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Biomedical subjects

K Nakato

Publications and source records attributed to K Nakato.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Phencyclidine-induced abnormal behaviors in rats as measured by the hole board apparatus.

RATIONALE: Phencyclidine (PCP) and methamphetamine (MAP) are known as psychotomimetic agents. Both agents produce behavioral alterations in animals. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the difference in behavioral alterations in rats induced by these two psychotomimetic agents using the hole board apparatus (HBA). In addition, mechanisms underlying PCP-induced behavioral changes were also investigated. METHODS: After the administration of PCP (1-4 mg/kg SC) or MAP (1-4 mg/kg SC), locomotor activity and dipping behavior were assessed using HBA. Effect of selective NMDA antagonists, (+)MK801 and 3-((+/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), on rat behaviors were also assessed. The effects of D-alanine (D-Ala), a coagonist of NMDA receptors, or neuroleptics, haloperidol, clozapine and risperidone, on PCP-induced behavioral changes were investigated. RESULTS: PCP increased locomotor activity and decreased exploratory behaviors of rats in HBA. On the other hand, MAP increased locomotor activity but did not decrease exploratory behaviors. (+)MK-801 produced hyperactivity as well as decreased exploratory behaviors, eliciting behavioral changes very similar to those of PCP. CPP decreased the exploratory behavior but failed to produce hyperactivity. D-Ala attenuated both behavioral changes induced by PCP. Three neuroleptics tested here inhibited hyperactivity but did not attenuate decreases in exploratory behavior. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PCP-induced decrease in exploratory behavior are attributable to antagonism of NMDA receptors and may not involve dopaminergic transmission via D2 receptors.

Alanine↗

Pharmacological studies on YM992, a novel antidepressant with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitory and 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity.

YM992 ((S)-2-[[(7-fluoro-4-indanyl)oxy]methyl]morpholine monohydrochloride) is a novel compound that has selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) re-uptake inhibition and 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity in vivo. YM992, fluoxetine and citalopram showed 5-HT uptake inhibition activity in l-5-hydroxy-tryptophan (l-5-HTP)-treated mice. YM992 and trazodone attenuated 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist-induced head-twitches in mice, indicating that these drugs had 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity. YM992 and amitriptyline were highly active in the mouse tail suspension test. In contrast, fluoxetine and citalopram showed only a tendency to reduce the immobility time. Single treatment with YM992 as well as trazodone and fluoxetine ameliorated the learning deficit of olfactory-bulbectomized rats, whereas citalopram and amitriptyline showed an ameliorative effect only after chronic treatment. Although YM992 has moderate affinity for alpha1-adrenoceptors, alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonism of YM992 in vivo was 10 times weaker than that of trazodone. These results demonstrate that YM992 has 5-HT uptake inhibition and 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity in vivo, and suggest that YM992 may be a novel antidepressant with high efficacy in clinical use.

Animals↗

Dopamine D3 and D4 receptor antagonists: synthesis and structure--activity relationships of (S)-(+)-N-(1-Benzyl-3-pyrrolidinyl)-5-chloro-4- [(cyclopropylcarbonyl) amino]-2-methoxybenzamide (YM-43611) and related compounds.

In this study, we synthesized a series of (S)-N-(3-pyrrolidinyl)benzamide derivatives, 1, 2a-d, 5a-1, and 7, and their enantiomers, (R)-1 and (R)-5c-e, and evaluated their binding affinity for cloned dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptors and their inhibitory activity against apomorphine-induced climbing behavior in mice. The results indicate that D2, D3, and D4 receptors have different bulk tolerance (D4 > D3 > D2) for the substituent of the 4-amino group (R1) on the benzamide nuclei and that cyclopropyl-, cyclobutyl-, and cyclopentylcarbonyl groups likely possess adequate bulkiness with respect to D3 and D4 affinity and selectivity over D2 receptors in this series. The results also suggested that the N-substituent (R2) on the pyrrolidin-3-yl group performs an important role in expressing affinity for D2, D3, and D4 receptors and selectivity among the respective subtypes. One of the compounds, (S)-(+)-N-(1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinyl)-5-chloro-4-[(cyclopropylcarbonyl+ ++) amino]-2-methoxybenzamide (5c) (YM-43611), showed high affinity for D3 and D4 receptors (Ki values of 21 and 2.1 nM, respectively) with 110-fold D4 selectivity and 10-fold D3 preference over D2 receptors and weak or negligible affinity for representative neurotransmitter receptors. Compound 5c displayed potent antipsychotic activity in inhibiting apomorphine-induced climbing behavior in mice (ED50 value, 0.32 mg/kg sc).

Animals↗

Cytosolic and intranuclear calcium signals in rat basophilic leukemia cells as revealed by a confocal fluorescence microscope.

A confocal fluorescence microscope with an argon-ion laser (488 nm) and a He-Cd laser (325 nm) was used to study spatial heterogeneity of the calcium signals in rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cloned cell line (RBL-2H3). After stimulation with antigen (2,4-dinitrophenol-conjugated bovine serum albumin), fluo-3-fluorescence intensities increased in individual RBL-2H3 cells with different lag times. Time-dependent profiles of the fluo-3-fluorescence intensities resembled closely the patterns of the sequential fluorescence-ratio images of fura-2, which were used to measure the intracellular free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in individual RBL-2H3 cells using a conventional fluorescence microscope. The present results obtained using the confocal fluorescence microscope showed spatial heterogeneities of fluo-3-fluorescence intensities, suggesting the existence of spatial heterogeneity of [Ca2+]i in RBL-2H3 cells. That is, the results showed that calcium signals first occurred transiently at pseudopodia in RBL-2H3 cells, then the signals transferred to the central parts of the cells. In addition, from the fluorescence images of co-loaded Hoechst 33342 (bisbenzimide H 33342, a DNA-specific probe) which were produced by excitation with a He-Cd laser, it was found that the fluorescence images of the nucleus were quite similar to those of the calcium signals mentioned above. This suggested that the receptor-mediated calcium signals were transferred not only to the cytoplasm but also to the nucleus.

Animals↗

[A case of occupational asthma caused by arrowhead scale in mandarin orange-worker].

A 50-year-old woman with occupational asthma, whose attacks were provoked by inhalation of Arrowhead scale (Unapsis Yanonensis Kuwana) attached to the leaves of mandarin oranges is reported. She experienced asthmatic attacks while picking leaves and harvesting mandarin oranges. Because Arrowhead scale-dust stuck to the leaves was suspected to be the allergen, tests of allergy were performed using an extract of the allergen prepared by Unger's method in our laboratory. Asthmatic attack was provoked 90 minutes after inhalation of the extract of cocoon. Histamine was not released, but leukotriene D4 production was induced by the addition of the extract to whole blood. Basophils were activated by addition of anti-IgG anti-sera as well as the extract. These data indicate that LT released from target cells in response to the worm elements, as well as histamine, is important as a chemical mediator.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗