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PubMed1991

The role of protein kinase C and its neuronal substrates dephosphin, B-50, and MARCKS in neurotransmitter release.

This article focuses on the role of protein phosphorylation, especially that mediated by protein kinase C (PKC), in neurotransmitter release. In the first part of the article, the evidence linking PKC activation to neurotransmitter release is evaluated. Neurotransmitter release can be elicited in at least two manners that may involve distinct mechanisms: Evoked release is stimulated by calcium influx following chemical or electrical depolarization, whereas enhanced release is stimulated by direct application of phorbol ester or fatty acid activators of PKC. A markedly distinct sensitivity of the two pathways to PKC inhibitors or to PKC downregulation suggests that only enhanced release is directly PKC-mediated. In the second part of the article, a framework is provided for understanding the complex and apparently contrasting effects of PKC inhibitors. A model is proposed whereby the site of interaction of a PKC inhibitor with the enzyme dictates the apparent potency of the inhibitor, since the multiple activators also interact with these distinct sites on the enzyme. Appropriate PKC inhibitors can now be selected on the basis of both the PKC activator used and the site of inhibitor interaction with PKC. In the third part of the article, the known nerve terminal substrates of PKC are examined. Only four have been identified, tyrosine hydroxylase, MARCKS, B-50, and dephosphin, and the latter two may be associated with neurotransmitter release. Phosphorylation of the first three of these proteins by PKC accompanies release. B-50 may be associated with evoked release since antibodies delivered into permeabilized synaptosomes block evoked, but not enhanced release. Dephosphin and its PKC phosphorylation may also be associated with evoked release, but in a unique manner. Dephosphin is a phosphoprotein concentrated in nerve terminals, which, upon stimulation of release, is rapidly dephosphorylated by a calcium-stimulated phosphatase (possibly calcineurin [CN]). Upon termination of the rise in intracellular calcium, dephosphin is phosphorylated by PKC. A priming model of neurotransmitter release is proposed where PKC-mediated phosphorylation of such a protein is an obligatory step that primes the release apparatus, in preparation for a calcium influx signal. Protein dephosphorylation may therefore be as important as protein phosphorylation in neurotransmitter release.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

The effects of glutamate and GABA receptor antagonists on nicotine-induced neurotransmitter changes in cognitive areas.

In the present study, we tested the effects of glutamate and GABA receptor antagonists on nicotine-induced neurotransmitter changes in the hippocampal (dorsal and ventral) and cortical (medial temporal and prefrontal) brain areas of conscious freely moving rats via microdialysis. Both the antagonists and nicotine were administered intracerebrally. The antagonists tested were NMDA, AMPA-kainate, and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype antagonists (MK801, CNQX, and LY 341495, respectively) and GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor subtype antagonists (bicuculline and hydroxysaclofen, respectively). We assayed nicotine-induced changes in dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites. We found with the antagonists, both decreases and increases in nicotine-induced neurotransmitter responses. In the presence of nicotine all the antagonists (except LY 341495) caused a decrease in DA levels in the regions tested. NE levels were decreased in the cortex by all antagonists. In the hippocampus, GABA antagonists decreased NE levels, as did the metabotropic glutamate antagonist, LY 341495, while the other glutamate antagonists increased NE levels. The results of the 5-HT assay were more variable and dependent on the region and antagonist examined; increases were found slightly more often than decreases. The changes in metabolites were not often parallel with changes in their associated neurotransmitters, indicating that the antagonists also affect the metabolism of the neurotransmitters. The effect of the antagonists in the absence of nicotine was mostly to decrease the level of neurotransmitters, although increases were seen in a few cases. The results suggest that the excitatory glutamatergic- and inhibitory GABAergic-amino acid receptors are both involved in mediating nicotine-induced neurotransmitter responses, and their inhibitory or stimulatory effects are receptor subtype and brain region dependent.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Studies on neurotransmitter-stimulated phospholipid metabolism with cerebral tissue suspensions: a possible biochemical correlate of synaptogenesis in normal and undernourished rats.

The phenomenon of neurotransmitter-stimulated incorporation of 32Pi into phosphatidic acid and inositol phosphatides (neurotransmitter effect) in developing brain was studied in vitro as a possible measure of synaptogenesis. While the neurotransmitter effect was not observed with brain homogenates, highly consistent and significant effects were noted with brain tissue suspensions obtained by passing the tissue through nylon bolting cloth. The magnitude of the effect decreased with the increase in mesh number. Maximum stimulations obtained with the 33 mesh adult brain cortex preparations (mean +/- S.E.M. of 6 experiments) were 203 +/- 8%, 316 +/- 17% and 150 +/- 8% with 10(-3) M acetylcholine (ACh) + 10(-3) M eserine; 10(-2) M norepinephrine (NE) and 10(-2) M serotonin (5-HT), respectively. Experiments with developing rat brain at 7, 14 and 21 days of age showed that the neurotransmitter effects due to ACh, NE and 5-HT increase progressively in different regions of the brain but that there are marked regional differences. It is suggested that the neurotransmitter effect is a valid biochemical correlate of synaptogenesis. In rats undernourished from birth to 21 days of age, by increasing the litter size, the neurotransmitter effect with ACh, NE or 5-HT was not altered in the cortex but was significantly reduced in the brain stem. In cerebellum the effects due to ACh and NE were significantly altered, while that with 5-HT was unaffected. It is concluded that cholinergic, adrenergic and serotonergic synapses are relatively unaffected in the cortex but are significantly affected in the brain stem by undernutrition. In the cerebellum of undernourished rats the adrenergic and cholinergic, but not serotonergic systems, are altered.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2006

Neurotransmitter depletion may be a cause of dementia pathology rather than an effect.

BACKGROUND: There is widespread loss of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It has generally been assumed that death of neurons causes neurotransmitter loss, but alternatively neurotransmitter depletion itself may at least contribute to neurodegeneration. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: Transgenic mice and pigs with inducible 50% depletion of acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and corticotrophin releasing factor will reproduce Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia neuropathology, and pharmacologically restoring neurotransmitters will attenuate neuronal injury. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: Through nuclear transfer cloning, transgenic mice and pigs would be created with transgenes on one X chromosome, so that transgenes would only be expressed in half of all cells in female animals. Transgenes would encode tetracycline-inducible short hairpin RNA (shRNA) designed to form small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down neurotransmitter biosynthesis in late adulthood. Transgene expressing neurons could be readily identified in tissue sections with fluorescent reporter genes. Cholinesterase inhibitors, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and CRF would then be administered in an attempt to rescue degenerating neurons. IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: The mice and pigs could serve as an important new model for the pathogenesis of dementia, especially if pharmacologically restoring neurotransmitters rescues degenerating neurons. The animals may also be useful for as models for other disorders such as multi-system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, and depression.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The effects of saltwater acclimation on neurotransmitters in the lingual salt glands of the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus.

INTRODUCTION: Most avian and reptilian salt glands display marked phenotypic plasticity when animals are exposed to hyperosmotic conditions. In addition, the activity of most salt glands is under considerable control by the nervous system and nerves containing cholinergic, adrenergic and peptidergic neurotransmitters have been identified in avian and reptilian salt gland tissues. The present study sought to determine whether the salt glands of the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus contain the peptidergic neurotransmitters SP, CGRP, VIP, and PACAP and the gaseous neurotransmitter, NO. In addition, we sought to determine whether there was any evidence for the adaptation of the C. porosus salt gland nervous system to hyperosmotic conditions. METHODS: Salt glands from freshwater- and saltwater-acclimated C. porosus hatchlings were sectioned and examined immunohistochemically for neurotransmitters within the tissue. RESULTS: Neurons containing SP, CGRP, VIP, PACAP and NO synthase were identified within C. porosus salt glands. There was no difference in the overall number (density) of neurons within SW-acclimated tissues when compared with FW-acclimated animals. However, there was a significant reduction in density of neurons containing SP and PACAP in SW-acclimated animals. CONCLUSION: C. porosus salt glands display phenotypic plasticity following exposure to hyperosmotic conditions. In addition to cholinergic and adrenergic neurons, they contain a variety of peptidergic neurotransmitters and the gaseous neurotransmitter NO. Additionally, there appears to be some evidence of acclimation of the nervous system of C. porosus to hypersaline conditions, although the functional significance of these changes remains to be determined.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2003

Neurotransmitter release: the dark side of the vacuolar-H+ATPase.

Vacuolar-H+ATPase (V-ATPase) is a complex enzyme with numerous subunits organized in two domains. The membrane domain V0 contains a proteolipid hexameric ring that translocates protons when ATP is hydrolysed by the catalytic cytoplasmic sector (V1). In nerve terminals, V-ATPase generates an electrochemical proton gradient that is acid and positive inside synaptic vesicles. It is used by specific neurotransmitter-proton antiporters to accumulate neurotransmitters inside their storage organelles. During synaptic activity, neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles docked at specialized portions of the presynaptic plasma membrane, the active zones. A fusion pore opens that allows the neurotransmitter to be released from the synaptic vesicle lumen into the synaptic cleft. We briefly review experimental data suggesting that the membrane domain of V-ATPase could be such a fusion pore. We also discuss the functional implications for quantal neurotransmitter release of the sequential use of the same V-ATPase membrane domain in two different events, neurotransmitter accumulation in synaptic vesicles first, and then release from these organelles during synaptic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Levels of amino acid neurotransmitters during mouse olfactory bulb neurogenesis and in histotypic olfactory bulb cultures.

The developmental changes in the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography during mouse olfactory bulb neurogenesis, from embryonic day (E)13 until the young adult age, between postnatal days (P)30 and P40. During the embryonic period, high levels of glutamate, aspartate and GABA were observed, with the values of GABA about 2-fold higher than those of glutamate and aspartate. At P0, the production of these neurotransmitters experienced birth stress as shown by a significant 2-fold reduction in their levels. During the first two postnatal weeks, a progressive increase in the glutamate content was detected diminishing slightly in the adult stage. The aspartate concentrations showed a maximal value at P3 and then decreased gradually until the second postnatal week; in the young adult age, its concentration was comparable with that of glutamate. The postnatal GABA contents increased progressively from birth to maturity, showing maximal levels at P3, P11 and in the adult. Throughout the studied developmental period, the concentration of glycine remained relatively low. With regard to taurine, very low concentrations were detected during the prenatal period but after birth, the taurine content gradually increased with age, and in the adult animal, its concentration was comparable with those of GABA and glutamate. Our data demonstrate the predominance of GABA and glutamate during olfactory bulb synaptogenesis, however, in the adult animal, both glutamate and aspartate exert the same influence in the excitatory synaptic transmission; in the adult inhibitory synaptic transmission, taurine appears to play an important neuromodulatory or neurotransmitter role as that of GABA. To determine the intrinsic neurotransmitter production, primary histotypic olfactory bulb cultures were prepared from mice at P10. The comparative analysis of in vitro neurotransmitter contents with those in in situ adult animal showed higher levels of endogenously produced glutamate, glycine and GABA in the olfactory bulb than the extrinsic ones coming from olfactory nerve axons and higher olfactory brain centers. On the other hand, most of aspartate and taurine neurotransmitters apparently come from extrinsically located neurons.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Activity-dependent neurotransmitter release kinetics: correlation with changes in morphological distributions of small and large vesicles in central nerve terminals.

In central nerve terminals transmitter release is tightly regulated and thought to occur in a number of steps. These steps include vesicle mobilization and docking prior to neurotransmitter release. Intrasynaptic changes in vesicle distribution were determined by electron microscopical analysis and neurotransmitter release was monitored by biochemical measurements. We correlated K + -induced changes in distribution of small and large vesicles with the release of their transmitters. For small synaptic vesicles, amino acid release as well as recruitment to and docking at the active zone were activated within 1 s of depolarization. In contrast, the disappearance of large dense-cored vesicles and the release of the neuropeptide cholecystokinin were much slower, and no docking was observed. Studies with diverse Ca2 + channel blockers indicated that mobilization and neurotransmitter release from both vesicle types were regulated by multiple Ca2 + channels, although in different ways. Neurotransmitter release from small synaptic vesicles was predominantly regulated by P-type Ca2 + channels, whereas primarily Q-type Ca2 + channels regulated neurotransmitter release from large dense-cored vesicles. The different Ca2 + channnel types directly regulated mobilization of and neurotransmitter release from small synaptic vesicles whereas, by their cooperativity in raising the intracellular Ca2 + concentration above release threshold, they more indirectly regulated large dense-cored vesicle exocytosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Interpreting functional imaging studies in terms of neurotransmitter cycling.

Functional imaging experiments, in particular positron-emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging, can be analyzed either in psychological terms or on the basis of neuroscience. In the usual psychological interpretation, stimulations are designed to activate specific mental processes identified by cognitive psychology, which are then localized by the signals in functional imaging experiments. An alternate approach would be to analyze experiments in terms of the neurobiological processes responsible for the signals. Recent in vivo 13C NMR measurements of the glutamate-to-glutamine neurotransmitter cycling in rat and human brains facilitate a neuroscientific interpretation of functional imaging data in terms of neurobiological processes since incremental neurotransmitter flux showed a 1:1 stoichiometry with the incremental rate of glucose oxidation. Because functional imaging signals depend on brain energy consumption, a quantitative relationship can be established between the signal (S) and the specific neurochemical cerebral neurotransmitter activity (N) of glutamate-to-glutamine neurotransmitter cycling. The quantitation of neuronal activity proposed has implications for the psychological design and interpretation of functional imaging experiments. Measurements of the neurotransmitter cycling flux at rest in functional imaging experiments suggest that performing cognitive tasks and sensory stimulations increases neurotransmitter cycling by only 10-20%. Therefore it cannot be assumed that reference state activities are negligible, nor that they are constant during stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Neurotransmitter metabolism in rat brain synaptosomes: effect of anoxia and pH.

Synaptosomes isolated from the rat cerebral cortex by means of a discontinuous Ficoll gradient carry out net, sodium-dependent, veratridine-sensitive accumulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The intrasynaptosomal contents of the four neurotransmitters are: 30.4 nmol/mg protein, 17.4 pmol/mg protein, 13.5 pmol/mg protein, and 21.2 pmol/mg protein, respectively. Anaerobic preincubation of synaptosomes causes an irreversible decrease in the rates of neurotransmitter accumulation but does not affect the rates of their release. The inhibitory effect of anaerobiosis is enhanced by increased concentration of [H+] (decreased pH) in the medium. The most sensitive is the uptake of dopamine, the least that of serotonin. The rates of neurotransmitter efflux are unaffected by anaerobiosis. Synaptosomes leak catecholamines, GABA, and serotonin into the medium when subjected to anaerobiosis, and reintroduction of oxygen is accompanied by a rapid reaccumulation of all four neurotransmitters. It is concluded that: (1) Responses of synaptosomes to anaerobiosis are remarkably similar to the behavior of intact brain in hypoxia and ischemia. (2) Neurotransmitter uptake systems are more sensitive to short periods of anaerobiosis than either the energy metabolism or ion transport. (3) Some neurotransmitter uptake systems are more easily damaged by anaerobiosis than others.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1987

Brain neurotransmitters in aging and dementia: similar changes across diagnostic dementia groups.

Reductions of the levels of transmitter substances and of the activities of enzymes involved in their synthesis have been demonstrated in the aging brain. The sensitivity to the aging process varies for different transmitters and brain regions. Dopamine neurons are more age-sensitive than most other neurons investigated. The metabolism of monoaminergic neurotransmitters is enhanced in the aging brain, as evidenced by increased metabolite/neurotransmitter ratios, perhaps to compensate for the loss of transmitter. In various types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), several neurotransmitter indices are reduced, as compared to age-matched controls. Moreover, a decrease in neurotransmitter metabolites suggests that compensatory mechanisms are insufficient. No correlation could be found between the neurotransmitter changes and the histological changes characteristic of AD (senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles). Neither could any relationship between multiple infarctions and neurotransmitter indices be detected. Recently observed changes in the lipid composition of the white matter, indicating demyelinization, in the brains of patients with AD/SDAT, emphasize the multifactorial aspects of dementia. Taken together, the data underline the difficulties in drawing clear demarcation lines between normal and pathological aging and between different subgroups of dementia. Despite the obvious difficulties, future therapeutic efforts should aim at substitution for the neurotransmitter deficiencies. Preventive measures have to await the clarification of the mechanisms underlying neural degeneration. Studies of the toxicity of oxygen and of autoxidation products are among the areas of research that may help to shed light on this problem.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Changes in selected brain neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the lamb after thyroidectomy during the last two trimesters of gestation or the early neonatal period.

To evaluate in a development context the effect of congenital hypothyroidism on concentrations of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin (5HT) in selected brain areas of the ovine fetus, we studied the effect of thyroidectomy at three ages on the concentrations of these neurotransmitters and their major metabolites, homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Fetuses underwent thyroidectomy at 90-95 or 105-115 d gestation (term = 147-150 d) or 1-5 d after birth. Approximately 25 d after thyroidectomy, at d 120-125 or 130-135 of gestation or 25-30 d after birth, respectively, the ewes were killed and fetal brains removed. Neurotransmitters and their metabolites were measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Thyroidectomy in the 2nd trimester increased 5HT in five brain areas: anterior hypothalamus, dorsal medial hypothalamus, pons, medulla, and cerebellum. Thyroidectomy in the 3rd trimester increased 5HT in the pons and medulla, increased norepinephrine in the dorsal medial hypothalamus and pons, and increased homovanillic acid in the posterior hypothalamus. Thyroidectomy in the newborn period decreased NE in the anterior hypothalamus, ventral medial hypothalamus, and midbrain, decreased 5-hydroxyindoleactic acid in the posterior hypothalamus, lateral hypothalamus, dorsal medial hypothalamus, and ventral medial hypothalamus, and decreased homovanillic acid in the dorsal medial hypothalamus and ventral medial hypothalamus. From these data we conclude the following: 1) Hypothyroidism causes changes in neurotransmitter concentrations only in selected brain areas of the ovine fetus, rather than causing generalized and similar changes in all brain areas; and 2) 5HT 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations are affected more often than the other neurotransmitters evaluated, perhaps because the 5HT neurotransmitter system is developing at these times.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Role of nitric oxide in central synaptic transmission: effects on neurotransmitter release.

Nitric oxide (NO), an unstable radical formed via oxidative deamination of L-arginine by NO synthase, has the activity to evoke release of several neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, catecholamines and neuroactive amino acids. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor stimulation also causes neurotransmitter release through NO formation, which is supported by the data extracellular hemoglobin completely abolishes the stimulatory effect of NMDA on neurotransmitter release. In addition, NO formed by NMDA receptor activation exhibits its stimulatory action on neurotransmitter release extracellularly. A product formed by the reaction of NO and superoxide, peroxynitrite, is also considered to be partly involved in NO-evoked neurotransmitter release. The removal of Ca2+ or Na+ significantly reduces the release of GABA evoked by an NO generator, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), and simultaneous withdrawal of these ions completely abolishes the SNAP-induced release of GABA. Either in the presence or absence of Ca2+, GABA transport inhibitors such as nipecotic acid dose-dependently suppress the SNAP-induced GABA release in the presence of Na+. These results indicate that NO-evoked neurotransmitter release is mediated by two distinct release systems, a Ca2(+)-dependent system and the reverse process of a Na(+)-dependent carrier-mediated transport system.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2000

Neurotransmitter modulation of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8 secretion of synovial fibroblasts in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The sensory nervous system with the 2 neurotransmitters substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is proinflammatory in experimental models of arthritis. The role of the sympathetic nervous system with norepinephrine (NE), adenosine, beta-endorphin, and methionine enkephalin (MENK) is not clearly understood. We studied the influence of these neurotransmitters on secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8 in primary cultures of synovial fibroblasts of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Fibroblasts were isolated using fresh synovial tissue of 5 patients with RA and 5 with OA who underwent knee joint replacement surgery. Modulation of spontaneous secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 was investigated in vitro using the neurotransmitters noted above. RESULTS: In RA fibroblasts, CGRP increased IL-6 and IL-8 secretion at 10(-10) to 10(-8) M (p at least < 0.01), which was not observed in OA fibroblasts. SP had no effect on either cytokine in RA fibroblasts but stimulated IL-8 secretion at 10(-8) M in OA fibroblasts (p < 0.01). In RA fibroblasts, adenosine and NE inhibited secretion of both cytokines at low concentrations (10(-8) M; p < 0.01). However, in OA fibroblasts there was a NE induced increase of IL-8 and IL-6 secretion at 10(-7) and 10(-6) M (p < 0.01), but no inhibition at lower concentrations (10(-8) M; p = NS). In RA fibroblasts, beta-endorphin and MENK inhibited IL-8 secretion at 10(-9) to 10(-7) M (p < 0.01), whereas in OA fibroblasts the dose response curve was shifted to lower concentrations (10(-12) M, 10(-11) M; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In OA fibroblasts, the sympathetic neurotransmitters were stimulatory at higher concentrations. CGRP was the most potent stimulatory neurotransmitter in RA fibroblasts whereas the sympathetic adenosine, NE, beta-endorphin, and MENK were inhibitory. This indicates a dualism of action of sympathetic and sensory neurotransmitters, with inhibitory and stimulatory effects on cytokine secretion of RA fibroblasts.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Acute epinephrine treatment fails to facilitate stimulus-induced neurotransmitter overflow in the isolated perfused rat kidney.

The effects of acute in vitro epinephrine treatment (40 nM, 1 hr) on stimulus-induced neurotransmitter overflow from the isolated perfused kidney were examined. This treatment resulted in the release of both norepinephrine and epinephrine upon nerve stimulation but no increase in fractional stimulus-induced overflow. Experiments utilizing beta and/or alpha adrenoceptor blockade revealed that beta adrenoreceptor blockade alone had no effect on overflow but that a dose-dependent decrease in stimulus-induced overflow was produced by beta adrenoceptor blockade after alpha adrenoceptor blockade. Thus, under normal conditions the facilitatory influence of epinephrine via prejunctional beta adrenoceptors is masked by the prejunctional alpha adrenoceptor negative feedback loop. The effects of extraneuronal presentation of isoproterenol, salbutamol and epinephrine on stimulus-induced neurotransmitter overflow also were examined. In the absence of alpha adrenoceptor blockade, only epinephrine failed to enhance neurotransmitter overflow. After competitive alpha adrenoceptor blockade, all three agents produced significant increases in stimulus-induced neurotransmitter overflow from the rat kidney, although alpha adrenoceptor stimulation appeared to limit this effect at high agonist concentrations. We conclude that the dominance of prejunctional alpha adrenoceptors in the rat kidney results in the inability of epinephrine to produce beta adrenoceptor-mediated facilitation of neurotransmitter overflow even when it is incorporated into renal neurotransmitter stores and coreleased with endogenous norepinephrine upon nerve stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Role of neurotransmitters in palate development and teratologic implications.

It is hypothesized that neuropharmacologic agents are more teratogenic to humans. Since many neuropharmacologic agents function through neurotransmitter mechanisms, then neurotransmitters should function to regulate embryonic development. Evidence has been obtained that neurotransmitters do indeed function as biological signals in palate development. It has been shown that palate reorientation is modulated by neurotransmitters with a wide range of diversity, similar to the CNS. Thus serotonin and acetylcholine stimulate and GABA inhibits the reorientation process. Spatial diversity is also observed: serotonin functions at the anterior and acetylcholine at the posterior end, and GABA functions more efficiently at either end in different inbred strains. Many criteria for functioning neurotransmitters have been obtained. Both serotonin and GABA have been measured in the palate and developmental changes observed. Physiologic responses to serotonin have been monitored. Serotonin has been shown to stimulate palate cell motility as well as protein carboxyl methylation and cyclic GMP. The serotonin effects on protein carboxyl methylation and cyclic GMP could function to stimulate palate reorientation by modulating cell contractility and protein secretion. Further support for the hypothesis that neuropharmacologic agents could be teratogenic by perturbation of neurotransmitter mechanisms comes from studying GABA and diazepam. Evidence has been obtained that diazepam induces cleft palate by mimicking GABA in a functional GABAergic system in palate development. A significant finding is that genetic differences in both diazepam teratogenesis and in a GABAergic system have been observed. Comparing the SWV and AJ strains, the SWV mouse showed (1) a greater sensitivity to diazepam-induced cleft palate, (2) a greater sensitivity to GABA and diazepam inhibition of palate reorientation in embryo culture, (3) a greater concentration of palatal GABA and (4) a more efficient GABA uptake system. These results are suggestive that diazepam may be more teratogenic in individuals of both the mouse and human who possess a more developed GABAergic mechanism. If such a result would obtain in the human, these genotypic differences in GABA would probably not influence the individual to a significant degree in most situations, except for the pregnant woman being at high risk when treated with diazepam.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1986

Central neurotransmitter disturbances underlying developmental neurotoxicological effects.

Transmission of information among neurons is of a chemical nature. The activity of the neurotransmitter in the brain is regulated by the spontaneous activity of neurotransmitter cell body and the sensitivity of both pre- and post-synaptic receptors. Neurotransmitters are present at very early stages of brain development; they do not only mediate the behavioral-physiological responses of the immature animal, but have trophic effects on the maturation of target neurons as well. Many centrally acting drugs which are frequently used also during pregnancy for the treatment of depression, hypertension, epilepsy, asthma, insomnia, hyperkinetism and other neurological and psychiatric disorders act directly on brain neurotransmitters (in particular monoamines) and behavioral states. Chronic administration of drugs acting on monoamines (such as clonidine, imipramine, alpha-methyl-Dopa, reserpine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, diazepam) disturb the spontaneous activity and behavioral state dependency of the monoaminergic cells, influences neurotransmitter turnover and change the sensitivity of both pre- and post-synaptic receptors. Sensory deprivation during a critical period of development is known to produce permanent effect on the brain; e.g., monocular deprivation during a particular period of development in a kitten leads to a rewiring of the connectivity in the visual system in the adult cat. Disturbances in neurotransmitter activity during early life will induce a comparable reorganization of the chemical structure of the adult brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Neurotransmitter systems in the visual cortex of the cat: possible involvement in plastic phenomena.

The aim of this paper is to review some of the investigations on neurotransmitter systems suggesting their possible role in visual information processing and their putative involvement in the plastic phenomena observed in the primary visual cortex of the cat. The neurotransmitters discussed include excitatory amino acids, ?-amino-butyric acid, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and serotonin. The following problems are discussed: (i) the occurrence and localization of the various neurotransmitter system components, (ii) the developmental changes of the components of a given neurotransmitter system, particularly in the critical period, (iii) the effects of manipulating the visual input on neurotransmitter system markers. It seems that especially during the critical period there exists a peculiar pattern of interactions between numerous neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. This may create unique conditions, which enable the visual cortical neurons to change their properties as a results of alterations of the visual input.

Animals↗