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Biomedical subjects

J B Long

Publications and source records attributed to J B Long.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Interaction of beta-funaltrexamine with [3H]cycloFOXY binding in rat brain: further evidence that beta-FNA alkylates the opioid receptor complex.

beta-Funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) is an alkylating derivative of naltrexone. In addition to acting as an irreversible inhibitor of mu-receptor-mediated physiological effects, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of beta-FNA to rat attenuates the ability of selective delta receptor antagonists and naloxone to reverse delta receptor-mediated effects. Moreover, recent work demonstrated that i.c.v. administration of beta-FNA alters the conformation of the opioid receptor complex, as inferred by a decrease in the Bmax of the lower affinity [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin binding site. Consistent with the decreased potency of naloxone as an inhibitor of delta receptor mediated effects, beta-FNA doubled the naloxone IC50 for displacing [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin from its lower affinity binding site. These data collectively support the hypothesis that the opioid receptor complex postulated to mediate mu-delta interactions in vivo is identical to the opioid receptor complex as defined by vitro ligand binding studies. A direct prediction of this hypothesis is that beta-FNA should increase the Kd of antagonists for the mu binding site (mu cx) of the receptor complex. The data reported in this paper demonstrate that beta-FNA doubled the IC50 of the potent narcotic antagonist, 6-desoxy-6 beta-fluoronaltrexone (cycloFOXY) for displacing [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin from its lower affinity binding site, and doubled the Kd of [3H]cycloFOXY for its mu binding site, providing additional data that the mu binding site labeled by [3H]cycloFOXY is the mu binding site of the opioid receptor complex. beta-FNA also altered the kappa binding site labeled by [3H]cycloFOXY, and when administered intrathecally to mice, beta-FNA produced a longlasting antinociception in the acetic acid writhing test.

Alkylating Agents↗

Impact of changing attitudes in carotid surgery on community hospital practice.

In 1985, institutional guidelines for the evaluation and performance of carotid surgery were established in our community hospital. During the 5-year period from 1985 through 1989, 159 carotid reconstructions were done. There were four major strokes (3%), one eventually resulting in death, with the second death in this series from a myocardial infarction (mortality 1%). The combined mortality/major stroke morbidity incidence was 3%. Three transient ischemic attacks (2%) postoperatively cleared promptly without residua. During the latter 1980s, an increasing number of vascular surgeons were doing less carotid surgery. Monitoring institutional quality assurance and individual surgeon performance within the community hospital is becoming a reality. Our experience with institutional guidelines for the evaluation and conduct of carotid surgery, together with an assessment of results and ongoing individual surgeon performance, is presented. Maintaining acceptable morbidity and mortality statistics can be enhanced by having a plan for assessment, management, and concurrent review.

Aged↗

Effects of NMDA receptor antagonists following spinal ischemia in the rabbit.

Evidence has accumulated to implicate the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters, glutamate and aspartate, in the pathophysiology of central nervous system (CNS) ischemic injury. It appears from both in vivo and in vitro experiments that they exert their excitotoxic effects in CNS ischemia by their actions at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex. In the present study, we examined the effects of MK-801 and ketamine, two noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists, in a model of spinal cord ischemia in conscious rabbits produced by occluding the infrarenal aorta for 25 min. Five minutes after reperfusion, animals were treated with either saline, ketamine, or MK-801. By 6 h postreperfusion, all treatment groups exhibited an initial recovery of hindlimb motor function, after which the saline- and ketamine-treated groups had a similar progressive deterioration in function over the next 48 h. However, the MK-801-treated rabbits continued to recover motor function such that neurological scores in these rabbits were significantly improved relative to those of the saline-treated animals at 48 h. Histopathological evaluation showed that MK-801-treated rabbits tended to have a lesser degree of central gray matter necrosis. These results indicate that MK-801 protected against the secondary deterioration associated with this model and strengthen the potential therapeutic use of NMDA receptor antagonists in the treatment of CNS ischemia.

Animals↗

Pretreatment of rats with the irreversible mu-receptor antagonist, beta-FNA, fails to prevent naltrexone-induced upregulation of mu-opioid receptors.

This study examined the effect of beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA), an irreversible mu-receptor antagonist, on naltrexone-induced upregulation of mu-(mu cx + mu nex) and delta nex-opioid receptors. [The subscripts 'cx' and 'nex' denote binding sites 'in' (cx) and 'not in' (nex) the opioid receptor complex.] Rats were treated according to the following protocol. Two naltrexone or two placebo pellets were implanted subcutaneously in a nylon mesh on day 1. and were removed intact on day 8. Rats were given either saline or 20 nmol of beta-FNA in 10 microliters of saline (i.c.v.) on days 1, 3, 5 and 6, 60 min prior to implantation of the pellet. On day 9 frozen lysed-P2 membranes were prepared for assay of mu binding sites. In other experiments, membranes were depleted of mu-receptors by pretreatment with the site-directed acylating agent 2-(4-ethoxybenzyl)-l-diethylaminoethyl-5-isothiocyanatobenzimid azole.HCl (BIT) for assay of delta nex binding sites, using [3H] [D-ala2, D-leu5]enkephalin. The results demonstrated that beta-FNA did not upregulate the mu binding sites and also did not prevent naltrexone-induced upregulation of mu binding sites. Both beta-FNA and naltrexone increased the Bmax of delta nex binding sites and their effects were additive. These data suggest that the mechanism(s) responsible for antagonist-induced upregulation of opioid receptors are more complex than previously appreciated.

Animals↗

Dynorphin A-induced rat hindlimb paralysis and spinal cord injury are not altered by the kappa opioid antagonist nor-binaltorphimine.

The selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) was used to distinguish a kappa opioid component in the mechanisms underlying the hindlimb paralysis, ischemia, and neuronal injury induced in the rat by the kappa opioid agonist dynorphin A. Spinal intrathecal (i.t.) injection of nor-BNI (20 nmol) either 15 min or immediately before i.t. injections of 5 or 20 nmol of dynorphin A failed to alter the dynorphin A-induced disruption of hindlimb motor function and nociceptive responsiveness. Nor-BNI also did not change the 3-fold increases in cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentrations produced by 20 nmol of dynorphin A. Neuroanatomical evaluations revealed that the cell loss, fiber degeneration, and central gray necrosis in lumbosacral spinal cords of rats treated with 20 nmol of dynorphin A were not altered by nor-BNI (20 nmol, i.t.). Thus, the spinal cord injury and associated neurological deficits resulting from i.t. injection of dynorphin A appear to be primarily, if not totally, attributable to its non-kappa opioid action(s).

Animals↗

Chronic administration of morphine and naltrexone up-regulate mu-opioid binding sites labeled by [3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin: further evidence for two mu-binding sites.

A variety of data support the hypothesis of an opiate receptor complex composed of distinct, yet interacting mu and delta binding sites (termed mu cx and delta cx to indicate binding sites 'in the complex'), in addition to independent mu and delta binding sites, termed mu ncx and delta ncx, to indicate binding sites 'not in the complex'. Ligand binding studies using membranes and slide-mounted sections of rat brain support the hypothesis that the irreversible mu-antagonist beta-funaltrexamine (FNA) selectively alkylates the opiate receptor complex, altering the binding of mu agonists to the mu cx binding site and the binding of [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin to the delta cx site. Previous studies demonstrated that the chronic administration of morphine to rats selectively 'upregulates' the opiate receptor complex. In contrast, the chronic administration of naltrexone upregulates several types of opioid receptors, including kappa, the delta ncx binding site, and multiple binding sites labeled by mu agonists. A prediction based upon these observations is that, using [3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin to label mu binding sites, chronic morphine should upregulate only the mu cx binding site, whereas chronic naltrexone should additionally up-regulate the mu ncx binding site. In this study we test and confirm this hypothesis, using sensitivity to FNA to define the mu cx binding site. The implications of these data for models of the opioid receptors and the mechanism(s) of tolerance and dependence are discussed.

Animals↗

Chronic morphine increases mu-opiate receptor binding in rat brain: a quantitative autoradiographic study.

Quantitative autoradiography was used to show the locations of mu-opiate receptor binding sites which are upregulated following chronic morphine treatment in rats. A saturating concentration of the mu-specific ligand [3H]D-ala2-N-methyl-Phe4,Gly-ol5-enkephalin was used to label sites in slide-mounted sections through one level of the thalamus in rats implanted subcutaneously with morphine pellets for 5 days. In vitro binding and autoradiography showed the largest increase in binding in the hypothalamus, especially the ventromedial nucleus (155%), with smaller increases in the basolateral and medial amygdaloid nuclei and the striatum. The set of structures showing the upregulation appears to be a subset of those upregulated by opiate antagonists, but there appears to be no correlation of the mu-sites showing upregulation with other anatomical features of the brain opiate system. The physiological significance of the upregulation is not known at present.

Animals↗

A study of the interaction of the alkylating agent, NIH10236, with opioid receptors in vitro and in vivo.

The series of experiments reported in this paper examined the spectrum of subtypes of opioid receptors alkylated in vitro by N-cyclopropylmethyl-7 alpha-methylfumaramido-6,14- endoethenotetrahydronororipavine (NIH10236) and four optical isomers of the methylfumaramidophenethyl derivatives of 3-methylfentanyl. Pretreatment of membranes with NIH10236 resulted in a wash-resistant inhibition of the binding of [3H]6 beta-fluoro-6-desoxyoxymorphone (mu binding sites), the binding of [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]-enkephalin (both the higher and lower affinity delta binding sites) and was without effect on kappa binding sites labelled with [3H]bremazocine. All four potential alkylating derivatives of 3-methylfentanyl were inactive. Pretreatment of membranes with 1 microM of the reversible ligands, (+)-cis-3-methylfentanyl, but not its enantiomer, inhibited the binding of [3H]6 beta-fluoro-6-desoxyoxymorphone and the binding of [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin to the lower affinity binding sites by over 90%. This phenomenon is termed "pseudo-irreversible inhibition." Incubation of pretreated membranes for 60 min at 37 degrees C, in the presence of 200 mM NaCl and 50 microM GppNHp, only partially reversed the masking of opioid receptors by (+)-cis-3-methylfentanyl. For in vivo experiments, membranes were prepared 18-24 hr after the intracerebroventricular administration of 80 and 50 micrograms of NIH10236. This resulted in decreased labelling of mu binding sites, lower affinity [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin binding sites, as well as kappa binding sites, labelled by [3H]U69,593 and [3H]bremazocine. There was no apparent alteration in the higher affinity [3H][D-ala2,D-leu5]enkephalin binding site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkylating Agents↗

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. 15. (3S,4S)-(+)-trans-3-methylfentanyl isothiocyanate, a potent site-directed acylating agent for the delta opioid receptors in vitro.

Recently we reported the synthesis of the first enantiomeric pair of irreversible opioid ligands [(3S,4R)-(-)- and (3R,4S)-(+)-cis-4, SUPERFIT] and specific interaction of the latter with the delta receptor. Here we report another enantiomeric pair of irreversible opioid ligands, (+)-trans- and (-)-trans-3-methylfentanyl isothiocyanates [(3S,4S)-(+)-trans- and (3R,4R)-(-)-trans-4]. A single-crystal X-ray analysis of the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid salt of (+)-trans-3-methyl-N-phenyl-4-piperidinamine [(+)-trans-8] revealed it (and, therefore, 4) to have the trans configuration and the absolute configuration of (+)-trans-8 to be 3S,4S. The (+)-trans enantiomer of 4 was shown to be highly potent and about 10-fold more selective as an acylating agent than (-)-trans-4 for the higher affinity [3H]DADL (delta) binding site in rat brain membranes. In that assay, (+)-trans-4 and (+)-cis-4 were essentially equipotent as affinity ligands, and the levo enantiomers were considerably less potent. (+)-trans-4 was, thus, a potent, subtype-selective acylating agent for the delta opioid receptor in vitro. With membranes from NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells, containing only delta receptors, (+)-cis-4 was found to be a little more potent than (+)-trans-4. Similarly, (+)-cis-4 is the most effective inhibitor of adenylate cyclase in these membranes, (+)-trans-4 has weak activity, and the levo enantiomers are inactive. Only (+)-cis-4 was found to have antinociceptive activity in vivo.

Acylation↗

Cardiovascular responses to intrathecal vasopressin in conscious and anesthesized rats.

Increases in mean arterial pressure and heart rate have been documented after the intrathecal administration of [Arg8]vasopressin (AVP) in rats. Prior studies in our laboratories with conscious rats indicated that these cardiovascular changes were associated with a marked hindlimb sensorimotor dysfunction. In this study, which represents the first systematic comparison of the effects of intrathecal AVP in conscious and anesthesized rats, we demonstrate that in conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats 1) the motor dysfunction induced by intrathecal AVP is accompanied by a rise in mean arterial pressure that is significantly greater than that produced by an equal intravenous dose of AVP, and 2) both paralytic and pressor effects of intrathecal but not intravenous AVP are blocked by the intrathecal administration of the V1-receptor antagonist d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]AVP (V1-ANT) but are not blocked by intravenous phenoxybenzamine, hexamethonium, or [Sar1, Thr8]angiotensin II, an angiotensin II antagonist. In contrast, in anesthesized rats the arterial pressor response to intrathecal AVP was blocked by intrathecal V1-ANT, intravenous hexamethonium, and intravenous phenoxybenzamine. Furthermore, conscious but not anesthesized rats exhibited a tachyphylaxis to intrathecal AVP. These results indicate that intrathecal AVP produces both the cardiovascular changes and the sensorimotor deficits through interactions with centrally located V1-receptors. In addition, sympathetic catecholaminergic mechanisms mediate the rise in mean arterial pressure produced by intrathecal AVP in anesthesized rats, but they do not in conscious rats.

Animals↗

Arginine8-vasopressin reduces spinal cord blood flow after spinal subarachnoid injection in rats.

Arginine8-vasopressin (AVP) causes hindlimb paralysis, loss of nociceptive responsiveness and increased arterial pressure after spinal subarachnoid injection in rats. In these experiments, the effects of paralytic intrathecal doses of AVP on rat brain and spinal cord blood flow, vascular resistance and cardiac output were measured using radiolabeled microspheres. Ten minutes after injection, AVP (10-100 pmol) elevated mean arterial pressures significantly, increased vascular resistances in thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord and reduced blood flow to the lumbosacral spinal cord without altering cardiac output, total peripheral resistance and blood flow to brain and other spinal cord regions. Lumbosacral blood flows remained significantly reduced 30 min after injection of 100 pmol of AVP, and recovered to pretreatment base-line levels by 60 min postinjection. Lactic acid concentrations were elevated significantly in spinal cerebrospinal fluid samples removed 5 to 15 min after AVP injection (100 pmol). The selective AVP V1 receptor antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid), 2-(O-methyl)tyrosine] arg8-vasopressin, which previously blocked the effects of AVP on hindlimb motor and nociceptive function, in these experiments also blocked the AVP-induced increases in arterial pressure and reductions in lumbosacral perfusion. Intravenous infusion of the vasodilators papaverine and nifedipine failed to block AVP-induced hindlimb paralysis. Nifedipine, however, did accelerate subsequent recovery of hindlimb motor function, although it did not alter the lumbosacral blood flow reductions measured at 10 and 30 min after AVP injection. These findings indicate that AVP has significant vascular effects in the rat spinal cord that are associated with ischemia and neurological dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

TRH fails to antagonize the acute paralytic effects of intrathecal dynorphin A and substance P antagonists in the rat.

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), which has been shown to improve neurologic recovery following cervical contusive spinal injury in cats, has also recently been reported to prevent the neuronal damage produced by the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the substance P antagonist, spantide. Spantide and other substance P antagonists share with dynorphin A (DYN A)-related peptides the ability to produce an acute hindlimb paralysis after i.t. administration in the rat. By virtue of this effect, DYN A has been implicated in the secondary injury mechanisms that follow spinal trauma. Since TRH was shown to reduce the degree of histopathological injury caused by i.t. spantide, we investigated the ability of TRH to prevent or ameliorate the acute hindlimb paralysis produced by the i.t. injection of the substance P antagonists, (D-Arg1,D-Trp7,9,Leu11)-substance P (spantide) and (D-Arg1,D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9,Leu11)-substance P, and DYN A in rats. In this study, TRH failed to improve motor function or survival following i.t. injections of substance P antagonists or DYN A.

Animals↗

Hindlimb paralytic effects of prodynorphin-derived peptides following spinal subarachnoid injection in rats.

Dynorphin A-(1-17) acts through non-opioid mechanisms to produce dose-related neurological deficits following injection into the lumbar spinal subarachnoid space in rats. Hindlimb motor function was examined following subarachnoid injection of dynorphin A fragments and other opioid peptides derived from prodynorphin to establish: (1) which portion(s) of the dynorphin A molecule cause hindlimb motor dysfunction, and (2) whether these paralytic actions are shared by other opioids (dynorphin B, alpha-neo-endorphin, and beta-neo-endorphin) derived from the same promolecule. To minimize the influence of enzymatic inactivation on relative bioactivities, peptides were coinjected with a combination of peptidase inhibitors previously shown to enhance the actions of dynorphin A fragments in vitro. Dynorphin A-(1-17) and -(2-17) produced dose-related neurological deficits with equal potencies and durations. Although without effect when injected alone, dynorphin A-(1-8), -(1-7) and -(3-8) caused transient motor dysfunction when co-injected with peptidase inhibitors. In contrast, dynorphin A-(1-6), -(1-5) and -(6-17) did not disrupt hindlimb motor function with or without peptidase inhibition. Dynorphin B, alpha-neo-endorphin and beta-neo-endorphin also caused hindlimb dysfunction which was potentiated by peptidase inhibition. These deficits appeared to result from non-opioid actions of these three peptides, since they were not blocked by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Thus, the paralytic effects of dynorphin A: (1) result from non-opioid actions involving the 3-7 or 3-8 positions of the molecule, and (2) are shared by other prodynorphin-derived opioid peptides.

Animals↗

Characterization of opioid peptide-like anticonvulsant activity in rat cerebrospinal fluid.

The biochemical and pharmacological properties of an endogenous anticonvulsant substance(s) found in rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following seizures are described. CSF taken from donor rats following a single maximal electroshock (MES) seizure caused significant elevations in seizure thresholds in naive recipient rats when intracerebroventricularly injected 15 min prior to exposure to the volatile convulsant flurothyl. Anticonvulsant activity was antagonized by pre-injection in recipients of high doses of naloxone or the selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist ICI 174,864. The anticonvulsant activity was also lost when the CSF was exposed to heat (90 degrees C) or immobilized trypsin. Although unaffected by the peptidase inhibitors thiorphan and bestatin, the anticonvulsant activity was significantly potentiated by a combination of aprotinin and bacitracin. Ultrafiltration of CSF revealed that the anticonvulsant activity passed through membranes with a 10,000 molecular weight cut-off, but was retained by membranes with a 5000 molecular weight cut-off. CSF removed from rats following MES had significantly increased concentrations of beta-endorphin-like, but not dynorphin A, Leu- or Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities relative to CSF from sham-treated rats. However, significant increases in Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity were measured following exposure of the CSF to the proteolytic enzymes trypsin and carboxypeptidase B, suggesting the seizure-induced presence of a higher molecular weight form of Met-enkephalin not recognized immunologically prior to enzyme exposure. These data reconfirm the anticonvulsant actions of postseizure CSF, and indicate that these effects require mediation through delta-opioid receptors in the recipient rat. These data additionally argue against these effects being mediated by Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin or dynorphin A in the CSF, and suggest instead that anticonvulsant effects are attributable to a heat- and trypsin-sensitive opioid peptide(s) with a molecular weight approximately in the range of 5000-10,000 Da.

Animals↗