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Biomedical subjects

C Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to C Tanaka.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Antimuscarinic effects of antihistamines: quantitative evaluation by receptor-binding assay.

Quantitative evaluation of antimuscarinic effects of antihistamines (H1- and H2-receptor antagonists) was carried out using a receptor-binding assay. The -inhibition constants (Ki values) of twenty seven H1-receptor antagonists, one related antidepressant and three H2-receptor antagonists at H1-receptors and muscarinic receptors in the bovine cerebral cortex were determined. All the H2-receptor antagonists examined showed very low affinity for the muscarinic receptors. On the other hand, some H1-receptor antagonists (mequitazine, cyproheptazine, clemastine, diphenylpyraline, promethazine, homochlorcyclizine and alimemazine) had high affinity for the muscarinic receptors (Ki = 5.0-38 nM). Another group of H1-receptor antagonists (mepyramine, terfenadine, metapyrilen, azelastine, hydroxyzine and meclizine) had low affinity for the muscarinic receptors (Ki = 3,600-30,000 nM). Thus, a broad range of antimuscarinic potencies among the antihistamines was demonstrated. These results should provide helpful information with regard to the clinical and experimental use of antihistamines.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

gamma-Aminobutyric acid-induced modulation of acetylcholine release from the guinea pig lung.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content was measured biochemically and the effect of GABA on the release of [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) was studied in strips of the guinea pig lung preloaded with [3H]choline. GABA contents were highest in the middle sections of the lung, as compared with proximal and distal areas. GABA evoked the release of [3H]ACh from the strips of the lung. The effect of GABA was mimicked by muscimol and antagonized by bicuculline and furosemide. Perfusion with Ca++-free medium and tetrodotoxin, but not nipecotic acid, inhibited the GABA- and muscimol-evoked release of [3H]ACh, thereby indicating that the released ACh was of neuronal origin. Diazepam and pentobarbital potentiated the muscimol-evoked [3H]ACh release. On the other hand, GABA reduced the KCl (40 mM)-evoked release of [3H]ACh in the presence of tetrodotoxin and bicuculline and baclofen mimicked the inhibitory effect of GABA. The effects of GABA and baclofen were not altered by alpha and beta adrenergic antagonists. These findings provide evidence for two types of GABA receptors in the lung of the guinea pig, and these receptors are involved in regulating the release of ACh.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Effects of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine on efflux of monoamines and acetylcholine in guinea pig brain.

The effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS) on the release of monoamines and acetylcholine (ACh) was studied in the superfused brain slices of guinea pig. In the tissues preloaded either with [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE), [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA), [3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine or [3H]choline, tritium effluxes were estimated in serial fractions of superfusates. L-threo-DOPS produced a concentration-dependent increase in the spontaneous efflux of [3H]NE both in the cortical and hypothalamic slices and to a lesser extent that of [3H]DA in the striatal slices. These effects were still fully detected when slices were superfused with a calcium-free medium or tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M). Carbidopa at 5 X 10(-4) M but not at 10(-4) M significantly depressed the [3H]catecholamine effluxes induced by L-threo-DOPS. L-threo-DOPS produced a minimum increase in the spontaneous efflux of [3H]-5-hydroxytryptamine but not that of [3H]ACh. L-threo-DOPS (5 X 10(-4) M) significantly reduced the [3H]ACh efflux from electrically stimulated striatal slices and this effect was antagonized by an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (10(-6) M) or by a D2 DA receptor antagonist sulpiride (10(-6) M). In vivo, L-threo-DOPS (150 mg/kg i.p.) produced a gradual but long-lasting increase in the efflux of [3H]NE from the parietal cortex of the guinea pig pretreated with carbidopa (20 mg/kg i.p.). In the brain homogenates, L-threo-DOPS (10(-10) to 10(-4) M) itself did not inhibit the bindings of [3H]rauwolscine or [3H]spiperone, specific ligands for labeling alpha-2 and D2 receptors, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Some properties of progesterone 5 alpha-reductase solubilized from rat liver microsomes.

The experiments described in this paper were undertaken to examine the requirements of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and phosphatidylcholine for hepatic steroid 5 alpha-reduction, previously proposed by Golf and Graef (Golf, S. W. and Graef, V. (1978) J. Steroid Biochem. 9, 369-371). To determine how NADPH-cytochrome c reductase participates in hepatic 5 alpha-reductase activity, antibodies against the purified NADPH-cytochrome c reductase were added to 5 alpha-reductase preparation solubilized from rat liver microsomes. Whereas both NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and progesterone 16 alpha-hydroxylase in the preparation were inhibited by the antiserum, the inhibitory effect on 5 alpha-reductase activity was not observed. In addition, chromatography of the polyethylene glycol fraction active in 5 alpha-reduction on DEAE-cellulose resulted in the complete separation of 5 alpha-reductase activity from NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. Unlike NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, phosphatidylcholine increased the activity of the partially purified 5 alpha-reductase about 2.5 fold. Phosphatidylserine also enhanced the activity to an extent identical for phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine were stimulatory to lesser extents.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Monoclonal antibodies against rat brain protein kinase C and their application to immunocytochemistry in nervous tissues.

Three monoclonal antibodies were prepared against rat brain soluble protein kinase C. Two of the antibodies, CKI-97 (IgG2b subclass) and CKII-90 (IgG1 subclass), showed weak binding to native protein kinase C. The third antibody, CKI-33 (IgG2b subclass), showed no binding. However, the mixture of CKI-97, CKII-90, and CKI-33 exhibited much stronger binding activity to this protein kinase than any of the antibodies alone. Although none of these antibodies showed protein kinase C-neutralizing activity, Western blot analysis indicated that these antibodies reacted specifically with protein kinase C, presumably its subspecies, that is present predominantly in nervous tissues. Immunocytochemical studies shows that these antibodies can be used for identification of this enzyme in nervous tissues. In rat Purkinje cells, the immunoreactive material was present throughout the cytoplasm, including dendrites and axons, but was poorly represented in the cell nucleus. In cerebellum, the localization of protein kinase C appears to be very similar to that of cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Purification of aldehyde dehydrogenase reconstitutively active in fatty alcohol oxidation from rabbit intestinal microsomes.

This work presents the purification and further characterization of the aldehyde dehydrogenase reconstitutively active in fatty alcohol oxidation, from rabbit intestinal microsomes. Microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenase was solubilized with cholate and purified by using chromatography on 6-amino-n-hexyl-Sepharose and 5'-AMP-Sepharose. The purified enzyme migrated as a single polypeptide band with molecular weight of 60,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. By gel filtration in the presence of detergent, its apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 370,000. In the detergent-free solution, in contrast, it had a much higher molecular weight, indicating its association in forming large aggregates. The pH optimum was 9.0 when pyrophosphate buffer was used. The enzyme was active toward various aliphatic aldehydes with more than three carbons. The Km value for substrate seemed to decrease with increase in the chain length. The microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenase was not affected by disulfiram and MgCl2, which were, in contrast, highly inhibitory towards the activity of the cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase separated from intestinal mucosa.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1986

[3H]Nitrendipine binding sites are decreased in the substantia nigra and striatum of the brain from patients with Parkinson's disease.

We examined the degree of binding of the calcium antagonist, [3H]nitrendipine ([3H]NDP), in the prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidum and substantia nigra obtained at autopsy from patients with Parkinson's disease. The specific bindings of [3H]NDP were significantly reduced in the caudate nucleus, putamen and substantia nigra, as compared to the relevant controls. Scatchard analyses revealed that these reductions resulted from decreases in the apparent maximum number of binding sites (Bmax). The affinity constants (Kd) remained unchanged. Thus, it is highly likely that calcium channel antagonist binding sites on nigral dopamine (DA) neurons may be lost in the degenerative process of Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Immunohistochemical demonstration of GABA containing neurons in the guinea pig ileum using purified GABA antiserum.

Antisera against GABA were prepared by immunizing rabbits with GABA conjugated to bovine serum albumin by glutaraldehyde and the antisera were then purified using a GABA immobilized epoxy-activated affinity column. Affinity chromatography and GABA-immobilized epoxy-activated agarose gels were made use of for the reduction of the cross-reactivities of GABA antiserum against endogenous amino acids. The purified GABA antiserum showed remarkably less cross-reactivity. Using this purified GABA antiserum, we noted numerous GABA-like immunoreactive (GABA-positive) nerve fibers in the myenteric meshworks and a few GABA-positive fibers exiting from the myenteric plexus of guinea pig ileum. In the myenteric ganglia, there were GABA-positive nerve cells and GABA-positive varicose fibers surrounding or running along the non-immunoreactive nerve cells. The direct visualization of enteric GABA neurons provides further support for the proposal that GABA is a neurotransmitter in the guinea pig small intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Aspartate-like immunoreactivity in mitral cells of rat olfactory bulb.

Antisera against aspartate (Asp) were prepared by immunizing rabbits with Asp conjugated to bovine serum albumin by glutaraldehyde, after which the antisera were purified using an Asp-immobilized epoxy-activated affinity column. The purified Asp antiserum showed no cross-reactivity, except for a 3% cross-reactivity against D-Asp. Asp-like immunoreactivity in mitral cells of the rat olfactory bulb was demonstrated, using this purified Asp antiserum.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Acetylcholine release from guinea pig caudate slices evoked by phorbol ester and calcium.

In guinea pig caudate slices preloaded with [3H]choline, superfusion with medium containing Ca2+ and the phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate) produced an increase in the Ca2+-dependent, depolarization-evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh), with no significant effect on the evoked Ca2+ influx. The effect of TPA was antagonized by polymyxin B and H-7, both inhibitors of protein kinase C. The combination of TPA and calcium ionophore (A23187) provoked the release of ACh to a level equal to the maximal response induced by depolarizing stimuli. TPA alone had no significant effect on the release of ACh. These results suggest that protein kinase C probably plays a role in transmembrane signal transduction involved in the release of neurotransmitter from nerve terminals in the brain.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

Role of protein kinase C in calcium-mediated signal transduction.

Information from certain extracellular signals, including a group of peptide hormones and some neurotransmitters, appears to flow from the cell surface into the cell interior through two pathways, protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization, both of which become available by a single ligand-receptor interaction. Under normal conditions protein kinase C is activated by association with membrane phospholipids in the presence of 1,2-diacylglycerol. This diacylglycerol may arise in the membrane only transiently from the receptor-mediated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. By using a synthetic permeable diacylglycerol or tumour-promoting phorbol ester (as a substitute for active diacylglycerol) it has been shown that signal passage through this protein kinase pathway is an essential prerequisite, often synergistic to that via the Ca2+ pathway, for full physiological responses, such as transmitter release and exocytosis, to be obtained. Presumably, such a role of protein kinase C may be extrapolated to the activation of many other cellular processes, including membrane conductance, gene expression and some metabolic reactions, as well as to the modulation of other receptor-mediated signal pathways. Some morphological findings with monoclonal antibodies raised against protein kinase C are presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Decreased serotonin S2 and increased dopamine D2 receptors in chronic schizophrenics.

Serotonin S2 and dopamine D2 receptors in the prefrontal cortex and caudate nucleus of postmortem brains of chronic schizophrenics were studied using 3H-ketanserin and 3H-spiperone, respectively. In the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics, we found a significant decrease in the maximum number of 3H-ketanserin binding sites (Bmax), with no change in the dissociation constant (Kd). Conversely, both Bmax and Kd of 3H-spiperone binding to the caudate nucleus were significantly increased in the schizophrenic patients. There were no differences in receptor indices between patients who were taking neuroleptics until their death and those who had taken none for 2 months or more prior to death. These findings suggest that alterations in S2 receptors in the prefrontal cortex may reflect the disease process, per se, and that the increase in the number of D2 receptors in the caudate nucleus of schizophrenics is not due solely to neuroleptic medication.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Significance of proton relaxation time measurement in brain edema, cerebral infarction and brain tumors.

We examined the proton relaxation times in vitro in various neurological diseases using experimental and clinical materials, and consequently obtained significant results for making a fundamental analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as followings. 1) In the brain edema and cerebral infarction, T1 prolonged and T2 separated into two components, one fast and one slow. Prolongation of T1 referred to the volume of increased water in tissue. The slow component of T2 reflects both the volume and the content of increased edema fluid in tissue. 2) In the edematous brain tissue with the damaged Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB), the slow component of T2 became shorter after the injection of Mn-EDTA. Paramagnetic ion could be used as an indicator to demonstrate the destruction of BBB in the brain. 3) After the i.v. injection of glycerol, the slow component of T2 became shorter in the edematous brain with the concomitant decrease of water content. The effects of therapeutic drug could be evaluated by the measurement of proton relaxation times. 4) Almost all tumor tissue showed a longer T1 and T2 values than the normal rat brain, and many of them showed two components in T2. It was difficult to determine the histology of tumor tissue by the relaxation time alone because of an overlap of T1 and T2 values occurred among various types of brain tumors. 5) In vivo T1 values of various brain tumor were calculated from the data of MRIs by zero-crossing method, and they were compared with the in vitro T1 values which were measured immediately after the surgical operation. Though the absolute value did not coincide with each other due to differences in magnetic field strength, the tendency of the changes was the same among all kinds of tumors. It is concluded that the fundamental analysis of proton relaxation times is essentially important not only for the study of pathophysiology in many diseases but also for the interpretation of clinical MRI.

Animals↗