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M S Starr

Publications and source records attributed to M S Starr.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

GABA potentiates potassium-stimulated 3H-dopamine release from slices of rat substantia nigra and corpus striatum.

GABA (10-5--10-3 M) had no effect on the spontaneous outflow of previously accumulated 3H-DA or 3H-5HT from rat nigral or striatal slices. However, GABA markedly potentiated the potassium-stimulated release of 3H-DA in both brain regions, while the depolarization-induced output of 3H-5HT was only slightly increased. This action of GABA was blocked by pictotoxin but not by bicuculline. Amphetamine likewise evoked a dose-related efflux of 3H-DA and 3H-5HT from nigra and striatum, but these releases were unchanged by GABA. The data suggest that GABA acts presynaptically in these areas to regulate dopaminergic cell function.

Aminobutyrates↗
PubMed1978

Investigation of possible interactions between substance P and transmitter mechanisms in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum of the rat.

The effect of substnace P (SP) on the uptake and release of radiolabelled dopamine (3H-DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (3H-5-HT) and y-aminobutyric acid (3H-GABA) was studied in slices of rat substantia nigra and corpus triatum. SP, 10(-9) to 10(-5) m, failed to modify the uptakes of these compounds during incubations (10-90 min) with slices of either brain region. SP, 10(-6)M, had no apparent effect on the spontaneous output of any of these compounds in either substantia nigra or corpus striatum. In the corpus striatum, SP seemed to potentiate the potassium-stimulated outflow of 3H-DA and 3H-5-HT, but not 3H-GABA, while the realeases from substantia nigra were unaffected. Morphine (10(-3)M), but not met-enkephalin (5 X 10(-6)M), weakly antagonized K+- EVOKED RELEASE OF 3/-DA in the corpus striatum. These results are discussed with reference to the possible interaction of SP with transmitter mechanisms at presynaptic sites in the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Potentiation by substance P of contractions of the isolated vas deferens of the mouse elicited by electric field stimulation and by drugs.

1 Isolated vasa deferentia from the mouse were opened longitudinally and suspended in Krebs solution at 37 degrees C in an organ bath. Contractions of the muscle were elicited by electric field stimulation, noradrenaline (10(-6) M) and acetylcholine (10(-6) M). Continued transmural stimulation evoked a biphasic response comprising a rapid twitch followed about 10 s later by a smaller, sustained rise in muscle tone.2 The amplitudes of nerve-mediated and drug-induced responses were considerably potentiated by substance P (SP) in the dose range 10(-12) to 10(-7) M. Higher concentrations of SP were directly spasmogenic. The sensitizing property of SP was dose-dependent and was usually well maintained, but always disappeared quickly on washing the preparation. In some experiments SP facilitated the twitch, but not the subsequent phase of the electrically-induced contraction or the response to externally applied noradrenaline.3 Phentolamine (10(-6) M) failed to block this effect of SP, but itself potentiated the nerve-mediated twitch, and completely abolished the sustained secondary contraction.4 Desmethylimipramine (10(-6) M) enhanced the delayed contraction but not the immediate contraction.5 The uptake of tritiated noradrenaline (3 x 10(-7) M) by vasa was inhibited by desmethylimipramine (10(-6) M) and increased by nialamide (3 x 10(-5) M), but was not modified by SP (10(-6) M).6 Nerve-mediated release of accumulated radioactivity was accelerated by phentolamine, but not by SP or desmethylimipramine.7 These findings suggest that SP sensitizes the muscle cells to depolarizing stimuli but that it has no facilitatory effect on sympathetic neural elements.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effect of light stimulation on the synthesis and release of GABA in rat and frog retinae.

The effect of light stimulation on the incorporation of label from [14C]glucose and [3H]acetate into aspartate, glutamate, glutamine and GABA, both in vivo and in vitro, was studied in dark-adapted frog and rat retinae. With [14C]glucose as the precursor, but not with [3H]acetate, flashes of light appeared to increase the in vivo syntheses of both GABA and glutamine at the expense of glutamate in frog retina, while attenuating the labelling of aspartate and glutamate in isolated frog tissues. Amino acid synthesis from these radioactive substrates in rat retina was not altered under these conditions. Also, the turnover rates of amino acids derived from [14C]-glucose in rat retina in vivo were closely similar in light and darkness. Isolated retinae from both species accumulated [14C]GABA from the incubation medium. In each case the subsequent release of this compound was augmented by electric field stimulation, high K+ and by a high concentration of cold GABA in the medium, but not by a flashing light. Similarly, application of a light stimulus was unable to evoke the liberation of [14C]GABA derived from [14C]glucose in either species.

Aminobutyrates↗
PubMed1973

Effect of inhibitors of -aminobutyrate aminotransferase on the accumulation of 3H- -aminobutyric acid by the retina.

1. Rat retinae pre-incubated and incubated at 37 degrees C in media containing amino-oxyacetic acid (AOAA) (0.1 muM to 1 mM) accumulated more (3)H-gamma-aminobutyric acid ((3)H-GABA) than control retinae incubated in the absence of AOAA. This increased accumulation of (3)H-GABA by tissue exposed to AOAA was not apparent at short incubation times (0-20 min), but became significant after incubations of 30 min, and maximal after incubation for 60 minutes.2. At a concentration of 10 muM, AOAA did not alter the apparent K(m) for (3)H-GABA uptake or V(max) for either the low or the high affinity GABA uptake systems present in retina.3. The potentiation of (3)H-GABA accumulation produced by AOAA appeared to parallel the inhibitory effect of this compound on 2-oxoglutarate-4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-T). Similarly, hydrazinopropionic acid inhibited retinal GABA-T and potentiated the accumulation of (3)H-GABA, but hydroxylamine and thiosemicarbazide which did not affect GABA-T, were also without effect on the retinal accumulation of (3)H-GABA.4. In vitro incubation with AOAA did not increase the endogenous levels of GABA or other amino acids in the retina.5. AOAA did not significantly increase the retinal accumulation of radioactive L-glutamate, L-glutamine, taurine, glycine, alpha-aminoisobutyrate or dopamine: the accumulation of L-aspartate was increased by approximately 30%.6. The inhibition of retinal GABA-T by AOAA was time-dependent and was not reversed by pyridoxal-5'-phosphate or by repeated washing of the tissue with fresh medium.7. AOAA also inhibited glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) in retinae incubated in vitro. This inhibitory effect was partially reversed by pyridoxal-5'-phosphate.8. Efflux of radioactivity from the retina was strikingly reduced in the presence of AOAA at concentrations sufficient to inhibit GABA-T by 100%.9. These findings suggest that AOAA potentiates the accumulation of (3)H-GABA by isolated retina, not by increasing the exchange of (3)H-GABA with the endogenous GABA pools, but by reducing the metabolism of the amino acid and hence reducing the loss of radioactivity from the tissue in the form of tritiated metabolites.

Acetates↗