Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Beer

Publications and source records attributed to B Beer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Human platelet imipramine recognition sites: biochemical and pharmacological characterization.

The influence of the membrane environment on the integrity of the human platelet [3H]-imipramine recognition site was examined. When platelet membranes were isolated in a buffer containing enzyme inhibitors (EDTA, EGTA and antiprotease) a significantly greater number of high affinity [3H]-imipramine binding sites was observed. A calcium-stimulated degradation of imipramine sites was also demonstrated. This degradation occurred in vitro over physiologically relevant time periods. Furthermore, inactivation of imipramine binding was achieved by very low concentrations (IC50 = 5 microgram/ml) of phospholipase A2. Specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors were potent displacers of [3H]-imipramine binding; histamine (H1), alpha-adrenergic (alpha 1), and muscarinic agents were much less active. The receptor was shown to be proteinaceous in nature due to its sensitivity to protease, heat denaturation and chemical modification with N-ethylmaleimide. From these results it is proposed that membrane lipid perturbations, catalyzed by calcium, may control expression of platelet [3H]-imipramine sites. The relation of this recognition site to aminergic systems and the possible relevancy to the action of antidepressants are addressed.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1981

Profound effects of combining choline and piracetam on memory enhancement and cholinergic function in aged rats.

In an attempt to gain some insight into possible approaches to reducing age-related memory disturbances, aged Fischer 344 rats were administered either vehicle, choline, piracetam or a combination of choline or piracetam. Animals in each group were tested behaviorally for retention of a one trial passive avoidance task, and biochemically to determine changes in choline and acetylcholine levels in hippocampus, cortex and striatum. Previous research has shown that rats of this strain suffer severe age-related deficits on this passive avoidance task and that memory disturbances are at least partially responsible. Those subjects given only choline (100 mg/kg) did not differ on the behavioral task from control animals administered vehicle. Rats given piracetam (100 mg/kg) performed slightly better than control rats (p less than 0.05), but rats given the piracetam/choline combination (100 mg/kg of each) exhibited retention scores several times better than those given piracetam alone. In a second study, it was shown that twice the dose of piracetam (200 mg/kg) or choline (200 mg/kg) alone, still did not enhance retention nearly as well as when piracetam and choline (100 mg/kg of each) were administered together. Further, repeated administration (1 week) of the piracetam/choline combination was superior to acute injections. Regional determinations of choline and acetylcholine revealed interesting differences between treatments and brain area. Although choline administration raised choline content about 50% in striatum and cortex, changes in acetylcholine levels were much more subtle (only 6-10%). No significant changes following choline administration were observed in the hippocampus. However, piracetam alone markedly increased choline content in hippocampus (88%) and tended to decrease acetylcholine levels (19%). No measurable changes in striatum or cortex were observed following piracetam administration. The combination of choline and piracetam did not potentiate the effects seen with either drug alone, and in certain cases the effects were much less pronounced under the drug combination. These data are discussed as they relate to possible effects of choline and piracetam on cholinergic transmission and other neuronal function, and how these effects may reduce specific memory disturbances in aged subjects. The results of these studies demonstrate that the effects of combining choline and piracetam are quite different than those obtained with either drug alone and support the notion that in order to achieve substantial efficacy in aged subjects it may be necessary to reduce multiple, interactive neurochemical dysfunctions in the brain, or affect activity in more than one parameter of a deficient metabolic pathway.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1981

Synthesis and anxiolytic activity of 6-(substituted-phenyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazines.

The synthesis of a series of 6-(substituted-phenyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazines (VIII) is reported. Some of these derivatives show activity in tests predictive of anxiolytic activity [(a) protection against pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions; (b) thirsty rat conflict procedure]. They also represent a new class of compound which inhibits [3H]diazepam binding. Structure--activity correlations, as well as the ability of structures VIII to inhibit [3H]diazepam binding (in vitro), are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Age-related differences in behavior across the life span of the C57BL/6J mouse.

C57Bl/6J mice, representing four divergent age groups (ranging from 3 months to 31 months) were each tested on a number of behavioral procedures, selected to sample a wide spectrum of behaviors. The evaluation demonstrated that, as with other mammalian species, not all behaviors in the mouse are affected by old age. Most severely impaired was retention of a single-trial passive avoidance task, most probably reflecting a deficit in memory ability. One tests of motor function, the most demanding tasks revealed the greatest debilitating effects of age, paralleling the effects of task difficulty previously reported in numerous learning studies. Finally, a deficit in the ability to modify preexisting habits in a T-maze learning situation was observed, corroborating reports of increased perseveration in aged humans and nonhuman primates. The similarity of these results across the life span of the C57 mouse with those previously reported for other aged mammalian species demonstrates that certain common types of behaviors seem to be impaired selectively by increased age across mammalian species and raises the possibility that common neurological etiologies may exist for these behavioral deficits.

Aging↗
PubMed1981

Multiple benzodiazepine receptor localization by light microscopic radiohistochemistry.

Benzodiazepine receptor binding studies have been reported suggesting the existence of at least two different benzodiazepine receptors. One distinguishing feature of these two sites is that one has a high affinity for triazolopyridazines, whereas the other has a low affinity. In this study, the regional localization of the two different receptors was examined by light microscopic radiohistochemical methods. [3H]Flunitrazepam was used to label all types of benzodiazepine receptors in slide-mounted tissue sections. CL218,872, a typical triazolopyridazine, was used to preferentially displace [3H]flunitrazepam from the subclass of receptors having a high affinity for CL218,872. Autoradiographs clearly showed that receptor binding in some regions was substantially affected by CL218,872 while that in other regions was affected to a lesser degree. Areas with receptors with high affinity for the triazolopyridazine (Type 1 receptors) included the cerebellum, globus pallidus and parts of the cerebral cortex. Areas with receptors having low affinity for the drugs (Type 2 receptors) included the superficial layer of the superior colliculus, the caudate-putamen and parts of the dentate gyrus. The results of this study may help explain the physiological differences between the benzodiazepine and triazolopyridazine drugs and should point out target sites in the brain for additional studies of the apparently two different receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Brain cholinergic dysfunction and memory in aged rats.

Age related alterations in mnemonic ability and in the functional status of muscarinic receptors were evaluated and compared to biochemical measures of pre and post-synaptic cholinergic functioning. Retention of a single trial passive avoidance task was considerably disturbed as a function of aging. The functional status of muscarinic receptors, as measured by the ability of microiontophoretically applied acetylcholine to stimulate the firing of hippocampal pyramidal cells, was similarly disturbed in aged rats. A small, but significant decrease in muscarinic receptors was detected in the dorsal hippocampi of these same aged rats, while choline acetyltransferase activity did not change. When considered with prior psychopharmacological studies, these data suggest that specific muscarinic receptor impairments may play a critical role in the memory disturbances associated with old age.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1979

Resolution of two biochemically and pharmacologically distinct benzodiazepine receptors.

Brain-specific binding sites have been isolated on synaptosomal membrane fragments which recognize pharmacologically active benzodiazepines (BDZ's) and triazolopyridazines (TPZ's). While early evidence indicated the existence of a single homogeneous class of BDZ binding sites, more recent biological and pharmacological studies support the notion of BDZ receptor multiplicity. We now propose that two biochemically distinct BDZ receptors exist in brain which are responsible for the mediation of different pharmacological activities. Type I BDZ receptors display a high affinity for both BDZ's and TPZ's, are not coupled to GABA receptors or to chloride ionophores, and are the sites which mediate anxiolytic actions. Type II BDZ receptors display a high affinity for BDZ's, display a low affinity for TPZ's, are coupled to GABA receptors and/or chloride ionophores, and are the sites which mediate pharmacological effects other than anxiolytic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

A synthetic non-benzodiazepine ligand for benzodiazepine receptors: a probe for investigating neuronal substrates of anxiety.

CL 218,872 is the first non-benzodiazepine to selectively displace brain specific 3H-diazepam binding with a potency comparable to that of the benzodiazepines. Like the benzodiazepines, CL 218,872 increased punished responding in a conflict situation and protected against the convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole. These three pharmacological properties are highly predictive of anxiolytic activity. Unlike the benzodiazepines, however, CL 218,872 was relatively inactive in tests designed to measure effects on neuronal systems which utilize GABA, glycine and serotonin as transmitters. Furthmore, CL 218,872 was relatively free of the ataxic and depressant side effects commonly associated with the benzodiazepines. Because of this high degree of selectivity, CL 218,872 may represent a new probe for investigating neuronal substrates of anxiety.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Some properties of brain specific benzodiazepine receptors: new evidence for multiple receptors.

Several new lines of evidence suggest the existence of two or more distinct types of benzodiazepine receptors, in contrast to earlier results suggesting the presence of only one class of receptors. Appropriate thermoinactivation experiments indicate two receptors with different thermostabilities. Several triazolopyridazines, with some of the pharmacological properties of anxiolytics have recently been shown to displace 3H-diazepam and 3H-flunitrazepam with Ki values in the 6 to 100 nanomolar range. These new substances are active in conflict tests in rats and monkeys and prevent metrazol induced seizures in vivo, but strikingly lack the ataxia and sedative properties of the benzodiazepines. Hill analyses of dose-response curves for some of these substances yields Hill coefficients in the range of 0.4--0.6, suggesting that these compounds may be able to discriminate between several types of benzodiazepine receptors.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

Benzodiazepine receptors: cellular and behavioral characteristics.

Brain specific benzodiazepine receptors appear to mediate the pharmacological properties of benzodiazepines. A neuronal localization for these receptors is suggested by the parallel decrease in the number of benzodiazepine receptors and cerebellar Purkinje cells in "nervous" mutant mice. Electrophysiological results are compatible with an action of benzodiazepines on neuronally localized, physiological receptors. Biochemical, electrophysiological and behavioral experiments highlight the possible importance of frontal cortex in mediating the anxiolytic properties of the benzodiazepines. Triazolenetetrazoles act upon benzodiazepine receptors, increase punished responding and protect against penetylenetetrazole-induced convulsions, but do not produce the side effects associated with benzodiazepines or affect classical neurotransmitter systems. The structural similarities between triazolopyridazines, purines and the indole portion of certain peptides may provide insights into the nature of the endogenous ligand.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Enhancement of 3H-diazepam binding by SQ 65,396: a novel anti-anxiety agent.

SQ 65,396, a clinically active anti-anxiety agent, enhanced the binding of 3H-diazepam at 1.5 nM. This effect was due to an increase in the affinity for the ligand, without a change in the number of 3H-diazepam binding sites. This action of SQ 65,396 may mediate its anti-anxiety effects by affecting the action of an endogenous modulator of the "benzodiazepine receptor." Several other substances and treatments increase the affinity of 3H-diazepam for its receptors by mechanisms which may be related to the effect produced by SQ 65,396.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Relationship between benzodiazepine receptors and experimental anxiety in rats.

The in vitro and in vivo ability of benzodiazepines to inhibit specific 3H-diazepam binding correlated with their ability to increase punished responding in a conflict situation. Conflict and foot shock, the punishing stimulus used in most conflict procedures, also altered 3H-diazepam binding. These data implicate 3H-diazepam binding sites in mediating at least some of the anxiolytic properties of benzodiazepines and suggest the existence of some endogenous substance which might be involved in the etiology of anxiety.

Animals↗
PubMed1973

Effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on restoration of function of damaged sciatic nerve in rats.

In two experiments, the sciatic nerve of rats was either crushed or hemisected, and N(6),O(2)-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate or saline was injected intramuscularly near the site of the lesion. In both types of nerve damage, the sensorimotor functions of animals treated with N(6),O(2)-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate returned earlier than did those of saline-treated control animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase in brain: effect on anxiety.

Drugs that reduce anxiety may be mediated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the brain because (i) potent anxiety-reducing drugs are also potent inhibitors of brain phosphodiesterase activity; (ii) dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate has the ability to reduce anxiety; (iii) the methylxanthines show significant anxiety-reducing effects; (iv) theophylline and chlordiazepoxide produce additive anxiety-reducing activity; and (v) there is a significant correlation between the anxiety-reducing property of drugs and their ability to inhibit phosphodiesterase activity in the brain.

Animals↗