There are several models for the CYP2D6 active site with the characteristics of their substrates and inhibitors well defined. Imipramine possesses such characteristics and is both a substrate and an inhibitor of the CYP2D6 enzyme. Possible synthetic strategies to avoid interaction with the enzyme have been investigated, including: attenuation of basicity; and alteration of rigidity and length of the alkyl chain. Imipramine inhibited the 1'-hydroxylation of bufuralol (10 microM), an in vitro marker of CYP2D6 activity, in a CYP2D6 cell line (IC50 = 2.4 microM). Inhibitory potency was attenuated by the removal of the basic centre; imipramine N-oxide had no inhibitory effect on bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation. However, removal of this basic centre, as a strategy to decrease CYP2D6 interaction, may well have a detrimental effect on pharmacological efficacy. Both an increase and decrease in the N-N carbon chain length [2C,4C] caused a reduction in inhibitory potency. In addition, introduction of a carbonyl adjacent to the amino dibenzyl moiety into 2C, 3C and 4C compounds brought about a further reduction in inhibitory potency. These data demonstrate that changes to the molecule, distal to the basic centre, can attenuate the affinity of the molecule for CYP2D6 and are in keeping with the known characteristics of the enzyme.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol methamphetamine interaction in the rabbit.

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Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, EEG and behavior:the importance of adaptation to the testing milieu.

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) in doses of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg, i.v. was administered to adult rabbits previously adapted to the testing chamber. Additionally, a group of rabbits not adapted to any part of the testing regimen was administered 1.0 mg/kg delta-9-THC. Cortical and hippocampal electroencephalographs as well as postural and activity behaviors of the unrestrained animals were recorded. In the adapted rabbits, there were dose-related increased in cortical voltage output, disruption of hippocampal theta rhythm and cortical polyspike bursts. Behaviorally, there was a dose-related tendency for standing and exploration to decrease, and at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/lh, delta-9-THC produced sprawling. In the nonadapted rabbits, administration of 1.0 mg/kh of the drug caused EEG and behavioral stimulation followed by depression of both, The results suggest that the bahavioral actions of cannabinols are largely dependent upon the animal's existing state of arousal.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of neurotensin levels, receptors and actions in LS/Ibg and SS/Ibg mice.

Neurotensin (NT), injected centrally, markedly enhances sensitivity to ethanol-induced anesthesia in SS but not in LS mice (4). Since LS and SS mice were bred selectively for differential sensitivity to ethanol, these findings suggest that neurotensinergic neuronal processes mediate some of ethanol's actions and that LS and SS mice might differ genetically in neurotensinergic systems. Indeed, in biochemical studies it was shown that LS and SS mice differ in NT-like immunoreactivity in specific brain regions, i.e., hypothalamus, and in NT receptor densities (Bmax) in frontal cortex and striatum. In other experiments LS and SS mice differed in behavioral responses to centrally administered NT. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of NT produced dose-dependent changes in motor activity, hypothermia, and analgesia in both LS and SS mice. SS mice appeared to be more sensitive than LS to NT-induced analgesia but not hypothermia. Neurotensin increased or decreased locomotor activity in both SS and LS mice following intraventral tegmental area or ICV administration, respectively. The results indicate that LS and SS mice, which were selectively bred for differences in ethanol sensitivity, differ genetically in NT concentrations, receptor densities in specific brain regions, and in some receptor-mediated behavioral responses to NT.

Analgesia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic-based differences in neurotensin levels and receptors in brains of LS x SS mice.

Levels of endogenous neurotensin (NT-IR) in the LS x SS RI strains differed by 3.0-, 4.7-, 5.4-, and 6.9-fold in the ventral midbrain (VMB), hypothalamus (HY), nucleus accumbens (NA), and caudate putamen (CP), respectively. Frequency distributions and estimates of the number of genes indicate that differences in NT-IR are polygenically influenced. The NT-IR levels in NA and CP were significantly correlated, but levels in the VMB did not correlate with those in the NA or CP. Specific binding to either low (NTL)- or high (NTH)-affinity receptors as measured in the absence or presence of levocabastine differed significantly in brain regions from among LS X SS mouse strains. Results indicate a polygenic influence mediating the differences in receptor densities and suggest differences in genetic regulation of NTL and NTH receptors.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the maternal consumption of alcohol on alcohol selection in rats.

The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of the maternal administration of alcohol on alcohol selection in the adult offspring. Female Wistar rats were pair-fed liquid diets containing either alcohol (6.7% or 4% v/v) or isocaloric carbohydrates starting on day 1 of gestation. The litters were culled to 6 and the pups placed with non-alcohol treated surrogate mothers until they were weaned. At 45 days of age all rats were tested for two-choice selection of 10% (v/v) ethanol vs. water. Consumption from both drinking tubes was recorded for 30 days and selection ratios for alcohol per total fluid volume were calculated. In all conditions a significant increase in alcohol selection was observed across the 30 day test period. These data indicate that prenatal exposure to alcohol may play a part in subsequent selection of alcohol, at least initially. However, the mother's alcohol treatment did not significantly influence the offspring's selection of alcohol over the 30 day test period. Alcohol selection by an individual may be, at least in part, determined by the mother's consumption of alcohol during gestation.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of infantile handling, age and strain on alcohol selection in mice.

Male mice from three inbred strains (C57B1/10J, BALB/cJ and C3H/2lbg) were assigned to infantile handling or control conditions. In a cross-sectional developmental design, handled and control mice were tested for two-choice selection of 10% (v/v) ethanol vs. tap water at 60, 90 or 120 days of age. The volume of fluid consumed from both tubes was recorded for fifteen days. In 60 day old mice, handling produced a trend toward increased total fluid consumption in the C57 mice and a trend toward increased ethanol selection in the BALBs. In 90 day old mice, there were trends noted toward handling-related decreased fluid consumption in BALBs. Also noted was a trend toward handling related increased ethanol selection in C57 mice. In 120 day old mice, a handling-related increase in alcohol selection was noted in the C3H strain.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic-environment analysis of sensitivity and acute tolerance to ethanol in mice.

The purpose of this study was to characterize initial sensitivity (IS), acute functional tolerance (AFT), and rate of tolerance development to ethanol in lines of mice selected for aggression mice as well as to investigate the impact of isolate housing on these phenotypes. The results showed that for IS, there were no differences among treatment groups. For acute tolerance and rate of tolerance development, a Line x Sex x Housing interaction was present, with the response to housing being more pronounced in the low aggressive line than the high aggressive line, and the females being more affected than the males. Correlational analysis showed low to moderate associations between rate of tolerance development and IS, as well as between rate of tolerance and AFT. Housing condition significantly influenced female expression of ethanol phenotypes as compared to males. The line of the subject also influenced the magnitude of expression of these phenotypes. These findings suggest that environmental and genetic influences interact to influence acute tolerance and rate of tolerance development.

Aggression↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Iron deficiency decreases dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in rat brain.

Iron deficiency (ID) in early life is known to alter neurological development and functioning, but data regarding specific effects on dopamine biology are lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of functional alterations in dopamine receptors in two dopaminergic tracts in young, growing, iron-deficient rats. Forty male and 40 female weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either an iron-deficient (ID) diet or control (CN) diet for 6 weeks. ID decreased densities of D(1) and D(2) receptors in the caudate-putamen and decreased D(2) receptor densities in the nucleus accumbens. There were no apparent effects of ID on the affinities for the ligands in either receptor in several brain regions. In situ hybridization studies for both dopamine receptors revealed no significant effect of ID on mRNA expression for either receptor. Iron-deficient rats had a significantly higher ED(50) for raclopride-induced hypolocomotion in male and female rats compared to control rats of each sex. The loss of iron in the striatum due to dietary ID was significantly correlated with the decrease in D(2) receptor density; however, this relationship was not apparent in other brain regions. These experiments thus demonstrate abnormal dopamine receptor density and functioning in several brain regions that are related to brain regional iron loss. Importantly, the impact of ID on dopamine was more pronounced in males than females, demonstrating sex-related different sensitivities to nutrient deprivation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genotypic selection provides experimental confirmation for an alcohol consumption quantitative trait locus in mouse.

Quantitative genetic research has produced a wealth of basic information concerning genetic influence on alcohol-related processes. Recent developments in quantitative trait locus (QTL) methodology were promptly applied to the task of individuating polygenes affecting alcohol-related attributes in animal models and a body of reliable data is gradually coming into focus as a result of replication and convergence of evidence from a variety of methods. A key issue in QTL research is the need to distinguish true positive results from the false positive results that are inherent in analytical procedures requiring large numbers of significance tests. One school of thought holds that stringent significance levels should be imposed; another suggests more modest criteria for QTL nomination, with subsequent confirmation trials with independent samples. Recombinant inbred strains and various types of intercrosses have been used in correlational designs, both for nomination and confirmation studies. Alternative experimental procedures include knockout preparations and short-term phenotypic selective breeding. We present here results from a third experimental method-that of marker-based genotypic selection--in evaluation of two nominated QTLs for alcohol acceptance in mice.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Potential role for P-glycoprotein in the non-proportional pharmacokinetics of UK-343,664 in man.

1. UK-343,664 is a potent and specific PDE5 inhibitor. Following single oral doses to human volunteers, it exhibited non-proportional pharmacokinetics over the dose range 30-800 mg. Over this 27-fold dose range, Cmax and AUCt increased 247- and 287-fold respectively. The half-life (4-6 h) was similar at all doses. No systemic exposure was quantifiable at doses <10 mg. 2. UK-343,664 is a lipophilic molecule (log D7.4 = 3.1) and as such is expected to be cleared mainly by metabolism. Based on studies with expressed human P450 enzymes it was concluded that the metabolism of UK-343,664 was predominantly mediated by CYP3A4. With a moderate Km = 76 microM for this enzyme, saturation of first-pass metabolism alone was considered unlikely to account for the non-proportional pharmacokinetics. 3. UK-343,664 showed high affinity for P-glycoprotein in vitro, with a Km = 7.3 microM. In transport studies in LLC-PK1 cell monolayers transfected with P-glycoprotein, UK343,664 showed marked polarized transport which was concentration dependent. 4. The high affinity of UK-343,664 for P-glycoprotein is considered to be the primary source of the non-proportional pharmacokinetic profile observed in man.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of the glucocorticoid receptor and K-ras genes in urethan-induced mouse lung tumors and transformed cell lines.

Glucocorticoids influence cell proliferation and differentiation in the lung. We examined the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene in urethan-induced mouse lung tumors and transformed lung cell lines to determine whether any altered responsiveness to these steroids is involved in the neoplastic development of some lung tumors. We find that a GR mRNA of similar size and amount is expressed in both normal lung and urethan-induced lung tumors. The K-ras gene is activated in urethan-induced lung adenomas and transformed lung cell lines. Both alveolar and papillary lung adenomas express slightly elevated levels of K-ras mRNA and similar levels of H-ras mRNA, but variable levels of c-myc mRNA, GR and K-ras mRNAs are concurrently expressed in a cyclic manner during the proliferation of nontransformed C10 and transformed A5 lung cell lines. Treatment of the C10 cells with dexamethasone (Dex) results in the inhibition of cell proliferation and the down-regulation of both the GR and K-ras mRNA. Dex treatment also down-regulated GR mRNA levels in A5 and LM2 cells, but no inhibitory effect was observed on K-ras mRNA levels or cell proliferation. These results suggest that glucocorticoids can inhibit K-ras expression in nontransformed lung cells. Although transformed lung cells respond to the steroid by down-regulation of the GR, the presence of an activated K-ras allele may override the inhibitory effects of these hormones on cell proliferation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A pharmacogenetic analysis of the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9THC) on brain gamma glutamyl transpeptidase.

The effects of oral administration of (-)delta 9 Trans-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the membrane bound enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) was studied. Adult male mice were given an oral dose of THC on each of 5 consecutive days in a vehicle of sesame oil, coconut oil and tween. The dosage ranged from 2.5 to 10 mg/kg. The animals were decapitated and the brains dissected into eight regions. Each brain region was homogenized in Tris buffered saline and assayed for protein and gamma-GTP activity. The higher doses of THC produced higher levels of gamma-GTP activity in the brain regions studied.

Animals↗