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A Concas

Publications and source records attributed to A Concas.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Failure of gamma-hydroxybutyrate to alter the function of the GABAA receptor complex in the rat cerebral cortex.

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible interaction of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) with the GABAA receptor complex in the rat cerebral cortex. To this purpose we studied the effect of in vitro addition and in vivo administration of GHB on the biochemical parameters currently used to evaluate the function of the GABAergic system. In vitro addition of increasing concentrations of GHB failed to modify [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FNZ) binding and the modulatory action of GABA on this binding. Moreover, unlike diazepam, GHB did not modify in vitro both muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake and t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to rat cerebral cortex. In vivo administration of sedative and hypnotic doses of GHB (300-750 mg/kg IP) failed to induce in 60 min any significant change in the [35S]TBPS binding to unwashed cortical membranes. Moreover, GHB also failed to antagonize the increase in [35S]TBPS binding (+55%) induced by isoniazid (350 mg/kg SC). In contrast, at the highest doses used, this drug completely antagonized the seizure activity induced by isoniazid. In conclusion, our data show that GHB fails to alter the function of the GABAA/benzodiazepine/ionophore receptor complex in the rat cerebral cortex.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Biochemical and electrophysiologic evidence that propofol enhances GABAergic transmission in the rat brain.

The influence of propofol, a new intravenous anesthetic agent, on brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic transmission has been investigated both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, propofol, like benzodiazepines, 1) markedly enhanced 3H-GABA binding in cortical membrane preparations; 2) potentiated muscimol-induced stimulation of 36Cl- uptake in membrane vesicle preparations (the propofol potentiating effect was antagonized by bicuculline); and 3) inhibited 35S-TBPS binding to unwashed membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex. Finally, propofol failed to displace 3H-flunitrazepam from its binding site, indicating that its site of action in brain is different from that of benzodiazepines. In vivo, the effect of propofol was studied using single-unit recording of the electrical activity of both nondopaminergic neurons in the pars reticulata of the substantia nigra (PR neurons) and of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra (DA neurons). PR neurons are known to be inhibited by GABA-mimetic drugs and benzodiazepines, whereas DA neurons are tonically inhibited by PR neurons. The intravenous administration of propofol, in a fat emulsion formulation, produced a brief dose-dependent inhibition of the firing rate of PR neurons. The dose producing 50% inhibition of the firing rate was calculated to be 1.2 +/- 0.1 mg/kg. The inhibitory effect lasted less than 5 min. Repeated injections of propofol reproduced the same inhibitory response, whereas continuous infusion (0.5 mg.kg-1.min-1) produced a persistent inhibition of neuronal firing. The inhibitory effect of propofol on PR neurons was potentiated by diazepam and reversed by picrotoxin and bicuculline but was not influenced by the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788. These findings suggest that propofol exerts a GABA-mimetic action on PR neurons by acting on a site distinct from the benzodiazepine recognition site. Unlike benzodiazepines, propofol inhibited the firing rate of DA neurons with a potency proportional to its inhibitory effect on PR neurons. The inhibition of DA neurons was reversed by bicuculline and picrotoxin. The results suggest that propofol enhances the inhibitory control over DA neurons by strionigral GABAergic neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ex vivo binding of t-[35S )butylbicyclophosphorothionate: a biochemical tool to study the pharmacology of ethanol at the gamma-aminobutyric acid-coupled chloride channel.

The effects of acute administration of ethanol on t-[35S]Butylbiclophosphorothionate (35S-TBPS) binding measured ex vivo in unwashed membrane preparations of rat cerebral cortex were investigated. Ethanol, given i.g., decreased in a dose-related (0.5-4 g/kg) and time-dependent manner the binding of 35S-TBPS. This effect was similar to that induced by the administration of diazepam (0.5-4 mg/kg i.p.). Scatchard plot analysis of this radioligand binding revealed that ethanol, differently from diazepam, decreased the apparent affinity of 35S-TBPS recognition sites whereas it failed to change the density of these binding sites. The effect of ethanol on 35S-TBPS binding could not be reversed by the previous administration to rats of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, Ro 15-1788 (ethyl-8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H- imidazo[1,5a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate). Vice versa, the benzodiazepine receptor partial inverse agonist, Ro 15-4513 (ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H- imidazo[1,5a][4,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) (8 mg/kg i.p.), prevented completely ethanol-induced decrease of 35S-TBPS binding. The ability of Ro 15-4513 to prevent the action of ethanol was shared by the anxiogenic and proconvulsant beta-carboline derivatives, FG 7142 (N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide) (12.5 mg/kg i.p.) and ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (0.6 mg/kg i.v.), which, per se, enhanced this parameter. Moreover, ethanol (0.5-4 g/kg) was able to reverse the increase of 35S-TBPS binding elicited by the s.c. injection of isoniazid (350 mg/kg) and to clearly attenuate the severity of tonic-clonic seizures produced by this inhibitor of the GABAergic transmission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Reduction of reticulata neuronal activity by zolpidem and alpidem, two imidazopyridines with high affinity for type I benzodiazepine receptors.

Zolpidem and alpidem, two imidazopyridines with high affinity for the type I benzodiazepine recognition site, have recently been proposed as preferential hypnotic (zolpidem) and anxiolytic (alpidem) drugs notable for the minor incidence of side-effects. To further characterize the molecular mechanism involved in the action of these drugs, we studied their effects in comparison with those of diazepam on the spontaneous electrical activity of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) neurons. These cells have been shown to be extremely sensitive to various positive and negative modulators of GABAergic transmission. All three drugs consistently produced a dose-dependent (0.03-8.0 mg/kg i.v.) inhibition of the firing of SNR cells when administered as a single bolus. However, zolpidem was more potent and efficacious than diazepam or alpidem. The ID50s were 0.076, 0.492 and 0.821 mg/kg, respectively. When the drugs were injected in exponentially (ratio 2) increasing doses up to 8.0 mg/kg, the rank order for tachyphylaxis was zolpidem much greater than diazepam greater than alpidem. Since the effects of the drugs were abolished and prevented by a small dose (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) of flumazenil (Ro 15-1788), it is likely that the effects were mediated through activation of benzodiazepine receptors. The results indicate that the hypnotic, zolpidem, has a more potent inhibitory action on SNR cell activity than the anxiolytics, alpidem and diazepam.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Diazepam enhances bicuculline-induced increase of t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in unwashed membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex.

The effect of diazepam on t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex was examined in the presence or absence of GABA. The in vitro addition of diazepam to unwashed membranes preparations (rich in endogenous GABA) decreased [35S]TBPS binding by 41%. On the contrary, diazepam produced an opposite effect (+28%) when GABA had been removed by extensive washes of membranes. Moreover, diazepam increased by 26% [35S]TBPS binding also in unwashed membrane preparations previously incubated with bicuculline. These results suggest that, in absence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), diazepam may have a paradoxical negative modulatory action on the function of the GABAA receptor-coupled chloride channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

GABAergic and dopaminergic transmission in the rat cerebral cortex: effect of stress, anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs.

Benzodiazepines produce their pharmacological effects by regulating the interaction of GABA with its recognition site on the GABAA receptor complex. In fact, the anxiolytic effect of benzodiazepines may be considered the consequence of the activation of the GABAA receptors induced by these drugs. On the contrary, beta-carboline derivatives which bind with high affinity to benzodiazepine recognition sites modulate the GABAergic transmission in a manner opposite to that of benzodiazepines. Thus, these compounds reduce the function of the GABA-coupled chloride channel and produce pharmacological effects (anxiogenic, proconvulsant and convulsant) opposite to those of benzodiazepines. Taken together, these data strongly indicate that the GABAA receptor complex plays a major role in the pharmacology, neurochemistry and physiopathology of stress and anxiety. This conclusion is further supported by the finding that the function of the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complex may be modified by the emotional state of the animals before sacrifice. Accordingly, using an unstressed animal model, the 'handling-habituated' rats, it has been demonstrated that stress, like anxiogenic drugs, decreases the function of GABAA receptor complex, an effect mimicked by the in vivo administration of different inhibitors of GABAergic transmission and antagonized by anxiolytic benzodiazepines. Moreover, a long-lasting down regulation of GABAergic synapses can be obtained after repeated administration of anxiogenic, proconvulsant and convulsant negative modulators of GABAergic transmission. The latter finding further suggests that GABAergic synapses undergo rapid and persistent plastic changes when the GABAergic transmission is persistently inhibited. Finally, the evidence that the activity of mesocortical dopaminergic pathways is altered in opposite manner by drugs that either inhibit or enhance the GABAergic transmission indicates that GABA has a functional role in regulation of dopaminergic neurons in the rat cerebral cortex. Altogether these results suggest that cortical GABAergic and dopaminergic transmission play a major role in the pharmacology, neurochemistry and pathology of the emotional states and fear.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

In vivo administration of ethanol enhances the function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-dependent chloride channel in the rat cerebral cortex.

The effect of in vivo administration of ethanol on the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor-coupled chloride channel was studied by measuring ex vivo t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding in the rat cerebral cortex. Intragastric administration of ethanol (0.5-1 g/kg) elicited in 40 min a significant decrease of [35S]TBPS binding to unwashed cortical membrane preparations, an effect mimicked by diazepam (0.5-1 mg/kg, i.p.). However, Scatchard plot analysis indicated that, unlike the case with diazepam, the decrease was entirely due to a reduction in the apparent affinity of [35S]TBPS receptors with no change in the total number of binding sites. Moreover, ethanol, like diazepam, reduced the increase of [35S]TBPS binding elicited by isoniazid (350 mg/kg, s.c.), an inhibitor of the GABAergic transmission. Finally, ethanol markedly potentiated the inhibitory action of diazepam on [35S]TBPS binding. The results suggest that ethanol, like benzodiazepines, enhances the function of the GABAA-coupled chloride channel.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The general anesthetic propofol enhances the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid-coupled chloride channel in the rat cerebral cortex.

The effect of the general anesthetic propofol on t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to unwashed membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex was studied and compared to that of other general anesthetics (pentobarbital, alphaxalone) which are known to enhance GABAergic transmission. Propofol produced a concentration-dependent complete inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding, an effect similar to that induced by pentobarbital and alphaxalone, although these agents differ markedly in potency (alphaxalone greater than propofol greater than pentobarbital). The concomitant addition of propofol either with alphaxalone or pentobarbital produced an additive inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding, suggesting separate sites of action or different mechanisms of these drugs. Moreover, although bicuculline (0.1 microM) completely antagonized the propofol-induced inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding, the effect of this anesthetic was not due to a direct interaction with the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) recognition site. In fact, propofol, like alphaxalone and pentobarbital, markedly enhanced [3H]GABA binding in the rat cerebral cortex. Finally, propofol was able to enhance [3H]GABA binding in membranes previously incubated with the specific chloride channel blocker picrotoxin. Taken together these data strongly suggest that propofol, like other anesthetics and positive modulators of GABAergic transmission, might exert its pharmacological effects by enhancing the function of the GABA-activated chloride channel.

Anesthetics↗
PubMed1990

The action of stress and anxiolytic and anxiogenic benzodiazepine receptors ligands on [35S] T-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in the rat cerebral cortex.

The effect of foot shock stress on [35S] t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) binding to fresh unwashed membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex was studied and was compared to those of positive and negative modulators of the GABAergic transmission. 35S-TBPS binding was increased (30%) in cerebral cortex of rats exposed to foot shock compared to the non stressed rats. In contrast, the in vitro addition and the in vivo administration of anxiolytic and positive modulators of the GABAergic transmission inhibited the specific binding of 35S-TBPS. On the other hand, the anxiogenic beta-carbolines DMCM, beta CCM, FG 7142 and beta CCE mimicked in vivo and in vitro the effect of stress. The demonstration that stress, similar to anxiogenic beta-carbolines and opposite to benzodiazepines and anxiolytic beta-carbolines, increases 35S-TBPS binding in the rat cerebral cortex, suggests that some emotional state related to stress and anxiety may result from a diminished GABAergic transmission at the level of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor/chloride ionophore complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Enhancement of GABAergic transmission by zolpidem, an imidazopyridine with preferential affinity for type I benzodiazepine receptors.

The effect of zolpidem, an imidazopyridine derivative with high affinity at the type I benzodiazepine recognition site, on the function of the GABAA/ionophore receptor complex was studied in vitro. Zolpidem, mimicking the action of diazepam, increased [3H]GABA binding, enhanced muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake and reduced [35S]TBPS binding in rat cortical membrane preparations. Zolpidem was less effective than diazepam on the above parameters. Zolpidem induced a lower increase of [3H]GABA binding (23 vs. 35%) and muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake (22 vs. 40%) and a smaller decrease of [35S]TBPS binding (47 vs. 77%) than diazepam. The finding that zolpidem enhanced the function of GABAergic synapses with an efficacy qualitatively and quantitatively different from that of diazepam suggests that this compound is a partial agonist at the benzodiazepine recognition site. Thus, our results are consistent with the view that the biochemical and pharmacological profile of a benzodiazepine recognition site ligand reflects its efficacy to enhance GABAergic transmission. Whether the preferential affinity of zolpidem at the type I site is involved in its atypical biochemical and pharmacological profile remains to be clarified.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Aging reduces the GABA-dependent 36Cl- flux in rat brain membrane vesicles.

The function of the chloride channel associated to GABAA receptor complex was analyzed in the brain of aged rats by measuring the chloride flux across the neuronal membrane and its modulation by drugs acting at the level of the GABA receptor complex and 35S-TBPS binding. The basal 36Cl- uptake by brain membrane vesicles of aged rats was higher (22%) than that observed in those of adult rats. The higher 36Cl- uptake found in cortical membrane vesicles of senescent rats was not sensitive to the action of bicuculline indicating that it was not the consequence of a tonic GABAergic modulation. Moreover, the stimulation of 36Cl- uptake induced by GABA was markedly lower in membrane vesicles of aged rats than that observed in those of adult rats. Accordingly, the stimulation of 36Cl- efflux elicited by GABA (18%) and pentobarbital (26%) was higher in membrane vesicles of adult rats with respect to that (8 and 16%, respectively) of old rats. Finally, a significant decrease of 35S-TBPS binding was observed in membrane preparation from the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus of aged-rats. Scatchard plot analysis indicated that the decrease was entirely due to a reduction in the total number of binding sites with no change in their affinity. All together the results indicate that in the rat brain the function of the chloride channel coupled to the GABA/benzodiazepine/barbiturate receptor complex is reduced by aging.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Foot-shock stress and anxiogenic beta-carbolines increase t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in the rat cerebral cortex, an effect opposite to anxiolytics and gamma-aminobutyric acid mimetics.

The effect of foot-shock stress on t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate [( 35S]TBPS) binding to fresh unwashed membrane preparations from rat cerebral cortex was studied and was compared to those of GABAA receptor agonists and antagonists and to positive and negative modulators of the GABAergic transmission. [35S]TBPS binding was increased in the cerebral cortex of rats exposed to foot shock compared to that of nonstressed rats. Scatchard analysis revealed that the effect of foot shock was due to an increase in the total number of [35S]TBPS binding sites. In contrast, the in vitro addition of muscimol or GABA induced a dose-dependent inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding, an effect abolished by the concomitant addition of the GABA receptor antagonist, bicuculline, which, per se, enhanced [35S]TBPS binding by 73%. Thus, bicuculline, similar to stress, increased [35S]TBPS binding in the same membrane preparation. In contrast to stress, the anxiolytic and positive modulators of the GABAergic transmission (ZK 93423, ZK 91296, and diazepam) inhibited the specific binding of [35S]TBPS in a concentration-dependent manner. The greatest inhibitory effect was produced by ZK 93423 at 30 microM (31% of control), followed by diazepam (54% of control) and by the partial agonist ZK 91296 (61% of control). Scatchard plot analysis indicated that the inhibition induced by ZK 93423 and diazepam was due to a decrease in the density of [35S]TBPS recognition sites. On the other hand, the anxiogenic beta-carbolines DMCM and FG 7142 mimicked the effect of stress. Thus, at a 10 microM concentration, DMCM and FG 7142 increased [35S]TBPS binding by 22% and 26%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Temperature dependence and GABA modulation of [3H]triazolam binding in the rat brain.

The hypnotic triazolam (TZ), a triazolobenzodiazepine displays a short physiological half life and has been used for the treatment of insomnia related to anxiety states. Our major objectives were the direct measurement of the temperature dependence and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) effect of [3H]TZ binding in the rat brain. Saturation studies showed a shift to lower affinity with increasing temperatures (Kd = 0.27 +/- 08 nM at 0 degree C; Kd = 1.96 +/- 0.85 nM at 37 degrees C) while the Bmax values remained unchanged (1220 +/- 176 fmoles/mg protein at 0 degree C and 1160 +/- 383 fmoles/mg protein at 37 degrees C). Saturation studies of [3H]TZ binding in the presence or absence of GABA (100 microM) showed a GABA-shift. At 0 degrees C the Kd values were (Kd = 0.24 +/- 0.03 nM/-GABA; Kd = 0.16 +/- 0.04/+GABA) and at 37 degrees C the Kd values were (Kd = 1.84 +/- 0.44 nM/-GABA; Kd = 0.95 +/- 0.29 nM/+GABA). In contrast to reported literature, our findings show that TZ interacts with benzodiazepine receptors with a temperature dependence and GABA-shift consistent with predicted behavior for benzodiazepine agonists.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Foot shock stress decreases chloride efflux from rat brain synaptoneurosomes.

Foot shock stress delivered continuously for 20 min decreased the 36Cl- efflux from cerebral cortex synaptoneurosomes of handling-habituated (unstressed) rats but failed to have the same effect on the synaptoneurosomes of naive (stressed) rats. The presence of pentobarbital (500 microM), GABA (100 microM) or muscimol (50 microM in the dilution buffer reversed the stress-induced decrease of 36Cl- efflux from synaptoneurosomes of unstressed rats. Moreover, these drugs also stimulated 36Cl- efflux from cortical synaptoneurosomes of naive stressed rats. The results indicate that stress decreases the function of Cl- channels coupled to the GABA/barbiturate receptor complex.

Animals↗