PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Worms

Publications and source records attributed to P Worms.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Biphasic effects of direct, but not indirect, GABA mimetics and antagonists on haloperidol-induced catalepsy.

At very low doses the GABA agonists SL 76002 and muscimol diminish haloperidol-induced catalepsy. At somewhat higher doses these compounds potentiate catalepsy. Biphasic effects on DA-receptor mediated functions have previously been noted with bicuculline and picrotoxinin. In contrast, manipulation of GABA levels by enzyme inhibition induced only a monophasic effect on dopamine-mediated behaviour. The potentiation of GABA levels by enzyme inhibition induced only a monophasic effect on dopamine-mediated behaviour. The potentiation of haloperidol-induced catalepsy by GABA mimetics is also observed with dipropylacetate, delta-aminovaleric acid and gamma-acetylenic GABA. This GABA-mimetic potentiation of catakepsy was blocked by the coadministration of bicuculline. These results confirm and extend the hypothesis that GABA-neurons influence DA neuron function. Furthermore they suggest that more than one group of GABA receptors influence directly and/or indirectly DA neuronal function, with different resultant effects.

Allylglycine↗

New anticonvulsants: Schiff bases of gamma-aminobutyric acid and gamma-aminobutyramide.

Schiff bases of gamma-aminobutyric acid (gammaAbu) and gamma-aminobutyramide (gammaAbuNH2) were prepared and tested for anticonvulsant and gammaAbu mimetic activity. 4-[[(4-Chlorophenyl)(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino]butanoic acid monosodium salt (4) and 4-[[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino]butanamide (5) blocked bicuculline-induced lethality and convulsions and displaced [3H]gammaAbu from its membrane binding sites. In the rat dorsal root sensory ganglion, compound 4 exhibited gammaAbu agonist properties. Compounds 4 and 5 are thus anticonvulsants and directly acting gammaAbu mimetics.

Animals↗

Differential blockade of bicuculline convulsions by neuroleptics.

Haloperidol, pimozide, sulpiride and metoclopramide blocked bicuculline-induced convulsions in mice. Chlorpromazine and thioridazine exhibited this effect at low doses whereas at higher doses (e.g. 1 mg/kg i.p. chlorpromazine) this activity was no longer apparent. A dose of phenoxybenzamine which was inactive alone (7.5 mg/kg i.p.) completely blocked the anti-bicuculline effect of sulpiride and antagonized that of haloperidol. These data are interpreted as indicating that intact noradrenergic systems are necessary for the anti-bicuculline effect of the neuroleptics.

Animals↗

Subsensitivity of striatal and mesolimbic dopamine target cells after repeated treatment with apomorphine dipivaloyl ester.

The effects of acute and repeated treatments with the dipivaloyl ester of apomorphine on behaviour and brain dopamine metabolism were compared in rats. A single injection of the ester (50 mg/kg i.p.) indued a stereotyped behaviour lasting for at least 6 h and a concomitant decrease in striatal HVA levels. After repeated treatment (twice daily for 7 days) with the drug, both the stereotyped behaviour and the decreases in striatal HVA levels were attenuated as compared to acute treatment; the minimal dose tested which induced this tolerance was found to be 25 mg/kg i.p. The minimal length of treatment with 50 mg/kg of the ester after which tolerance was observed was 3-4 days. The ED50 for haloperidol-induced catalepsy was about 4 times lower in rats treated with apomorphine dipivaloyl ester (50 mg/kg) for 7 days than in naive rats. Similarly, a shift to the left of the haloperidol dose-response curve for the increase in striatal dopamine metabolite levels was observed in rats treated subacutely with the ester as compared to control rats. Repeated treatment (7 days) with the dipivaloyl ester of apomorphine also attenuated the decrease in NVA levels seen with acute treatment in nucleus accumbens and tuberculum olfactorium; however, the threshold dose inducing tolerance in limbic regions was higher than in striatum. No difference in the brain concentrations of apomorphine was found after acute and repeated treatments with the ester. Thus, the present study provides evidence for the development of subsensitivity of dopamine receptors after repeated administration of aopomorphine dipivaloyl ester.

Animals↗

[Pharmacologic profile of an original psychotropic drug. Minaprine: comparison with six reference antidepressives].

Minaprine (MIN) is a 3-amino-pyridazine derivative which exhibits a profile of psychotropic activities which resembles that of antidepressant drugs as well as that of several dopaminomimetic drugs. This spectrum of activity differs from those observed in the same conditions for tricyclic (imipramine, clomipramine) and atypical (indalpine, nomifensine, amineptine, mianserin) antidepressant drugs. It must be noted that MIN is devoid of anticholinergic and motor stimulant effects. In addition, MIN induces behavioural effects predictive of a dopaminergic stimulation; the profile of this activity differs from that of apomorphine, as well as from those of amphetamine and nomifensine, but somewhat resembles that of bromocryptine. MIN does not induce neuroleptic, anxiolytic or anticonvulsant activities in rodents. These data suggest that MIN is an atypical antidepressant drug which activates both serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmissions, by as yet not clearly identified mechanisms.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗