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S Kohno

Publications and source records attributed to S Kohno.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources

Down-regulation of central serotonin S2 receptors after repeated treatment with quinupramine in rats.

The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the repeated administration of quinupramine caused down- or up-regulation of beta-, alpha 2-adrenergic, serotonin S2, imipramine and muscarinic cholinergic receptors, as had been demonstrated for tricyclic and atypical antidepressant drugs. Quinupramine administered at 10 mg/kg (p.o.) twice daily for 10 days caused a down-regulation of serotonin S2 receptors in the frontal cortex of the rat as determined by [3H]ketanserin binding. However, quinupramine did not alter the binding populations of beta-adrenergic, muscarinic cholinergic and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the rat brain as determined by the Scatchard analysis of the [3H]ligand binding data. Differing from quinupramine, imipramine caused down-regulation of beta-adrenergic and serotonin S2 receptor bindings, and it caused slight but significant up-regulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptor bindings. These results show that the antidepressant activity of quinupramine is associated with the central serotonin system, but not with the beta-adrenergic system. Accordingly, quinupramine, chemically one of the typical tricyclic antidepressant drugs, seems to be pharmacologically one of the atypical antidepressant drugs, and it was suggested that the central serotonin system plays an important role in the antidepressant activity of quinupramine.

Animals↗

Effects of quinupramine on the central monoamine uptake systems and involvement of pharmacokinetics in its pharmacological activities.

The effects of a new tricyclic antidepressant drug, quinupramine, on the monoamine uptake of rat brain homogenate preparations were studied in comparison with imipramine. Pharmacokinetic studies on quinupramine and imipramine in plasma and brain were also performed in rats after a single oral administration. Quinupramine had few effects on the noradrenaline and serotonin uptake both in in vitro and ex vivo models. After the administration of [3H]quinupramine, the unchanged drug was estimated as 60-75% of the total radioactivity in the cerebral cortex. Imipramine and desipramine preferentially inhibited the uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline, respectively, in vitro. After the administration, imipramine showed a marked inhibitory effect on noradrenaline uptake. A considerable amount of desipramine but not imipramine could be detected in the brain and plasma after the administration of [3H]imipramine. These results demonstrate that 1) the antidepressant activity of quinupramine cannot be attributed to inhibition of monoamine uptake, 2) unchanged quinupramine penetrates into the CNS and affects some of the processes of neurotransmission and 3) the pharmacological activities of imipramine, when administered orally, may be attributed to desipramine, the metabolite formed.

Animals↗

Binding characteristics of [3H]quinupramine to rat brain membrane fractions.

The binding characteristics of [3H]quinupramine to rat brain membrane fractions were studied. The specific binding of [3H]quinupramine to rat brain membrane fractions was stable, reversible and saturable. Scatchard analysis of the data from saturation experiments indicated that the specific binding was a single population with an affinity (KD) of 3.04 nM, a maximal binding site number (Bmax) of 714 fmol/mg protein, and a Hill coefficient (nH) of 1.08. Compounds known to inhibit muscarinic cholinergic receptors such as atropine and quinuclidinyl benzilate were the most potent competitors of [3H]quinupramine binding. When the drug potencies in inhibiting [3H]quinupramine binding were tested in the presence of 10 nM atropine, mianserin was the most potent competitor. Studies of the subcellular fractions showed that there was an enrichment of [3H]quinupramine binding sites in the synaptosome fraction. The regional distribution study revealed the highest densities of binding sites in the cerebral cortex and the lowest in the cerebellum. Thus, the specific binding of [3H]quinupramine observed here can be accounted for by both muscarinic cholinergic and serotonin S2 receptors.

Animals↗

Characterization of histamine receptors in isolated rabbit veins.

Veins were isolated from 16 sites of the rabbit venous tree and responses to histamine and histamine receptor agonists were studied to characterize the histamine receptors. Isometric contraction and relaxation of ring segment preparations were recorded. Histamine produced concentration-dependent contractions in all veins in the resting state. Both the maximum response and pD2 value varied remarkably from vein to vein and regional differences in sensitivities to histamine varied considerably from previous findings in dog veins. Also in the precontracted state with a vasoconstricting agent, histamine predominantly contracted the veins. The contractile responses to histamine, in both resting and precontracted states, were antagonized competitively by the histamine H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine. On the other hand, histamine relaxed the precontracted veins, in the presence of mepyramine. Selective H2-receptor agonists, dimaprit and impromidine, relaxed the precontracted veins even in the absence of mepyramine. These responses to histamine were antagonized competitively by the H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine or ranitidine. The present study provides quantitative and systematic data regarding histamine receptors in rabbit veins. We propose that: 1) there are both vasoconstrictor H1-receptors and vasodilator H2-receptors, 2) histamine generally contracts rabbit veins through predominant H1-receptors and that 3) the H2-receptor-mediated relaxation does not depend on the presence of the endothelium.

Animals↗

Serum CA 19-9 concentrations and computed tomography findings in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 is a new tumor marker, defined by a monoclonal antibody. Serum CA 19-9 concentrations and computed tomography (CT) findings were studied in 55 patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma, and in 22 patients with chronic pancreatitis. CA 19-9 was useful in 83% of cases for the differential diagnosis between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis, and serum CA 19-9 levels in pancreatic carcinoma were highly related to the size of tumors. Serum CA 19-9 levels greater than 37 U/ml were seen in patients with a tumor of less than 3 cm, 3 to 5 cm, and greater than 5 cm in diameter 13% (1/8), 90% (19/21), and 92% (24/26) of cases, respectively. Tumor location, however, was unrelated to serum CA 19-9 value. These results indicated that the measurement of serum CA 19-9 concentrations would be useful in most, if not all, cases for the differential diagnosis between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis, and for the evaluation of tumor burden in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

The antimicrobial activity of ciprofloxacin against Legionella species and the treatment of experimental Legionella pneumonia in guinea pigs.

The antimicrobial activity of ciprofloxacin was tested against 15 standard reference strains, and 37 clinical and environmental strains of Legionella pneumophila by an agar dilution method, using a new growth medium (B-SYE agar) which we devised. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin were found to be inoculum dependent, and ranged from 0.02 to 0.06 mg/l at 10(4) cfu inoculum and 0.02 by 0.125 mg/l at 10(6) cfu inoculum. The most potent antibacterial activity was shown by rifampicin, followed by ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, erythromycin and pipemidic acid in that order. The therapeutic efficacy of ciprofloxacin in experimental guinea pig pneumonia due to L. pneumophila was fairly good with a survival rate of 80%. From other data of ours, its effectiveness in experimental pneumonia was equal to or greater than that of erythromycin. Further studies would be appropriate to investigate the possibility of using ciprofloxacin for the treatment of human L. pneumophila infection.

Animals↗

Purification and characterization of chick interferon induced by viruses.

Chick interferon (IFN), produced in primary chick embryo (CE) cells stimulated by u.v.-irradiated Newcastle disease virus, was partially purified by two-step chromatography using both controlled pore glass and Blue Sepharose. The specific activity of the IFN increased about 500-fold by this method and the final recovery from starting material was more than 95%. The partially purified IFN was analysed by SDS-PAGE, and two peaks of IFN activity were observed. The molecular weight represented by the sharp peak was estimated to be 18 000 (18K) and a broad peak was found at 20K to 30K. Glycosidase treatment before SDS-PAGE resulted in disappearance of the broad peak and increased the activity of the 18K peak. Anti-CE IFN rabbit serum and a monoclonal antibody against the CE IFN neutralized the antiviral activity of all IFN samples prepared under various conditions.

Animals↗