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Biomedical subjects

K Fuxe

Publications and source records attributed to K Fuxe.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

D2 dopamine receptor-G protein coupling. Cross-regulation of agonist and guanosine nucleotide binding sites.

The cross regulation of agonist binding to D2 dopamine receptors and guanosine nucleotide binding to G proteins was studied using membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing rat D2short dopamine receptors. All guanosine nucleotides studied caused a concentration-dependent loss of high-affinity agonist binding sites of D2 receptors with potencies corresponding to their affinity to bind to G proteins in these membranes. On the other hand, the dopaminergic agonists, but not antagonists, decreased the affinities of guanosine diphosphate and guanosine monophosphate, but not of guanosine 5'-(gamma-thiotriphosphate). The cross regulation of ligand binding to D2 dopamine receptors and G proteins suggests the existence of several conformational states of these proteins during the signal transduction and that the high-affinity state of agonist binding is a transient state of the agonist-receptor-G protein complex, where no nucleotides are bound.

Animals↗

Modafinil does not affect serotonin efflux from rat frontal cortex synaptosomes: comparison with known serotonergic drugs.

Modafinil did not affect spontaneous and K(+)-evoked [3H]5-HT efflux from cortical synaptosomes while it increased K(+)-evoked tritium efflux from cortical slices, an action that became stronger in the presence of paroxetine. In contrast, DL-fenfluramine and fluoxetine were able to enhance spontaneous and/or K(+)-evoked tritium efflux from synaptosomes and slices. These results suggest that modafinil does not affect 5-HT transmission from cortical synaptosomes and that its 5-HT releasing action is different from that of DL-fenfluramine and fluoxetine.

Animals↗

Prolonged effects of intraventricular galanin on a 5-hydroxytryptamine(1A) receptor mediated function in the rat.

Galanin (3 nmol/rat), 2 h after its intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration to male rats, attenuated the passive avoidance (PA) retention deficit induced by the 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)(1A) receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetraline (8-OH-DPAT) (0.2 mg/kg) The reduction in the postjunctional 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated response after i.c.v. galanin was not associated with changes in the mRNA levels and agonist binding properties of cortical limbic 5-HT(1A) receptors, believed to be the target receptors mediating the PA deficit caused by 8-OH-DPAT. These results suggest that acute increases of galanin transmission in vivo even after 2 h can counteract limbic 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated responses of relevance for affective disorders without significantly affecting gene expression and binding characteristics of cortical limbic 5-HT(1A) receptors.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Induction of hippocampal glial cells expressing basic fibroblast growth factor RNA by corticosterone.

A transcriptional regulation of bFGF expression via both gluco- and mineralocorticoid receptors is known to exist. In the present study the glial nuclear fraction of bFGF transcripts was studied in sham-operated (SHAM), adrenalectomized (ADX), and corticosterone-treated ADX rats in subregions of the dorsal hippocampal formation. A substantial increase was observed in the population of bFGF RNA-expressing glial cells after acute corticosterone treatment (10 mg/kg, s.c.) in subregions of the CA1 area and the dentate gyrus but no changes were observed after adrenalectomy. The levels of glial nuclear bFGF transcripts were similar in all the experimental groups. These data suggest that in a subpopulation of hippocampal glial cells corticosterone regulates bFGF gene expression transcriptionally in an on/off manner.

Adrenalectomy↗

Galanin/alpha2-adrenoceptor interactions in telencephalic and diencephalic regions of the rat.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether galanin could affect central alpha2-adrenoceptors in telencephalic and diencephalic regions in the rat using quantitative receptor autoradiography with the alpha2 agonist radioligand [3H]p-aminoclonidine. Galanin 1 nM significantly and substantially increased the Kd value of the [3H]p-aminoclonidine binding sites in the medial hypothalamus and amygdala by 86% (p < 0.01) and 73% (p < 0.05) respectively. The Bmax value was only significantly increased with 3 nM galanin in the amygdala and the medial hypothalamus (both p < 0.05). The antagonist M35 counteracted the increase of the Kd values of the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist binding sites produced by galanin 1 nM in the amygdala and the medial hypothalamus (both p < 0.001). These findings suggest the existence of an antagonistic galanin/alpha2 adrenoceptor interaction in the medial hypothalamus and amygdala that may be of relevance for alpha2-adrenoceptor-regulated neuroendocrine functions and food intake.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Cholecystokinin/dopamine/GABA interactions in the nucleus accumbens: biochemical and functional correlates.

The present article reviews our recent biochemical and microdialysis studies showing the evidence for an antagonistic CCK(B)/D(2) receptor interaction in the regulation of dopaminergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens and GABAergic transmission in the ipsilateral ventral pallidum. Since the nucleus accumbens plays a crucial role in regulating the output from the limbic system and consequently motivation, it may be speculated that a dysregulation of this receptor interaction may have consequences in a wide range of central nervous system disorders.

Animals↗

Central galanin and N-terminal galanin fragment induce c-Fos immunoreactivity in the medulla oblongata of the anesthetized rat.

This immunohistochemical study analyzed the c-Fos expression (c-Fos-ir) induced by galanin injections. Galanin and N-terminal galanin fragment (1-15) induced a significant increase of c-Fos expression (c-ir) within the medulla oblongata 90 min and 6 h. after intracisternal injections. This expression has been studied mainly in the nucleus of the solitary tract and in the ventrolateral medulla showing different temporal profiles for both peptides. The presence of c-Fos-ir in TH-positive cells was analyzed in all the groups. These results may be relevant to understand the role of galanin in several functions including central cardiovascular control.

Animals↗

Voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels involved in K(+)-evoked release of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide from the rat hypothalamus.

Rat brain hypothalami were exposed to various depolarizing stimuli and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity (VIP-LI) release was measured by means of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure. Under conditions of noradrenergic blockade, exposure to high K(+) (40-100 mM) produced dose-dependent increases in the VIP-LI release in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Exposure to veratridine (3-100 microM) also induced concentration-dependent increases in VIP-LI release, an effect that was Ca(2+)-dependent and tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive. Specific ligands for the L, N, and P/Q-type voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels (VOCCs) were used to determine which channel subtypes were involved in the K(+)-evoked VIP-LI release. The L-type VOCC ligand, nifedipine (10 microM), had no effect on release. In contrast, the N-type VOCC blocker, omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx GVIA) (0.1-100 nM), markedly reduced the K(+)-evoked response, with maximal inhibition of approximately 60+/-8%. omega-Agatoxin IVA (omega-Aga IVA) (1-50 nM), which binds P-type and, at high doses, also Q-type VOCCs, produced dose-dependent inhibition of up to 25+/-3%, while the maximal inhibition observed with the non-selective VOCCs ligand, omega-conotoxin MVIIC (omega-CmTx MVIIC) (1 nM-3 microM), amounted to 85+/-8%. These findings indicate that N and P-type Ca(2+) channels play predominant roles in the high K(+)-evoked release of VIP-LI from the rat hypothalamus.

Adrenergic Agents↗

Nigral neurotensin receptor regulation of nigral glutamate and nigroventral thalamic GABA transmission: a dual-probe microdialysis study in intact conscious rat brain.

Dual-probe microdialysis in the awake rat was employed to investigate the effects of intranigral perfusion with the tridecapeptide neurotensin on local dialysate glutamate and GABA levels in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and on dialysate GABA levels in the ventral thalamus. Intranigral neurotensin (10-300nM, 60min) dose-dependently increased (+29+/-3% and +46+/-3% vs basal for the 100 and 300nM concentrations, respectively) local dialysate glutamate levels, while the highest 300nM concentration of the peptide exerted a long-lasting and prolonged reduction in both local and ventral thalamic (-20+/-4% and -22+/-2%, respectively) GABA levels. Intranigral perfusion with the inactive neurotensin fragment neurotensin(1-7) (10-300nM, 60min) was without effect. Furthermore, the non-peptide neurotensin receptor antagonist SR 48692 (0.2mg/kg) and tetrodotoxin (1microM) fully counteracted the intranigral neurotensin (300nM)-induced increase in local glutamate. SR 48692 (0.2mg/kg) also counteracted the decreases in nigral and ventral thalamic GABA release induced by the peptide. In addition, intranigral perfusion with the dopamine D(2) receptor antagonist raclopride (1microM) fully antagonized the neurotensin (300nM)-induced decreases in nigral and ventral thalamic GABA levels. The ability of nigral neurotensin receptor activation to differently influence glutamate and GABA levels, whereby it increases nigral glutamate and decreases both nigral and ventral thalamic GABA levels, suggests the involvement of neurotensin receptor in the regulation of basal ganglia output at the level of the nigra.

Animals↗

Relationships of 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive terminal-like varicosities to 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A receptor-immunoreactive neuronal processes in the rat forebrain.

The distributions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-immunoreactive (IR) varicosities and 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A receptor (5-HT2A)-IR neuronal structures in the rat brain have previously been described individually. Using double labeling immunocytochemistry, the relationships between 5-HT2A-IR and 5-HT-IR elements in the forebrain of male rats has been studied at the light microscopic level. In neocortical regions (frontal, parietal and retrosplenial cortex), the strongest 5-HT2A-IR was found in the apical dendrites of pyramidal cells in layers III-V, while 5-HT-IR terminal-like varicosities were present in all layers but most prominently in the outer layers. In other forebrain regions, the olfactory bulb, the hippocampal formation, and the islands of Calleja and Calleja magna, localized discrepancies were present between the 5-HT2A-IR neuronal profiles and the 5-HT-IR terminal-like varicosities. Hardly any additional juxtapositions between the 5-HT2A-IR neuronal profiles and 5-HT-IR terminal-like varicosities were revealed when the intraneuronal level of 5-HT was increased by monoamine oxidase inhibitor pretreatment (nialamide, 250 mg/kg, 3 h). Thus, in most forebrain regions, there were overall few juxtapositions between 5-HT terminal-like varicosities and 5-HT2A-IR neuronal structures. This observation suggests that 5-HT2A receptor mediated 5-HT transmission in the rat forebrain is mainly a volume transmission process mediated via short distance diffusion in the extra-cellular space.

Animals↗

The selective mGlu(5) receptor agonist CHPG inhibits quinpirole-induced turning in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats and modulates the binding characteristics of dopamine D(2) receptors in the rat striatum: interactions with adenosine A(2a) receptors.

In 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats, the selective mGlu(5) receptor agonist (RS)-2-Cholro-5-Hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG, 1-6 microg/10 microl intracerebroventricularly) significantly inhibited contralateral turning induced by quinpirole and, to a lesser extent, that induced by SKF 38393. The inhibitory effects of CHPG on quinpirole-induced turning were significantly potentiated by an adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist (CGS 21680, 0.2 mg/kg IP) and attenuated by an A(2A) receptor antagonist (SCH 58261, 1 mg/kg IP). In rat striatal membranes, CHPG (100-1,000 nM) significantly reduced the affinity of the high-affinity state of D(2) receptors for the agonist, an effect potentiated by CGS 21680 (30 nM). These results show the occurrence of functional interactions among mGlu(5), adenosine A(2A), and dopamine D(2) receptors in the regulation of striatal functioning, and suggest that mGlu(5) receptors may be regarded as alternative/integrative targets for the development of therapeutic strategies in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

Adenosine/dopamine interaction: implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Evidence for a role of dopaminergic neurotransmission in the motor effects of adenosine antagonists, such as caffeine, is reviewed, based on the existence of specific antagonistic interactions between specific subtypes of adenosine and dopamine receptors in the striatum. Both adenosine A(1) and adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonists induce motor activation in rodents. At least a certain degree of dopaminergic activity is required to obtain adenosine antagonist-induced motor activation, with adenosine A(1) antagonists being the most sensitive and non-selective adenosine antagonists the most resistant to striatal dopamine depletion. When considering long-term treatment with adenosine antagonists concomitant administration of dopamine agonists might be required in order to obtain strong motor effects (cross-sensitization) and to avoid the development of telerance.

Journal Article↗

Systemic oxytocin treatment modulates alpha 2-adrenoceptors in telencephalic and diencephalic regions of the rat.

Systemic subchronic oxytocin treatment significantly and substantially increased the B(max) values of the alpha 2 agonist [(3)H]UK14.304 binding sites in the hypothalamus, the amygdala and the paraventricular thalamic nucleus of the rat as shown by quantitative receptor autoradiography. These results suggest that long-term modulation of autonomic and neuroendocrine functions and emotional behaviours elicited by brain oxytocin may involve enhancement of central alpha 2-adrenoceptor function.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Intraventricular galanin produces a time-dependent modulation of 5-HT1A receptors in the dorsal raphe of the rat.

Galanin given i.c.v. increased the K(D) values of 5-HT1A receptors in the DR by 100% 10 min after administration. This effect had disappeared 2 h and 5 h after galanin administration. In contrast, i.c.v. galanin caused a 40% increase in the Bmax values at 2 h without affecting the Bmax values 10 min and 5 h after i.c.v. galanin. The mRNA levels of 5-HT1A receptors and of galanin in the DR were significantly decreased by 33% and 56% respectively 2h but not 5h after i.c.v. galanin. These results suggest that in vivo galanin can modulate somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors in the DR in a time-dependent manner via galanin-5-HT1A receptor interactions. The findings implicate a potential role of galanin in affective disorders.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

K(+)-Evoked [(3)H]D-aspartate release in rat spinal cord synaptosomes: modulation by neuropeptide Y and calcium channel antagonists.

This study was conducted to investigate mechanisms regulating the release of [(3)H]D-aspartate (or endogenous glutamate) in the rat spinal cord. Presynaptic modulation of glutamate release was studied in superfused synaptosomes depolarized with 20 mM KCl. Calcium-channel antagonists, omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx GVIA; N-type), nifedipine (L-type), and omega-conotoxin MVIIC (omega-CmTx MVIIC; P/Q type), were used to characterize the voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels (VOCCs) involved in this release. Nifedipine had no significant effect on the K(+)-evoked release of [(3)H]D-aspartate, but the omega-conotoxins GVIA and MVIIC produced dose-dependent inhibitory effects that were additive. The most substantial reduction (54.30% +/- 4.40%) was seen with omega-CgTx GVIA, indicating that N-type channels play a major role in the release of glutamate in this tissue. We investigated the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY), NPY(13-36), and [Leu(31)][Pro(34)]NPY on Ca(2+)-dependent, K(+)-evoked [(3)H]D-aspartate release. NPY and NPY(13-36) equipotently inhibited the release of glutamate in a concentration-dependent manner. The half-maximal response was observed at about 12 nM; maximal inhibition of 44.22% +/- 4.60% was achieved with 0.3 microM. The selective GABA(B) agonist (-)baclofen inhibited K(+)-evoked [(3)H]D-aspartate release from superfused spinal cord synaptosomes by 50.00% +/- 4.80% at 10 microM. When NPY(13-36) and (-)baclofen were used together at maximal doses, their release-inhibiting effects were not additive. In addition, neither of the agonists was able to enhance the inhibition produced by pretreating the synaptosomes with the selective inhibitor of N-type VOCCs omega-CgTx GVIA. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that presynaptic Y(2)-like and GABA(B) receptors regulate glutamate release by blocking Ca(2+) currents through N-type VOCCs. Characterization of the receptors that can inhibit the release of glutamate may provide useful information for treatment of conditions characterized by excessive glutamatergic transmission in the spinal cord.

Animals↗

Amplification of cortical serotonin release: a further neurochemical action of the vigilance-promoting drug modafinil.

The present in vitro and in vivo studies examined the effects of modafinil on serotonergic transmission in the rat frontal cortex. In the in vitro study modafinil (0.3-30 microM) increased electrically-evoked, but not spontaneous, serotonin ([(3)H]5-HT) efflux from cortical slices in a concentration-dependent manner while the indirect serotonin agonist dl-fenfluramine (1-15 microM) enhanced both spontaneous and evoked [(3)H]5-HT efflux. The effects of modafinil were more pronounced when the 5-HT reuptake was blocked by paroxetine. Contrary to paroxetine (0.3-3 microM) and dl-fenfluramine (1-5 microM), modafinil failed to influence the [(3)H]5-HT uptake. In the in vivo study modafinil (3-100 mg/kg i.p.) increased 5-HT dialysate levels, the maximal effect being already reached at the 30 mg/kg dose. dl-fenfluramine (5 mg/kg) induced an increase in 5-HT levels which was significantly higher than that displayed by modafinil at 30 mg/kg. In the presence of paroxetine (3 microM), the effect of modafinil at 30 mg/kg was higher than that observed in the absence of 5-HT reuptake inhibition. Finally, in the presence of the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT, modafinil at 100 mg/kg failed to affect 5-HT dialysate levels. These results demonstrate that modafinil regulates cortical serotonergic transmission and suggest that the drug preferentially acts by amplifying the electro-neurosecretory coupling mechanisms and via mechanisms which do not involve the reuptake process.

Animals↗