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Biomedical subjects

J K Chang

Publications and source records attributed to J K Chang.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The analgesic and respiratory depressant actions of metorphamide in mice and rabbits.

Metorphamide (MET) elicited a potent, dose-dependent analgesia and respiratory depression in mice and rabbits. MET induced-analgesia was naloxone reversible and potentiated by bestatin. Naloxonazine, a relatively selective mu 1 blocker, at certain dosage (50 micrograms per rabbit, icv), could abolish the analgesia but not the respiratory inhibition produced by MET. Our result indicates that mu 1 receptors mediate the MET induced-analgesia but not its respiratory effect. Since MET is a mu- and kappa-ligand with very low delta activity, the MET induced respiratory depression may be mediated by mu 2 or kappa binding sites.

Analgesics↗

Clinico-radiological spectrum of giant supraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysms. Observations in 93 cases.

A review of a series of 312 giant intracranial aneurysms treated at University Hospital in London, Ontario, showed that 93 of those aneurysms were located between the intracavernous portion and the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. Sixty-five of those aneurysms were carotid ophthalmic, 12 were located in the internal carotid-posterior communicating-anterior choroidal artery regions and 16 involved the internal carotid artery bifurcation. For the majority, clinical presentation was related to the mass of the aneurysms and compression of surrounding structures such as visual pathways, ocular motor cranial nerves, the fifth nerve, and hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Fourteen patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography, computed tomography and xenon inhalation studies of cerebral blood flow were the tools used to study the morphology of the aneurysm and dynamics of the circle of Willis.

Brain↗

Opioid-like properties of seven dynorphin (1-10) analogs.

In order to disassociate the k action of dynorphin from its other actions, seven analogs were synthesized and evaluated for pharmacologic activity in comparison with dynorphin (1-13) and dynorphin amide (1-10). Dynorphin (1-10) was modified by protecting the terminal carboxy group, incorporating thioproline at position 10 and substituting methionine for leucine at position 5. All analogs exhibited the ability to inhibit electrically-induced twitches of the guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens in a manner that was dose dependent and naloxone reversible. The decapeptide terminating with a pyrrolidine group showed the highest potency in the ilea and mouse vas deferens. None of the analogs showed analgetic activity by the mouse tail flick test. Binding studies using mouse brain synaptosomes showed that all seven analogs can displace the binding of tritiated dihydromorphine (DHM), ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) and D-Ala-D-Leucine enkephalin (DADL). The alterations in chemical structure affected affinity of the analogs to the opiate receptor and their pharmacologic properties differently, suggesting that different opiate subtypes may be involved.

Animals↗

Dynorphin B-29: chemical synthesis and pharmacological properties in opioid systems in vitro.

Porcine dynorphin B-29 was synthesized by solid phase procedures and purified using gel filtration, ion exchange, reverse phase liquid chromatography and preparative high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Binding experiments using brain tissue indicated this peptide displaced mu and k ligands equally well and had significant, though less, affinity for delta. In isolated tissue systems, its potency ranked as follows: guinea pig ileum, mouse vas, rabbit vas, and rat vas. Interestingly, all IC50s were reduced in the presence of peptidase inhibitors, particularly in the rabbit vas. These results indicate that dynorphin B-29 like dynorphin, interacts with multiple receptors in the brain, as well as in isolated tissue systems.

Animals↗

Depressor and natriuretic activities of several atrial peptides.

Mammalian atria contain peptides that have depressor and natriuretic activities. Four peptides, atriopeptin I to III (AP I to III) and alpha-human atrial natriuretic factor (alpha-hANP), were synthesized and assayed in the urethane-anesthetized rat for cardiovascular changes and natriuretic activities. All four peptides produced depressor responses and natriuresis. The relative activities were: alpha-hANP = AP III greater than AP II greater than AP I. The disappearance of iodinated AP III from plasma was rapid, with an estimated half-life of 2.5 min. Atriopeptin III was degraded by tissue homogenates, the relative activities being: kidney greater than liver greater than lung greater than plasma greater than heart. The HPLC profile of AP III suggested that smaller peptide fragments were formed after incubation with kidney homogenates. The degradation of AP III was inhibited by bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, and SQ 20881, a carboxypeptidase inhibitor.

Animals↗

Growth-hormone-releasing factor immunoreactivity in human endocrine tumors.

Seventy-three human tumors and adjacent nonneoplastic tissues were analyzed immunohistochemically for the presence of growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF). Four of 9 pancreatic endocrine tumors, 2 of 3 appendiceal carcinoids, and 1 of 5 cecal carcinoids were immunoreactive for GRF. One of the GRF-containing pancreatic tumors was associated with acromegaly. Histologically, the growth patterns of these tumors were variable, and the distribution of immunoreactive cells was patchy and irregular. There were no normal cells that contained GRF. These results indicate that GRF production by human tumors is more common than previously thought, although clinical acromegaly may not be apparent in patients who harbor such neoplasms.

Acromegaly↗

Identification of gastrin releasing peptide-related substances in guinea pig and rat brain.

Rat and guinea pig brain extracts were examined for the occurrence of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-like substances by sequence specific radioimmunoassays interfaced with gel filtration and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Tryptic digestion of the immunoreactive peptides followed by RP-HPLC was used to further characterize GRP-related peptides in brain. Using these analytical techniques it was found that guinea pig brain extracts contained a peptide with characteristics identical to authentic GRP (27 amino acid residues long). A carboxyterminal fragment with the characteristics of GRP(18-27) as well as a respective aminoterminal fragment with the characteristics of GRP(1-16) were also present in guinea pig brain extracts. The GRP(18-27) seems to correspond to the bombes in related material that has been described previously in mammalian brain extracts. Rat brain extracts also contained a peptide with the characteristics of GRP(18-27). The corresponding aminoterminal fragment, however, behaved differently on RP-HPLC from authentic GRP(1-16) and it was not recognized by antibodies directed to the aminoterminal tridecapeptide fragment of authentic GRP. Similarly the GRP-like peptide from rat brain did not comigrate on RP-HPLC with authentic GRP and was unreactive to antibodies directed toward the aminoterminus of GRP.

Animals↗

Immunoreactive dynorphin-(1-8) and corticotropin- releasing factor in subpopulation of hypothalamic neurons.

Immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and dynorphin-(I-8) were visualized in rat hypothalamus by immunohistofluorescence with specific antibodies. In brains from colchicine-treated, adrenalectomized rats, neuronal perikarya with immunoreactive CRF were observed in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The CRF occurred together with the dynorphin-(1-8). However, the CRF immunoreactivity occurred only in a subpopulation of the dynorphin-(1-8) immunoreactive cells. These findings suggest that there may be a functional interrelationship of CRF with dynorphin-related opioid peptides and provide further evidence that neurons may contain more than one bioactive substance.

Animals↗

The role of amino-terminal sequence of beta-endorphin and dynorphin in the determination of opiate receptor type selectivity.

Previous studies have shown that morphiceptin is a highly selective mu-receptor agonist. Recently we have obtained a more potent and stable analog, Tyr-Pro-NMePhe-D-Pro-NH2 (PL017). This peptide retains mu-receptor selectivity. beta-Endorphin is known to be a potent but non-selective opioid peptide for mu-, delta- and benzomorphan binding sites. Dynorphin is a putative kappa-agonist with significant affinity to mu-, delta- and benzomorphan binding sites in rat brain membranes. To understand the structural requirement for receptor type selectivity the enkephalin sequence of beta-endorphin and dynorphin was replaced by that of morphiceptin analog. Replacing the Met-enkephalin sequence of beta h-endorphin by PL017 yields a peptide highly selective for mu-binding sites. Substituting the Leu-enkephalin sequence of dynorphin-17 produces a peptide [PL017-dynorphin(6-17)] that retains high affinities for mu- and kappa-binding sites and has very low affinities for delta- and benzomorphan binding sites. These results suggest that a morphiceptin sequence at the amino-terminus of large opioid peptides can dictate mu-receptor selectivity. An enkephalin sequence at the amino-terminus of large opioid peptides seems to be required to retain high affinity for delta- and benzomorphan binding sites. The high affinity of PL017-dynorphin(6-17) for kappa-binding sites but not for benzomorphan binding sites suggests that benzomorphan sites of rat brain are not kappa-sites.

Animals↗

Potent morphiceptin analogs: structure activity relationships and morphine-like activities.

Morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH2), a nonenkephalin peptide, is an opioid agonist highly selective for mu opiate receptors. Chemical modification of Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH2 was carried out by substituting structurally related amino acids at residues 2, 3 and 4. The morphiceptin analogs synthesized were then examined for receptor binding activities using 125I-labeled FK 33,824 (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-NMePhe-Met(O)-ol) as the mu-ligand and 125I-labeled D-Ala2,D-Leu5-enkephalin as the delta-ligand, and for inhibitory activities on electrically evoked smooth muscle contraction of mouse vas deferens and isolated myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle strips of guinea-pig ileum. All of these analogs showed virtually no activity at delta opiate receptor binding sites. Methylation of the nitrogen atom of phenylalanine and the substitution at the C-terminal of L-proline by D-proline produced potent mu-agonists, the prototype analog being Tyr-Pro-NMePhe-D-Pro-NH2 (PL017). The IC50 values of morphiceptin and its analogs for mu receptor binding were correlated to the ED50 values in the guinea-pig ileum assay, suggesting that the ileum effects were mediated by mu receptor interactions. A similar correlation between mu receptor binding activity and the ED50 values in the mouse vas deferens assay suggested that morphiceptin and its analogs also acted on mu receptors in this tissue. This idea is supported by the observation that naloxone has a high pA2 value of 8.71 against PL017 in mouse vas deferens. In in vivo studies, PL017 administered centrally into the rostral portion of the 4th ventricle produced long-lasting, naloxone-reversible analgesia in rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Blood pressure elevation in rats by peripheral administration of Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe and the invertebrate neuropeptide, Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2.

Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRFamide), injected at less than 1 mumol/kg intravenously in the anesthetized rat, produces sharp elevations of blood pressure and changes in respiration. The effects were dependent on the carboxyterminal Arg-Phe (RF) configuration and were stereospecific for these two amino acids. A related peptide with RF carboxyterminus, gamma 1-melanotropic stimulating hormone, also had potent blood pressure stimulating activity. The mechanisms underlying the pressor effect of FMRFamide have not yet been established but this pressor action was not significantly attenuated by standard pharmacologic antagonists or prevented by removal of the adrenal or pituitary gland.

Animals↗

Analgesic activity of intracerebroventricular administration of morphiceptin and beta-casomorphins: correlation with the morphine (micro) receptor binding affinity.

Analgesic activities of morphiceptin, beta-casomorphins, [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin and Sandoz peptide, FK 33-824, were examined by intracerebroventricular administration in rats. Their relative potencies in vivo were compared with their receptors binding activities. The receptors binding affinities were determined from the competition curves against [3H]naloxone binding in the absence and presence of sodium ions for morphine (micro) receptors and against 125I-[D-A1A2, D-Leu]enkephalin binding for enkephalin (delta) receptors. A good correlation between analgesic activity and morphine (micro) receptor but not enkephalin (delta) receptor binding affinity was obtained. These data extend the hypothesis that morphine (micro) receptors mediate the major portion of the analgesic activity of opioids.

Analgesia↗

Possible regulatory role of dynorphin-(1-13) on narcotic-induced changes in naloxone efficacy.

Pretreatment of mice with a single injection of morphine, beta-endorphin, Leu-enkephalin, FK33824 or [D-Ala2-D-Leu5]enkephalin, for 3 h increased the ability of naloxone to antagonize the analgesic effects of morphine. However, dynorphin-(1-13) can only antagonize morphine, beta-endorphin or Leu-enkephalin induced increased naloxone efficacy but not FK33824 or [D-Ala2-D-Leu2]enkephalin. Dynorphin itself can also increase naloxone efficacy when treated alone. However, this effect can be prevented when animals are pretreated with dynorphin and naloxone together.

Analgesia↗