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Biomedical subjects

V Radhakrishnan

Publications and source records attributed to V Radhakrishnan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Novel AMPA receptor potentiators LY392098 and LY404187: effects on recombinant human AMPA receptors in vitro.

The present study describes the activity of two novel potent and selective AMPA receptor potentiator molecules LY392098 and LY404187. LY392098 and LY404187 enhance glutamate (100 microM) stimulated ion influx through recombinant homomeric human AMPA receptor ion channels, GluR1-4, with estimated EC(50) values of 1.77 microM (GluR1(i)), 0.22 microM (GluR2(i)), 0.56 microM (GluR2(o)), 1.89 microM (GluR3(i)) and 0.20 microM (GluR4(i)) for LY392098 and EC(50) values of 5.65 microM (GluR1(i)), 0.15 microM (GluR2(i)), 1.44 microM (GluR2(o)), 1.66 microM (GluR3(i)) and 0.21 microM (GluR4(i)) for LY404187. Neither compound affected ion influx in untransfected HEK293 cells or GluR transfected cells in the absence of glutamate. Both compounds were selective for activity at AMPA receptors, with no activity at human recombinant kainate receptors. Electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that glutamate (1 mM)-evoked inward currents in human GluR4 transfected HEK293 cells were potentiated by LY392098 and LY404187 at low concentrations (3-10 nM). In addition, both compounds removed glutamate-dependent desensitization of recombinant GluR4 AMPA receptors. These studies demonstrate that LY392098 and LY404187 allosterically potentiate responses mediated by human AMPA receptor ion channels expressed in HEK 293 cells in vitro.

Allosteric Regulation↗

A comparison of the burst activity of lateral thalamic neurons in chronic pain and non-pain patients.

Thalamic neurons are known to switch their firing from a tonic pattern during wakefulness to a bursting pattern during sleep. Several studies have described the existence of bursting activity in awake chronic pain patients and have suggested that this activity is abnormal and may be related to their pain. However, we have frequently observed bursting activity in awake non-pain patients suggesting that there may not be a causal relationship between thalamic bursting activity and chronic pain. To examine this issue more rigorously we compared the incidence and pattern of bursting activity of lateral thalamic neurons of both pain and non-pain patients in a state of wakefulness. Recordings were obtained from lateral thalamic areas of different groups of patients (n = 91) suffering from pain disorders (e.g. anaesthesia dolorosa, phantom limb pain, trigeminal neuralgia, post-stroke pain) and motor disorders (e.g. Parkinson's disease, essential tremor) during stereotactic surgical procedures for the treatment of pain and movement disorders. Burst indices (the number of bursting cells per electrode track) were computed for all the explorations in the two groups. The burst indices in the pain and non-pain groups (1.73 +/- 0.28 and 1.14 +/- 0.16, respectively) were not significantly different from each other. The bursts were analyzed to see if they fulfilled the criteria of low-threshold calcium spike (LTS)-evoked bursts characterized by (i) a shortening of the first interspike interval with an increase in the number of interspike intervals in the burst and also (ii) a progressive prolongation of successive interspike intervals. LTS-evoked bursts were identified in 27/47 (57%) bursting cells in pain patients and 15/32 (47%) cells in non-pain patients. These data demonstrate that the occurrence of bursting activity and of LTS-evoked bursts in the human thalamus is prevalent in both pain and non-pain patients. This suggests that the bursting activity of thalamic neurons in pain patients is not necessarily related to the occurrence of their pain.

Action Potentials↗

Potentiality of tricyclic compound thioridazine as an effective antibacterial and antiplasmid agent.

Thioridazine (Th), which is therapeutically used in psychiatric patients, was found to possess conspicuous antimicrobial activity when tested against 316 strains belonging to a number of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Although Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio chloerae and V. parahaemolyticus were found to be most sensitive, Th was highly bactericidal against S. aureus and bacteriostatic for vibrios and other Gram negative organisms. In the study of antiplasmid/curing effect of Th on twelve multiply antibiotic and Th resistant bacteria, it was observed that elimination of R plasmids was facilitated by choice of optimal concentration of Th. Significant elimination of single and combined antibiotic resistance occurred in E. coli and Shigella flexneri and not in S. aureus.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Locomotion: dealing with friction.

To move on land, in water, or in the air, even at constant speed and at the same level, always requires an expenditure of energy. The resistance to motion that has to be overcome is of many different kinds depending on size, speed, and the characteristics of the medium, and is a fascinating subject in itself. Even more interesting are nature's stratagems and solutions toward minimizing the effort involved in the locomotion of different types of living creatures, and humans' imitations and inventions in an attempt to do at least as well.

Animals↗

The nonpeptide NK-1 receptor antagonists LY303870 and LY306740 block the responses of spinal dorsal horn neurons to substance P and to peripheral noxious stimuli.

The effects of novel substance P (NK-1) receptor antagonists LY303870 and LY306740, as well as LY306155, the enantiomer of LY303870, were tested on the responses of nociceptive spinal dorsal horn neurons to iontophoretically applied substance P and to peripheral noxious stimuli. The peripheral stimuli included noxious thermal and pinch stimuli applied to the cutaneous receptive field in the hind paw and stimulation of the superficial peroneal nerve with a train of high-intensity electrical stimuli. Extracellular recordings were obtained using multi-barrel electrodes from L4-L7 segments of the spinal cord in cats anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose and spinalized at the L1 level. The antagonists were given i.v. (0.5-4.0 mg/kg). Responses to substance P were inhibited by LY303870 and by LY306740 in a dose-related manner, but were not affected by LY306155. Responses to peripheral noxious thermal stimulation were inhibited in a dose-related manner by LY303870 and LY306740, and only at higher doses (2 mg/kg or more) by LY306155. Responses to pinch stimuli were inhibited by LY303870 and LY306740. LY306155 lacked consistent effects on pinch responses. LY303870 selectively inhibited the late component of the response to electrical stimulation of the superficial peroneal nerve. When these three drugs were tested against the responses of dorsal horn neurons to the excitatory amino acid, N-methyl-D-aspartate, the responses were unaffected. These data suggest that LY303870 and LY306740 pass from the circulation into the spinal cord where they antagonize dorsal horn neuronal responses to substance P and nociceptive inputs.

Acetamides↗

Substance P and enkephalin immunoreactivities in axonal boutons presynaptic to physiologically identified dorsal horn neurons. An ultrastructural multiple-labelling study in the cat.

A combination of intracellular electrophysiological recording and injection of horseradish peroxidase with ultrastructural immunocytochemistry was used to investigate the synaptic interplay between substance P- and enkephalin-immunoreactive axonal boutons and three types of functionally characterized dorsal horn neurons in the cat spinal cord. The dorsal horn neurons were classified as nociceptive specific, wide dynamic range and non-nociceptive based on their responses to innocuous and noxious stimuli. Most of the nociceptive neurons (either nociceptive specific or wide dynamic range) contained enkephalin immunoreactivity, but none of the non-nociceptive neurons were positive for enkephalin. Three types of immunoreactive boutons were found in contact with the functionally characterized dorsal horn neurons. These boutons were positive for either substance P, enkephalin, or substance P+enkephalin. Quantitative analysis revealed that the percentages of substance P-immunoreactive boutons apposed to the cell bodies, proximal dendrites and distal dendrites of nociceptive neurons were significantly higher than those of non-nociceptive neurons. Furthermore, the percentages of substance P+enkephalin-immunoreactive axonal boutons apposed to the distal dendrites of nociceptive neurons were significantly higher than those of non-nociceptive neurons and the percentages of enkephalin-immunoreactive boutons apposed to the cell bodies and proximal dendrites of nociceptive neurons were significantly higher than in non-nociceptive neurons. Finally, neither enkephalin-immunoreactive nor substance P+enkephalin-immunoreactive boutons were ever seen presynaptic to substance P-immunoreactive boutons. These results provide evidence of an anatomical substrate within the dorsal horn for the interaction of substance P-mediated with enkephalin-mediated mechanisms. The data support the idea that the modulation of nociceptive input in the dorsal horn by enkephalinergic neurons occurs mainly via a postsynaptic mechanism, and thus suggest that dorsal horn enkephalinergic neurons participate in a local inhibitory feedback loop in a distinct pathway from the previously postulated opioid-mediated depression of substance P release from primary afferent terminals.

Animals↗

Electrophysiological evidence that neurokinin A acts via NK-1 receptors in the cat dorsal horn.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the non-peptide NK-2 receptor antagonist, SR 48968 on the responses of dorsal horn neurons to iontophoretic application of the endogenous NK-2 receptor ligand, neurokinin A, and on synaptically elicited responses in chloralose-anaesthetized cats. The effect of iontophoretic application of neurokinin A was tested on 51 dorsal horn neurons. Of these, 43 were wide dynamic range and the rest non-nociceptive neurons. Neurokinin A induced a slow, prolonged excitation of 25 of the wide dynamic range neurons. All remaining neurons were unaffected. SR 48968 (50 microg to 1.0 mg/kg, i.v.) did not affect the on-going basal activity (n = 8) or the slow excitation induced by neurokinin A in any of the nine wide dynamic range neurons tested. To eliminate the possibility that systemically administered SR 48968 may not be reaching central sites, SR 48968 was also applied iontophoretically (70-120 nA) to five neurons and tested against excitatory responses to iontophoretically applied neurokinin A. The on-going activity of these cells were unaffected by SR 48968. The responses to neurokinin A were also unaffected suggesting that neurokinin A did not mediate its effects via NK-2 receptors. SR 48968 also had no effect on the excitatory responses of seven neurons to iontophoretic application of the NK-1 receptor agonist, substance P indicating that substance P actions are not mediated via NK-2 receptors and that SR 48968 did not react with NK-1 receptors. Responses of the neurons to non-noxious (hair) stimulation (n = 10), noxious mechanical (n = 5) and noxious thermal (n = 8) stimulation of the receptive field were also unaffected by SR 48968, suggesting a lack of participation of NK-2 receptors in these responses. However, responses of wide dynamic range neurons to neurokinin A were totally blocked by i.v. administration (0.5 mg/kg) of the NK-1 receptor antagonists CP-96,345 (n = 7) and CP-99,994 (n = 5) but not by CP-96,344 (n = 4), the inactive enantiomer of CP-96,345. These data suggest that neurokinin A, like substance P may be acting via NK-1, rather than NK-2 receptors, to produce excitation of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the cat spinal cord.

Animals↗

Quantitative analysis of substance P-immunoreactive boutons on physiologically characterized dorsal horn neurons in the cat lumbar spinal cord.

A quantitative analysis of substance P (SP)-immunoreactive (IR) terminals contacting physiologically characterized dorsal horn neurons was performed. Three types of neuron were studied: nociceptive specific (NS) from lamina I (n = 3), wide dynamic range (WDR) from laminae II-IV (n = 3), and nonnociceptive (NN) from lamina IV (n = 3). The nociceptive response of focus was a slow, prolonged depolarization to noxious stimuli, because this response was previously shown to be blocked by selective neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists. Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry was used to quantify the relative number of SP-IR boutons apposed to the intracellularly labeled cell per unit of length (density). Densities of the total population (SP immunoreactive+nonimmunoreactive) of apposed boutons were similar in all three regions (cell body, proximal and distal dendrites) for the three functional types of neuron. NS neurons received a significantly higher density of appositions from SP-IR boutons than NN cells in all three regions. However, compared to WDR cells, NS cells possessed a significantly higher density of appositions from SP-IR boutons only in the cell body and proximal dendrites. WDR cells had a higher density of appositions from SP-IR boutons than NN cells, but only in the proximal and distal dendrites. On average, 33.5% of the SP-IR boutons apposed to the cells displayed a synaptic contact. Finally, 30-45% of the SP-IR boutons apposed to the cells colocalized calcitonin gene-related protein (CGRP) immunoreactivity, indicating their primary sensory origin. The data indicate a direct correlation between the amount of SP-IR input and the nociceptive nature of the cells and suggest that SP acts on NK-1 receptors at a short distance from its release site.

Animals↗

Implication of a nitric oxide synthase mechanism in the action of substance P: L-NAME blocks thermal hyperalgesia induced by endogenous and exogenous substance P in the rat.

The effects of i.p. administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) and its inactive isomer, D-NAME, were tested in two nociceptive paradigms in the rat. In the first paradigm, rats were lightly anaesthetized with a mixture of chloral hydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p.) and sodium pentobarbital (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Tail flick reaction times were monitored and thermal hyperalgesia was induced by immersion of the tail in hot water at 55 degrees C for 1.5 min. In the groups of rats pretreated with saline (n = 5), 100 mg/kg D-NAME (n = 6), 10 (n = 5) or 25 (n = 6) mg/kg L-NAME, this thermal injury induced a transient reduction in the reaction time that was 54-59% of the baseline value. However, in the groups of rats pretreated with 50 (n = 6) or 100 (n = 7) mg/kg L-NAME the reaction times were 73.9 +/- 2.7% (P < 0.05) and 102.3 +/- 0.9% (P < 0.001) of the baseline values respectively, indicating a block of the hyperalgesic responses seen in the other groups. As this hyperalgesia has been reported to be blocked by NK-1 receptor antagonists, it is suggested that it is due to the action of endogenous substance P. In the second paradigm, tail flick responses were monitored in the awake rat and thermal hyperalgesia was induced by intrathecal administration of substance P (6.5 nmol) via a chronically implanted catheter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Antagonism of nociceptive responses of cat spinal dorsal horn neurons in vivo by the NK-1 receptor antagonists CP-96,345 and CP-99,994, but not by CP-96,344.

Extracellular and intracellular studies were undertaken to test the effects of the non-peptide, substance P (NK-1) receptor antagonists CP-96,345 and CP-99,994, and of CP-96,344, the inactive enantiomer of CP-96,345, on the responses of spinal dorsal horn neurons to peripheral noxious and non-noxious cutaneous stimuli in spinalized cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. The effect of these agents on the response of dorsal horn neurons to iontophoretic application of substance P was also tested in extracellular studies. The substance P-induced slow, prolonged discharge of dorsal horn neurons was blocked by administration (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) of CP-96,345 (n = 10) or CP-99,994 (n = 9), but was unaffected by CP-96,344 (n = 9). The response of substance P-sensitive neurons to noxious thermal stimulation of the cutaneous receptive field, especially the late afterdischarge phase, was also significantly inhibited by CP-96,345 (n = 10) and by CP-99,994 (n = 7). The response of such neurons to noxious pinch stimulation of the receptive field was also significantly inhibited by CP-96,345 (n = 7) and CP-99,994 (n = 8), but the response of three other substance P-sensitive neurons to pinch was unaffected by CP-96,345. CP-96,344 did not affect the response of any neuron tested to either of these noxious stimuli (noxious thermal, n = 7; pinch, n = 6). The response to hair afferent stimulation was unaffected by any of these compounds (CP-96,345, n = 16; CP-96,344, n = 5; CP-99,994, n = 6). In intracellular studies, the effect of these antagonists was tested on responses of dorsal horn neurons to noxious pinch stimulation or to a train of high intensity electrical stimulation of the superficial peroneal nerve. Both stimuli produced an initial fast depolarization followed by a slow and prolonged depolarization with corresponding discharge patterns. CP-96,345 (n = 3) and CP-99,994 (n = 6) selectively blocked the late, slow components of the stimulus-evoked response without affecting the early components. Responses to single electrical pulses of the same intensity and duration were not affected. CP-96,344 did not affect any of the responses tested (n = 5). The data indicate that nociceptive responses of a subset of spinal dorsal horn cells are selectively blocked by the NK-1 receptor antagonists, CP-96,345 and CP-99,994, thus confirming the involvement of NK-1 receptors in these responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Spontaneous haemorrhage in acoustic neurinomas.

Gross intratumoural haemorrhage in acoustic neurinoma is rare. The authors describe seven patients, out of a consecutive 99 cases of acoustic neurinoma operated by the first author, who presented with haemorrhage. Risk factors for haemorrhage appear to be large size, mixed Antoni type and secondary vascular changes.

Adult↗

Excitatory amino acid receptor mediation of sensory inputs to functionally identified dorsal horn neurons in cat spinal cord.

As excitatory amino acid receptors have been implicated in nociceptive sensory transmission, the principal objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of various excitatory amino acid antagonists on naturally evoked responses in spinal dorsal horn neurons. Extracellular single unit activity was recorded from functionally identified, spinal dorsal horn neurons in unanesthetized, decerebrated cats and in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cats. The tests included iontophoretic application of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and kynurenate, and also the intravenous administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, ketamine. In addition, attempts were made to determine the effects on these neurons of iontophoretic application of the excitatory amino acid agonists, L-glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, quisqualate, (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) and domoate. Marked differences were noted in the actions of agonists and antagonists between the responses observed in the unanesthetized, decerebrated and the anesthetized animals. In decerebrated cats, responses to hair afferent stimulation were blocked by kynurenate, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. Responses to noxious thermal stimulation were attenuated by 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid and in one unit also by ketamine. Neither 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione nor kynurenate affected the responses to noxious thermal stimulation. The proportion of cells responding to the agonists were: N-methyl-D-aspartate 24/27 (89%), quisqualate 12/13 (92%) and domoate 6/7 (86%). In chloralose-anesthetized cats, responses to hair afferent stimulation were blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and kynurenate but not by 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. Responses to noxious thermal stimulation were not affected by any of these antagonists, while the response to non-noxious thermal stimulation was blocked by 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid, ketamine and kynurenate in the one neuron studied. The proportion of cells excited by the agonists differed from those observed in decerebrated cats: N-methyl-D-aspartate 9/32 (28%), quisqualate 50/54 (93%), (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate 19/23 (83%) and domoate 17/38 (45%). Application of the putative endogenous excitatory amino acid precursor N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG) did not elicit a response in any of the neurons studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

CP-96,345, but not its stereoisomer, CP-96,344, blocks the nociceptive responses to intrathecally administered substance P and to noxious thermal and chemical stimuli in the rat.

The effects of subcutaneous administration of the non-peptide NK-1 (substance P) receptor antagonist, CP-96,345, and its stereoisomer, CP-96,344, were tested in three nociceptive paradigms in the rat. In the first paradigm, tail flick responses were monitored before and after intrathecal administration of substance P (6.5 nmol) in rats pretreated subcutaneously with saline, CP-96,344 (5 mg/kg) or CP-96,345 (5 mg/kg). In the control groups, pretreated with saline (n = 6) or with CP-96,344 (n = 5), substance P reduced the tail flick reaction time at 1 min after administration to 38.3 +/- 5.1 (mean +/- S.E.M.) and 32.1 +/- 7.7% of the mean baseline value, respectively. In contrast, in the group pretreated with CP-96,345 (n = 6) the reaction time following administration of substance P was 98.8 +/- 3.3% of the baseline reaction time; this value was not significantly different from the baseline value of this group, indicating a block (P < 0.01) of the substance P-induced facilitation of the tail flick response. In the second paradigm, rats were anesthetized with a mixture of chloral hydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p.) and sodium pentobarbital (20 mg/kg, i.p.), and the effects were determined on tail flick reaction time of a sustained noxious cutaneous stimulation, immersing the tip of the tail in hot water at 55 degrees C. In the groups of rats pretreated with saline (n = 4) or with CP-96,344 (n = 7), this noxious stimulus produced a transient decrease in reaction time to 62-74% of the baseline value.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

L-NAME blocks responses to NMDA, substance P and noxious cutaneous stimuli in cat dorsal horn.

The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), administered i.v. (50 mg kg-1) or by iontophoresis, was tested on the responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in cats anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose and spinally transected at the L1 level. Extracellular, single-unit recordings were obtained from functionally identified dorsal horn cells. All units included in this study were wide dynamic range neurones. L-NAME significantly reduced the responses of (i) twelve neurones to noxious thermal stimulation of the receptive field, (ii) nine neurones to noxious pinch, (iii) nine neurones to iontophoretic application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and (iv) ten neurones to iontophoretic application of substance P. The inhibition usually lasted for 50-70 min following i.v. administration and for 5-8 min after iontophoretic application of L-NAME. The responses of four neurones to iontophoretic application of quisqualate were not affected by L-NAME. The results suggest the possible involvement of nitric oxide in the mediation of the spinal effects of NMDA and substance P, and in the transmission of thermal and mechanical nociceptive imputs.

Animals↗

Novel substance P antagonist, CP-96,345, blocks responses of cat spinal dorsal horn neurons to noxious cutaneous stimulation and to substance P.

Responses of dorsal horn neurons to iontophoretic application of substance P (80-120 nA), and to noxious thermal and noxious mechanical stimulations of the receptive field in the hind limb were tested in adult cats before and after the administration of the specific, non-peptide, NK-1 receptor antagonist CP-96,345 (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.). CP-96,345 inhibited the response of the neurones to substance P and also the response of these substance P-sensitive neurones to noxious thermal stimulation. The response of the substance P-insensitive neurones to noxious heat stimulations were, however, unaffected by CP-96,345. The effect of CP-96,345 on the response of neurones to noxious mechanical stimulation was variable. The results confirm the role of substance P in thermal nociception.

Animals↗