Neuroprotective effects of free radical scavengers and energy repletion in animal models of neurodegenerative disease.
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
Biomedical subjects
J B Schulz
Publications and source records attributed to J B Schulz.
Fixation instability and oculomotor abnormalities in Friedreich's ataxia.
Eye movements were studied in 13 patients with Friedreich's ataxia and correlated with MRI findings to investigate whether oculomotor abnormalities can be traced to cerebellar disturbances in this disease. One of the most prominent eye signs was fixation instability (square-wave jerks, SWJ.). Besides SWJ the patients showed various combinations of cerebellar, vestibular and brain-stem oculomotor signs. Our patients did not comprise a homogeneous group with regard to their oculomotor findings. There was no correlation between the severity of any of the so-called cerebellar oculomotor disturbances and the number of SWJ. We tried to correlate the extent of oculomotor disturbances with floccular atrophy and atrophy of the dorsal vermis on MRI in seven of the patients. None of the oculomotor features (including SWJ) correlated with flocculus or dorsal vermis size. Furthermore, floccular and vermal measurements on MRI were normal. Accordingly, we think it unlikely that the oculomotor disturbances, including SWJ, are attributable to cerebellar pathology per se.
Adult↗
Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide and a free radical spin trap protect against MPTP neurotoxicity.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produces Parkinsonism in both experimental animals and in man. MPTP is metabolized to 1-methyl-4-phenylpridinium, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. MPTP administration produces ATP depletions in vivo, which may lead to secondary excitotoxicity and free radical generation. If this is the case then agents which improve mitochondrial function or free radical scavengers should attenuate MPTP neurotoxicity. In the present experiments three regimens of MPTP administration produced varying degrees of striatal dopamine depletion. A combination of coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide protected against both mild and moderate depletion of dopamine. In the MPTP regimen which produced mild dopamine depletion nicotinamide or the free radical spin trap N-tert-butyl-alpha-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone were also effective. There was no protection with a MPTP regimen which produced severe dopamine depletion. These results show that agents which improve mitochondrial energy production (coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide) and free radical scavengers can attenuate mild to moderate MPTP neurotoxicity.
Animals↗
Improved therapeutic window for treatment of histotoxic hypoxia with a free radical spin trap.
The therapeutic time window for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, non-NMDA antagonists, and glutamate release inhibitors in focal models of ischemia appears to be about 1-2 h. In contrast, a free radical spin trap was found to have an improved therapeutic window. We compared the therapeutic time windows of the NMDA antagonist dizolcilpine maleate (MK-801), the glutamate release inhibitor lamotrigine, and the free radical spin trap n-tert-butyl-alpha-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN) against striatal lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin malonate, which produces histotoxic hypoxia. Lamotrigine exerted neuroprotective effects when administered at 1 h before malonate injections. MK-801 protected at 1 h before and 1 h after malonate injections, whereas S-PBN showed efficacy when administered up to 6 h after malonate injections. Striatal injections of malonate produced a rapid increase in lactate production and early changes in diffusion-weighted imaging as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Therefore, the time course to evolve a lesion in our model of histotoxic hypoxia is comparable with that of other models of focal ischemia. These findings provide direct evidence that a free radical spin trap has an improved therapeutic window compared to an NMDA antagonist and a glutamate release inhibitor. This could be a therapeutic advantage in the treatment of clinical stroke patients.
Animals↗
Basic fibroblast growth factor protects against excitotoxicity and chemical hypoxia in both neonatal and adult rats.
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a polypeptide growth factor that promotes neuronal survival. We recently found that systemic administration of bFGF protects against both excitotoxicity and hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal animals. In the present study, we examined whether systemically administered bFGF could prevent neuronal death induced by intrastriatal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or chemical hypoxia induced by intrastriatal injection of malonate in adult rats and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in neonatal rats. Systemic administration of bFGF (100 micrograms/kg) for three doses both before and after intrastriatal injection of either NMDA or malonate in adult rats produced a significant neuroprotective effect. In neonatal rats, bFGF produced dose-dependent significant neuroprotective effects against MPP+ neurotoxicity, with a maximal protection of approximately 50% seen with either a single dose of bFGF of 300 micrograms/kg or three doses of 100 micrograms/kg. These results show that systemic administration of bFGF is effective in preventing neuronal injury under circumstances in which the blood-brain barrier may be compromised, raising the possibility that this strategy could be effective in stroke.
1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗
Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase by 7-nitroindazole protects against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice.
Several studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO.) contributes to cell death following activation of NMDA receptors in cultured cortical, hippocampal, and striatal neurons. In the present study we investigated whether 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a specific neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, can block dopaminergic neurotoxicity seen in mice after systemic administration of MPTP. 7-NI dose-dependently protected against MPTP-induced dopamine depletions using two different dosing regimens of MPTP that produced varying degrees of dopamine depletion. At 50 mg/kg of 7-NI there was almost complete protection in both paradigms. Similar effects were seen with MPTP-induced depletions of both homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. 7-NI had no significant effect on dopamine transport in vitro and on monoamine oxidase B activity both in vitro and in vivo. One mechanism by which NO. is thought to mediate its toxicity is by interacting with superoxide radical to form peroxynitrite (ONOO-), which then may nitrate tyrosine residues. Consistent with this hypothesis, MPTP neurotoxicity in mice resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of 3-nitrotyrosine, which was attenuated by treatment with 7 NI. Our results suggest that NO. plays a role in MPTP neurotoxicity as well as novel therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
Involvement of free radicals in excitotoxicity in vivo.
Recent evidence has linked excitotoxicity with the generation of free radicals. We examined whether free radical spin traps can attenuate excitotoxic lesions in vivo. Pretreatment with N-tert-butyl-alpha-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN) significantly attenuated striatal excitotoxic lesions in rats produced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainic acid, and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA). In a similar manner, striatal lesions produced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), malonate, and 3-acetylpyridine were significantly attenuated by either S-PBN or alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) treatment. Administration of S-PBN in combination with the NMDA antagonist MK-801 produced additive effects against malonate and 3-acetylpyridine toxicity. Malonate injections resulted in increased production of hydroxyl free radicals (.OH) as assessed by the conversion of salicylate to 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). This increase was significantly attenuated by S-PBN, consistent with a free radical scavenging effect. S-PBN had no effects on malonate-induced ATP depletions and had no significant effect on spontaneous striatal electrophysiologic activity. These results provide the first direct in vivo evidence for the involvement of free radicals in excitotoxicity and suggest that antioxidants may be useful in treating neurologic illnesses in which excitotoxic mechanisms have been implicated.
Animals↗
3-Nitropropionic acid neurotoxicity is attenuated in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase transgenic mice.
The mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) produces selective striatal lesions in both experimental animals and humans. The pathogenesis of the lesions involves secondary excitotoxicity that may then lead to free radical generation. To test this further we examined the effects of 3-NP in both transgenic (Tg) mice that carry the complete sequence for the human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene as well as non-Tg littermate controls. The Tg-SOD mice showed a pronounced attenuation of Nissl-stained striatal lesions compared with non-Tg mice. Systemic administration of 3-NP resulted in production of hydroxyl free radicals as assessed by the conversion of salicylate to 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. This production was attenuated significantly in Tg-SOD mice. In a similar way, 3-NP produced significant increases in 3-nitrotyrosine/tyrosine, a marker for peroxynitrite-mediated damage, which were significantly attenuated in Tg-SOD mice. These results support that oxygen free radicals and peroxynitrite play an important role in the pathogenesis of 3-NP neurotoxicity.
Animals↗
Role of nitric oxide in neurodegenerative diseases.
Besides its role as a mediator of several physiological functions, nitric oxide appears to be a neurotoxin under conditions of excessive production, which suggests a role for nitric oxide in neurodegenerative diseases. An increasing body of evidence has implicated excitotoxicity as a mechanism of cell death in both acute and chronic neurologic diseases. Activation of excitatory amino acid receptors leads to activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase by an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations. Nitric oxide may inhibit key enzymes of energy metabolism, damage DNA, deplete intracellular glutathione, and react with superoxide to form peroxynitrite. The latter is a highly reactive molecule, a potent oxidizing agent known to initiate lipid peroxidation, hydroxylation and nitration of aromatic amino acid residues, and sulfhydryl oxidation of proteins, and to decompose to nitrogen dioxide and species with hydroxyl-like reactivity. There now is evidence that the neuronal production of nitric oxide and the formation of peroxynitrite occurs in vivo.
Animals↗
Blockade of neuronal nitric oxide synthase protects against excitotoxicity in vivo.
Nitric oxide may be a key mediator of excitotoxic neuronal injury in the central nervous system. We examined the effects of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) on excitotoxic striatal lesions. 7-NI significantly attenuated lesions produced by intrastriatal injections of NMDA, but not kainic acid or alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) 7-NI attenuated secondary striatal excitotoxic lesions produced by the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor malonate, and the protection was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine, 7-NI produced nearly complete protection against striatal lesions produced by systemic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), another succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, 7-NI protected against malonate induced decreases in ATP, and increases in lactate, as assessed by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 7-NI had no effects on spontaneous electrophysiologic activity in the striatum in vivo, suggesting that its effects were not mediated by an interaction with excitatory amino acid receptors. 7-NI attenuated increases in hydroxyl radical, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and 3-nitrotyrosine generation in vivo, which may be a consequence of peroxynitrite formation. The present results implicate neuronal nitric oxide generation in the pathogenesis of both direct and secondary excitotoxic neuronal injury in vivo. As such they suggest that neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of neurologic diseases in which excitotoxic mechanisms play a role.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Aminooxyacetic acid striatal lesions attenuated by 1,3-butanediol and coenzyme Q10.
We previously showed that intrastriatal administration of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) produces striatal lesions by a secondary excitotoxic mechanism associated with impairment of oxidative phosphorylation. In the present study, we show that and the specific complex I inhibitor rotenone produces a similar neurochemical profile in the striatum, consistent with an effect of AOAA on energy metabolism. Lesions produced by AOAA were dose-dependently blocked by MK-801, with complete protection against GABA and substance P depletions at a dose of 3 mg/kg. AOAA lesions were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with either 1,3-butanediol or coenzyme Q10, two compounds which are thought to improve energy metabolism. These results provide further evidence that AOAA produces striatal excitotoxic lesions as a consequence of energy depletion and they suggest therapeutic strategies which may be useful in neurodegenerative diseases.
Aminooxyacetic Acid↗
Malonate produces striatal lesions by indirect NMDA receptor activation.
We previously showed that local striatal injections of malonate produce age-dependent excitotoxic lesions. In the present study volumetric analysis confirmed that malonate produces age-dependent striatal lesions. Pretreatment with the non-competitive and competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801 and LY274614, and with lamotrigine resulted in significant protection in 4-month-old animals. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of lesion area showed a significant correlation of increasing lesion size and lactate production in rats ranging from 1 to 12 months of age. Histological evaluation showed NADPH-diaphorase neurons were spared. The results provide further evidence that a subtle impairment of energy metabolism may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases.
Animals↗
Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide block striatal lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin malonate.
A potential mechanism of neuronal injury in neurodegenerative diseases is a defect in energy metabolism that may lead to slow excitotoxic neuronal death. Consistent with this possibility, we showed that specific inhibitors of the electron transport chain produce excitotoxic lesions in vivo. In the present study we examined whether agents that improve energy metabolism can block lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin malonate. Striatal lesions produced by the complex II inhibitor malonate were blocked in a dose-dependent manner by oral pretreatment with coenzyme Q10. Administration of nicotinamide by Alzet pump for 1 week attenuated malonate-induced lesions, but riboflavin had no effect. Administration of nicotinamide intraperitoneally just prior to and following induction of the lesions produced dose-dependent neuroprotection. A combination of coenzyme Q10 with nicotinamide was more effective than either compound alone, as shown by both lesion size and magnetic resonance imaging in vivo. Both coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide blocked adenosine triphosphate depletions and lactate increases. These results confirm that mitochondrial toxins produce striatal excitotoxic lesions by a mechanism involving energy depletion in vivo. Furthermore, they suggest novel neuroprotective strategies that may be useful in the treatment of both mitochondrial encephalopathies and neurodegenerative diseases.
Animals↗
Systemic or local administration of azide produces striatal lesions by an energy impairment-induced excitotoxic mechanism.
Sodium azide is an inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase which produces selective striatal lesions in both rodents and primates. In the present study we investigated the neurochemical and histologic effects of both intrastriatal and systemic administration of sodium azide, as well as the age dependence and mechanism of the lesions. Intrastriatal administration of sodium azide produced dose-dependent lesions. Neurochemical and histologic evaluation showed that markers of both spiny projection neurons (GABA, substance P) and aspiny interneurons (somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, NADPH-diaphorase) were equally affected. Subacute systemic administration of sodium azide resulted in lesions with a similar neurochemical profile; however, in contrast to intrastriatal injections there was sparing of dopaminergic striatal afferents. Prior decortication significantly attenuated lesions produced by intrastriatal administration of sodium azide, consistent with an excitotoxic process. Chronic administration of sodium azide for 1 month lead to striatal neuropathological changes. Lesions produced by intrastriatal administration of sodium azide in 1-, 4-, and 12-month-old animals showed age dependence. Both freeze-clamp measurements and chemical-shift magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed that sodium azide impairs oxidative phosphorylation in the striatum following either intrastriatal or systemic administration. These results show that the striatum is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress produced by sodium azide, and that it produces striatal lesions by a secondary excitotoxic mechanism.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
Oculomotor abnormalities and MRI findings in idiopathic cerebellar ataxia.
Extensive oculomotor testing and quantitative MRI evaluation was performed in seven patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia without extracerebellar symptoms (IDCA-C) and in ten patients with additional extracerebellar symptoms (IDCA-P). The most severe oculomotor deficits were disturbed smooth pursuit, optokinetic nystagmus and suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The symptoms correlated well and consistently with the amount of atrophy of the flocculus and the dorsal vermis. These correlations, however, were not specific, and deficits also correlated with the amount of atrophy of other cerebellar structures. No correlation was found between saccade velocity and brainstem atrophy or between saccade metrics and atrophy of the dorsal vermis. Although patients with IDCA-P had more severe oculomotor deficits than patients with IDCA-C, the pattern of the oculomotor disturbances was the same for both groups. Thus, eye movement analysis alone is not sufficient to distinguish between patients with pure cerebellar ataxia and those with additional extracerebellar symptoms.
Adult↗
3-Acetylpyridine produces age-dependent excitotoxic lesions in rat striatum.
The effects of 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) were studied in rat striatum. Striatal injections of 3-AP produced dose-dependent lesions. The lesion size was significantly increased in 4- and 12-month-old rats compared to 1-month-old rats. Coinjection of the competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) or systemic administration of the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801, the competitive NMDA antagonist LY274614, or the glutamate release inhibitor lamotrigine partially but significantly attenuated striatal lesion volume. Consistent with an NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxic effect, histologic studies showed that 3-AP lesions result in relative sparing of NADPH-diaphorase neurons. Using freeze clamp, 3-AP resulted in a marked depletion of ATP. Two-dimensional water-suppressed proton chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging showed a striatal depletion of the neuronal marker N-acetylaspartate but no focal increase in lactate during the first 3 h after intrastriatal 3-AP injections. Pretreatment with fructose-1,6-biphosphate attenuated the lesion volume significantly, which may be due to its ability to serve as a substrate for glycolytic metabolism, with resulting ATP production. The results of the present studies support the hypothesis that 3-AP produces an impairment of energy metabolism due to its substitution for niacinamide in the formation of NAD(P). Furthermore, 3-AP toxicity may involve a secondary excitotoxic mechanism mediated by NMDA receptors.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Mitochondrial dysfunction in movement disorders.
A major theory regarding the mechanism of neuronal degeneration in several movement disorders is that mitochondrial defects may play a role. Biochemical studies in Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple system atrophy, and idiopathic dystonia have shown defects in enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation in postmortem brain tissue, platelets, muscle, or lymphocytes. The basal ganglia and substantia nigra are also particularly susceptible to the accumulation of age-dependent mitochondrial DNA deletions, which may contribute to the delayed onset of movement disorders. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine model of Parkinson's disease involves conversion to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, which then inhibits complex I of the electron transport chain. Our studies show that the complex II inhibitor 3-nitropropionic acid can closely replicate the neurochemical, histologic, and clinical features of Huntington's disease. The mechanism of neuronal death in both these models may be slow excitotoxicity. Both direct biochemical studies and animal models of movement disorders therefore suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction may play a direct role in their pathogenesis.
Animals↗
Absence of SCA1 mutation in idiopathic cerebellar ataxia.
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Adult↗