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The function of inositol high polyphosphate binding proteins.

The inositol phosphate metabolism network has been found to be much more complex than previously thought, as more and more inositol phosphates and their metabolizing enzymes have been discovered. Some of the inositol phosphates have been shown to have biological activities, but little is known about their signal transduction mechanisms except for that of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. The recent discovery, however, of a number of binding proteins for inositol high polyphosphate [inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4), inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate, or inositol hexakisphosphate] enables us to speculate on the physiological function of these compounds. In this article we focus on two major issues: (1) the roles of inositol high polyphosphates in vesicular trafficking, especially exocytosis, and (2) pleckstrin homology domain-containing IP4 binding proteins involved in the Ras signaling pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor localization in the brain of a weakly electric fish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus) with emphasis on the electrosensory system.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is a widespread intracellular second messenger that mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ stores. The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor involved is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum in neurons. In mammalian brain, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-containing neurons are found in many diverse regions, with cerebellar Purkinje cells containing the highest density of these receptors. We used immunohistochemical methods to identify the distribution of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-containing neurons in the brain of the weakly electric fish and Western blotting to confirm that a protein similar to the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor of mammalian brain was recognized in the fish brain. In the telencephelon, the dorsal forebrain regions had low amounts of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. In the diencephalon, only the nucleus tuberis posterior was moderately immunoreactive. In the mesencephalon, only the optic tectum contained cells with intense immunoreactivity, similar to our findings for the ryanodine receptor (G.K.H. Zupanc, J.A. Airey, L. Maler, J. Sutko, and M.H. Ellisman, 1992, J. Comp. Neurol. 325:135-151), which also mobilizes intracellular calcium. In the rhombencephalon, a subset of the pyramidal cells of the electrosensory lateral line lobe contained inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. These cells have been shown to contain ryanodine receptor (Zupanc et al., 1992). However, unlike the ryanodine receptor, the distribution of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor in these cells is constrained to the soma and proximal dendrites. This compartmentalization may indicate the limit of the range of second-messenger action. Other regions containing immunoreactive cells were the nucleus praeminentialis dorsalis (multipolar and boundary cells), nucleus medialis and crista cerebellaris, and the cerebellum, whose Purkinje cells were the most intensely labeled. The functional implications of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor localization in the electrosensory lateral line lobe are discussed.

Animals↗

Glutamine, myo-inositol, and organic brain osmolytes after portocaval anastomosis in the rat: implications for ammonia-induced brain edema.

Brain myo-inositol, an organic osmolyte, is decreased in cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy but appears unchanged in fulminant hepatic failure. An osmoregulatory response to the increase in brain glutamine may explain the decrease in brain myo-inositol; if this is the case, organic osmolytes may account for differences in the development of brain edema seen in acute or chronic liver failure. The response of myo-inositol and nine other organic osmolytes to the increase in brain glutamine at different time intervals after portacaval anastomosis (PCA) in the rat was studied. Organic osmolytes were measured in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. Water in cerebral cortex was measured after ammonia infusion with the gravimetric method. Six weeks after PCA, despite an increase in brain glutamine (PCA, 16.4 +/- 2 mmol.kg wt-1.kg wt-1; sham, 5 +/- 1 mmol.L-1.kg wt-1), the content of total organic osmolytes did not increase (PCA, 44.1 +/- 3; sham, 43 +/- 4) because of a decrease of other osmolytes (myo-inositol, 54%; urea, 39%; taurine, 33%; and glutamate, 8%). Brain myo-inositol was lower at 3 weeks (3.4 +/- 0.5 kg wt-1) than at 1 day after PCA (4.7 +/- 0.5 kg wt-1). An ammonia infusion resulted in brain edema at both time points. In conclusion, the reduction in brain myo-inositol in PCA rats is accompanied by the decrease of other organic osmolytes, supporting the view that changes in myo-inositol reflect an osmoregulatory response. The decrease in brain myo-inositol is more marked as time elapses after PCA. In a model in which short-term and large doses of ammonia were infused, the decrease in brain myo-inositol did not prevent the development of brain swelling. Understanding brain osmoregulatory mechanisms may provide new insights into hepatic encephalopathy and brain edema in fulminant hepatic failure.

Ammonia↗

Kinetics of myo-inositol transport in rat ocular lens.

Myo-inositol (MI) influx as a function of concentration in rat lens consisted of a saturable component, fit by a rectangular hyperbola, and a linear component which was more distinct at high myo-inositol concentrations suggesting passive diffusion. The hyperbolic component was half-maximally saturated (Kt) at 61.3 microM and had a maximal transport rate (Jmax) of 44.6 mumol/kg wet wt/h. The linear component had an apparent permeability coefficient of 1.44 x 10(-6) s-1. Sorbitol, which distributed rapidly in the extracellular space (6.83 ml/100 g wet wt), also appeared to enter the intracellular space with a permeability coefficient of 1.37 x 10(-6) s-1, similar to that of myo-inositol. The influx of myo-inositol was critically dependent on the concentration of extracellular sodium consistent with a sodium-myo-inositol cotransport. The kinetics of influx activation by sodium suggested an apparent 2:1 coupling ratio for sodium and myo-inositol. When potassium was used as sodium substitute, a significantly stronger influx inhibition was observed than with nondepolarizing sodium substitutes, indicating that myo-inositol was driven by the electrochemical gradient of sodium rather than the chemical gradient only. Reducing the extracellular Na concentration increased the MI concentration at which transport was half-maximally activated, suggesting an ordered binding sequence of Na followed by MI. Myo-inositol influx was competitively inhibited by phlorizin with an inhibitory coefficient (Ki) of 35 microM. Phloretin also was capable of inhibition but with a much lesser efficacy. Myo-inositol desaturates from the lens at a rate of 0.00862 h-1. Approximately 19% of the efflux can be inhibited with phlorizin, suggesting that it represents carrier-mediated flux. The phlorizin insensitive flux has a rate of 0.00695 h-1 or 1.93 x 10(-6) s-1, similar to the Na-independent passive influx. MI influx is due to a Na-dependent, phlorizin-sensitive active transport while the efflux consists largely of a phlorizin-independent passive leakage.

Animals↗

Changes in extracellular calcium within the physiological range influence receptor-mediated inositol phosphate responses in brain and tracheal smooth muscle slices.

The effect of changes in extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]e) on the incorporation of myo-[2-3H]-inositol into phosphoinositides and agonist-stimulated 3H-inositol phosphates (3H-InsPs) was examined in rat cerebral cortex and bovine tracheal smooth muscle slices. In brain slices, reduction in [Ca2+]e from 2.4 to 1.2 mmol/l resulted in an approximate doubling of the carbachol and noradrenaline-stimulated 3H-InsP response with no effect on the EC50 values. An identical effect of varying [Ca2+]e was observed for carbachol-stimulated 3H-InsP formation in tracheal smooth muscle with a further increase in 3H-InsPs evident at [Ca2+]e 0.6 mmol/l. In this tissue the effect of changes in [Ca2+]e on the incorporation of myo-[2-3H]-inositol into the total phosphoinositide pool directly paralleled the changes in 3H-InsPs except in conditions of no added calcium when 3H-InsP responses were markedly impaired. Additional studies in brain slices using buffer where the added calcium varied between 0 and 2.4 mmol/l, showed that both the carbachol stimulated formation of separate inositol phosphates during short incubation periods and incorporation of myo-[2-3H]-inositol into PtdInsP and PtdInsP2 under basal conditions was maximal at [Ca2+]e 0.3 mmol/l. Omitting Ca2+ from the buffer resulted in maximal labelling of PtdIns but a decrease in PtdInsP and PtdInsP2 labelling (compared with the level at [Ca2+]e 0.3 mmol/l) and a markedly impaired inositol polyphosphate response. Alterations in [Ca2+]e following 3H-inositol labelling but immediately prior to carbachol stimulation did not influence 3H-inositol polyphosphate responses. It is therefore clear that even relatively small changes in [Ca2+]e markedly influence agonist-stimulated 3H-InsP responses in brain and tracheal smooth muscle slices and that these reflect changes in the labelling of substrate inositol lipids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Inhibition by Cl- channel blockers of the volume-activated, diffusional mechanism of inositol transport in primary astrocytes in culture.

[3H]Inositol accumulated by rat brain cultured astrocytes is released when cells swell by exposure to solutions of decreased osmolarity. Activation of inositol efflux was proportional to reductions in osmolarity from 30%-70%. This volume-activated inositol efflux pathway was increased (27%) in Na(+)-free medium and decreased (22%) in Cl(-)-free medium. It was independent of extracellular Ca2+ and was reduced (30%) in the presence of the intracellular chelator [1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra-(acetoxymethyl)-ester] (BAPTA-AM). The inositol efflux pathway was markedly inhibited by Cl- channel blockers, which at maximal inhibitory concentrations decreased inositol efflux by 70%-83%. The potency range of the drugs was: 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB) > 1-9, dideoxyforskolin > 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) > niflumic acid. Inositol efflux was strongly inhibited by the SH blocker N-ethyl maleimide (NEM), which at 100 microM abolished inositol release. Inositol efflux can be reversed by increasing its extracellular concentration, suggesting that the efflux is mediated by a diffusional pathway whose direction is given by the concentration gradient. The inhibition of volume-associated fluxes of inositol by Cl- channel blockers supports the suggestion of an anion channel as the common pathway for inorganic and organic osmolytes in cultured astrocytes.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Studies on inositol-mediated expression of MAL gene encoding maltase and phospholipid biosynthesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

In this study, the effects of inositol addition on expression of the MAL gene encoding maltase and phosphatidylinositol (PI) biosynthesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (a naturally inositol-requiring strain) were examined. We found that specific maltase activity was at its maximum when the concentration of added inositol reached 6 microg ml(-1) in a synthetic medium containing 2.0% (w/v) glucose. When the concentration of added inositol was 1 microg ml(-1) in the medium, repression of MAL gene expression occurred at glucose concentration higher than 0.2% (w/v). However, when S. pombe was cultured in the synthetic medium containing 6 microg ml(-1), repression of maltase gene expression occurred only at initial glucose concentration above 1.0% (w/v). More mRNA encoding maltase was detected in the cells grown in the medium with 6 microg ml(-1) inositol than in those grown in the same medium with 1 microg ml(-1) inositol. These results demonstrate that higher inositol concentrations in the synthetic medium could derepress MAL gene expression in S. pombe. PI content of the yeast cells grown in the synthetic medium with 6 microg ml(-1) of inositol was higher than that of the yeast cells grown in the same medium with 1 microg ml(-1) of inositol. This means that PI may be involved in the derepression of MAL gene expression in S. pombe.

Culture Media↗

Changes in serum and urinary myo-inositol levels in chronic glomerulonephritis.

Serum and urinary myo-inositol and urinary glucose were estimated by means of gas-liquid chromatography in 54 patients with glomerulonephritis with and without renal failure. myo-Inositol clearance was calculated and an index was formulated which reflected changes in glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption and catabolism of myo-inositol by the kidney. Serum and urinary myo-inositol levels were increased in glomerulonephritis with a close correlation to the degree of renal failure. In advanced forms of glomerulonephritis, glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption and catabolism of myo-inositol were shown to be markedly deranged. Evidence obtained showed further that a derangement of tubular reabsorption and catabolism of myo-inositol also accompany milder forms of glomerulonephritis without decreased glomerular filtration. The myo-inositol index value, especially, was increased in patients with signs of disease activity as indicated by a histological examination of the kidney tissue. The index can also be regarded as a highly sensitive test of renal failure. Low grade glucosuria was shown to be frequently associated with glomerulonephritis with renal failure. Evidence was produced which suggested that the tubular reabsorption of myo-inositol was deranged earlier than glucose reabsorption in glomerulonephritis, although they may share a common step in the reabsorption process. The data suggest that the estimation of serum and urinary myo-inositol has advantages in the evaluation of kidney function.

Chronic Disease↗

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies on human brain myo-inositol in hypo-osmolarity and hepatic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent in vivo studies using proton magnetic resonance (1H-MR) spectroscopy showed low levels of myo-inositol in the brain in hepatic encephalopathy; the pathogenetic relevance of this observation is unclear. METHODS: Myo-inositol and glutamine levels in the brain were studied in vivo by 1H-MR spectroscopy in patients with hypo-osmolarity and hepatic encephalopathy. RESULTS: A patient with severe plasma hypo-osmolarity (222 mOsm/L) had almost undetectable signals for myo-inositol and glutamine/glutamate in the brain. Both signals reappeared after normalization of plasma osmolarity, suggesting that both myo-inositol and glutamine were released as organic osmolytes from the brain. A decreased cerebral myo-inositol signal is also found in low-grade hepatic encephalopathy but is accompanied by an increased glutamine signal. Cirrhotics without hepatic encephalopathy have near-normal inositol signals, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome encephalopathy have increased inositol signals. CONCLUSIONS: The 1H-MR spectroscopic myo-inositol signal in the human brain predominantly reflects an osmosensitive inositol pool. It is hypothesized that its depletion in latent hepatic encephalopathy points to a disturbance of cell volume homeostasis in the brain as an early pathogenetic event. This may partly be caused by a hyperammonemia-induced glutamine accumulation in the brain.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effects of in vitro hypoxia on depolarization-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates in synaptosomes.

The effects of potassium and in vitro histotoxic hypoxia (i.e. KCN) on phosphatidylinositol turnover in rat cortical synaptosomes were determined. [2-3H] Inositol prelabelled rat synaptosomes were prepared from cerebral cortex slices that had been incubated with [2-3H] inositol. Depolarization with 60 mM KCl increased [2-3H] inositol phosphates in a time dependent manner. Depolarization with 60 mM KCl increased [2-3H] inositol trisphosphate transiently at 5 s. K+ induced rapid formation of [2-3H]-inositol bisphosphate and maintained an elevated level for at least 5 min. K+ stimulated gradual formation of [2-3H] inositol monophosphate with time. One minute of hypoxia enhanced potassium-stimulated [2-3H] inositol bisphosphate formation. However, 30 min of hypoxia impaired potassium-stimulated accumulation of [2-3H] inositol phosphates. The effects of histotoxic hypoxia were all dependent upon calcium in the medium and on K+-depolarization. Thus, hypoxia altered the K+-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates in prelabelled synaptosomes in a time dependent, biphasic manner that was calcium dependent.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effect of myo-inositol on renal Na-K-ATPase in experimental diabetes.

The activity of Na-K-ATPase in the kidney is increased by experimental diabetes. Because the kidney is rich in myo-inositol and abnormal inositol metabolism has been implicated in early neural complications of diabetes, we studied the effect of myo-inositol supplementation on Na-K-ATPase activity in renal medullary and cortical homogenates of Sprague-Dawley rats made diabetic with streptozotocin. Myo-inositol (650 mg/kg) was administered by gavage daily for 1 and 2 weeks after induction of diabetes. Medullary Na-K-ATPase (mumol/mg protein/h) was increased at 1 week by approximately 60% in diabetic rats versus control (25.9 +/- 0.07 vs 16.3 +/- 0.7; P less than .01). This increase was completely prevented by myo-inositol supplementation, despite persistent hyperglycemia. At 2 weeks, similar results were seen; medullary Na-K-ATPase activity was increased by 50% in diabetic rats compared with control, and once again myo-inositol prevented this increase. Sorbinil, the aldose reductase inhibitor, was also administered by gavage (20 mg/kg) for 2 weeks and partially prevented the increase in medullary Na-K-ATPase activity (20.0 +/- 0.9; P less than .05). At both 7 and 14 days, Na-K-ATPase activity in the cortex of untreated diabetic rats was also significantly increased compared with nondiabetic control rats and the increase was prevented by myo-inositol or Sorbinil. Myo-inositol or Sorbinil did not reduce Na-K-ATPase activity of nondiabetic control rats, nor did they prevent the increase in medullary Na-K-ATPase in compensatory hypertrophy following uninephrectomy. Myo-inositol content of outer medulla was about five to six times that of cortex, but was unaltered by the diabetic state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Purification and properties of inositol-1,4-bisphosphate 4-phosphohydrolase from rat brain.

Inositol-1,4-bisphosphate 4-phosphohydrolase (inositol-1,4-bisphosphatase) was highly purified from a soluble fraction of rat brain. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified enzyme gave a single protein band and its molecular weight was estimated to be 42000. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.3. The enzyme specifically hydrolyzed the 4-phosphomonoester linkage of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate. The Km value for inositol 1,4-bisphosphate was 30 microM, and it required Mg2+ for activity. Ca2+ was a competitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 60 microM as regards the Mg2+ binding. Li+, which is known to be a strong inhibitor of inositol 1-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25), inhibited the enzyme activity and caused 50% inhibition at a concentration of 1 mM (IC50 = 1 mM). Li+ was an uncompetitive inhibitor of substrate binding with a Ki value of 0.6 mM. These inhibitory parameters of Li+ were quite similar to those for inositol 1-phosphatase (IC50 = 1 mM, Ki = 0.3 mM). Thus, the effect of Li+ on decreasing the free inositol level with a subsequent decrease in agonist-sensitive phosphoinositides, is caused by its inhibition of multiple enzymes involved in conversion of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate to inositol.

Animals↗

Effect of cyclosporine treatment on carnitine and myo-inositol in diabetic rats.

1. The effect of long-term (20 wk) treatment of cyclosporine A (CyA) was studied in urine, blood, liver, kidney and pancreatic concentrations of acid-soluble carnitine and free myo-inositol in streptozotocin diabetic rats. 2. Diabetic rats excreted significantly higher concentrations of carnitine and myo-inositol; CyA prevented the urinary loss of carnitine but not myo-inositol. 3. Blood carnitine levels were not different between normal and diabetic rats, however, CyA significantly decreased these levels. Conversely, blood myo-inositol concentrations were higher in diabetic than in normal rats; CyA prevented this increase. 4. Hepatic concentrations of both carnitine and myo-inositol were increased in diabetic rats; CyA treatment caused even further increase. 5. Pancreas from diabetic rats contained less carnitine and myo-inositol compared to normal pancreas. CyA treatment did not affect pancreatic carnitine, but it normalized myo-inositol in diabetic rats. 6. The kidney carnitine or myo-inositol levels were not influenced either by diabetes or by CyA treatment. 7. These results suggest that CyA treatment causes changes in carnitine and myo-inositol concentrations in biologic fluids and certain tissues.

Animals↗

A study of urinary myo-inositol as a sensitive marker of glucose intolerance.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the possibility of using myo-inositol as a marker of glucose intolerance. METHODS: We measured urinary myo-inositol enzymatically before and 2 h after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test in 564 volunteers, who were divided into four groups [normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and diabetes mellitus (DM)]. Furthermore, we classified NGT into NGT-A (2-h blood glucose <120 mg/dl and 2-h glucosuria <50 mg/dl) and NGT-B (remaining NGT subjects). We then compared deltamyo-inositol (myo-inositol/creatinine ratio: 2-h after glucose load--before load) of each group to investigate the relationship between glucose intolerance and deltamyo-inositol. RESULTS: The glucose tolerance of NGT-B appeared to have deteriorated compared with NGT-A as determined by blood glucose, insulin, and glucosuria. There was very little effect of gender or age on deltamyo-inositol in NGT-A. deltamyo-inositol was significantly higher than that in NGT-A (0.5+/-7.1 mg/g Cr) not only in IFG (8.7+/-19.5 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001), IGT (14.8+/-22.9 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001) and DM (79.5+/-37.1 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001), but in NGT-B (7.4+/-12.7 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001). With 2 mg/g Cr as a tentative cut-off for deltamyo-inositol to detect NGT-A, sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 72%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The deltamyo-inositol can be use of a non-invasive and sensitive marker for glucose intolerance.

Adult↗

Early effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion on vasopressin-stimulated breakdown and metabolism of inositol lipids in rat hepatocytes.

The turnover of vasopressin-stimulated 32P-phosphoinositides and 32P-phosphatidic acid and accumulation of [2-3H]-inositol phosphates were examined in hepatocytes from rats infused i.v. with saline and E. coli endotoxin for 3 hrs. Within 60s of VP stimulation the decrease in phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate labeling as well as the increased uptake of 32P into phosphatidic acid were similar in both groups. However, at a later time (300s) the 32P-phosphatidylinositol turnover was greatly decreased concomitantly with a higher labeling of phosphatidic acid. The accumulation of [2-3H]-inositol phosphates in ET-cells was significantly decreased both at 30s and 600s after VP addition. The distribution of [2-3H]-inositol labeling accumulated in the different inositol phosphate fractions over the first 30s of VP stimulation showed a tendency to lower accumulation of inositol trisphosphate, and a significantly lower accumulation of inositol bisphosphate simultaneously with a higher labeling of the inositol tetrakisphosphate fraction. These observations reflect an early effect of ET-infusion on VP-stimulated inositol lipid turnover and on the subsequent metabolism of the released inositol phosphates.

Animals↗

Chronic myo-inositol increases rat brain phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen.

BACKGROUND: Oral myo-inositol (12--18 g/day) has shown beneficial effect in placebo-controlled studies of major depression, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, and preliminary data suggest it also may be effective in bipolar depression. Evidence linking antidepressant activity to membrane phospholipid alterations suggested the examination of acute and chronic myo-inositol effects on rat brain membrane phospholipid metabolism. METHODS: With both (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and quantitative high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC; hydrolysis) methods, rat brain phospholipid levels were measured after acute (n = 20, each group) and chronic myo-inositol administration (n = 10, each group). With (31)P NMR, we measured myo-inositol rat brain levels after acute and chronic myo-inositol administration. RESULTS: Brain myo-inositol increased by 17% after acute myo-inositol administration and by 5% after chronic administration, as compared with the control groups. Chronic myo-inositol administration increased brain phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) plasmalogen by 10% and decreased brain PtdEtn by 5%, thus increasing the ratio PtdEtn plasmalogen (PtdEtn-Plas)/PtdEtn by 15%. Phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen levels quantified by (31)P NMR and HPTLC were highly correlated. The validity and reliability of the (31)P NMR method for phospholipid analysis were demonstrated with phospholipid standards. CONCLUSIONS: The observed alteration in the PtdEtn-Plas/PtdEtn ratio could provide insights into the therapeutic effect of myo-inositol in affective disorders.

Animals↗

Inositol levels are decreased in postmortem brain of schizophrenic patients.

BACKGROUND: A previous study reported decreased levels of inositol in frontal cortex of postmortem brain from bipolar patients and suicide victims. The aim of the present study was to test the specificity of this finding. METHODS: Inositol and the enzyme that synthesizes it, inositol monophosphatase, were measured in postmortem brain tissue from frontal and occipital cortex and cerebellum from 10 schizophrenic patients and the previously reported controls. Inositol levels were assayed gas-chromatographically as trimethylsilyl derivatives with mannitol as an internal standard. Inositol monophosphatase activity in brain homogenates was measured as the difference between phosphate release from inositol-l-phosphate in the absence and in the presence of Li+. RESULTS: Inositol was significantly reduced in all three areas in the schizophrenic patient' brains: inositol monophosphatase was unchanged. Postmortem interval did not correlate with inositol levels and did not differ between control group and schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an abnormality of second messenger precursor availability in common with schizophrenia and affective psychopathology.

Aged↗

An aldose reductase inhibitor but not myo-inositol blocks enhanced polyphosphoinositide turnover in peripheral nerve from diabetic rats.

Experimental diabetic neuropathy, whether chemically induced or present in several spontaneously diabetic animal models, is characterized by sorbitol accumulation and myo-inositol depletion and usually also by enhanced turnover of the monoesterified moieties of polyphosphoinositides, particularly phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). This study examined the relationship of these alterations by assessing the effects of myo-inositol and the aldose reductase inhibitor, sorbinil, supplied as dietary supplements, on sorbitol and myo-inositol concentrations and incorporation of 32P into polyphosphoinositides in sciatic nerve from rats killed 8 weeks after induction of diabetes with streptozotocin. Nerves from diabetic rats killed after 8 weeks of disease exhibited 52% to 76% greater PIP2 labeling, markedly elevated sorbitol levels, and 30% less myo-inositol when compared with age-matched normal rats. Incorporation of isotope into PIP2 in nerves from animals fed a myo-inositol supplement, added to either a high-sucrose diet or standard rat chow beginning immediately after induction of diabetes, remained substantially elevated, whereas myo-inositol levels were corrected to normal. Essentially the same results were obtained when rats were fed the myo-inositol-containing diet beginning 4 weeks after streptozotocin injection. In contrast, PIP2 labeling in nerves from diabetic rats that received the sorbinil-supplemented diet for either 4 or 8 weeks was not different from that in controls. myo-Inositol levels in these animals were also restored to normal, whereas sorbitol levels remained elevated, albeit reduced by approximately 30%. These results indicate that myo-inositol administration is unable to completely counteract the impact of diabetes on the turnover of monoesterified phosphate groups in PIP2. In contrast, sorbinil can correct this abnormality, but this beneficial effect is not dependent on the presence of normal sorbitol concentrations.

Aldehyde Reductase↗