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Biomedical subjects

P Jenner

Publications and source records attributed to P Jenner.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Acute dystonia induced by neuroleptic drugs.

About 2.5% of patients treated with neuroleptic drugs develop acute dystonia within 48 h of commencing therapy. The symptoms remit on drug withdrawal or following anticholinergic therapy. Acute dystonia can also be reliably induced in many primate species by neuroleptic treatment with comparable time course, symptomatology and pharmacological characteristics to those observed in man. In general, New World monkeys appear more susceptible to acute dystonia than Old World primates. It is at present not clear whether all primates, including man, would exhibit dystonia if a sufficiently high dose of neuroleptic was administered. Alternatively, some unknown, possibly species-specific or even genetic, factors may determine an individual's susceptibility to develop dystonia. Use of a rodent model of dystonia might enable more detailed analysis of biochemical correlates of dystonic behaviour. Whilst rodents do not exhibit overt dystonic behaviour after neuroleptic treatment, they may develop oral dyskinesias which bear a close pharmacological similarity to dystonia in man and primates. However, it is not known whether chewing induced by neuroleptic drugs in rats resembles acute dystonia in primates or whether this is another movement disorder possibly unique to rodent species. The pathophysiology of acute dystonia remains unknown, but may involve striatal dopaminergic and cholinergic function. In view of the close similarity between dystonia in man and other primates, studies on the mechanisms whereby neuroleptic drugs cause acute dystonic reactions in monkeys may give some clues to the pathogenesis of spontaneous dystonia in man.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Effects of somatostatin on dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in the caudate-putamen of the rat.

The effect of somatostatin-14 (SRIF) on dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in caudate-putamen pellets was studied in naive female rats, and in rats with chemical lesions of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic tract produced by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, or of the caudate-putamen itself produced by injection of kainic acid 3 week earlier. In unlesioned rats somatostatin at a concentration of 10(-7) moles/l inhibited adenylate cyclase activation by submaximal concentrations of dopamine, increasing the apparent Km but not altering Emax. In 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats somatostatin no longer influenced adenylate cyclase activity, whereas in kainic acid lesioned rats somatostatin still increased the apparent Km for dopamine activation. The effect of somatostatin in untreated and lesioned rats is compatible with a partial competitive antagonism to dopamine. Although the data from the lesioned rats present preliminary results, the dose response characteristics and the effects in lesioned animals suggest a more complex interaction, possibly by binding of somatostatin to an inhibitory subunit of regulatory adenylate cyclase components.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1986

Repeated levodopa infusions in fluctuating Parkinson's disease: clinical and pharmacokinetic data.

The short-term efficacy of continuous intravenous infusions of levodopa (with oral peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor) in abolishing or reducing "on-off" fluctuations in patients with Parkinson's disease is well established. However, there are suggestions that clinical response may be less good with longer infusions, or infusions on consecutive days. We therefore gave intravenous infusions of levodopa to three such subjects on five consecutive days (6 h on day 1, 12 h/day on days 2 to 5). One subject's symptoms were perfectly controlled, one experienced one "off" period per day, and the third developed one or two off-periods per day. Nevertheless, clinical control in all three subjects was superior with levodopa infusions to that seen on optimum oral therapy. Plasma levodopa concentrations during the infusions could be correlated with off to on, and with on to off switches. In general, subjects needed higher plasma levodopa levels to turn "on" than to keep them mobile once on, and the threshold levels below which off-periods supervened were lower still. These experiments show that repeated intravenous infusions of levodopa are very effective in some parkinsonian subjects, who may be suitable candidates for prolonged parenteral treatment with alternative, more highly soluble, dopaminergic drugs.

Drug Administration Schedule↗
PubMed1986

Differential alterations in striatal acetylcholine function in rats during 12 months' continuous administration of haloperidol, sulpiride, or clozapine.

Rats were treated continuously for 12 months with therapeutically equivalent doses of either haloperidol (1.4-1.6 mg/kg/day), sulpiride (102-109 mg/kg/day), or clozapine (24-27 mg/kg/day). After treatment for 3 and 12 months with haloperidol or clozapine but not sulpiride, striatal acetylcholine levels were increased. Striatal choline acetyltransferase activity was not altered by any drug treatment. Vmax for striatal acetylcholinesterase activity during the course of 12 months' treatment with haloperidol or clozapine, but not with sulpiride, tended to increase; Km was not altered by any drug treatment. Bmax for specific striatal [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding was not altered by haloperidol or sulpiride treatment but was transiently elevated after 6 months of clozapine treatment, thereafter returning to control levels. Kd was not altered by any drug treatment. These findings indicate that alterations in striatal acetylcholine content caused by chronic treatment with some but not all neuroleptics are due to changes in cholinergic neuronal activity rather than neurotransmitter synthesis or destruction. The effects of haloperidol but not those of clozapine may be related to the emergence of functional striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity. Since haloperidol (which is associated with a high prevalence of tardive dyskinesias) but not clozapine (which is not) had similar effects on striatal cholinergic function, the latter may not be related to the emergence of tardive dyskinesias during chronic therapy.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

Lack of change in basal ganglia neuropeptide content following subacute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine treatment of the common marmoset.

Treatment of common marmosets with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 1-4 mg/kg for up to 4 days) caused a profound parkinsonian state. Ten days from the start of MPTP treatment, all animals showed marked motor impairment, consisting of bradykinesia and akinesia, limb rigidity, postural abnormalities, loss of vocalisation and blink reflex, and, on occasions, postural tremor. Measurement of caudate-putamen monoamine content at this time showed a profound loss in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine, homovanillic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentrations. Measurement of neuropeptide concentrations in the caudate-putamen, internal and external segments of the globus pallidus, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, frontal cortex, and hippocampus showed met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin, and cholecystokinin (CCK-8) concentrations to be unaffected by MPTP treatment. There was a small decrease in the substance P content of frontal cortex, but otherwise the content of this neuropeptide was unaltered. Parkinsonism in the marmoset, induced by MPTP treatment 10 days earlier, does not alter neuropeptide concentrations in the manner observed in Parkinson's disease.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1986

Specific [3H]piflutixol binding to CHAPS-solubilised rat striatal preparations involves dopamine D-2 but not D-1 binding sites.

[3H]Piflutixol binding to rat striatal membrane preparations identifies both D-1 and D-2 sites. We used [3H]piflutixol to characterise those binding sites present in 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)-solubilised rat striatal preparations. The specific binding of [3H]piflutixol, as defined using cis-flupenthixol, to CHAPS-solubilised rat striatal tissue was saturable and of high affinity. Specific [3H]piflutixol binding to the solubilised preparations was displaced stereoselectively by the isomers of butaclamol and to an equal extent by both cis-flupenthixol and (+/-)-sulpiride. A positive correlation was found between the capacity of a range of drugs to displace [3H]piflutixol binding and the displacement of [3H]spiperone to the same preparations. The Bmax of [3H]piflutixol binding was not different from that of [3H]spiperone binding to the same preparation. These studies suggest that, in contrast to specific binding of membrane preparations, the specific binding of [3H]piflutixol to CHAPS-solubilised preparations involves mainly D-2 sites. Specific [3H]piflutixol binding, in contrast to [3H]spiperone binding, showed only slow dissociation from soluble preparations. The binding of [3H]piflutixol to CHAPS-solubilised preparations was retained during passage through a gel filtration column. This prelabelling of solubilised striatal preparations using [3H]piflutixol may aid in the purification of CHAPS-solubilised rat striatal D-2 sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A comparison of motor behaviours in groups of rats distinguished by their climbing response to apomorphine.

Administration of apomorphine hydrochloride (0.5 mg kg-1 s.c.) to adult male or female Wistar rats previously acclimatized to the test environment induced climbing behaviour in approximately 50% of animals examined. The proportion of animals climbing was related to age, being maximal at 8-9 weeks. Those animals showing an initial climbing response to apomorphine (0.5 mg kg-1 s.c.), climbed when challenged with this dose of apomorphine on subsequent occasions. In 'climbing' animals the intensity of response was related to the dose of apomorphine administered; no dose-response relationship was observed in 'non-climbing' animals. No overall differences in the spontaneous motor behaviour of 'climbing' and 'non-climbing' animals were apparent as assessed by measurement of spontaneous climbing behaviour, by holeboard activity, and by locomotor activity measured in either photocell cages or in a treadwheel. There was no overall difference in the ability of apomorphine to induce locomotor activity or stereotyped behaviour in 'climbing' and 'non-climbing' animals. However, the administration of apomorphine induced rearing and treadwheel activity only in those animals classified as 'climbers'. There was no difference between the number (Bmax) of specific [3H]-spiperone binding sites or the dissociation constant (KD) in striatal or mesolimbic tissue preparations for 'climbing' and 'non-climbing' rats. The ability of an animal to climb in response to apomorphine appears to be dependent on an ability to orient vertically, since this is a component of behaviour common to climbing, rearing, and treadwheel activity. The ability to climb does not appear to be related to differences in dopamine receptor numbers in brain or to the penetration of apomorphine into brain.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

[3H]SCH 23390 identifies D-1 binding sites in rat striatum and other brain areas.

The specific in-vitro binding of [3H]SCH 23390 has been characterized and its use in the identification of D-1 sites in various brain regions examined. At a single ligand concentration (0.4 nM) the specific binding of [3H]SCH 23390 to striatal membranes was routinely 98% of total binding as defined using 10(-5) M cis-flupenthixol. Specific binding at 37 degrees C reached equilibrium at 15 min and was reversible with a t1/2 for dissociation of 14 min. Specific binding of [3H]SCH 23390 over a range of concentrations (0.01-3.5 nM) was saturable (Bmax 73 pmol g tissue-1) of high affinity (Kd 0.36 nM) and to a single population of binding sites. Specifically bound [3H]SCH 23390 (0.4 M) was stereo selectively displaced by the isomers of butaclamol and flupenthixol but not by the D-2 selective antagonist, sulpiride. 5-HT, noradrenaline and cinanserin caused little or no displacement. Specific binding of [3H]SCH 22390 (0.4 nM; as defined using 10(-5) M cis-flupenthixol) showed marked regional variation. Specific binding was highest in the striatum; high levels were also observed in the mesolimbic area and substantia nigra. Lower specific binding was found in the frontal cortex and superior colliculus with the lowest levels in cerebellar preparations. The inclusion of 3 X 10(-7) M cinanserin did not alter the extent of specific binding observed in any brain region. The properties of [3H]SCH 23390 suggest it to be an excellent ligand for identification of D-1 sites in a variety of brain regions.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[125I]Spiperone is not a useful ligand for studying the CHAPS solubilized dopamine D-2 receptor from rat striatum.

The interaction of [125I]spiperone and [3H]spiperone with CHAPS solubilized preparations of rat striatal tissue has been compared. Only about 15% of [125I]spiperone binding was displaced by sulpiride compared with about 67% of [3H]spiperone binding. In the presence of (+)-butaclamol the displacement of [125I]spiperone was twice that found with sulpiride suggesting an interaction with sites other than D-2 receptors. The specific binding of [125I]spiperone was not saturable within the maximum concentration range that could be employed and its affinity for soluble preparations was far lower than that of [3H]spiperone. Despite its very high specific activity [125I]spiperone offers no advantage over [3H]spiperone in the identification of dopamine receptors in soluble tissue preparations.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

5-HT-mediated myoclonus in the guinea pig as a model of brainstem 5-HT and tryptamine receptor action.

Indoleamine-induced myoclonus in guinea pigs is a specific model of brainstem 5-HT function that can be used to characterize the indoleamine systems initiating myoclonus. 5-HT precursors and indole-containing 5-HT agonists induce myoclonus in guinea pigs, but piperazine-containing compounds do not. This selectivity of action correlates with the ability of 5-HT agonists to act at 5-HT-1 receptors. Further evidence for the involvement of a brainstem 5-HT receptor subpopulation in the initiation of myoclonus is shown by the differential ability of 5-HT antagonists to inhibit 5-HTP-induced myoclonus and of 5-HT reuptake blockers to potentiate threshold myoclonus. Distinct tryptamine receptors also may be involved in producing myoclonus, since indoleamine antagonists show differing potencies in inhibiting 5-HTP- and tryptamine-induced myoclonus. Tryptamine-induced myoclonus is, however, dependent on intact presynaptic 5-HT function. Biochemical studies indicate that 5-HT is primarily responsible for 5-HTP-evoked myoclonus, whereas tryptamine predominates in tryptamine-induced myoclonus. Both 5-HT and tryptamine may contribute to myoclonus produced by L-tryptophan. Indoleamine-induced myoclonus in guinea pigs may be valuable in studying the organization of brainstem indoleamine systems that may be involved in some forms of human myoclonus.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1986

p,p'-DDT-induced myoclonus in the rat and its application as an animal model of 5-HT-sensitive action myoclonus.

p,p'-DDT-induced myoclonus in mice has been proposed as a model of stimulus-sensitive action myoclonus responsive to L-5-HTP and clonazepam treatment. However, we have been unable to confirm the ability of clonazepam to reduce myoclonus induced by p,p'-DDT in the rat. A detailed pharmacological, biochemical, and physiological investigation in the latter species shows p,p'-DDT-induced myoclonus not to resemble stimulus-sensitive action myoclonus occurring in humans. Precursors of 5-HT (L-tryptophan and L-5-HTP) reduced the intensity of myoclonus, but the 5-HT agonists quipazine and Org 6582 did not. 5-HT antagonists (methergoline, methysergide, and cinanserin) did not potentiate myoclonus induced by p,p'-DDT. In contrast, administration of MAOIs (pargyline, nialamide, and tranylcypromine) markedly attenuated the myoclonus. No observable changes in cerebral 5-HT biochemical parameters occurred at the onset of myoclonus, although brain tryptophan and 5-HIAA were increased following periods of prolonged myoclonus. Electrophysiological analysis of p,p'-DDT-induced myoclonus in the rat revealed changes in EEG and EMG activity that were different from those observed in human reticular reflex myoclonus. In conclusion, in contrast to the mouse, myoclonus induced by p,p'-DDT in the rat does not appear to be a suitable model of 5-HT-sensitive action myoclonus in man.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1986

Mechanism of action of clonazepam in myoclonus in relation to effects on GABA and 5-HT.

Clonazepam is a potent anticonvulsant 1,4-benzodiazepine that controls some types of myoclonus. Its primary mode of action is to facilitate GABAergic transmission in the brain by a direct effect on benzodiazepine receptors. GABA receptors lie on the cell bodies of dorsal raphe neurons, and GABA acts to inhibit raphe cell firing, an action potentiated by benzodiazepines. Clonazepam does not alter 5-HT synthesis but decreases 5-HT utilization in brain and blocks the egress of 5-HIAA from the brain. It is not known whether the actions of clonazepam in altering 5-HT function are responsible for its antimyoclonic action, since these are observed only after large doses. Also, the effects of clonazepam are the exact opposite of those predicted from the beneficial effects of 5-HTP in human myoclonic disorders. Finally, why clonazepam, more than other benzodiazepines, is of benefit in the treatment of myoclonus is not clear. This may be due to some pharmacokinetic feature of the drug in conjunction with its potency at benzodiazepine receptors.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1986

The thermodynamics of agonist and antagonist binding to dopamine D-2 receptors.

The ability of dopamine agonists and antagonists to compete with [3H]spiperone binding to rat striatal membrane preparations at 4, 15, 26, and 37 degrees varied markedly with temperature. Dopamine and the dopamine agonist 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene hydrobromide (ADTN) were more potent at lower temperatures. The ability of the dopamine antagonists, haloperidol, cis-flupenthixol, cis-N-(1-benzyl-1-methypyrrolidin-3-yl)-5-chloro-2-methoxy-9- methylaminobenzamide (YM 09151-2), raclopride, and clozapine, and of the agonists apomorphine and pergolide, to compete with [3H]spiperone binding was little altered by temperature. (+)-Butaclamol was more potent at higher temperatures. In contrast, the antagonists sulpiride, metoclopramide, clebopride, sultopride, tiapride, piquindone, and zetidoline were more potent at lower temperatures. The interaction of the agonists dopamine and ADTN was driven by a decrease in enthalpy, allowing an energetically unfavorable decrease in entropy. The binding of the antagonists, haloperidol, cis-flupenthixol, YM 09151-2, raclopride, (+)-butaclamol, and clozapine, and also of the agonists, apomorphine and pergolide, was entropy driven. The interaction of the antagonists sulpiride, metoclopramide, clebopride, alizapride, sultopride, tiapride, piquindone, and zetidoline differed from that of other antagonists in being enthalpy driven. The observed entropy changes correlated with the lipophilicity of the displacing drugs and not with their intrinsic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The actions of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in animals as a model of Parkinson's disease.

The ability of MPTP to induce persistent parkinsonism in man may provide a vital clue to the cause of the idiopathic disease. However, the peripheral administration of MPTP to rodent species only produces losses in brain dopamine content and damage to the nigrostriatal system in high doses and no persistent motor deficits have been observed. In contrast, in primates, the administration of MPTP rapidly induces a persistent parkinsonian syndrome accompanied by evidence for selective damage to the nigro-striatal dopamine containing system. Other neurotransmitter systems appear unaffected by MPTP treatment. The MPTP-treated primate responds to the administration of L-DOPA and other antiparkinsonian drugs and may provide a useful test-bed for the development of novel antiparkinsonian medication. Administration of MPTP to primates causes an accumulation of MPP+ in a variety of brain areas. The accumulation of MPP+ and the neurotoxic actions of MPTP in primates can be prevented by the prior administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The ability of monoamine oxidase inhibitors to prevent MPTP toxicity is related to the metabolism of MPTP by monoamine oxidase B, probably extraneuronally in glia, to produce MPDP+ and subsequently MPP+. In rodent synaptosomal preparations MPP+ is a substrate for the dopamine uptake mechanism and so would be selectively accumulated in brain dopamine neurones. Administration of MPTP to animals results in the production of a partial model of idiopathic Parkinson's disease as it occurs in man. MPTP treatment produces the major symptoms of Parkinson's disease in primates but the pathology is limited to the nigro-striatal system, whereas in Parkinson's disease pathology is more widespread. Biochemical changes induced by MPTP again seem primarily limited to those induced by damage to the nigro-striatal dopamine containing system. MPP+ (or another metabolite of MPTP) may be responsible for the neurotoxicity of MPTP but not all neurones which accumulate products of MPTP metabolism are damaged. The nigro-striatal system may be peculiarly sensitive to the effects of MPTP.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1986

Affinity of pyridylalkylamines for nicotinic, muscarinic and histaminic recognition sites in brain tissue preparations.

The affinity of 15 regioisomeric and homologous pyridylalkylamines was examined in brain preparations for nicotinic, muscarinic, and H1-histaminic binding sites as labeled by [3H]-nicotine, [3H]-dexetimide and [3H]-mepyramine, respectively. Overall, the compounds show a clear selectivity for the nicotinic versus muscarinic binding sites, and a weak affinity for the H1-histaminic sites. Variations in affinity appear to be partly influenced by steric factors (such as position of attachment, length and rigidity of side-chain) and marginally by lipophilicity.

Amines↗
PubMed1986

Urea-induced stimulus-sensitive myoclonus in the rat.

Uremia in humans can cause spontaneous and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus that responds to clonazepam. Uremic myoclonus in humans resembles the reticular reflex form of postanoxic action myoclonus. Previous investigations have established that urea infusions in the cat can produce spontaneous and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus. This has been shown, electrophysiologically, to arise in the brainstem medullary reticular formation, and it does not require forebrain structures. Our own studies in the rat have shown that urea infusions also produce spontaneous and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus. Electrophysiologically, this resembles human reticular reflex myoclonus. It can be reduced by clonazepam. The myoclonus produced by urea infusions in the rat progresses very rapidly into uncontrollable tonic-clonic convulsions. Although the urea model in the rat mimics some forms of human myoclonus that arise in the brainstem, it is not suitable as a routine animal model for pharmacological investigations.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The effects of dopamine and dopamine agonists on the release of 3H-GABA and 3H-5HT from rat nigral slices.

Only high micromolar concentrations of dopamine and dopamine agonists altered spontaneous and KCl-evoked release of 3H-GABA and 3H-5HT from rat nigral slices in vitro. Apomorphine (100 microM) and dopamine (100 microM) enhanced the spontaneous release of 3H-5HT but the effect of dopamine was not reversed by haloperidol (1 microM). Both apomorphine (100 microM) and dopamine (100 microM) enhanced the KCl-evoked release of 3H-5HT but these effects were not reversed by haloperidol (1 microM). Apomorphine (10-250 microM) and dopamine (10-250 microM) inhibited 3H-5HT uptake into nigral synaptosomal preparations in a concentration-dependent manner. Accordingly, a major portion of the apparent effect of these drugs on 3H-5HT release may be due to inhibition of 3H-5HT uptake. Dopamine (100 and 1000 microM), amphetamine (100 microM), apomorphine (100 microM) and 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxytetralin (ADTN; 100 microM) were without effect on the spontaneous release of 3H-GABA from nigral slices. Apomorphine (100 microM) and ADTN (100 microM) reduced the KCl-evoked release of 3H-GABA from substantia nigra, an effect antagonized by haloperidol (1 microM). However, amphetamine (100 microM) and dopamine (100-1000 microM) were without effect on KCl-evoked 3H-GABA release. These results suggest that only high concentration of some dopamine agonists can modulate 3H-5HT and 3H-GABA release in substantia nigra. However, dopamine either had no effect, or its actions were not reversed by dopamine receptor blockade, so it appears unlikely that dendritic dopamine release will influence GABA and 5HT release in substantia nigra.

Animals↗