PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K F Soliman

Publications and source records attributed to K F Soliman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Altered responsiveness to stress and NMDA following prenatal exposure to cocaine.

Pregnant Sprague--Dawley rats were treated once daily with 40-mg/kg cocaine or saline from gestation days (GD) 12 to 21. A third group of pregnant dams was used as a pairfed control. Male and female offspring were examined for stress endurance response as determined by the cold-water swim test on postnatal days (PND) 21, 30, 40, and 60. Male and female offspring exposed to cocaine in utero were found to have diminished tolerance and altered hormonal response to stress. Moreover, prenatal cocaine exposure has been associated with significant increases in severity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 35 mg/kg) behavioral responses (tail twitches, wetdog shaking, and convulsion) as compared to control. Examining the experimental groups for pain sensitivity using the tail-flick and the hot-plate methods indicated that prenatal cocaine exposure altered pain sensitivity. NMDA receptor binding studies showed an increase in receptor density in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the cocaine-treated group. These results indicate that gestational cocaine exposure is associated with long-term alterations in response to stress, NMDA receptor, and pain sensitivity in the rat offspring.

Aging↗

Effect of antioxidants on L-glutamate and N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion induced-neurotoxicity in PC12 cells.

The neuropathology associated with Parkinson's disease within and around the substantia nigra is thought to involve excessive production of free radicals, dopamine autoxidation, defects in the expression of glutathione peroxidase, attenuated levels of reduced glutathione, altered calcium homeostasis, excitotoxicity and genetic defects in mitochondrial complex I activity. While the neurotoxic mechanisms are vastly different for excitotoxins and N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), both are thought to involve free radical production, compromised mitochondrial activity and excessive lipid peroxidation. In the present study, several dietary antioxidant compounds, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and ergogenic compounds were examined for protective action against neurotoxicity induced by L-glutamate (15 mM) or MPP+-HCl (5 mM) in a plastic adhering variant of murine pheochromocytoma cells. The results show no significant protective effects exhibited by azulene, (+)-catechin, curcrumin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, green tea, morin, pygnogenol, silymarin, clove oil, garlic oil or rosemary, extract. Compounds, which were effective in providing protection against L-glutamate-induced cell death, were coenzyme Q-0, coenzyme Q-10, L-deprenyl and N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Compounds, which provided protection against MPP+-HCl toxicity, were allopurinol, coenzyme Q-10, L-deprenyl, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and sesame oil. In both models, significant protection was achieved in the presence of coenzyme Q-10, L-deprenyl and N-acetyl-L-cysteine. These results indicate that the mechanism of cell death in both of these toxicity models is most likely not related to the destructive effects of free radicals.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗

The role of inducible-nitric oxide in cocaine-induced kindling.

Experimentally naive male Sprague Dawley rats (weighing 85-110 g) were used to examine the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cocaine-induced kindling. Repeated administration of cocaine (45 mg/kg, i.p.) to Sprague Dawley male rats for 7 consecutive days produced a progressive increase in the convulsive responsiveness and death. Pretreatment with iNOS inhibitors, L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (NIL; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and (-)-epigalloocatechin gallate (EGCG; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before cocaine (45 mg/kg, i.p.) administration for 7 days attenuated the development of cocaine kindling and blocked cocaine-induced death. Results of NMDA receptor binding assay in the hippocampus showed a significant increase in the affinity without changes in the density in animals treated with cocaine, but there were no changes in these parameters in the cortex. Pretreatment with NIL or EGCG prior to cocaine administration abolished the cocaine-induced effect in the NMDA receptor affinity in the hippocampus. These results suggest that iNOS induction followed by an increase of NMDA receptor affinity in the hippocampus after repeated exposure to cocaine may participate in the process of the development of cocaine kindling.

Animals↗

Effects of time of day on chlorpyrifos-induced alterations in body temperature.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate (OP) insecticide and is among the most common and widely used commercial insecticides. Human intoxication is reported to result in a typical set of responses, which include an immediate and long lasting hyperthermic response (fever). Rodents exposed to similar doses exhibit a biphasic body temperature response: short-term hypothermia followed by subtle hyperthermia several days after administration. Time of day of administration has been suggested to alter the body temperature effect of CPF. In the present study, it is shown that adult male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to CPF via (oral) gavage at four different times of the day demonstrate a hypothermic response, the timing and magnitude of which is independent of time of exposure and that is blocked by atropine pretreatment. However, a delayed (hyperthermic) response seems to be exhibited only when dosing occurs during the light phase. Our findings support existing theories that the hypothermic and hyperthermic effects of CPF work through independent mechanisms. It is also suggested that humans may indeed exhibit a biphasic temperature response to CPF intoxication, but that it is not typically detected.

Animals↗

Behavioral responses to repeated cocaine exposure in mice selectively bred for differential sensitivity to pentobarbital.

Mice from the 20th generation of three lines divergently selected for response to pentobarbital-induced sedation times [long-sedation time (LST), short sedation time (SST), and randomly bred control (RBC)] were used to study cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization. These lines showed variable degrees of locomotor activities in response to cocaine. At a low cocaine dose and long withdrawal period (10 mg/kg, twice a day for 5 days followed by a 14-day withdrawal), the LST mice showed tolerance development. In response to cocaine, the locomotor activities of the SST were not significantly different from the RBC group. At a higher dose and a shorter withdrawal period (20 mg/kg, daily for 7 days followed by a 3-day withdrawal), the SST mice showed behavioral sensitization similar to the RBC mice, but the LST mice did not develop sensitization. The different responses in locomotor activity induced by cocaine suggest that genetic factors may play a role in determining the magnitude of response to this drug. Dopamine (DA) levels did not differ significantly in either striatum (STR) or nucleus accumbens (NAC) for the cocaine-treated animals to their corresponding saline-treated controls. The affinity (Kd) of D2 in the NAC decreased significantly, without changes in density (Bmax), in the cocaine-treated SST and RBC mice. On the other hand, the density of D2 binding sites in the SST and the RBC mice in the STR was significantly increased in cocaine-treated groups without change in Kd. The LST mice did not show any changes in the Kd and Bmax in either the STR or the NAC. Taken together, these findings suggest that the changes in the Kd of D2 in the NAC and the Bmax of D2 in the STR may contribute to the differences in locomotor responses to cocaine exposure in these mouse lines.

Analysis of Variance↗

The neurochemical basis for the behavioral effects of triadimefon.

Administration of triadimefon (TDF) [1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1-H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanone] in rodents incites heightened locomotor and stereotypy response, primarily through potentiation of dopaminergic activity. In the present study, 8 male Sprague-Dawley rats received repeated injections, on alternate days (100 mg/kg, 14 days) of TDF or corn oil. Enhanced locomotor and stereotypy behavioral patterns occurred in response to TDF injections, lasting until the 12th day of injection. Tolerance to this effect was evident by a lack of response to TDF injection by the 14th day. Similarly, a withdrawal period and challenge dose of TDF (5 days, 25 mg/kg) was ineffective in espousing locomotor or stereotypy behavioral changes. Cross sensitization to cocaine was also evident, since withdrawal and a challenge dose (8 days, 5 mg/kg) was also ineffective. Adaptative biochemical changes in dopaminergic function were examined after both acute (100 mg/kg) and repeated administration of TDF (100 mg/kg, 14 days) by examining [3H]dopamine (DA) uptake and DA release in both striatal (ST) and nucleus accumbens (NA) tissue. In corroboration with behavioral pattern indicating development of tolerance, there were significant changes in dopaminergic function. Repeated TDF exposure in vivo resulted in significant attenuation of ST and NA DA uptake in response to TDF (10(-4) to 10(-7) M) or cocaine (10(-5) to 10(-8) M) in vitro. Acute exposure to TDF in vivo also attenuated ST DA inhibitory effects of cocaine and TDF. Repetitive administration of TDF in vivo had no effect on in vitro TDF- or amphetamine-stimulated release of ST or NA DA. However, there was a significant reduction in amphetamine-stimulated DA release in animals after acute exposure to TDF in vivo. It was concluded from this study that the effects of chronic TDF exposure may primarily involve effects on DA uptake in the ST and NA.

Amphetamine↗

The anti-inflammatory effects of quinolinic acid in the rat.

Quinolinic acid (QUIN) levels are elevated in patients and animals suffering from chronic infectious diseases. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to test the anti-inflammatory effects of QUIN using the carrageenan (CGN)-induced paw edema assay and the CGN sponge assay. Results of these studies indicate that QUIN (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg i.p.) caused a reduction of carrageenan-induced inflammation by as much as 80% at the highest dose. Moreover, QUIN reduced exudate volume and inhibited leukocyte migration in the sponge granuloma assay. In another experiment, the anti-inflammatory activity of QUIN was eliminated in adrenalectomized rats. QUIN did not reduce edema caused by arachidonic acid, bradykinin or compound 48/80. Neither morphine nor naloxone altered the anti-inflammatory activity of QUIN. These results may suggest that QUIN exerts its anti-inflammatory activity through a direct action on neutrophils or vascular permeability.

Animals↗

Prenatal cocaine exposure affects postnatal dopaminergic systems in various regions of the rat brain.

Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected once daily with either 40 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride or 0.9% saline from gestation day (GD)12 to GD 21. On postnatal day (PND)30, male offspring were sacrificed and fresh tissue from the striatum (ST) and nucleus accumbens (NA) was dissected for assessment of dopamine (DA) receptor affinity, DA uptake and DA release. 10(-6) M cocaine inhibited [3H]-DA uptake in ST tissue, whereas 10(-4) and 10(-5) M cocaine inhibited [3H]-DA uptake in the NA tissue of postnatally exposed cocaine offspring verses saline-treated controls (p < 0.05). DA release stimulated by 10(-6) M amphetamine was significantly reduced in both the ST (p < 0.001) and NA (p < 0.01) of postnatal offspring exposed to cocaine in utero compared with saline controls. In utero cocaine exposure did not influence offspring ST or NA dopamine 1 (D1) dissociation constant (Kd) or receptor density (Bmax). However, the treatment group experienced a significant increase of binding affinity for the ST D2 receptor with no change in D2 Bmax. The treatment group also experienced no change in D2 receptor binding affinity or number of binding sites in the NA. These results show that in utero exposure to cocaine results in altered postnatal dopaminergic function.

Animals↗

The effects of gestational cocaine exposure on pregnancy outcome, postnatal development, cognition and locomotion in rats.

Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with either 40 mg/kg (-)cocaine hydrochloride or an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline, subcutaneously (s.c.), once daily from gestational day 12 (GD 12) to GD 21. Gestational cocaine exposure had no effect on maternal weight gain, length of gestation, birthweight, fetal mortality, postnatal weight gain or locomotive activity in offspring. There was an unusual reduction in the male/female offspring ratio in the treated group (1:0.65) verses controls (1:1.04) (p < 0.01). Male offspring scored significantly lower on memory and learning tasks on postnatal day 30 (PND30) as determined by the water maze test (p < 0.01). Exposure to cocaine in utero had no effect on postnatal female sexual maturation or cognitive function. The present study indicated that gestational cocaine exposure can lead to cognitive impairment selectively in male offspring, without any apparent postnatal physical abnormalities or adverse effects on maternal health status.

Animals↗

Gestational cocaine exposure alters postnatal pituitary-adrenal axis activity and stress endurance in rats.

Female pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected once daily with 40 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride or 0.9% saline from gestational day 12 (GD 12) to GD 21. From postnatal day 21 (PND 21) to PND 60, both male and female offspring were examined for stress response. Treated male and female offspring demonstrated a diminished tolerance to stress as determined by a cold water stress test performed at PND 21, 30 and 40. Base hormonal levels of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone were not affected by prenatal cocaine exposure in male offspring at PND 30. However, immobilization for 1 hr caused a significant sustained elevation of corticosterone levels at both PND 30 and PND 60 in male treated offspring as compared to the control group. Plasma ACTH levels were also significantly sustained after 1 hr of immobilization at PND 60 for the cocaine-treated male offspring. These results indicate both a diminished capacity to respond to stress and an abnormal heightened reactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis in offspring exposed to cocaine in utero.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Repeated administration of cocaine alters dopamine uptake and release in the striatum nucleus accumbens.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.) cocaine-HCI twice daily for 14 consecutive days (total of 50 mg/kg), while control animals received an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline. After three days of withdrawal, the animals were sacrificed for dissection of striatal (STR) and nucleus accumbens (NA) brain regions. The treated group demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction for in vitro cocaine inhibition of [3H]dopamine (DA) uptake in the NA tissue verses controls. There were no significant differences amongst the treated and control groups for in vitro cocaine inhibition of [3H]DA in the STR. In vitro d-amphetamine (1, 5 and 10 microM)-stimulated DA release from STR tissue was not significantly different between the treated and the control groups. However, there was a significant decline in basal STR DA release and a significant enhancement of d-amphetamine (1 and 5 microM)-stimulated DA release in the NA for the treatment group versus controls. The results from the present study indicates sensitization to cocaine is primarily related to DA uptake and release in the NA.

Animals↗

The analgesic effects of tryptophan and its metabolites in the rat.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150-200 g were given doses of tryptophan methyl ester or its metabolites; kynurenine sulphate, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, quinolinic acid, anthranilic acid methyl ester or picolinic acid methyl ester. Doses administered intraperitoneally were 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 mg kg-1. Pain sensitivity was assessed using the hotplate and tailflick methods at 30 min before and at 30-min interval after the injection of test compounds. The administrations of tryptophan, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, anthranilic acid, xanthurenic acid, picolinic acid, and kynurenine were associated with analgesia. Animals given 300 or 600 mg kg-1 of tryptophan exhibited a significant decrease (P<0.05; P<0.01, respectively) in pain sensitivity with the hotplate test. l-Kynurenic acid (300 mg kg-1) produced analgesia (P<0.01) 30 min after drug administration. Quinolinic and anthranilic acids both produced prolonged decrease in pain sensitivity (P<0.05) using the tailflick test. These results indicate that tryptophan and some of its metabolites possess analgesic properties.

Analgesics↗

The thymolytic effect of cocaine and monoaminergic drugs in the mouse.

Cocaine abuse is known to be associated with suppression of the immune system. In this experiment, animals treated with cocaine (CC) in their drinking water (200 mg/L) for 10 days resulted in a significant decrease in thymus weight in HSD-NDA male Swiss mice. A subsequent in-vitro experiment was designed to investigate the direct effect of cocaine and other dopaminergic agents on thymocyte proliferation. Thymus glands were aseptically removed from mice and thymocytes were isolated and then incubated in microtiter plates with various concentrations (10[-8]-10[-4] M) of CC, apomorphine (AM), haloperidol (HP), dopamine (DA) and epinephrine (EN) for 18 hrs. The results revealed that cocaine inhibits [3H]-thymidine uptake into DNA in a dose-dependent manner. Apomorphine, haloperidol and dopamine also exhibited a similar dose dependent inhibition of thymocyte proliferation. The IC25s for DNA synthesis inhibition were 8.2 x 10(-6) M, 4.3 x 10(-7) M, 2.5 x 10(-7) M, and 1.1 x 10(-7) M for CC, HP, DA and AM, respectively. EN was found not to have any significant effect on DNA synthesis. The results suggest that thymus gland atrophy, associated with use of CC may be related to the inhibition of thymocyte proliferation.

Animals↗

Food constituents attenuate monoamine oxidase activity and peroxide levels in C6 astrocyte cells.

Glial cell monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity has been implicated as a contributor to oxidative neuronal damage associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. The attenuation of MAO activity may provide protection against oxidative neurodegeneration. In this investigation, the presence of MAO-B in rat C6 astrocyte cells was substantiated by dose-dependent inhibition of enzyme activity in the presence of chlorgyline-HCl and L-deprenyl. The present study evaluated various dietary-derived food constituents for evidence of inhibition on oxidative deamination of monoamines or peroxide radical trapping capacity. Results of this investigation indicate that compounds which inhibit C6 glial cell MAO enzyme activity or scavenge peroxide product include chlorogenic acid, (+)-catechin, taxifolin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), fisetin, coenzyme Q0, curcumin, sesamol, morin, sesame oil, silymarin, green tea, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin hydrate. The results of this study indicate that dietary compounds can attenuate peroxide production in glial cells by either inhibiting the deamination of monoamines or acting as a free radical scavenger.

Animals↗

Divergent selection for pentobarbital-induced sedation times in mice.

Divergent selection for pentobarbital sedation-time response was practiced in mice for 9 generations. At the end of 9 generations of selection, the long-sedation-time line (LST) slept an average of 433 min; the short sedation time line (SST) slept an average of 29 min. The control line (C) slept an average of 71 min. These differences represent an almost 15-fold increase in sedation time for the LST compared to the SST line and a 6-fold increase compared to the C line. The SST line slept about 40% less than the C line after 9 generations of selection (measured in tenth generation progeny). Analysis of selection differentials and realized heritabilities indicated that selection response did not diminish after 9 generations of selection. Realized heritabilities for sedation time ranged from 0.43 to 0.83 for the LST line and from 0.55 to 0.81 for the SST line. Realized heritabilities did not decrease in magnitude due to selection progress, indicating that more progress can still be achieved. Comparing corrected (for environmental factors) to uncorrected heritabilities showed the importance of including a control line in selection experiments. Crossing of lines to study gene action responsible for this trait revealed that this trait was controlled by a number of genes with additive gene action without dominance, overdominance, epistasis, or maternal effects.

Animals↗

In vitro attenuation of nitric oxide production in C6 astrocyte cell culture by various dietary compounds.

Excessive nitric oxide (NO) production in the brain has been correlated with neurotoxicity and the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. NO production from neuroglial cells surrounding neurons contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of these diseases. The suppression of NO production in these cells may be beneficial in retarding many of these disorders. The present study was designed to evaluate the capacity of dietary-derived polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, crude extracts, oils, and other food constituents in suppressing the release of NO from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) stimulated C6 astrocyte cells. In this experiment, 61 compounds were tested, and 36 showed significant suppressive effects of NO production. The results indicate that the following compounds exhibited a dose-dependent suppressive effect of NO production with an IC50 less than 10(-3) M: quercetin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, morin, curcumin, apigenin, sesamol, chlorogenic acid, fisetin, (+)-taxifolin, (+)-catechin, ellagic acid, and caffeic acid. Compounds, which reduce NO production at less than 300 ppm, include milk thistle, silymarin, grapenol, and green tea. These results demonstrate a possible value for dietary compounds to inhibit the excessive production of NO.

Animals↗

Inhibition of the rat adrenal ornithine decarboxylase activity by immobilization stress and/or dexamethasone.

The effects of immobilization stress and/or dexamethasone (DEX) on the adrenal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activities of sham-operated and adrenal-medulloectomized (enucleated) male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. On day 11 after surgery, rats were injected with saline or DEX (1 mg/kg), 3 h before the time of sacrifice (0600 h or 1800 h). Four groups, from sham-operated and enucleated rats (ENU) treated with saline or DEX were subjected to immobilization stress for 1 h prior to sacrifice. Groups of rats from stress-sham-DEX, non stress-sham-DEX, stress-sham, non stress-sham, stress-ENU-DEX, non stress-ENU-DEX, stress-ENU, and non stress-ENU were sacrificed at 0600 h or 1800 h on day 11 after surgery. Adrenal glands were excised and later analyzed for ODC activities. Results indicated that DEX and/or immobilization stress inhibited ODC activities (p<0.05) in normal and regenerating adrenal glands at 1800 h and ODC activity varies diurnally, the activity being greater at 1800 h than at 0600 hours (p<0.001).

Adrenal Glands↗