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Biomedical subjects

M E Hunt

Publications and source records attributed to M E Hunt.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

A comparison between MMPI and CPI adult profiles of children of alcoholics and nonalcoholics.

Findings of a comparison of CPI and MMPI subscale score means between 31 children of alcoholics/problem drinkers (COAs) and 120 non-COAs in a longitudinal panel only minimally support the oft-quoted clinical literature's assertions concerning differences in adult outcome between COAs and non-COAs. However, findings appear to be congruent with the findings of other panel studies in the United States and Sweden. Implications for further research are noted.

Adaptation, Psychological

A comparison of family of origin factors between children of alcoholics and children of non-alcoholics in a longitudinal panel.

Secondary analysis of longitudinal panel data reveals minimal differences in family of origin factors between children of alcoholics (COAs) and children of non-alcoholics (non-COAs). From 220 subjects, 37 parents were identified as alcoholic. The COA subjects' retrospective reports about family of origin factors were compared to those of non-COAs. Contrary to the assertions of the COA clinical literature, few differences were found between the two groups. However, these differences are congruent with the findings of other panel studies which have investigated family of origin factors and adult outcome among COAs.

Adult

Unilateral ibotenic acid lesion of the caudate putamen results in D2 receptor alterations on the contralateral side.

Dopaminergic projections to the caudate putamen (CPu) involve fibers in the nigrostriatal pathway from the ipsilateral substantia nigra-pars compacta. Post-synaptic receptor populations on cells receiving this information are composed of both D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes. In the present study, unilateral lesions of the CPu, with ibotenic acid, caused a significant reduction in D2 receptor mRNA on the ipsilateral side, as evidenced by in situ hybridization. Similarly, a reduction of D2 receptor binding (as demonstrated with [3H]raclopride) was observed on the lesioned side. As expected, there was no significant change in the D2 receptor binding on the contralateral side. However, a significant increase of D2 receptor mRNA (> 100%) was found in the CPu on the contralateral side when compared to sham-lesioned animals. These results indicate that compensatory changes may be occurring on the unlesioned side of the brain. These changes may reflect elevated transcription from DNA to mRNA or decreased translation of the D2 mRNA to protein following unilateral damage in the CPu. The observation of bilateral influence in the striatal dopamine receptor system may be of paramount importance in understanding movement disorders. These findings could influence the interpretation of results obtained in animal models of human disease in which the dopamine receptor system of the basal ganglia is compromised.

Amino Acid Sequence

Reduction in striatal D2 dopamine receptor mRNA and binding following AF64A lesions.

Unilateral lesions by a cholinotoxin, receptor autoradiography, and in situ hybridization techniques were employed to determine if dopaminergic receptors are located on cholinergic interneurons in the caudate-putamen (CPu). Lesion of the CPu with small amounts of the cholinotoxin AF64A resulted in a significant decrease in D2 receptor mRNA and D2 receptor binding. The loss was more pronounced in lateral and central portions of the CPu. Results obtained using [3H] SCH23390 binding to D1 receptors indicated that there was no change in this dopamine receptor subtype in the AF64A-lesioned CPu. A decrease in D2 receptor mRNA and receptor binding in AF64A-lesioned animals indicates that a population of postsynaptic D2 receptors is associated with the cholinergic interneurons. Lack of any change in [3H]SCH23390 binding in the AF64A-lesioned animals suggests that D1 receptors are not located on cholinergic neurons. These results provide evidence to support the selectivity of the lesion when used as indicated.

Animals

Characterization of the binding and comparison of the distribution of benzodiazepine receptors labeled with [3H]diazepam and [3H]alprazolam.

The binding characteristics of [3H]diazepam and [3H]alprazolam were obtained by in vitro analysis of sections of rat brain. Dissociation, association, and saturation analyses were performed to optimize the conditions for obtaining selective labeling of benzodiazepine receptors with the two tritiated compounds. Both drugs approached equilibrium rapidly in vitro. Rosenthal analysis (Scatchard plot) of the saturation data indicated a similar finite number of receptors was being occupied by both ligands. Competition studies, using various ligands to inhibit both [3H]diazepam and [3H]alprazolam indicated that these two compounds bind to the tissue sections as typical benzodiazepine drugs and apparently do not overlap onto other subtypes of receptors. These experiments were performed by both binding assay in tissue sections and by light microscopic autoradiography. The major difference between the labeling of the two compounds is represented by the peripheral benzodiazepine sites, which are recognized by [3H]diazepam, but not occupied by [3H]alprazolam (at nanomolar concentrations). This difference was readily apparent in the autoradiograms. Other pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties must distinguish these two benzodiazepines.

Alprazolam

[3H]SCH39166, a D1 dopamine receptor antagonist: binding characteristics and localization.

Schering-Plough Research has developed a new, more specific analogue of SCH23390. This compound, SCH39166, has been shown to be a potent, specific, D1 receptor antagonist with several features which are advantageous over its predecessor. In this report, the binding characteristics of [3H]SCH39166 are described by in vitro analysis in rat brain tissues. The binding was shown to be of high affinity (Kd in the low nM range), saturable, and specific (readily displaceable with SCH23390, but not with the D2 receptor antagonists sulpiride or haloperidol). The binding of SCH39166 is more selective for binding to D1 receptors than SCH23390 with regard to overlap of the latter compound onto 5HT2 and 5HT1C receptors. Autoradiographic localization of D1 receptor sites labeled with [3H]SCH39166 showed a very specific distribution in areas known to contain high quantities of D1 receptors. These regions included the deepest layer of the cerebral cortex, the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, entopeduncular nucleus, and substantia nigra-pars reticulata, as well as less dense binding in a few other areas. At the concentration of ligand used (1 nM), there was a noticeable paucity of labeling in lamina IV of the cerebral cortex and in the choroid plexus, regions of high 5HT2 and 5HT1C receptor binding, respectively. Thus, SCH39166 represents a new D1 receptor antagonist which shows a greater specificity for the D1 receptor than its predecessor SCH23390. As previously shown, another distinct advantage of this compound is its stability in primates which should allow the determination of the effects and utility of D1 receptor antagonism in vivo.

Animals

Naturally occurring retirement communities: a multiattribute examination of desirability factors.

This study investigated the factors important in older individuals' attraction to and satisfaction with apartment complexes that become naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). Quantitative measures examining the relative importance of various apartment complex attributes in attracting older and younger people to apartments that have and have not become NORCs were obtained by using a multiattribute scaling procedure. Results are presented from two main perspectives: a comparison of the factors attracting older residents to NORCs and non-NORCs; and a comparison of the factors attracting older and younger residents to NORCs.

Aged

Aging in place: a dilemma for retirement housing administrators.

The phenomenon of aging in place poses fundamental questions for administrators and planners of housing for the elderly. Based on a planning study for one retirement facility in the upper Midwest, we reviewed current knowledge pertinent to aging in place and present the findings of interviews with 13 housing administrators and present some limited market analysis of the host community of the subject retirement facility.

Activities of Daily Living

Role of ribosomal RNA methylases in the regulation of ribosome production in mammalian cells.

The activity of rRNA methylases was stimulated by high-energy precursors of RNA (ribonucleoside triphosphates) and inhibited by degradation products of RNA (ribonucleotides and oligoribonucleotides). The response of methylases from rat Novikoff ascites tumor and liver to these metabolites was strikingly different. The highly active tumor enzymes responded preferentially to inhibition by catabolic metabolites, whereas the less active liver enzymes responded exclusively to stimulation by anabolic metabolites. When the activity of rRNA methylases was assayed in response to increasing concentration of S-adenosylmethionine, the tumor enzymes responded with a hyperbolic substrate dependence curve and the liver enzymes with a sigmoidal curve. In the presence of an inhibitory dinucleotide, ApA, the tumor enzymes responded with a sigmoidal curve; in the presence of a stimulator, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, the liver enzymes responded with a hyperbolic substrate concentration curve. When normal rats were subject to a series of treatments by thioacetamide, a hepatocarcinogen, the liver nucleolar rRNA methylases became responsive to inhibition by ApA and relatively unresponsive to stimulation by adenosine 5'-triphosphate. When tumor-bearing rats were treated with polyinosinate:polycytidylate, an antitumor agent, the tumor nucleolar rRNA methylases became unresponsive to inhibition by ApA and more responsive to stimulation by adenosine 5'-triphosphate. A correlation was noted between increased methylation efficiency in vivo and increased stability of nucleolar RNA during incubation in vitro, or vice versa. These results are interpreted to indicate that rRNAmethylases are regulated by cellular metabolites during the nucleolar biosynthesis of ribosomes and that rRNA methylases may provide a favorable site for selective action by cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Alterations in cortical muscarinic receptors following cholinotoxin (AF64A) lesion of the rat nucleus basalis magnocellularis.

Cortical choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), muscarinic receptors and sodium-dependent, high-affinity, choline uptake (SDHACU) sites were examined in the rat brain following unilateral stereotaxic injection of the cholinotoxin, AF64A, into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). Injection of AF64A resulted in a significant loss of presynaptic cholinergic markers in the cortex without alteration in TH and TPH activity. The binding to SDHACU sites was reduced to background values in the NBM and increased in the central amygdala (Ce) and cortex. The increase in cortical [3H]QNB binding was the result of a change in muscarinic receptor number (BMAX) and not a change in receptor affinity (KD). Examination of muscarinic receptor subtypes demonstrated a reduction of M1 receptor binding in the cortex and NBM without any alteration in the Ce. Non-M1 binding was significantly increased in all the laminae of the cortex and in the Ce, but decreased in the NBM. These data suggest that there exists a population of M1 receptors on NBM projections to the cortex and that NBM projections influence a population of postsynaptic receptors in the cortex and Ce which are not of the M1 subtype.

Amygdala

D1-receptor antagonists: comparison of [3H]SCH39166 to [3H]SCH23390.

A radiolabeled form of the benzonaphthazephine, SCH39166 was used to characterize the binding of this D1 antagonist in cortex, and an autoradiographic comparison of the localization of [3H]SCH39166 to [3H]SCH23390 (D1 antagonist and forerunner of SCH39166) binding was performed. The Kd for [3H]SCH39166, calculated from dissociation and association rate constants (1.09 nM), was comparable to the Kd value derived from Scatchard analyses of saturation data (1.74 nM). [3H]SCH39166 binds to brain tissue in a saturable manner with high affinity and low non-specific binding. Inhibition of [3H]SCH39166 binding by dopaminergic and serotonergic agents supports the hypothesis that this is indeed a D1-specific compound with little overlap onto serotonin (5-HT) receptors. The affinity of [3H]SCH39166 for 5-HT2 and 5-HT1c receptors is at least an order of magnitude lower than the affinity of [3H]SCH23390 for these same receptor sites. Quantitative autoradiographic analysis of [3H]SCH39166 and [3H]SCH23390 binding indicates high D1-receptor density in the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, substantia nigra and entopeduncular nucleus. Low levels of binding (not significantly above background) were detected with [3H]SCH39166 in lamina IV of the cortex and in choroid plexus; areas which had significant [3H]SCH23390 binding and are known to have a high density of 5-HT (5-HT2 and 5-HT1c respectively) receptors.

Animals

Prefrontal cortex and working memory for spatial response, spatial location, and visual object information in the rat.

In the first experiment, rats were trained on a working memory task for a spatial response (right-left turn) information using a delayed matching-to-sample procedure. Following lesions of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPF), which includes anterior cingulate and medial precentral cortex, there was a profound working memory deficit even at the shortest delay. In the second experiment, rats were trained on a working memory task for spatial location information using a delayed matching-to-sample procedure. Following lesions of the MPF, there was only a mild working memory deficit, whereas following dorsal hippocampal lesions there was a profound working memory deficit even at the shortest delay. In the third experiment, rats were trained on a working memory task for visual object information using a delayed nonmatching-to-sample procedure. Following lesions of the MPF, there were no working memory deficits, whereas following lesions of the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex there was a profound working memory deficit even at the shortest delay. The results suggest that different neural subregions of the prefrontal cortex mediate working memory for specific attribute information.

Animals