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Biomedical subjects

J Pitha

Publications and source records attributed to J Pitha.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Distribution of substituents in 2-hydroxypropyl ethers of cyclomaltoheptaose.

The distribution of substituents in 2-hydroxypropyl ethers of cyclomaltoheptaose, prepared by alkylation of the carbohydrate with propylene oxide in aqueous sodium hydroxide, was investigated. The samples were fully methylated and hydrolyzed, and the resulting mixture of alkylated sugars analyzed as their alditol acetates by g.l.c.-m.s. High and low alkali concentration favored the formation of 2-hydroxypropyl ethers at O-6 and O-2, respectively; substitution at O-2 increased the reactivity of O-3. The overall extent of substitution had only secondary effects on the relative reactivities of O-6 and O-2, and the 2-hydroxypropyl groups remained unevenly distributed among the glucose residues, even when the overall substitution increased. Only small proportions of the isomeric 2-(1-hydroxypropyl) ethers were formed, and the percentage of oligopropylene glycol ethers was also low.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1990

Behavior and physiological effects of supplemental episodes of testosterone, its precursors and metabolite in rats.

Androgen-sensitive behavior and physiology were examined in gonadally intact male rats receiving daily injections of steroids (0.4 mg/kg) in two pharmaceutical forms for one month. When steroids were injected as aqueous solutions of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin complexes, a form which insures a rapid distribution through the organism, testerosterone strongly increased behavioral parameters, while testosterone precursors (dehydroepiandrosterone and 4-androstene-3, 17-dione) and metabolite (5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone) decreased them. These results suggest that it is not possible to produce an effective testosterone pulse by metabolic conversion through supplemental pulses of precursors. The treatments did not affect sperm counts in epididymis. The size of ventral prostate was increased only after the administration of 4-androstene-3,17-dione or 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, not after testosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone. When steroids were injected in oil, a pharmaceutical form which distributes steroids slowly and in a protracted manner, testosterone led to an enlargement of the prostate in addition to the increase in behavioral parameters seen with the complexed form. The suppression in behavior and prostate enlargement by other steroids were more pronounced than when these were administered in complexed forms. Obviously, some of the adverse effects of the presently used depot steroid preparations are of pharmacokinetic origin.

Androstenedione↗
PubMed1990

Pharmaceutical usefulness of hydroxypropylcyclodextrins: "e pluribus unum" is an essential feature.

A series of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins was prepared by a method that leads to a preferential substitution on the secondary hydroxyls, mainly O-2, of beta-cyclodextrin with (S)-2-hydroxypropyl groups. The series consisted of mixtures of compounds with average degrees of substitution of 8, 3, and 1.6 and of a specially isolated monosubstituted compound; thus, the number of components progressively decreased in this series. The crystallinity in the series increased progressively, the first member being fully amorphous and the last one fully crystalline. All members of the series formed clear aqueous solutions at concentrations of greater than 50.0, 2.0, 0.6, and 0.3%, respectively. Therefore, pharmaceutically useful hydroxypropylcyclodextrin preparations are those containing a large number of chemically individual compounds--a feature resulting in an amorphous state and high water solubility.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1990

Enhancement of the antiinflammatory effect of ethyl 4-biphenylyl acetate in ointment by beta-cyclodextrin derivatives: increased absorption and localized activation of the prodrug in rats.

Ethyl 4-biphenylyl acetate (EBA) is a prodrug of the antiinflammatory 4-biphenylyl acetic acid (BPAA). The inclusion complexes of EBA with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD), heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD), and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD) at a molar ratio of 1:2 (EBA:cyclodextrin) were prepared and used to make hydrophilic antiinflammatory ointments. The in vitro release of EBA from the ointments was enhanced by complexation in the order of beta-CyD less than DM-beta-CyD less than or equal to HP-beta-CyD. The improvement correlated with the improved solubility and not with the decreased diffusibility observed to occur upon the complexation of EBA. In vivo the complexation with cyclodextrin derivatives increased both the release of EBA from the vehicle and its conversion in the underlying tissue to BPAA, but the total of EBA and BPAA in the tissue was decreased. In vitro studies confirmed that the effects of cyclodextrin derivatives on the conversion were exerted indirectly. The combination of the enhanced release and of the enhanced prodrug hydrolysis by esterases in the site where the antiinflammatory action is required resulted in increased therapeutic effects. In the model of carrageenan-induced acute edema in rat paw, the complexation improved the therapeutic effects over those of EBA alone in the order of beta-CyD less than DM-beta-CyD less than HP-beta-CyD. HP-beta-CyD may be a particularly useful cyclodextrin derivative since it improves the topical availability and does not irritate tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Differential effects of alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins on human erythrocytes.

Alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins are cyclic hexamers, heptamers, and octamers of glucose, respectively, and thus are hydrophilic; nevertheless, they have the ability to solubilize lipids through the formation of molecular inclusion complexes. The volume of lipophilic space involved in the solubilization process increases with the number of glucose units in the cyclodextrin molecule and, consequently, cyclodextrins were found to have different effects on human erythrocytes: (a) in the induction of shape change from discocyte to spherocyte the potency was observed to be alpha greater than gamma, but with beta-cyclodextrin hemolysis occurred before the change was complete; (b) in the increase of fluorescence intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate in cyclodextrin-pretreated membranes, the observed potency was beta much greater than gamma greater than alpha; (c) in the release of potassium and hemoglobin, the potency was beta greater than alpha greater than gamma. The potencies of cyclodextrin for solubilizing various components of erythrocytes were alpha greater than beta much greater than gamma for phospholipids, beta much greater than gamma greater than alpha for cholesterol and beta much greater than gamma greater than alpha for proteins. The solubilization potencies were derived from concentration/final-effect curves. The above processes occurred without entry of solubilizer into the membrane, since (a) beta-[14C]cyclodextrin did not bind to erythrocytes and (b) cyclodextrins did not enter the cholesterol monolayer. A study of the [3H]cholesterol in erythrocytes indicated that beta-cyclodextrin extracted this lipid from membrane into a new compartment located in the aqueous phase which could equilibrate rapidly with additional erythrocytes. Therefore, the effects of cyclodextrins differ from those of detergents which first incorporate themselves into membranes then extract membrane components into supramolecular micelles.

Cyclodextrins↗
PubMed1989

Alkylation of cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) with dialkyl sulfate-barium hydroxide: heterogeneity of products and the marked effect of the size of the macrocycle.

The alkylation of cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins, CDs) with dialkyl sulfate-barium hydroxide has been claimed to yield 2,6-di-O-alkyl derivatives. Re-investigation by plasma desorption-m.s. of the products of laboratory methylation of alpha CD, beta CD, or gamma CD and ethylation of beta CD and several commercial preparations revealed them to be mixtures with broad and roughly symmetrical distributions of the degree of substitution. Recrystallization separated the components only partially. Analysis of the product of methylation of a mixture of CDs established the order of reactivity gamma much greater than alpha greater than or equal to beta. The reactivity of gamma CD thus resembles that of amylose.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1989

Tubulointerstitial nephritis due to vancomycin.

Vancomycin was used to treat a patient with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. After 3 weeks of therapy, the patient developed a diffuse maculopapular rash, which resolved upon stopping the drug. Rechallenge with vancomycin several days later resulted in reappearance of the rash and rapid onset of acute anuric renal failure. Renal biopsy revealed acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis. This is the first report of biopsy-proven vancomycin-induced acute interstitial nephritis. Renal function should be monitored closely in patients receiving vancomycin therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Alkylating prazosin analogue: irreversible label for alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

A series of prazosin analogues comprised of N-acyl derivatives of N'-(4-amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-2-yl)piperazine was prepared and the nature of their binding to alpha 1-adrenoceptors was investigated. Derivatives with alpha, beta-unsaturated acyclic acyls had some affinity but no irreversible action at the receptor. Other potent compounds, also without irreversible activity, contained cinnamoyl or (phenylamino)thiocarbonyl residues. High affinity and irreversible binding were obtained with a bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-dien-2-ylcarbonyl derivative. The conjugated double bond in this compound was in about the same position and distance from the pharmacophore as in some of the above compounds of high affinity but with no irreversible action. Two consecutive recognition steps were thought to be involved in irreversible blockade: reversible binding of the pharmacophore part of the molecule to the binding site of the receptor, followed by reaction of the chemoreactive part with an adjacent nucleophile of the receptor. The present results suggest that for the second step to occur efficiently, some affinity for the receptor must be present even in the chemoreactive part of the molecule; simple spanning of the binding and nucleophile sites of the receptor was insufficient.

Acylation↗
PubMed1989

Testosterone in a cyclodextrin-containing formulation: behavioral and physiological effects of episode-like pulses in rats.

Testosterone, administered in the form of an inclusion complex with 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin by subcutaneous injection, enters the circulation in a manner markedly similar to the natural episodic release by the testes. The effects of a regimen of once-a-day administration of complexed testosterone to adult (castrated or intact) rats and to senescent (intact) rats were investigated. Although this procedure left the castrated animals with concentrations of circulatory hormone far below physiological levels for much of the day, a significant improvement in androgen-sensitive behavior and physiology was obtained. Furthermore, the testosterone effects were more pronounced when high doses were used periodically rather than when the same total amount of testosterone was equally divided among doses. The same supplementation to intact rats intensified androgen-sensitive behavior and physiology over normal levels. In senescent rats uniform pulses of the testosterone complex also improved behavior and physiology. Specifically, spermatogenesis was stimulated and, notably, the treatment increased muscle weight without substantial enlargement of the prostate. Since the testosterone-cyclodextrin complex also can be effectively administered as a sublingual tablet, the data suggest that similar regimens may be recommended for elderly men suffering from decreases in muscle mass.

Aggression↗
PubMed1989

Interaction of a chemically reactive prazosin analog with alpha-1 adrenoceptors of rat tissues.

An alkylating analog of prazosin, SZL49 [1-(4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2-quinazolinyl)-4-(2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5- diene-2-carbonyl)-piperazine], was synthesized and its pharmacological properties examined. SZL49 competed with nanomolar potency at [3H]prazosin binding sites of rat tissues. Pretreatment of membranes with SZL49 (10 nM) followed by washing led to a reduction in [3H]prazosin binding without a change in the Kd of the remaining sites. However, preincubation even at a concentration of 1 microM, led to only a 50% reduction in binding. Higher concentrations of SZL49 in the preincubation mixtures increased the Kd of the remaining sites. Pretreatment of membranes with phenoxybenzamine led to greater than 80% reduction in these sites. Preincubating membranes with SZL49 together with prazosin prevented the loss of binding caused by SZL49 alone. Utilizing different buffers or altering the ratio of absolute amounts of SZL49 and receptors in the preincubations failed to increase the blockade of [3H]prazosin binding sites. SZL49 was injected i.p. into rats and 16 hr later membranes were prepared from tissues and [3H]prazosin saturation experiments were performed. Whereas Kd values in brain and heart were no different from controls, the Kd value of the remaining kidney binding sites was increased approximately 5-fold in test animals in contrast to in vitro experiments. Maximum binding values of heart were reduced significantly by approximately 42%. Maximum binding values of kidney and brain were reduced about 21 and 36%, respectively. In functional studies with isolated rat aorta, pretreatment with SZL49, followed by a 1.5 hr washout, shifted to the right in a dose-dependent manner the dose-response curves for phenylephrine and norepinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1989

Effect of an alkylating analog of prazosin on alpha-1 adrenoceptor subtypes and arterial blood pressure.

Previous studies have shown that a chemically reactive analog of prazosin, SZL-49, reduces the alpha-1 adrenoceptor population by a maximum of 60% (Kusiak et al., 1989). These data support the idea that alpha-1 receptor subtypes exist and only one is sensitive to alkylation by SZL-49. In the present study male rats were injected (i.p.) with SZL-49 (0.5-30 mg/kg) and the effects on [3H]prazosin binding, systemic arterial blood pressure and the pressor response to phenylephrine were assessed 24 hr later. SZL-49 treatment decreased the number of [3H]prazosin sites without affecting receptor affinity. The maximal reduction in binding sites was 60% (32 fmol/mg). At doses of 0.5-, 1-, 5- and 10-mg/kg SZL-49 reduced the receptor number to the same level (83 fmol/mg control; 47-60 fmol/mg treated). Injection of SZL-49 had no effect on resting blood pressure. However, drug treatment (0.5 mg/kg and greater) shifted the phenylephrine dose-response curve to the right. The maximal 1-, 5- and 10-mg/kg SZL-49, the ED50 for phenylephrine was approximately the same. Therefore, over a 20-fold range of SZL-49 concentrations no further reduction in receptor number or phenylephrine ED50 was observed. These data support the idea that S2L-49-sensitive and resistant alpha-1 receptors exist in vivo. The alkylation resistant receptor is capable of maintaining resting blood pressure. Furthermore, both receptors appear to be involved in mediating the increase in blood pressure observed with phenylephrine.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1988

Persistent beta-adrenoceptor blockade with alkylating pindolol (BIM) in guinea-pig left atria and trachea.

The actions of alkylating pindolol (N8-bromoacetyl-N1-3'-(4-indolyloxy)-2'-hydroxypropyl[z]-1,8- diamino-p-menthane; BIM) have been examined on beta-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig left atria and trachea. In organ bath experiments, addition of BIM (greater than or equal to 0.1 microM), followed by washout, produced concentration-dependent rightward shifts of the dose-response curve to cumulative additions of (-)-isoprenaline and oxymethylene-isoprenaline and reductions in the maximal response. The "apparent" pA2 value for BIM was 9.23 +/- 0.20 (slope = 0.98 +/- 0.20). Changes in the maximal density of beta-adrenoceptor binding sites were determined in guinea-pig left atrial membranes using [125I]-cyanopindolol. BIM (0.1, 1.0 and 10 microM) produced 14, 23 and 41% reductions in Bmax with no change in KD. The binding of [125I]-BIM to guinea-pig left atrial membranes had a high non-specific binding component and a pseudo-Hill coefficient less than unity. The "apparent" KD value of [125I]-BIM at beta-adrenoceptor binding sites was 85.7 +/- 57.9 pM.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1988

2-Hydroxypropyldigitonin: synthesis and properties of preparations differing in degree of substitution.

Reaction of propylene oxide with digitonin in strong aqueous alkali yielded water soluble, nontoxic solubilizers of drugs and hormones, the molecular composition of which could be fully deduced from plasma desorption mass spectrometry data. Preparations with average degrees of substitution ranging from 0.7 to 4.5 were investigated, and all the distributions of degrees of substitution observed were relatively narrow and symmetrical; thus, the reactivity of primary and secondary hydroxyls of saponin and of its conversion products had to be quite similar. The effects of the average degree of substitution of 2-hydroxypropyldigitonins on the formation of micelles and on the solubilization of four drugs into aqueous solutions were found to be minor. On the other hand, the ability to hemolyze erythrocytes decreased sharply with an increasing average degree of substitution.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Epididymal sperm profiles in young adult, middle-aged, and testosterone-supplemented old rats.

Both ejaculated semen and epididymal contents from an individual male contain sperm that differ in various physicochemical characteristics. An experiment is reported in which epididymides from rats 5-24 months old were subjected to density gradient centrifugation to separate gametes of different stages of maturity. The research was designed to examine typical changes in "profiles" of sperm maturity during the reproductive lifetime of rats. Also, testosterone complexed with cyclodextrin that mimics the episodic release of the endogenous hormone was used to supplement the decreased circulating titers of some of the old males. Results revealed clear ontogenetic patterns of gradually decreasing reproductive competence as measured by absolute numbers of sperm, circulating levels of testosterone, and various other physiological markers of fertility. Sperm profiles also revealed age-specific changes with a shift toward progressively more mature, perhaps senile, gametes that begins at middle age. Testosterone supplementation (400 micrograms/kg b.w./day for 30 days) failed to restore sperm numbers or other measures of physiology in the old males, but the steroid modified sperm profiles to approximate more closely the profiles characteristic of young adult males than either untreated middle-aged or old males. The data were interpreted as suggesting that epididymal sperm profiles clearly identify males of different ages, and that the aging epididymis retains its capacity to respond to manipulations that modify the endocrine milieu.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Drug solubilizers to aid pharmacologists: amorphous cyclodextrin derivatives.

Conversion of crystalline alpha-, beta-, or gamma-cyclodextrins into amorphous mixtures of water soluble derivatives yields non-toxic solubilizers which dissolve drugs through the formation of inclusion complexes. From these types of compounds 2-hydroxypropyl ethers of cyclodextrins have presently been investigated and the ranges for the safe use in working with (a) receptor binding assays on membrane preparations, (b) cells in vitro, and (c) parenteral use in mice were established for these compounds. The drugs which were investigated were dissolved in amounts linearly proportionate to the concentration of the solubilizers used and did not precipitate upon dilution by aqueous media. These solubilizers may considerably facilitate pharmacological evaluation of new, water insoluble potential drugs.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1988

Amorphous water-soluble cyclodextrin derivatives: 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxyisobutyl, and carboxamidomethyl derivatives of beta-cyclodextrin.

The pharmaceutical usefulness of natural, crystalline cyclodextrins can be improved by chemical conversions into water-soluble, amorphous mixtures of their derivatives. Reaction of beta-cyclodextrin with 2-chloroethanol, 3-chloropropanol, isobutylene oxide, or iodoacetamide yielded the title compounds. Distributions of the substitution degree were close to symmetrical and relatively narrow. The average substitution degrees increased with the amount of alkylating reagent used in the preparation. The number of components (half-width of distribution) increased with increasing average substitution degree. Further, distributions of the substitution degree were measured in glucose derivatives after hydrolysis of 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, and 2-hydroxyisobutyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The results show an uneven distribution of substituents around the cyclodextrins, suggesting that growth of oligoglycol side chains and/or clustering of substituents on one glucose residue occurs.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1988

Irreversible binding and recovery of the norepinephrine uptake system using an alkylating derivative of norepinephrine.

The effects of bromoacetylaminomenthylnorepinephrine (BAAN) on the sodium-dependent, high-affinity norepinephrine (NE) uptake system in rat brain synaptosomes and CNS neuronal cultures were investigated. BAAN inhibited [3H]NE uptake into synaptosomes in a dose- and time-dependent manner (IC50, 6.5 microM). Pretreatment of cortical synaptosomes or neuronal cells with BAAN alone, followed by washing to remove free drug, reduced the Vmax but did not alter the Km value for [3H]NE uptake. The BAAN-induced reduction in Vmax was attenuated by concurrent pretreatment with desipramine and blocked by the reaction of BAAN with dithiothreitol or cysteine. In contrast, BAAN was 19-fold less potent at inhibiting [3H]dopamine uptake in striatal synaptosomes, and no change in the Vmax or Km value for [3H]dopamine uptake was observed after a pretreatment with BAAN followed by washing. Furthermore, the irreversible beta-antagonist, bromoacetylalprenololmentane, was equipotent to BAAN for inhibiting [3H]NE uptake into cortical synaptosomes, but did not alter the Vmax or Km for [3H]NE after pretreatment. In neuronal cultures, BAAN inhibited sodium-dependent uptake of [3H]NE (IC50, 5.6 microM) with no effect on sodium-independent uptake. After pretreatment of cultures with 30 microM BAAN followed by washing, there was a 74% decrease in the Vmax for [3H]NE uptake. Following a 24-h lag period, uptake recovered to the control level within 48 h; however, recovery was completely blocked by cycloheximide. The data indicate that BAAN irreversibly binds to the [3H]NE uptake system in both CNS synaptosomes and neuronal cultures and may be a useful probe for studying the turnover of the [3H]NE uptake system.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗