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J Z Fields

Publications and source records attributed to J Z Fields.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Differential down-regulation of delta opioid binding sites during physical dependence on methionine enkephalin in the rat.

Post-synaptic receptor modulation is thought to be one important mechanism involved in the adaptation of a neuronal system during chronic exposure to a drug. However, initial studies of opioid receptor regulation following chronic in vivo administration of narcotic agonists, such as morphine, reported no down-regulation in the number of opioid receptors in the brain. Subsequent studies, employing in vitro preparations, have reported evidence of opioid receptor down-regulation under specific conditions. It remains to be determined whether the in vitro phenomena of opioid receptor plasticity is relevant to the intact mammalian central nervous system. The data in this report shows that chronic in vivo administration the opioid peptide methionine enkephalin, results in a significant, regionally specific down-regulation of delta opioid receptors in rat brain: 30% decrease in receptor density in the striatum; no change in hypothalamus.

Animals↗

A permanent dopamine receptor up-regulation in the ovariectomized rat.

Although a permanent supersensitivity to dopamine agonists can be induced by lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamine tract, the ovariectomized rat is the first animal model of a permanent hypersensitivity to dopamine agonists in which the neurons survive. This permanent behavioral hypersensitivity to direct acting dopamine agonists is accompanied by an increase in D2 dopamine receptor density in the striatum.

Animals↗

Cyclo (Leu-Gly) attenuates the striatal dopaminergic supersensitivity induced by chronic morphine.

Cyclo(Leu-Gly) (CLG), a diketopiperazine analog of Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (MIF), has direct effects on dopamine (DA) mediated behaviors as well as on D-2 DA receptors. Endogenous opioids, as well as morphine have also been implicated as neuromodulators of dopaminergic function. We studied these interactions in an animal model in which chronic morphine administration induces a dopaminergic supersensitivity that can be detected during the 48 hour (h) period following withdrawal of morphine. At 24 h following morphine withdrawal, there was a 3.5-fold increase in stereotypic behavior in rats following a challenge dose of apomorphine (APO) (0.5 mg/kg). By 48 h this effect had disappeared. Co-administration of CLG (8 mg/kg s.c.) with morphine attenuated the development of the behavioral supersensitivity to APO. D-2 DA receptor binding analysis indicated that parallel molecular changes occurred. There was a morphine-induced increase in the affinity (+167 percent) in antagonist (i.e. 3H-spiroperidol displaced by butaclamol) binding at 24 h after withdrawal. Co-administration of CLG with morphine attenuated these DA receptor changes at 24 hours which is consistent with the peptide's effect on stereotyped behavior. However, antagonist binding parameters did not parallel changes in behavior at 48 h. Agonist binding was then studied by examining DA displaceable 3H-spiroperidol (75 pM) binding to the D-2 DA receptor. Two receptor subpopulations D-2-HI and D-2-LO were revealed. Morphine caused an increase in the affinity for agonist binding to the D-2-HI site (83-fold increase). Affinity changes at the D-2-HI site correlated positively and strongly with the behavioral changes in all groups at both 24 and 48 h. We conclude that changes in agonist binding to D-2 DA receptors rather than antagonist binding is more consistent with the behaviors induced by morphine and CLG.

Animals↗

Evaluation of ciladopa hydrochloride as a potential anti-Parkinson drug.

The effects of the putative dopamine agonist, ciladopa hydrochloride (AY 27,110) a non-ergot compound, were investigated in animal models of dopaminergic activity to evaluate its possible role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Ciladopa induced stereotyped behavior in both rats and guinea pigs. Unlike apomorphine, however, ciladopa did not produce a maximum behavioral response, i.e. stereotyped gnawing. Pretreatment with haloperidol and sulpiride blocked the effects induced by ciladopa. Pretreatment with reserpine and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine did not alter the behavioral effects of ciladopa. Ciladopa caused contralateral rotation in rats with unilateral lesions of the substantia nigra induced by 6-hydroxydopamine. Ciladopa induced vomiting in dogs. Small doses of ciladopa decreased locomotor activity in rats, an effect presumably mediated by presynaptic autoreceptors. The chronic injection of both subthreshold and suprathreshold doses of ciladopa failed to induce behavioral supersensitivity. Ciladopa binds to D-2 dopamine receptors in the mammalian caudate nucleus. These data indicate that ciladopa can cause stimulation of central dopaminergic receptors and that the drug is a partial dopamine agonist with direct-acting properties. Ciladopa differs from other available dopaminergic drugs and may possess therapeutic advantages for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗

Radio-frequency analysis of the effect of haloperidol and cyclo (leucyl-glycyl) on apomorphine-induced stereotypy.

Our previous studies indicated that the peptide cyclo(leucyl-glycyl) (cLG) prevents the development of supersensitivity to dopamine in several animal models at both biochemical and behavioral levels. We therefore tested cLG in a paradigm more commonly used to model tardive dyskinesia, namely chronic haloperidol administration to rats. We found that cLG administered subcutaneously at a dose of 8 mg/kg, blocked about 50% of the supersensitizing effects of of haloperidol on apomorphine-induced stereotypic behaviors. Further, we used a novel method, radio-frequency analysis, that quantifies sniffing and other stereotypic movements. Unlike methods that rely on visual observation of stereotypy and utilize an ordinal scale, these measurements are rated by an automatic motility monitor and utilize a ratio scale. Unlike other automated motility monitors, this device can distinguish between various forms of stereotypic behaviors. Since parametric statistics can be used, there is a significant improvement in the efficiency of the task of rating and comparing stereotypy scores.

Animals↗

In vivo down-regulation of rat striatal opioid receptors by chronic enkephalin.

Administration of methionine enkephalin (ICV) to rats for 5 days resulted in the development of physical dependence as exemplified by a hypothermic response which peaked 2-8 hours after initiation of withdrawal. Twenty-four hours post-withdrawal, opioid receptor binding was determined in the striatum using a selective delta receptor ligand. These studies revealed a decreased in the number of receptors. Bmax decreased from 193 +/- 20.4 fmoles/mg protein in controls to 136 +/- 9.7 fmoles/mg protein in enkephalin treated rats. This difference is significant at p less than 0.001. Existing evidence suggests that this decrease in binding is predominantly due to a decrease in delta receptors. Hence, the present findings indicate that delta receptor down-regulation in vivo may be an important mechanism in the adaptive response to chronic exposure to an endogenous opioid peptide.

Animals↗

Cyclo(Leu-Gly) attenuates the striatal dopaminergic supersensitivity induced by chronic morphine: agonist binding to D2 dopamine receptors correlates with stereotypic behavior.

We have previously shown that MIF and its structural analog, cyclo-(Leu-Gly), block analgesic tolerance and some signs of physical dependence following chronic opiate administration. The mechanism of action of these peptides has not been clearly elucidated. The data presented here suggests that chronic opiate administration causes a behavioral supersensitivity to dopamine (DA) agonists which is highly correlated with an increase in D2-Hi receptor affinity for DA agonists, but not antagonists. Both the behavioral and receptor changes are blocked by prior administration of cyclo(Leu-Gly). This suggests that the ability of cyclo(Leu-Gly) to block the development of opiate addictive states may involve DA synaptic elements.

Animals↗

Estrogen inhibits the dopaminergic supersensitivity induced by neuroleptics.

Administration of estrogen to rats during the period of withdrawal from chronic haloperidol attenuated the characteristic increase in apomorphine-induced stereotypy and the increase in (3H) spiroperidol binding. This apparent ability of estrogen to "down-regulate" brain dopamine receptors could lead to useful pharmacological treatments of tardive dyskinesia and possibly of other hyperdopaminergic states.

Animals↗

Hypophysectomy induced hypersensitivity to dopamine: antagonism by estrogen.

Hypophysectomized (HYPOX) or sham HYPOX (SHAM) and ovariectomized rats were injected with either estradiol benzoate (EB, 10 microgram/kg/day x 3) or sesame oil (0.25 ml/kg/day x 3). Twenty hours after the last dose of EB or oil all animals were injected with apomorphine and the resulting stereotypy scored. The HYPOX + oil group was more sensitive to the apomorphine than the SHAM + oil group (ED50 = 0.24 and 0.45 mg/kg, respectively). Treatment with EB resulted in a shift to the right of the dose response curves for both the HYPOX and SHAM groups. The ED50 for the HYPOX group was increased to 0.62 mg/kg, while the SHAM group increased to 0.93 mg/kg. The Bmax values for [3H]spiroperidol binding to striatal membranes were not significantly different for the HYPOX + EB, SHAM + EB, or SHAM + oil groups. However, the HYPOX + oil group was significantly increased (54%) at 7 days post-HYPOX. By 28 days post-HYPOX, the Bmax for the HYPOX animals had increased by 94% relative to SHAM animals. The HYPOX induced increase in dopamine sensitivity could be increased by chronic treatment and withdrawal of haloperidol. The haloperidol induced increase in apomorphine induced stereotypy and [3H]spiroperidol binding could be antagonized by EB treatment during the withdrawal phase of the haloperidol treatment. These data indicate that the pituitary has a modulating effect on striatal spiroperidol binding and apomorphine induced stereotypy, but that its presence is not required for estrogen to suppress the efficacy of dopamine or dopamine agonists.

Animals↗

Increases in alpha-adrenergic receptors in the hypothalamus of the genetically obese mouse (ob/ob).

Despite significantly elevated hypothalamic norepinephrine levels, genetically obese mice (ob/ob) had more hypothalamic alpha-adrenergic receptors than their lean littermates. This receptor increase appeared to be specific to the alpha-receptors in the hypothalamus since no change was found in the number of alpha-receptors in the cortex or in the dopamine and muscarinic receptors in the cortex and striatum.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Quantitative and qualitative differences in muscarinic cholinergic receptors in embryonic and newborn chick hearts.

Quantitative and qualitative differences in muscarinic cholinergic receptors in embryonic and newborn chick hearts have been found in studies using the radioligand [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) to label the receptors specifically. In both embryonic and newborn hearts, there appears to be a single class of high affinity muscarinic receptors. However, the number of muscarinic receptors/mg of protein in newborn hearts is significantly greater than in embryonic hearts. Homogenates of newborn and 10-day-old embryonic hearts contain 586 and 278 fmol of muscarinic receptors/mg of protein, respectively. The affinities of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor for [3H]QNB in the two preparations are similar; the KD values as estimated from dissociation and association rate constants are 20 and 12 pM for the newborn and embryonic hearts, respectively. In contrast, marked differences in the properties of the receptors in newborn and embryonic hearts were revealed in studies of inhibition of [3H]QNB binding by cholinergic agonists. The cholinergic agonists acetylcholine and carbamylcholine were approximately 10- to 20-fold more potent in inhibiting [3H]-QNB binding to membranes obtained from embryonic hearts as compared to newborn hearts. Thus, there appear to be developmentally related differences in the affinity of the cardiac muscarinic receptor for agonists but not antagonists.

Animals↗

Receptor and membrane function in the alcohol tolerant/dependent animal.

Neurochemical changes which are associated with the development or expression of tolerance to or physical dependence on ethanol may be expected to display a time course of appearance and disappearance which correlates positively with the time course for tolerance or dependence. Previous studies of striatal dopaminergic receptor function indicated that ethanol-withdrawn mice displayed decreased physiological and biochemical responses to dopamine (DA) agonists, which could be best explained by postulating an inefficient coupling between DA receptors and various receptor-mediated processes, possibly as a result of ethanol-induced changes in neuronal membrane properties. The membrane-bound enzyme, (Na+-K+)ATPase, obtained from ethanol-withdrawn animals, displays an altered transition temperature and resistance to the effects of ethanol on enzyme activity. These changes also suggest compensatory alterations in neuronal membrane properties. All of these alterations show a time course of disappearance which corresponds to that for the disappearance of tolerance to the hypothermic and sedative effects of ethanol. Ethanol-withdrawn mice also display increased numbers of hippocampal muscarinic cholinergic receptors; however, the time course for the increase in receptor number appears to correlate with that of withdrawal symptomatology. Thus, compensatory changes in neuronal membrane properties in response to ethanol may be expressed via diverse functional changes.

Alcoholism↗