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Biomedical subjects

J H Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to J H Gordon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Chronic ethanol feeding produces a muscarinic receptor upregulation, but not a muscarinic supersensitivity in lower esophageal sphincter muscle.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) are important in esophageal physiology, and mAChR alterations may be involved in ethanol-induced esophageal dysfunction. We previously demonstrated that acute ethanol decreases lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), whereas withdrawal from chronic ethanol results in pressure increases which are reversible by acute ethanol. To see if this increase in LESP is due to upregulation of mAChR, we evaluated both mAChR binding and dose-response curves for bethanechol and atropine-induced changes in LESP before and after acute and chronic ethanol exposure. The number of mAChR sites (Bmax) in LES (3.4 fmol/mg tissue) was lowered by acute ethanol (1.72, -50%); withdrawal from chronic ethanol raised Bmax (5.2, +54%). Acute injection of ethanol into cats in withdrawal reversed this increase in mAChR density (3.1, -10%). These changes correlated with our earlier data on ethanol-induced changes in LESP. However, the dose-response curve for bethanechol-induced pressure increases shifted to the right [ED25 (micrograms/kg); control, 8.6; withdrawal, 21.3], paralleled by an increase in the number of low-affinity agonist binding sites. Thus, 1) the withdrawal-associated increase in Bmax (up-regulation) is more likely to be a compensatory response to deficits (functional subsensitivity) distal to the receptor recognition site than to proximal deficits; 2) the increase in Bmax does not cause LESP hyperactivity; and 3) receptor binding changes do not necessarily translate into physiological changes.

Animals

Long-lasting dopamine receptor up-regulation in amphetamine-treated rats following amphetamine neurotoxicity.

Amphetamine (A) (9.2 mg/kg, IP), in combination with iprindole (I) (10.0 mg/kg, IP), caused long-lasting dopamine (DA) depletions in striatum (-49%, 4 weeks) but not in nucleus accumbens following one A/I injection. Striatal DA had recovered by 4 months. DA receptors (DAr) were up-regulated: 1) behavioral responses to a DA receptor agonist (apomorphine) were significantly elevated. These included apomorphine-induced locomotor activity (+103% and +160%, on weeks 3 and 10) and apomorphine-induced stereotypy (day 10). 2) Bmax for [3H]spiroperidol binding to striatal D2 DAr (12 weeks) increased (+53%, week 12). Injection of the DAr neuromodulator cyclo(leucyl-glycyl) (8 mg/kg/day x 4 days, SC) reversed the Bmax increase. Thus toxicity (DA depletion) following high-dose amphetamine appears to induce compensatory changes in DAr. This DAr upregulation may explain the lack of abnormal movements despite enduring DA depletion. Additionally, the A/I paradigm as an animal model of long-lasting DAr up-regulation, could be used to screen neuromodulatory agents, like CLG, that might treat disorders (e.g., tardive dyskinesia and schizophrenia) thought to involve up-regulated DAr.

Animals

Permanent haloperidol-induced dopamine receptor up-regulation in the ovariectomized rat.

One of the confounding problems associated with the study of tardive dyskinesia in rodent models has been the inability to produce a permanent supersensitivity to dopamine (DA) following neuroleptic drugs. We recently observed that ovariectomy (OVX) results in a permanent dopamine receptor (DA-R) up-regulation in the striatum of the rat. This permanent up-regulation of striatal D2 DA-R required three months to fully develop and lasted for at least 12 months post-OVX. In the present study we further characterized this model by examining the development of both apomorphine-induced stereotypy and D2 DA-R density in the striatum of OVX and Sham-operated rats following haloperidol (16 days at 1.0 mg/kg/day, IP). Following the chronic haloperidol treatment, both the OVX and the Sham-operated animals increased both their behavioral responses (stereotypic sniffing) to apomorphine, and the density of striatal D2 DA-R. However, by 30 days posthaloperidol, the Sham animals had reverted to normal behavioral responses to apomorphine and normal levels of striatal DA-R, while both the behavioral responses and the density of D2 DA-R in the OVX animals treated with haloperidol remained up-regulated. These data indicate that 1) the time required to develop this unique animal model of a permanent DA-R up-regulation in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat can be considerably shortened; 2) there is probably a unique neurochemical change induced by haloperidol in the OVX but not in Sham rats that leads to the DA-R up-regulation becoming permanent.

Animals

Neurochemical basis for the absence of overt "stereotyped" behaviors in rats with up-regulated striatal D2 dopamine receptors.

Because of substantial evidence for the hyperdopaminergic hypothesis of tardive dyskinesia (TD), animal models, especially rats, treated chronically with neuroleptics continue to be used to study this disorder. The rat model has been criticized because, unlike TD, in rats there is an apparent lack of spontaneous abnormal movements even when striatal D2 dopamine receptor (DAr) density is substantially increased. Our data suggest a mechanism by which rats suppress these abnormal movements normally associated with elevated DAr levels. We correlated neurochemical with behavioral changes using several animal models, including nonneuroleptic ones, which elicit varied levels of DAr upregulation. There was (as expected) a robust, significant, positive correlation between striatal DAr density and apomorphine-induced stereotypic behaviors. In contrast, there was a significant negative correlation between increased DAr density and synthesis capacity for striatal DA (Vmax for tyrosine hydroxylase). We conclude that this decrease in Vmax is a compensatory adjustment of the nigrostriatal DA tract for the increased DAr density induced in our animal models. Our data further suggest the generalization that an observed increase in receptor density doesn't necessarily predict a functional change (spontaneous behavior, neuropathology) because compensatory neural mechanisms exist. In TD these compensatory neural mechanisms may fail, leading to spontaneous behaviors.

Animals

Phase I clinical trial with floxuridine and high-dose continuous infusion of leucovorin calcium.

Sixty-two patients with metastatic disease were treated with continuous infusion folinic acid (leucovorin calcium; Lv) and 2-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (floxuridine; FUDR). Lv was given by constant intravenous (IV) infusion at 500 mg/m2/d, days 1 to 6, while FUDR was given by IV push, days 2 to 6, at 3:00 PM daily with doses ranging from 294 to 1,214 mg/m2/d. This program was well tolerated with dose-limiting toxicities of diarrhea and stomatitis, while hematologic toxicity was minimal. Eighty-two percent of the assessable patients (46 of 56) had failed at least one chemotherapy regimen. One complete remission lasting 9 months and 10 partial remissions ranging from 5 to 10 months were observed in this heavily pretreated patient population for an overall response rate of 20%. These data suggest that the combination therapy with Lv and FUDR may have clinical use. Because of differing patient sensitivity to this drug combination, the recommended dose of FUDR for the initial therapy cycle is 500 mg/m2/d, days 2 to 6, with subsequent escalation to 900 mg/m2/d in those patients without extreme sensitivity. Phase II studies are now in progress with these doses.

Adult

Canine gastric muscarinic receptors up-regulate after vagotomy.

Postvagotomy (PV) gastroparesis is an infrequent but troublesome problem. To test the hypothesis that the rarity of the PV syndrome is due to compensatory up-regulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChR), we measured changes in stomach mAChR and gastric acid secretion in dogs before and three weeks after truncal vagotomy. Maximum acid output dropped significantly one week PV and then partially recovered by three weeks PV. mAChR density changed in parallel and was significantly increased in body mucosa, body muscle, and antrum mucosa. In the body, changes in mAChR in mucosa correlated positively with changes in muscle, suggesting that mAChR binding in pinch biopsies of gastric mucosa might become useful in evaluating patients for postvagotomy syndrome. PV up-regulation of mAChR in the mucosa of the canine gastric body might explain PV recovery of gastric acid secretion.

Animals

The effects of cyclo(leucyl-glycyl) on nigrostriatal dopaminergic supersensitivity--inhibition of apomorphine-induced climbing.

In a previous study we showed that cyclo(leu-gly) (CLG) prevents the behavioural supersensitivity induced in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) tract (in mice) by chronic haloperidol (HAL). In the current study, we evaluated the effects of CLG on supersensitivity to DA agonists in the nigrostriatal DA tract induced by chronic HAL (1.0 mg/kg, i.p. x 21 days--Experiment 1) or by acute injection of a high dose of apomorphine (APO) (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1 CLG was given at doses of either (a) 0 mg/kg/day (b) 1 mg/kg every third day (30 minutes prior to HAL), (c) 1 mg/kg every day, or (d) 8 mg/kg every third day. In Experiment 2 the dose of CLG was 8 mg/kg, s.c., given 24h after APO. Co-administration of CLG with HAL attenuated the development of HAL-induced supersensitivity in both paradigms (b) and (c) above, although the attenuation was significantly greater in (c) compared to (b). This biphasic dose response (D-R) curve for CLG in Experiment 1 indicates that a therapeutic window exists for CLG (bell-shaped D-R curve) and is similar to previous curves for CLG effects on the mesolimbic DA tract. In Experiment 2, CLG attenuated the DA receptor supersensitivity caused by acute high dose APO. The capacity of CLG to down-regulate DA receptors and attenuate dopaminergic supersensitivity in these experiments suggests a potential therapeutic use in the prevention of tardive and/or L-dopa-induced dyskinesias.

Animals

Role of reactive oxygen metabolites in experimental colitis.

Reactive oxygen metabolites are potent inflammatory mediators that may be involved in tissue injury in inflammatory bowel disease. To evaluate their role in inflammatory bowel disease, we investigated the effects of lowering the activities of reactive oxygen metabolites in experimental colitis induced by intracolonic administration of acetic acid in rats. Intracolonic administration of 5% acetic acid caused severe inflammation (mean (SEM) inflammatory score was 24.3 (0.7) of a maximum score of 32). Acetic acid at 2.5% produced moderate inflammation (score = 17 (1.4) v 4.0 (0.5) in control rats). This lower dose was used for subsequent experiments. Specific superoxide anion scavenger methoxypolyethylene glycol:superoxide dismutase, and reactive oxygen metabolites scavenger, sulfasalazine, significantly decreased the severity of inflammation (scores: 8 (4.4) and 9.8 (2.2) respectively). The xanthine oxidase inhibitors, tungsten and pterin aldehyde, failed to improve inflammation but another xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol, a compound with known superoxide anion scavenging effect, did limit the inflammation (10(2)). Inhibition of hydroxyl radical production by deferoxamine or lowering hydroxyl radical values by a scavenger, dimethyl sulfoxide, did not affect the severity of inflammation. These data suggest: (1) that reactive oxygen metabolites play an important role in experimental colitis, (2) that the xanthine oxidase pathway is not a major source of reactive oxygen metabolites in colitis, and (3) that tissue injury in experimental colitis is not caused by generation of hydroxyl radicals.

Animals

MPTP-induced duodenal ulcers in rat. Prevention by reuptake blockers for serotonin and norepinephrine, but not dopamine.

Abnormal activity of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine may contribute to the pathophysiology of duodenal ulcers. We therefore studied the effects of neuropharmacological manipulations on 1-methly-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced duodenal ulcers. Duodenal ulcers were produced in rats by 12 subcutaneous injections of a neurotoxin, MPTP, over 4 days. At an MPTP dose of 20 mg.kg. injection, duodenal ulcers developed in 91% (43 of 47) of animals with low mortality. When neuropharmacological agents were preadministered before MPTP, the following effects on duodenal ulcers incidence were obtained. MAO-B inhibitors (pargyline [55%], deprenyl [43%]) but not MAO-A inhibitors (clorgyline [91%]) significantly decreased the frequency of duodenal ulcers suggesting that, like MPTP-induced parkinsonism, formation of a toxic metabolite, probably 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium is involved. Reuptake blockers for serotonin (fluoxetine [18%], indalpine [25%]) also decreased the frequency of duodenal ulcers. Reuptake blockers for norepinephrine (desmethylimipramine [17%], tomoxepine [31%], but not amfonelic acid [82%]) decreased the frequency of duodenal ulcers. Reuptake blockers for dopamine (benztropine [73%], amfonelic acid [82%], GBR-12909 [80%]) did not protect against duodenal ulcers. However, GBR-12909 significantly decreased the severity of those duodenal ulcers that were produced. These data suggest that abnormally low levels of synaptic transmission in serotonergic and possibly noradrenergic neurons play an important role in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer while the role of dopamine may be limited to modulation of ulcer severity.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

A permanent dopamine receptor up-regulation in the ovariectomized rat.

Although a permanent supersensitivity to dopamine agonists can be induced by lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamine tract, the ovariectomized rat is the first animal model of a permanent hypersensitivity to dopamine agonists in which the neurons survive. This permanent behavioral hypersensitivity to direct acting dopamine agonists is accompanied by an increase in D2 dopamine receptor density in the striatum.

Animals

In situ binding of a photo-affinity GTP analog to synaptic membrane G-proteins. Distribution of bound GTP analog reflects the status of adenylate cyclase.

Regulation of synaptic membrane adenylate cyclase is likely to involve interaction between neurotransmitter receptors, G-proteins and the adenylate cyclase catalytic unit as well as several other membrane proteins and lipids. Despite intensive study of this system, regulation of guanine nucleotide binding by the G-proteins which stimulate [Gs] or inhibit [Gi] adenylate cyclase has been examined only when those proteins have been purified and removed from the influence of the membrane environment. The hydrolysis-resistant photoaffinity GTP-analog, P3-(4-azidoanilido)-P1 5'-GTP (AAGTP) is able to bind specifically to the G-proteins in rat cerebral cortex synaptic membranes and, in this study, we have used this probe to examine the specificity and selectivity of guanine nucleotide binding to each G-protein without removing those proteins from the synaptic membrane. Marked differences were noted between guanine nucleotide binding data obtained with detergent-soluble G-proteins and data from this in situ approach. In these studies it was found that the affinity of the G-proteins binding AAGTP correlated well with the expression of adenylate cyclase activity, the affinity of both forms of Gs increasing under conditions favoring the stimulation of that enzyme.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Chronic autoreceptor blockade and neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity.

Metoclopramide and sulpiride, two benzamide compounds, are equally potent in terms of their ability to block postsynaptic D2 dopamine receptors. However these compounds show a marked divergence in their ability to block dopamine autoreceptors, as metoclopramide is 20-25-fold more potent than sulpiride in blocking these receptors. When injected twice daily for 16 days, metoclopramide at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day will result in the development a postsynaptic dopamine receptor hypersensitivity (i.e., increased behavioral response to apomorphine upon cessation of the chronic treatment). An equivalent dose and treatment schedule with sulpiride has no apparent effect on dopamine receptor sensitivity. Because of the divergent pre- and postsynaptic potency of these two drugs it was possible to construct an autoreceptor "dose response curve" by varying the amount of these two drugs injected. Combinations of these two drugs were chosen so that the level or amount of postsynaptic dopamine receptor blockade was held constant while the amount of dopamine autoreceptor blockade was gradually increased. The results of this autoreceptor blockade "dose response curve" indicated that chronic autoreceptor blockade was involved in the increased dopamine receptor sensitivity that develops upon withdrawal from the neuroleptic drugs. These results suggest that the blockade of dopamine autoreceptors, and perhaps the resulting increase in autoreceptor sensitivity, is an integral component of the neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity.

Animals

In vivo effects of estrogen and 2-hydroxyestradiol on D-2 dopamine receptor agonist affinity states in rat striatum.

The administration of estrogen to ovariectomized rats will result in a dopamine receptor hyposensitive phase at 24 hours followed within 48 hours by a hypersensitive phase. In an attempt to characterize further the molecular mechanism(s) which underlie this biphasic response, we studied the effects of estrogen and one of its metabolites (2-hydroxyestradiol) on striatal D-2 dopamine receptor agonist affinity states. Ovariectomized rats were treated daily with estradiol benzoate (EB; 10 micrograms/kg/day) for 3 days and sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose. Additional groups were treated with 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE 2; 3 micrograms/kg/day), EB (100 micrograms/kg/day) or appropriate vehicle for 3 days and sacrificed 72 hours after the last injection. Animals sacrificed during the hyposensitive phase (i.e. 24 hours) displayed a significant decrease in the ratio of high/low agonist affinity states of the striatal D-2 receptor, while animals sacrificed during the EB- or 2-OHE 2-induced hypersensitive phase (i.e. 72 hours) showed no change in the ratio of high/low agonist affinity states.

Animals

Evaluation of ciladopa hydrochloride as a potential anti-Parkinson drug.

The effects of the putative dopamine agonist, ciladopa hydrochloride (AY 27,110) a non-ergot compound, were investigated in animal models of dopaminergic activity to evaluate its possible role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Ciladopa induced stereotyped behavior in both rats and guinea pigs. Unlike apomorphine, however, ciladopa did not produce a maximum behavioral response, i.e. stereotyped gnawing. Pretreatment with haloperidol and sulpiride blocked the effects induced by ciladopa. Pretreatment with reserpine and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine did not alter the behavioral effects of ciladopa. Ciladopa caused contralateral rotation in rats with unilateral lesions of the substantia nigra induced by 6-hydroxydopamine. Ciladopa induced vomiting in dogs. Small doses of ciladopa decreased locomotor activity in rats, an effect presumably mediated by presynaptic autoreceptors. The chronic injection of both subthreshold and suprathreshold doses of ciladopa failed to induce behavioral supersensitivity. Ciladopa binds to D-2 dopamine receptors in the mammalian caudate nucleus. These data indicate that ciladopa can cause stimulation of central dopaminergic receptors and that the drug is a partial dopamine agonist with direct-acting properties. Ciladopa differs from other available dopaminergic drugs and may possess therapeutic advantages for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Animals

The possible role of 2-hydroxyestradiol in the development of estrogen-induced striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity.

In the present study, we have confirmed the existence of a biphasic response in striatal dopamine receptor sensitivity following the administration of estradiol benzoate (EB). This biphasic response consists of a hyposensitive phase 24 h after the last injection of EB, followed by a hypersensitive phase 72 h after the last injection of EB. In contrast to this, the administration of 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2), a catechol metabolite of estrogen, resulted in a striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity at both 24 and 72 h after the last injection of 2-OHE2. Studies on the in vivo metabolism of [3H]estradiol to its [3H]catechol metabolites indicated that the administration of piperonyl butoxide (PBO; a microsomal enzyme inhibitor) significantly decreased the level of [3H]catechol metabolites of [3H]estradiol in the striatum and in the medial basal hypothalamus. In addition, PBO administration resulted in about a 7-fold decrease in the ability of estradiol to induce a striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity. These data indicate that the biphasic response in striatal dopamine receptor sensitivity following estrogen, may be mediated by separate molecular mechanisms. The association of the hypersensitive phase with pharmacological doses and/or treatment paradigms, the development of a similar hypersensitivity following the administration of the 2-OHE2 metabolite of estrogen and the attenuation of the estrogen-induced striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity in PBO pretreated animals all suggest that this striatal dopamine receptor hypersensitivity may be mediated, at least in part, by the catecholestrogens.

Animals

Effects of perinatal Kepone exposure on sexual differentiation of the rat brain.

Timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitonealy with Kepone dissolved in sesame oil on alternate days beginning on day 18 of gestation and extending through day 7 of lactation with doses of 10 or 5 mg/kg. At 7 days of age the neurologic development of the pups was assessed using the following tests: day of eye opening, occurrence of auditory startle, righting response, reflex suspension, tactile forelimb-placing response, negative geotaxis, and open-field activity. At 70 days of age, vaginal washes from female offspring were examined microscopically for evidence of cyclic activity. At 120 days of age, animals were sacrificed and the brains were examined histologically and the volume of the medial preoptic nucleus was determined. The results indicated that exposure of rat pups to Kepone via either placental and/or milk transfer can result in an acute, or transient, impairment of neurologic development and a possible permanent neuroendocrine impairment. The permanent neuroendocrine dysfunction may be similar to the androgenization phenomenon (i.e., female pups exposed to sex steroids during development) and thus may be related to the reported estrogenic properties of Kepone.

Aging