Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A R Crossman

Publications and source records attributed to A R Crossman.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Autoradiographic studies in animal models of hemi-parkinsonism reveal dopamine D2 but not D1 receptor supersensitivity. II. Unilateral intra-carotid infusion of MPTP in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

The selective dopaminergic antagonist ligands [3H]SCH 23390 and [3H]sulpiride were used to reveal autoradiographically dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, respectively, in brain sections from monkeys which had received unilateral intracarotid infusions of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), causing loss of dopamine-containing neurones of the substantia nigra pars compacta. The monkeys developed hemi-parkinsonian symptoms (tremor, bradykinesia) in limbs contralateral to the side of the toxin infusion. Administration of apomorphine (0.05-0.25 mg/kg) caused contralateral rotational behaviour, and reversal of the parkinsonian symptoms. Loss of forebrain dopaminergic terminals was assessed autoradiographically using [3H]mazindol to label dopamine uptake sites. A reduction in these sites of 97% (mean brain value) in the caudate nucleus, and 91% in the putamen, as compared with binding values from untreated control monkeys, was accompanied by a significant increase in the binding of [3H]sulpiride (D2) in these structures. In contrast, in the same animals there was no similar increase in [3H]SCH 23390 binding to D1 receptors in the denervated areas. These results suggest that in the parkinsonian brain, where the dopaminergic innervation of the caudate nucleus and putamen has been lost, D2 receptors may be more susceptible than D1 receptors to changes, revealed here as an increase in [3H]sulpiride binding sites.

Animals↗

Induction of chorea and dystonia in parkinsonian primates.

Administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in primates induced a parkinsonian syndrome that could be reversed by levodopa treatment. Animals quickly developed an apparent restlessness ("akathisia") of the lower limbs after as little as five doses. After 4-10 weeks of regular levodopa therapy, animals developed "peak dose" choreiform movements in the lower limbs that spread, with time, to involve the upper limbs and orofacial musculature. With further treatment (5-21 months), animals developed "peak dose" dystonia that variably involved the limbs and orofacial musculature. These conditions represent novel models of levodopa-induced chorea and dystonia in humans. They depend on the same underlying neuropathology and treatment regimen as their human counterparts. It is to be anticipated that these models of dyskinesia will be useful in determining the mechanisms underlying chorea and dystonia in humans and are ideally suited for experimental evaluation of new treatment strategies.

Animals↗

Neural mechanisms of dystonia: evidence from a 2-deoxyglucose uptake study in a primate model of dopamine agonist-induced dystonia.

The neural mechanisms that mediate dystonia were investigated in a novel experimental primate model of dopamine agonist-induced dystonia. This condition was produced by long-term (15 months) dopamine agonist therapy of a macaque monkey that had been rendered hemiparkinsonian by unilateral infusion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine into the right common carotid artery. The 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) metabolic mapping technique was applied to the animal during the expression of active unilateral dystonia, and regional brain uptake of 2-DG was assessed autoradiographically. The results demonstrate that dystonia is associated with marked increases in 2-DG uptake in the constituent nuclei of the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, medial and lateral segments of the globus pallidus) and in the subthalamic nucleus, but decreased uptake in the structures that receive output of the basal ganglia (ventral anterior/ventral lateral thalamic complex and lateral habenula). Based on these findings it is suggested that dystonia is characterized by increased activity in the putaminopallidal and pallidosubthalamic pathways, and decreased activity in the subthalamopallidal and pallidothalamic pathways.

Animals↗

A hypothesis on the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie levodopa- or dopamine agonist-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease: implications for future strategies in treatment.

Long-term treatment of human Parkinson's disease with levodopa or dopamine agonists is often complicated by the appearance of abnormal involuntary movements (dyskinesias) that are extremely difficult to control. Little is known of the cause, pathophysiological mechanisms, or possible strategies for amelioration of this manifestation of dyskinesia. A hypothesis is set forth on the neural mechanisms that mediate levodopa- or dopamine agonist-induced dyskinesia (in particular chorea) as a side effect of the treatment of parkinsonism. Evidence is drawn from both clinical observations and experimental studies in a spectrum of movement disorders ranging from ballism through chorea to parkinsonism. It is proposed that (a) All forms of chorea, whatever their origin, share a common underlying neural mechanism. (b) Disordered activity of the subthalamic nucleus is central to the generation of choreic movements. In levodopa- or dopamine agonist-induced dyskinesia, (c) The site of action of dopaminergic agents in causing chorea is the putamen. (d) The specific pathophysiological state conducive to the appearance of chorea is brought about by the long-term exposure of the dopamine-depleted (parkinsonian) putamen to exogenous dopaminergic agents. (e) Long-term exposure to dopaminergic agents causes (either directly or indirectly) preferential inhibition of the subpopulation of putaminal neurones that project specifically to the lateral segment of the globus pallidus. This causes disinhibition of lateral pallidal neurones, which become overactive and physiologically inhibit the subthalamic nucleus. (f) The hypothesis suggests a number of possible strategies that might be useful for the alleviation of levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Brain↗

Changes in benzodiazepine and acetylcholine receptors in the globus pallidus in Parkinson's disease.

Experiments are described in which the benzodiazepine portion of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/benzodiazepine receptor and the muscarinic cholinergic receptor were investigated in Parkinson's disease and control brains. Tritiated flunitrazepam and tritiated quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) were used to locate and quantify the receptors by autoradiographic and homogenate binding techniques. Densitometric analysis of autoradiographs of the basal ganglia allowed comparison of receptor densities in the post-mortem control and parkinsonian tissue, while homogenate binding experiments gave information concerning receptor affinity and maximum binding capacity. The results indicate that: 1) Binding of flunitrazepam to the benzodiazepine receptor is reduced in the lateral segment of the globus pallidus in Parkinson's disease. This suggest that the GABA-ergic pathway from the putamen to the lateral pallidal segment is overactive in Parkinson's disease. 2) Binding of QNB to the cholinergic receptors of the medial pallidal segment is increased in Parkinson's disease. This finding suggests underactivity of the cholinergic pathway from the pedunculopontine nucleus of the medial pallidal segment. 3) Binding of these ligands in the caudate and putamen of Parkinson's disease is not significantly different from controls. We reviewed the literature concerning the activity of these projections in parkinsonian conditions assessed by different methods and discuss here their implications for the pathogenesis of parkinsonian symptoms.

Aged↗

Injection of excitatory amino acid antagonists into the medial pallidal segment of a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treated primate reverses motor symptoms of parkinsonism.

Intracerebral injections of the broad spectrum excitatory amino acid antagonist kynurenic acid (50 ug) alleviated the symptoms of akinesia, tremor and rigidity in a severely parkinsonian monkey. Unilateral injection of kynurenic acid within the medial pallidal segment produced rotational behaviour away from the side of the injection, and the limbs on the contralateral side showed relief of the MPTP-induced parkinsonian symptoms. The subsequent bilateral injection of the excitatory amino acid antagonist allowed the monkey to move freely, unhindered by tremor or rigidity. In addition unilateral injections of the NMDA antagonist MK-801 (5, 25 and 50 ug) within the medial pallidum also produced dose-related rotational behaviour, with alleviation of parkinsonian symptoms in the contralateral limbs. Systemic administration of MK-801 (1 ng/kg - 1 ug/kg i.m.) was without effect.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Dyskinesia in the primate following injection of an excitatory amino acid antagonist into the medial segment of the globus pallidus.

Injection of an excitatory amino acid antagonist, kynurenic acid, into the medial segment of the globus pallidus of the conscious monkey elicited dyskinesia of the contralateral limbs. In most respects the dyskinesia was indistinguishable from the disorder that is produced by ablation of the subthalamic nucleus, or injection of a GABA antagonist into the subthalamic nucleus. Injections of kynurenic acid into the lateral segment of the globus pallidus, by contrast, did not provoke dyskinesia. The effect of kynurenic acid is attributed to the blockade of neurotransmission from the subthalamic nucleus to the medial pallidal segment, and the results suggest that the neurotransmitter utilised by this pathway is an excitatory amino acid.

Animals↗

Drug-induced dyskinesia in primates rendered hemiparkinsonian by intracarotid administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).

The right common carotid artery was surgically exposed under general anaesthesia in 6 cynomolgus monkeys and MPTP (0.5-2.2 mg/kg) directly infused. This produced a hemiparkinsonian syndrome in the contralateral limbs which responded to treatment with both levodopa and apomorphine. These drugs also precipitated dose-dependent contralateral rotation which reached a peak 2 weeks after MPTP infusion. A massive depletion of large, presumably dopaminergic cells was found from the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars compacta. Three animals receiving chronic therapy with apomorphine developed choreoathetoid movements of the limbs and the face contralateral to the infusion 2 weeks after the commencement of treatment. The severity of the dyskinesia gradually increased and after 4 weeks peak-dose hemiballistic movements were seen. Levodopa and the selective D-2 and D-1 dopamine agonists LY-171555 and SKF 38393 also reversed parkinsonian features and produced contralateral rotation and peak-dose dyskinesia. This unilateral model of parkinsonism in the primate will be of value in the elucidation of the mechanisms by which chronic levodopa or dopamine agonist therapy enhance involuntary movements in parkinsonism.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Effect of the NMDA antagonist MK-801 on MPTP-induced parkinsonism in the monkey.

Current evidence suggests that the motor symptoms of parkinsonism are due to abnormal overactivity of the medial segment of the globus pallidus, brought about by overactivity of the subthalamic nucleus, from which it receives an excitatory amino acid-mediated projection. The possibility exits, therefore, that excitatory amino acid antagonists might have an anti-parkinson effect by normalising medial pallidal activity. The NMDA antagonist MK-801 was administered i.m. to a single cynomolgus monkey with parkinsonism induced by the neurotoxin MPTP. In fact, MK-801 exacerbated the symptoms of parkinsonism. When administered after a therapeutic dose of L-DOPA it antagonised the anti-parkinson action of L-DOPA. The results suggest that any potential anti-parkinson action of excitatory amino acid antagonists will depend upon an action at non-NMDA sites. The administration of the selective neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to produce a primate model of Parkinson's disease is well-documented (Burns, Markey, Phillips & Chiuch, 1984; Crossman, 1987; Langston, Forno, Rebert & Irwin, 1984). Intravenous injection of MPTP, titrated judiciously over a period of several weeks, can produce a stable manifestation of the motor disability seen in the idiopathic disease of man, with a remarkable correspondence of both symptoms and pathology. Additionally, primates rendered parkinsonian by MPTP respond well to L-DOPA treatment. As in human Parkinson's disease, long-term L-DOPA therapy of MPTP-induced parkinsonism tends to be complicated by the emergence of choreiform movements and dystonic postures (Boyce, Clarke, Luquin, Peggs, Robertson, Mitchell, Sambrook & Crossman, 1989; Clarke, Sambrook, Mitchell & Crossman, 1987).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cellular localisation of enkephalin gene expression in MPTP-treated cynomolgus monkeys.

Cellular sites of enkephalin gene expression were investigated using the technique of in situ hybridization in the normal striatum and in the denervated striatum of monkeys depleted of dopamine by pretreatment with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Animals received MPTP by either (a) intravenous injection to induce generalized parkinsonism, or (b) infusion into one carotid artery to induce unilateral parkinsonism. The animals which received systemic injections of MPTP were found to have an essentially total loss of nigral dopamine cells whereas the intracarotid MPTP treatment was found to destroy approximately 95% of the dopamine neurons in the ipsilateral substantia nigra. A double-stranded cDNA probe encoding the human preproenkephalin (PPE) gene was isotopically labelled with 35S and used to detect PPE mRNA within striatal tissue sections. Application of this radiolabelled cDNA probe to lightly fixed striatal sections from both groups of animals revealed an increase in expression of PPE mRNA within denervated striatal enkephalinergic neurons relative to control tissue. An increase in the number of detectable enkephalinergic mRNA-positive neurons relative to control tissue was also noted. These results suggest that the nigral dopaminergic neurons tonically inhibit PPE gene expression in the striatum.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Neural mechanisms in disorders of movement.

1. Experimental models of ballism, chorea and Parkinson's disease have been developed in the primate, and the underlying neural mechanisms which mediate these disorders of movement have been investigated using the 2-deoxyglucose uptake technique. 2. In ballism, the subthalamic nucleus is either lesioned or underactive. Because of the excitatory nature of subthalamic efferent fibres, this leads to abnormal underactivity of neurons in the medical segment of the globus pallidus which project to the ventral anterior and ventral lateral nuclei of the thalamus, and to the pedunculopontine nucleus of the caudal midbrain. 3. In chorea, there is underactivity of GABAergic striatal (putaminal) neurons which project to the lateral segment of the globus pallidus. This leads to overacting of lateral pallidal neurons and, thus, physiological inhibition of the subthalamic nucleus. Common neural mechanisms, therefore, underlie the appearance of dyskinesia in ballism and chorea. 4. In parkinsonism, there is overactivity of putaminal neurons projecting to the lateral pallidal segment. This results in excessive inhibition of lateral pallidal neurons and, as a consequence, disinhibition of the subthalamic nucleus. Overactivity of the subthalamic nucleus provides excessive drive upon medial pallidal neurons projecting to thalamic and pedunculopontine nuclei.

Animals↗

Neural mechanisms underlying parkinsonian symptoms based upon regional uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in monkeys exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.

The 2-deoxyglucose metabolic mapping technique has been used to investigate the neural mechanisms which underlie the symptoms of Parkinsonism in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine primate model of Parkinson's disease. In six cynomolgus monkeys, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine was either (a) administered intravenously to induce generalized Parkinsonism, or (b) infused into one carotid artery to induce unilateral Parkinsonism. Post-mortem examination revealed profound cell loss from the substantia nigra, pars compacta either bilaterally or unilaterally in the two groups, respectively. In addition, there was pathological involvement of the ventral tegmental area and locus coeruleus in animals receiving intravenous 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. 2-Deoxyglucose autoradiography revealed widespread changes in 2-deoxyglucose uptake in the brains of parkinsonian animals when compared to controls. Most of these changes were in basal ganglia and related structures and were qualitatively similar in the two groups of experimental animals. Prominent increases in 2-deoxyglucose uptake were observed in the lateral segment of the globus pallidus (24-27%), the ventral anterior and ventral lateral nuclei of the thalamus (14-22%) and the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus of the caudal midbrain (17-69%). A profound decrease (17-26%) in 2-deoxyglucose uptake was observed in the subthalamic nucleus. We propose these data to indicate that in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinsonism there is the following pattern of abnormal neuronal activity in basal ganglia circuitry: (i) increased activity in the projection from the putamen to the lateral segment of the globus pallidus; (ii) decreased activity in the projection from the putamen to the medial segment of the globus pallidus; (iii) decreased activity in the projection from the lateral segment of the globus pallidus to the subthalamic nucleus; (iv) increased activity in the projection from the subthalamic nucleus to the globus pallidus; and (v) increased activity in neurons of the medial segment of the globus pallidus projecting to the ventral anterior/ventral lateral thalamus and the pedunculopontine nucleus. These results are compared to the 2-deoxyglucose uptake findings in previous studies from this laboratory in hemiballism and hemichorea in the monkey. The central importance of the subthalamic nucleus in all three conditions is proposed, and supportive evidence for the excitatory nature of subthalamic efferent fibres is adduced.

Animals↗

The role of the subthalamic nucleus in experimental chorea. Evidence from 2-deoxyglucose metabolic mapping and horseradish peroxidase tracing studies.

In previous studies we have shown that hemichorea can be induced in the conscious monkey by localized injection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonists into the contralateral lentiform complex. It has been argued that the primary site of drug action in inducing chorea is the lateral segment of the globus pallidus. In the present study, the neural mechanisms which underlie this experimental dyskinesia were investigated by two separate approaches. First, the efferent projections of the lentiform complex were mapped using neuroanatomical tracing techniques. This involved injecting horseradish peroxide into sites which had previously given chorea when injected with the GABA antagonist bicuculline. Secondly, the 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) metabolic mapping technique was applied to animals during active dyskinesia. This procedure permitted the autoradiographic measurement of local cerebral glucose uptake which was used as an index of regional synaptic activity. In both instances, the strongest labelling was seen in the dorsolateral region of the subthalamic nucleus. On the basis of this finding it is suggested that the pallidosubthalamic pathway plays a crucial role in the mediation of experimentally-induced chorea. Specifically, the pallidosubthalamic pathway arising from the lateral pallidal segment is abnormally overactive, which causes physiological inhibition of the subthalamic nucleus. The pattern of 2-DG uptake in the medial segment of the globus pallidus and thalamus was similar to that seen in animals with experimentally-induced ballism. This similarity is interpreted as suggesting that a common neural mechanism underlies both experimentally-induced chorea and ballism.

Animals↗

Unilateral MPTP lesion in a rhesus monkey: effects on the striatal dopaminergic system measured in vivo with PET using various novel tracers.

We have produced in one monkey a unilateral lesion of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway by slowly infusing 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1.2.3.6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) into the right internal carotid artery, resulting in contralateral hemiparkinsonism. This procedure was combined with a series of positron emission tomography scans before and after the lesion, using several dopaminergic tracers in parallel. We show that specific binding of [11C]nomifensine in the lesioned striatum disappears to a large extent (80-90%) as a result of the lesion, indicating a corresponding loss of striatal dopamine re-uptake binding sites and thus of the dopamine nerve terminal pool. The uptake of radioactivity in the striatum contralateral to the lesion remained unchanged. In parallel, an early increase in ipsilateral [11C]raclopride binding, indicating upregulation of dopamine D2 receptors, was seen following the presynaptic lesion. [11C]Deprenyl uptake, indicating monoamine oxidase type B enzyme concentration, did not change after the lesion.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Behavioural effects of (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine in primates rendered parkinsonian with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.

Three monkeys received a chronic intravenous course of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) so as to produce a permanent parkinsonian syndrome. One primate was electively commenced on chronic levodopa therapy 6 weeks after the cessation of MPTP treatment. Four months following the termination of MPTP administration, the response to oral doses of the novel D-2 dopamine agonist (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine (PHNO) was assessed in all animals using a clinical rating scale and automatic activity counters. PHNO was found to be a highly potent antiparkinsonian agent, completely reversing the symptoms of parkinsonism in a dose-dependent manner. Peak-dose dyskinesia was noted in 2 MPTP-treated animals during trials with PHNO, but was more severe in the animal receiving chronic levodopa therapy. Response fluctuations such as 'end-of-dose' deterioration and the 'on-off' phenomenon were common to all 3 parkinsonian animals following PHNO. The anti-parkinsonian effect and frequency of treatment-induced side-effects appeared to be similar with PHNO and levodopa. These results confirm the efficacy of PHNO as an anti-parkinsonian drug and link the production of dyskinesia with the D-2 dopamine receptor.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Chorea and myoclonus in the monkey induced by gamma-aminobutyric acid antagonism in the lentiform complex. The site of drug action and a hypothesis for the neural mechanisms of chorea.

Experiments are described in which the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist bicuculline was injected into the lentiform complex of conscious monkeys. Injections into either the lateral segment of the globus pallidus, or the medial part of the putamen, gave rise to chorea of the contralateral limbs and/or orofacial region. Control injections of vehicle alone were without effect. Injections of bicuculline into the lateral part of the putamen gave rise to contralateral myoclonus. The chorea produced by lateral pallidal or medial putaminal injections was virtually indistinguishable from the dyskinesia (chorea/ballism) which has been shown, in previous studies, to be induced by injection of GABA antagonists into the subthalamic nucleus. It is proposed that the primary site of action of the GABA antagonist in producing chorea, in the present studies, was the lateral segment of the globus pallidus. The mode of action is suggested to be interruption of GABAergic transmission from the striatum to the lateral pallidal segment. Since this also occurs in Huntington's disease, it is proposed that experimental chorea induced by this method in the monkey may be a useful model of the dyskinesia seen in Huntington's disease in man. Loss of influence of inhibitory striatopallidal fibres would lead to abnormally increased activity of lateral pallidal neurons. These in turn project to the subthalamic nucleus, upon which they have an inhibitory action. Dyskinesia is thus produced by physiological inhibition of the subthalamic nucleus, whose destruction, both in man and the monkey, is known to produce ballism. It is proposed that ballism and chorea share common neural mechanisms, both involving the loss of influence of the subthalamic nucleus on the medial segment of the globus pallidus.

Animals↗