in the isolated superior cervical ganglion of the rat by a radioenzymic method. The acetylcholine and choline contents were 202.2 +/- 5.1 and 624.7 +/- 20.2 pmole/ganglion, respectively. The transmitter tissue store was unaffected during 1 h of superfusion in choline--Krebs solution, while a 20% decrease was exhibited after 2 h and then remained approximately stable. Conversely, choline content declined to 50% within 1 h and further to 37% of the original level by 4 h. About 24% of the choline assayed in the intact preparation is located in the connective sheath. Preganglionic nerve stimulation at 10--20/sec or potassium stimulation (40 mM KCl) invariably decreased the transmitter tissue stores by 25--45%; such a depletion is independent of the presence or absence of external choline. By contrast, the presence of choline proved to be a prerequisite for the efficient release of acetylcholine from eserinized ganglia during continuous 10/sex stimulation. A drastic depression in the acetylcholine release is described which is related to the time of preincubation of the ganglia with eserine prior to stimulation. Indeed, a 30 min exposure to eserine, compared with a 5 min period, resulted in a 4-fold decrease in the steady output rate. Under optimal conditions, the initial volley output at 10/sec was 1.3 X 10(-4) of the releasable transmitter pool and 1.9 X 10(-4) during the steady-state output. These results are discussed in the light of the electrophysiological knowledge of the quantal release process at the ganglionic synapse.

Acetylcholine