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Biomedical subjects

P Riederer

Publications and source records attributed to P Riederer.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Ontogenesis of monoamine oxidase-A and -B in the human brain frontal cortex.

The effect of several antemortem and postmortem factors (patients' age, sex, postmortem delay, storage time, laterality and brain weight) on both monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and -B (MAO-B) activity was investigated in the frontal cortex of human brains. The MAO-A activity decreases rapidly during the first two years of life and remains constant thereafter. In contrast, the MAO-B activity keeps unchanged during early childhood and raises during advanced age. These findings seem to be consistent with a genetic regulation and a variation in cell type assembling during brain development and aging.

Adolescent↗

Regional distribution of [3H]MK-801 binding sites in the human brain.

Specific [3H]MK-801 binding was measured under equilibrium conditions in 8 brain regions (frontal cortex, area entorhinalis, hippocampus, amygdala, putamen, thalamus, substantia nigra and nucleus dentatus) in the right hemisphere of the human brain (n = 4). In addition, binding was assessed in 3 of these regions (frontal cortex, area entorhinalis and putamen) in the left hemisphere. High [3H]MK-801 binding levels occurred in the area entorhinalis, frontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, medium levels were observed in the putamen and thalamus and low levels were found in the substantia nigra and nucleus dentatus. No evidence for laterality of [3H]MK-801 binding sites was observed in the 3 regions which were investigated on both sides of the brain.

Aged↗

Isoelectric focusing of monoamine oxidase subtypes as identified by MAO inhibitors.

Monoamine oxidase from various human tissues from several individuals was labeled with [3H]pargyline and solubilized by means of Triton X-100 or Triton X-100 and urea. The specificity of the labeling was assessed using various selective, reversible and irreversible inhibitors as pharmacologic tools in competition experiments. The labeled material was submitted to isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels according to one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic procedures and with fluorographic detection. While the differences in electrophoretic mobility of the two subtypes, MAO-A and MAO-B, could be replicated the subtypes showed identical although heterogeneous charges in isoelectric focusing. This contrasts with recent findings of clear differences in the primary structure of monoamine oxidase subtypes and thus needs further clarification.

Adult↗

[3H]MK-801 binding sites in post-mortem human frontal cortex.

The binding of [3H]MK-801 ((+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate) was investigated in extensively washed homogenates of post-mortem human frontal cortex. The association of [3H]MK-801 proceeded slowly (t1/2 = 553 min) and reached equilibrium only after a prolonged incubation (greater than 24 h). The dissociation of [3H]MK-801 from the binding site was also slow (t1/2 = 244 min). Glutamate, glycine and magnesium markedly increased the rate of association (t1/2 = 14.8 min) and dissociation (t1/2 = 36.5 min). At equilibrium, the binding was not altered by these substances. Specific binding was linear with protein concentration, was saturable, reversible, stereoselective, heat-labile and was nearly absent in the white matter. Scatchard analysis of the saturation curves obtained at equilibrium indicated that there was a high-affinity (Kd1 1.39 +/- 0.21 nM, Bmax1 0.483 +/- 0.084 pmol/mg protein) and a low-affinity (Kd2 116.25 +/- 50.79 nM, Bmax2 3.251 +/- 0.991 pmol/mg protein) binding site. All competition curves obtained with (+)-MK-801, (-)-MK-801, phencyclidine and ketamine had Hill coefficients of less than unity and were best explained by a two-site model. Thus, our results demonstrate the presence of binding sites for MK-801 in post-mortem human brains and provide evidence for binding site heterogeneity. Furthermore, glutamate, glycine and magnesium accelerate the association and dissociation of [3H]MK-801 to and from its binding sites. The results add support to the hypothesis that MK-801, glutamate, glycine and magnesium all bind to different sites on the NMDA receptor-ion channel complex.

Adult↗

Plasma moclobemide and metabolites: lack of correlation with clinical response and biogenic amines.

The concentration of the reversible monoamine oxidase type-A (MAO-A) inhibitor moclobemide (Ro 11-1163) was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the plasma of 16 depressives treated with moclobemide. Moreover, the inhibitory potency of organic extracts of the plasma on a standard MAO-A preparation from human placenta was measured spectrophotometrically. The inhibitory potency significantly correlated with the HPLC results. However, it overestimated the concentration of moclobemide by one order of magnitude possibly due to the presence of yet unknown metabolites more active than moclobemide itself. These have already been suggested in view of the higher inhibitory potency of moclobemide ex vivo than in vitro. This new methodological approach might represent a comfortable alternative to HPLC procedures in pharmacokinetic studies on reversible MAO inhibitors. Plasma biogenic amines and their metabolites might be indicative of the biologic activity of moclobemide. Plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) decreased and norepinephrine (NE) increased under moclobemide, although insignificantly. There was no significant correlation between the plasma concentration of moclobemide as estimated by either method and the therapeutic response and the change of plasma HVA and NE.

Adult↗

Biochemical events in spontaneous seizures in the Mongolian gerbil.

The Mongolian gerbil, with its spontaneous epileptiform seizures, was chosen as an experimental model of human epilepsy. Neurochemical parameters possibly related to the seizure process were studied. In the immediate seizure process amino acid profiles of cortex, hippocampus, and striatum were not different in seizuring animals when compared to seizure-resistance controls. Of two peptides analyzed, only somatostatin appeared elevated in the cortex 2 hr postictal (143 fmol/mg protein; controls, 123 fmol/mg protein); neuropeptide Y was not affected. A follow up of the time course of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP showed significant elevations of both substances as a consequence of seizures. Most prominent was a 5.5-fold increase in cyclic GMP in the cerebellum 30 sec after seizure onset.

Amino Acids↗

[3H]MK-801 binding sites in postmortem brain regions of schizophrenic patients.

[3H]MK-801 binding was used as a marker for the NMDA receptorion channel complex in postmortem brain samples from the frontal cortex, hippocampus, putamen, entorhinal region, and amygdala of schizophrenic patients and controls. In schizophrenia [3H]MK-801 binding levels were increased in all brain regions investigated reaching significance in the putamen.

Aged↗

3H-spiperone binding sites in post-mortem brains from schizophrenic patients: relationship to neuroleptic drug treatment, abnormal movements, and positive symptoms.

In post-mortem putamen samples from 27 schizophrenics and 27 controls D2 receptors were measured by Scatchard analysis using 3H-spiperone as a ligand. Maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) and apparent dissociation constant (KD) were significantly increased only in patients in whom neuroleptic medication had been given within a three-month period before death. When the neuroleptic medication had been withdrawn at least 3 month before death, there was a slight, but not significant, reduction in Bmax values and unchanged KD values. Withdrawal of neuroleptic drugs was followed by a normalization of the KD values within 2 weeks and a slower reduction of Bmax values. There were 6 schizophrenic patients with mainly positive schizophrenic symptoms and 17 patients with mainly negative symptoms; positive schizophrenic symptoms were not related to higher Bmax values. There was no difference in 3H-spiperone binding between patients with and without movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia or extrapyramidal symptoms).

Aged↗

Brain quinolinic acid in Alzheimer's dementia.

Quinolinic acid (QA) content was measured in postmortem frontal and temporal cortex, putamen and cerebellum obtained from patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), Huntington's disease (HD) and controls, using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method. There were no significant group differences in QA content of any of the regions examined. The data do not support the hypothesis that an accumulation of QA plays a role in neuronal degeneration occurring in the frontal and temporal cortex, putamen and cerebellum of patients with SDAT.

Adult↗

Effect of antemortem and postmortem factors on [3H]MK-801 binding in the human brain: transient elevation during early childhood.

The effect of a number of antemortem and postmortem factors on [3H]MK-801 binding was investigated under equilibrium conditions in the frontal cortex of human brains of 38 controls. Binding values transiently increased during the early postnatal period reaching a maximum at the age of about 2 years. After age 10 years [3H]MK-801 binding sites disappeared at 5.7% per decade. The storage time of brain tissue had a reducing effect on these binding sites. There was no effect of gender, brain weight or postmortem time interval and the binding sites were bilaterally symmetrically distributed in the frontal cortex.

Age Factors↗

Effects of glucocorticoids on plasma catecholamines in depression.

To explore corticosteroid-catecholamine interactions in depression, plasma dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine concentrations were studied both before and after dexamethasone in 16 patients during depression and after recovery, and in 28 healthy controls. Dexamethasone had a significant suppressive effect on plasma epinephrine levels in depressed patients and controls, while dopamine and norepinephrine levels were not significantly affected following dexamethasone administration. Levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol were positively correlated, while dopamine showed no correlation with cortisol values. These findings point to differentiated interrelations between certain catecholamines and glucocorticoids which possibly are affected during depressive illness.

Adult↗

Demonstration of monoamine oxidase-A and -B in the human brainstem by a histochemical technique.

The distribution of both monoamine oxidase subtypes, monoamine oxidase-A and -B, is demonstrated in brainstems from 16 humans by use of a histochemical technique. The results presented here, focus primarily upon the aminergic areas of the substantia nigra, the locus coeruleus and the raphe nuclei. While dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra revealed no staining for monoamine oxidase, noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus stained positively with the monoamine oxidase-A substrate serotonin, and serotonergic neurons of the raphe nuclei were stained by the monoamine oxidase-B substrate beta-phenylethylamine. In addition, data are presented showing that glial cells stain predominantly for monoamine oxidase-B.

Adolescent↗

Transition metals, ferritin, glutathione, and ascorbic acid in parkinsonian brains.

The regional distributions of iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, and calcium in parkinsonian brains were compared with those of matched controls. In mild Parkinson's disease (PD), there were no significant differences in the content of total iron between the two groups, whereas there was a significant increase in total iron and iron (III) in substantia nigra of severely affected patients. Although marked regional distributions of iron, magnesium, and calcium were present, there were no changes in magnesium, calcium, and copper in various brain areas of PD. The most notable finding was a shift in the iron (II)/iron (III) ratio in favor of iron (III) in substantia nigra and a significant increase in the iron (III)-binding, protein, ferritin. A significantly lower glutathione content was present in pooled samples of putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, nucleus basalis of Meynert, amygdaloid nucleus, and frontal cortex of PD brains with severe damage to substantia nigra, whereas no significant changes were observed in clinicopathologically mild forms of PD. In all these regions, except the amygdaloid nucleus, ascorbic acid was not decreased. Reduced glutathione and the shift of the iron (II)/iron (III) ratio in favor of iron (III) suggest that these changes might contribute to pathophysiological processes underlying PD.

Aged↗

Neurochemical perspectives to the function of monoamine oxidase.

Dopamine (DA) is degraded in part by MAO, an intraneuronal and glial enzyme localized at the outer mitochondrial membrane. DA is a good substrate for MAO-B and selegiline enhances DA-transmission and improves akinesia of Parkinson's disease (PD) by selective MAO-B blockade. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) and histochemistry (HC) demonstrate that neurons of substantia nigra (SN) lack MAO near totally (but see Moll et al 1988). Consequently, inhibition of MAO-B in this brain area occurs mainly in glial cells. Therefore an increase of DA in glia seems to be of long-lasting therapeutic benefit in PD. In addition, synthesis of hydrogen peroxide generated via MAO-B is blocked by selegiline. By this toxicity by endogenous free radicals is diminished. Furthermore, exogenous neurotoxicity by MAO-B substrates can be prevented by inhibition of MAO-B, while such MAO-A substrates are metabolized at the level of the MAO-A containing endothelium of capillaries. As conclusion, selegiline is a safe inhibitor of MAO-B that reduces neurotoxicity possibly triggering PD. (Table: see text).

Brain↗

Is Parkinson's disease a progressive siderosis of substantia nigra resulting in iron and melanin induced neurodegeneration?

Razor sharp and high iron deposits are present in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the function of such high iron content is not known, the homeostasis of brain iron is important for normal brain function. The participation of free tissue iron in oxidative stress (OS), resulting in the formation of cytotoxic hydroxyl radical (.OH) from H2O2 (Fenton reaction) and promotion of membrane lipid peroxides by .OH can no longer be questioned as a biological phenomenon. The highly selective increase of Fe2+ and Fe3+ and lipid peroxidation observed in parkinsonian SN points to OS in such brains. Lipid peroxidation proceeds with either Fe2+ or Fe3+ provided a mechanism exists to facilitate the interconversion of iron between its redox states. Indeed H2O2 derived from MAO B reaction and autooxidation of dopamine to melanin in the SN can drive the iron dependent Fenton reaction. Furthermore, interaction of iron with melanin may be even more important considering that melanin avidly binds Fe3+ and reduce it to Fe2+, resulting in .OH generation. Thus, without evoking environmental neurotoxins, the excessive accumulation of free iron in the SN and "melanin-trap" could be the trigger for accelerated cell death and Parkinsonism.

Humans↗

[Neurochemical perspectives of the function of monoamine oxidases].

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) and its subtypes MAO-A and MAO-B show different distribution in post mortem human brain areas. While MAO-B is the predominant type in glial tissue, intraneuronal MAO is either of type A (locus coeruleus, only 10% of substantia nigra neurons stain MAO-A), while raphe neurons contain entirely MAO-B. Inhibition of MAO-subtypes leads to accumulation of biogenic amines in glial tissue while there is a selective intraneuronal influence differing between various brain areas. Generation of toxic end-products (eg. aldehydes, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia) may contribute to trigger or at least to progress Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗