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Effects of selective dopamine D1- and D2-type receptor antagonists on the development of behavioral sensitization to 7-OH-DPAT.

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the development of behavioral sensitization to the putative dopamine D3 receptor agonist 7-OH-DPAT could be prevented by either selective D1-type or D2-type dopamine receptor antagonists. In three experiments, male Wistar rats (250-350 g) were given seven to nine injections (at 48-h intervals) of 7-OH-DPAT (1.0 mg/kg, SC) or vehicle in combination with the D2-type dopamine antagonist eticlopride (0.3 mg/kg, SC), the D1-type dopamine antagonist SCH 23390 (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg, SC), or vehicle. After the injections, the rats were tested for locomotor activity in photocell arenas for 2 h. In the first two experiments, after seven injections, all rats were tested for activity following vehicle injections to test for possible conditioning effects. In each experiment, after the last pre-exposure session, all rats were given a challenge injection of 7-OH-DPAT (1.0 mg/kg, SC) and tested for activity. Major findings were as follows: a) 7-OH-DPAT treatments produced a progressively greater increase in locomotor activity with repeated treatment; b) concurrent treatment with eticlopride or SCH 23390 (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) blocked the acute locomotor-activating effects of 7-OH-DPAT across days; c) eticlopride, but not SCH 23390, completely blocked the development of behavioral sensitization to 7-OH-DPAT. Although the low dose of SCH 23390 (0.1 mg/kg) produced a partial attenuation of sensitization, the higher dose (0.2 mg/kg) of SCH 23390 appeared to augment, rather than block, sensitization to 7-OH-DPAT; d) rats previously treated with SCH 23390 (0.2 mg/kg, but not 0.1 mg/kg) without 7-OH-DPAT displayed a hyperactive response to the 7-OH-DPAT challenge injection; and e) after vehicle injections, rats previously given 7-OH-DPAT, SCH 23390, or eticlopride either alone or in combination were more active than vehicle control rats. These findings suggest that the neurochemical mechanisms mediating the development of behavioral sensitization to 7-OH-DPAT may differ from those of other dopamine D2-type agonists such as quinpirole or bromocriptine. Moreover, these results demonstrate that hyperactivity responses following vehicle injections in drug-pretreated animals do not necessarily reflect conditioning mechanisms.

Animals↗

Repeated neonatal maternal separation alters intravenous cocaine self-administration in adult rats.

Behavioural responses to psychostimulant drugs can be profoundly affected by early environmental influences. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of repeated brief separations of rat pups from their dams during the early neonatal period on cocaine self-administration behaviour as adults. Lister hooded rats exposed to a repeated maternal separation procedure (REMS) showed altered acquisition and maintenance of cocaine self-administration as adults, the effects being dose and gender-dependent. Overall, the patterns of acquisition of self-administration across three doses of cocaine (0.05, 0.08 and 0.5 mg/injection) suggested a rightward shift in the acquisition dose-effect functions for the REMS animals relative to control animals. At 0.05 mg/injection, there was a retarded acquisition of cocaine self-administration in male and female neonatally separated rats. At 0.08 mg/injection there was a facilitated acquisition in female neonatally separated subjects. After establishment of stable self-administration of the training dose, in the same cohort of subjects, rightward and downward shifts in the cocaine self-administration dose-effect functions were determined for female and male REMS subjects, respectively, relative to their controls. The dose-effect function for both female groups was shifted to the left of that of the respective male groups, although the lighter body weights of the females meant that they administered a higher unit dose per unit body weight than the males. Whereas male REMS subjects tended to self-administer less cocaine than the controls at the dose eliciting maximal responding (0.03 mg/injection) and to make fewer lever responses overall at each dose tested, female REMS subjects self-administered significantly more cocaine than their respective controls at a dose of 0.03 mg/injection. There was no differential sensitivity to the rate-altering effects of the selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, eticlopride, or to the selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390. These data provide further evidence that altered early environment affects drug-taking behaviour in a developmentally specific and gender-specific manner, with the effects of neonatal separation contrasting with previously published data on the effects of post-weaning isolation rearing.

Analysis of Variance↗

Enhancement of the acoustic startle response in rats by the dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF 82958.

RATIONALE: The present series of experiments was conducted in order to assess the nature of dopaminergic modulation of the acoustic startle response using agonists and antagonists specific for dopamine D1 and D2 receptors. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to demonstrate an enhancement of the acoustic startle response by dopamine D1 receptor agonists and to characterize this effect pharmacologically in terms of dose-response and selective antagonism at both the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor using a varied range of startle-eliciting intensities. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with the dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF 82958 (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, or 3 mg/kg) or SKF 81297 (3 mg/kg) and their startle response was measured across a range of startle-eliciting intensities. For testing with the dopamine D1 or D2 receptor antagonists, animals received injections of either SCH 23390 (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) or raclopride (0.1 and 1 mg/kg) 10 min before the challenge with SKF 82958 (1 mg/kg). RESULTS: Systemic administration of SKF 82958 produced a marked enhancement of startle over a wide range of startle intensities. This effect was dose-dependent, with a dose of 1 mg/kg producing the maximal amount of startle enhancement at each intensity. SKF 81297 (3 mg/kg) also produced a robust enhancement of startle. Pretreatment with SCH 23390 produced a dose-dependent blockade of the enhancement of startle by SKF 82958. Pretreatment with raclopride blocked the enhancement of startle by SKF 82958 at the low intensities and attenuated the enhancement at the high intensities. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that dopamine D1 receptor agonists enhance the acoustic startle response. Furthermore, this effect is dependent on a cooperative type of D1/D2 receptor interaction whereby D2 receptor activation is necessary for the full expression of the D1 receptor-mediated enhancement of startle.

Animals↗

Effects of dopamine receptor antagonists (D1 and D2) on the demand for smoked cocaine base in rhesus monkeys.

RATIONALE: Previous studies suggest that dopamine antagonists may reduce the reinforcing effects of cocaine. However, the effects of these antagonists on the demand for smoked cocaine base have not been quantified. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of selective D1 (SCH 23390) and D2 (raclopride) dopamine receptor antagonists on the demand for smoked cocaine base in rhesus monkeys using a behavioral economic analysis. METHODS: Six rhesus monkeys were trained to self-administer smoked cocaine base (1.0 mg/kg/delivery) under chained fixed-ratio (FR) schedules (FR64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 or 2048 for lever presses and FR5 for inhalations) during daily 4-h sessions. A maximum of ten smoke deliveries were available. After 5 days of stable behavior at each FR, SCH 23390 (0.01 and 0.056 mg/kg) or raclopride (0.03 and 0.056 mg/kg) were injected intramuscularly, before each session, for 3 consecutive days. RESULTS: Pretreatment with both antagonists dose-dependently reduced cocaine intake across most FR values tested; however, the decrease in consumption was greater at the higher unit prices than at the lower unit prices. A statistical estimate of the price (FR) at which maximum responding occurred (Pmax) was decreased during drug pretreatment, indicating weakened reinforcing effectiveness of cocaine. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that both antagonists reduce the reinforcing effectiveness of smoked cocaine base, and they have a greater effect on cocaine consumption at higher FR values.

Animals↗

Effects of dopamine agonists and antagonists on optical responses evoked in rat frontal cortex slices after stimulation of the subcortical white matter.

Effects of dopamine agonists and antagonists on the optical response of frontal cortical slices to stimulation of the subcortical white matter were examined using a voltage-sensitive dye and a high-speed image sensor. In the slices treated with bicuculline, stimulation of the white matter evoked optical responses propagating to the overlaying cortex. Bath application of the D1 agonist, chloro-APB (1 microM), consistently decreased the intensity of the early part of the response but increased the duration of the response occurring at the superficial layers of the cortex. Application of the D1 antagonist, SCH 23390 (1 microM), resulted in a small increase in both the intensity and the duration of the response. Bath application of the D2 agonist, quinpirole (1-10 microM), reduced the response occurring after 10 ms from stimulation. The effects of chloro-APB and quinpirole were additive. Application of the D2 antagonist, eticlopride, did not cause a significant change in the response but effectively blocked the quinpirole effects. This study suggests that although both D1 and D2 agonists reduced the peak optical response evoked in the slices of the frontal cortex, the two agonists exerted different temporal and spatial effects.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

High-affinity NO(3-)-H+ cotransport in the fungus Neurospora: induction and control by pH and membrane voltage.

High-affinity nitrate transport was examined in intact hyphae of Neurospora crassa using electrophysiological recordings to characterize the response of the plasma membrane to NO3- challenge and to quantify transport activity. The NO3(-)-associated membrane current was determined using a three electrode voltage clamp to bring membrane voltage under experimental control and to compensate for current dissipation along the longitudinal cell axis. Nitrate transport was evident in hyphae transferred to NO3(-)-free, N-limited medium for 15 hr, and in hyphae grown in the absence of a nitrogen source after a single 2-min exposure to 100 microM NO3-. In the latter, induction showed a latency of 40-80 min and rose in scalar fashion with full transport activity measurable approx. 100 min after first exposure to NO3-; it was marked by the appearance of a pronounced sensitivity of membrane voltage to extracellular NO3- additions which, after induction, resulted in reversible membrane depolarizations of (+)54-85 mV in the presence of 50 microM NO3-; and it was suppressed when NH4+ was present during the first, inductive exposure to NO3-. Voltage clamp measurements carried out immediately before and following NO3- additions showed that the NO3(-)-evoked depolarizations were the consequence of an inward-directed current that appeared in parallel with the depolarizations across the entire range of accessible voltages (-400 to +100 mV). Measurements of NO3- uptake using NO3(-)-selective macroelectrodes indicated a charge stoichiometry for NO3- transport of 1(+):1(NO3-) with common K(m) and Jmax values around 25 microM and 75 pmol NO3- cm-2sec-1, respectively, and combined measurements of pHo and [NO3-]o showed a net uptake of approx. 1 H+ with each NO3- anion. Analysis of the NO3- current demonstrated a pronounced voltage sensitivity within the normal physiological range between -300 and -100 mV as well as interactions between the kinetic parameters of membrane voltage, pHo and [NO3-]o. Increasing the bathing pH from 5.5 to 8.0 reduced the current and the associated membrane depolarizations 2- to 4-fold. At a constant pHo of 6.1, driving the membrane voltage from -350 to -150 mV resulted in an approx. 3-fold reduction in the maximum current and a 5-fold rise in the apparent affinity for NO3-. By contrast, the same depolarization effected an approx. 20% fall in the K(m) for transport as a function in [H+]o. These, and additional results are consistent with a charge-coupling stoichiometry of 2(H+) per NO3- anion transported across the membrane, and implicate a carrier cycle in which NO3- binding is kinetically adjacent to the rate-limiting step of membrane charge transit. The data concur with previous studies demonstrating a pronounced voltage-dependence to high-affinity NO3- transport system in Arabidopsis, and underline the importance of voltage as a kinetic factor controlling NO3- transport; finally, they distinguish metabolite repression of NO3- transport induction from its sensitivity to metabolic blockade and competition with the uptake of other substrates that draw on membrane voltage as a kinetic substrate.

Antimetabolites↗

The dopamine D2 receptor ligand 18F-desmethoxyfallypride: an appropriate fluorinated PET tracer for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism.

For therapeutic and prognostic reasons it is important to differentiate between idiopathic parkinsonian syndrome (IPS, Parkinson's disease) and atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS) like multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy. Whereas IPS patients usually show a normal or upregulated postsynaptic dopamine D2 receptor profile, APS patients present decreased postsynaptic tracer binding. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the D2 receptor antagonist fluorine-18 desmethoxyfallypride (18F-DMFP), a recently developed positron emission tomography (PET) tracer with better clinical availability than carbon-11 raclopride, for the differential diagnosis of IPS versus APS. The study included 16 healthy control subjects and 35 patients with clinically diagnosed parkinsonism (16 IPS patients, 19 APS patients). All patients underwent PET imaging after injection of 180-200 MBq 18F-DMFP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed in order to assess the diagnostic performance of 18F-DMFP PET. We found the striatal 18F-DMFP uptake ratio to be significantly (P<0.01) reduced in the APS patients (2.44+/-0.42) compared with the healthy control subjects (3.61+/-0.43) and the IPS patients (3.21+/-0.78), whereas the uptake ratios of the IPS patients and the control subjects did not differ significantly. For the differential diagnosis of APS versus IPS, the ROC analysis of caudate 18F-DMFP binding showed a specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of 100%, 74% and 86%, respectively, as well as positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 76%, respectively. Based on these first clinical results, we consider 18F-DMFP to be an appropriate PET tracer for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes, with the advantage of better clinical availability than 11C-labelled D2 radioligands.

Adult↗

Measurement of extrastriatal D2-like receptor binding with [11C]FLB 457--a test-retest analysis.

[11C]FLB 457 is a radioligand for positron emission tomography (PET) that possesses high affinity to D2/D3 receptors. It has been suggested to be useful for quantification of low-density dopamine D2 receptor populations, e.g. in cortical and limbic brain areas. We explored the reproducibility of five methods for measuring extrastriatal D2-like receptor binding potential with [11C]FLB 457. Seven healthy male volunteers were examined twice with [11C]FLB 457 (high specific radioactivity) on the same day, at least 3 h apart. Four brain areas, frontal cortex, nucleus thalamus, temporal cortex and cerebellar cortex, were examined. Binding potentials (BPs) were derived from (1) a target to cerebellum distribution volume ratio, (2/3) two reversible reference tissue compartment models and (4) a transient equilibrium approach. For comparison, BP values were also calculated with the standard three-compartment kinetic model that does not assume a receptor-free reference region. The use of the standard three-compartment model did not result in reproducible BP estimates. The distribution volume (DV) ratio, reference tissue compartment models and the transient equilibrium method all had good to excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) in the studied brain areas ranging from 0.56 to 0.93. Absolute variability was also relatively low, ranging from 5.3% to 10.4%. There were no marked differences in the ICC or absolute and relative variability between the four methods based on a reference tissue (cerebellum). In addition, we did not observe systematic differences in the BP between the first and the second scan. These data indicate that the reproducibility of the DV ratio, reference tissue models and the transient equilibrium method is good or excellent. However, each of these methods includes assumptions affecting their validity. Thus, the choice of method will be critically dependent on the purpose of the study.

Adult↗

Metabolism of [123I]epidepride may affect brain dopamine D2 receptor imaging with single-photon emission tomography.

Iodine-123 labelled epidepride is a novel radiopharmaceutical for the study of cerebral dopamine D2 receptors using single-photon emission tomography (SPET). A lipophilic labelled metabolite of [123I]epidepride which may enter the brain and hamper the quantitation of receptors has been observed in human plasma. In the present study, gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to investigate the plasma concentration of the lipophilic labelled metabolite and its correlation to SPET imaging of striatal dopamine D2 receptors. A linear regression fit showed a negative correlation between the amount of the lipophilic labelled metabolite and the striatum to cerebellum ratio (n=16, R=-0.58, P<0.02), suggesting that plasma metabolite analysis is essential when imaging dopamine D2 receptors with SPET using [123I]epidepride.

Adult↗

Pharmacological constraints associated with positron emission tomographic scanning of small laboratory animals.

With the stated aim of scanning small regions of interest in mice, several high-resolution positron emission tomographic (PET) systems are presently under development. Some, however, have low sensitivity and require high doses of radioactivity to achieve count statistics adequate to reconstruct small volumes. Using in vivo dissociation constants for three carbon-11 labelled ligands previously measured in rat brain, the present paper utilises simple saturation kinetics to estimate the limits on radioactivity and specific activity, to minimise the degree of receptor occupancy and achieve maximal specific binding of the radioligand. The extent of the problem is exemplified by considering a high-affinity ligand (dissociation constant in vitro approximately 0.1 nM; in vivo approximately 5 nmol/kg i.v. injected dose), where routinely produced levels of specific activity ( approximately 100 MBq/nmol) would limit the activity injected into mice to approximately 0.1 MBq for a 1% receptor occupancy. If, as is feasible, the new generation of high resolution PET systems requires an injected activity >10 MBq, then a >100-fold increase in specific activity would be needed for tracer kinetics to hold. The paper highlights the need to consider realistically achievable goals if high-resolution PET is to be accepted as a viable methodology to acquire pharmacologically and physiologically accurate ligand-receptor binding data in mice.

Animals↗

Design of hypoxia-targeting radiopharmaceuticals: selective uptake of copper-64 complexes in hypoxic cells in vitro.

The well-known perfusion tracer CuPTSM, labelled with 62Cu or 64Cu, is believed to be trapped in cells non-selectively by a bioreductive mechanism. It is proposed that by modifying the ligand to increase its electron donor strength (for example by adding alkyl functionality or replacing sulphur ligands with oxygen ligands), the copper complexes will become less easily reduced and tracers with selectivity for hypoxic tissues could thus be developed. The aim of this work was to prepare 64Cu-labelled complexes of two series of ligands, based on the bis(thiosemicarbazone) (13 ligands) and bis(salicylaldimine) (3 ligands) skeletons, and to evaluate the hypoxia dependence of their uptake in cells. The complexes were incubated with Chinese hamster ovary cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, and the cells isolated by centrifugation to determine radioactivity uptake at various time points up to 90 min. Several members of both series demonstrated significant (P<0.05) or highly significant (P<0.01) hypoxia selectivity, indicating that both series of complexes offer a basis for development of hypoxia-targeting radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (60Cu, 61Cu, 62Cu, 64Cu) and targeted radiotherapy (64Cu, 67Cu).

Animals↗

Extrastriatal dopamine D(2) receptors in Parkinson's disease: a longitudinal study.

Most antiparkinsonian drugs are known to act through central dopamine D(2) receptor agonism. A previous longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) study has indicated that, in the striatum of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, dopamine D(2) receptor binding declines at a relatively fast annual rate of 2-4% (compared to the rate of <1%/year in healthy individuals). In the present study, the examination of longitudinal changes in D(2) receptors was extended to extrastriatal brain regions in PD. Eight early PD patients were examined twice with PET, approximately 3 years apart, using a high-affinity extrastriatal D(2)/D(3) receptor tracer, [(11)C]FLB 457. Both the MRI-referenced region-of-interest method and the voxel-based statistical analysis method were used independently in the analysis. Regional D(2)-like availabilities (binding potentials) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the left temporal cortex and the left and right medial thalami were significantly decreased at the second examination by 20-37% (corresponding to an annual decline of 6-11%). Thus, the annual loss of extrastriatal D(2) availability in PD is up to three times faster than the rate previously reported in the putamen. Our longitudinal study shows first evidence concerning cortical D(2) receptor loss in the progression of PD, although it is not possible to distinguish between the effects of the therapy and the disease.

Aged↗

Modulatory effects of L-DOPA on D2 dopamine receptors in rat striatum, measured using in vivo microdialysis and PET.

Putative modulatory effects of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) on D2 dopamine receptor function in the striatum of anaesthetised rats were investigated using both in vivo microdialysis and positron emission tomography (PET) with carbon-11 labelled raclopride as a selective D2 receptor ligand. A single dose of L-DOPA (20 or 100mg/kg i.p.) resulted in an increase in [11C]raclopride binding potential which was also observed in the presence of the central aromatic decarboxylase inhibitor NSD 1015, confirming that the effect was independent of dopamine. This L-DOPA evoked D2 receptor sensitisation was abolished by a prior, long-term administration of L-DOPA in drinking water (5 weeks, 170mg/kg/day). In the course of acute L-DOPA treatment (20mg/kg), extracellular GABA levels were reduced by approximately 20% in the globus pallidus. It is likely that L-DOPA sensitising effect on striatal D2 receptors, as confirmed by PET, may implicate striato-pallidal neurones, hence a reduced GABA-ergic output in the projection area. Since the L-DOPA evoked striatal D2 receptor supersensitivity habituates during long-term treatment, the effects reported here may contribute to the fluctuations observed during chronic L-DOPA therapy in Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗

The role of catecholamines in desmopressin induced locomotor stimulation.

Central and peripheral administration of DDAVP increase locomotor activity in rats in doses that alter brain dopamine neurochemistry. In order to delineate the role of catecholamines in this behavioural effect of DDAVP, the effects of different catecholamine manipulating agents on DDAVP-induced locomotor stimulation were studied in rats. The catecholamine depleting agent reserpine (5 mg/kg), administered alone or together with the catecholamine synthesis inhibitor alpha-methyltyrosine (250 mg/kg), completely prevented the locomotor stimulatory effect of DDAVP. The dopamine D1 receptor antagonist Sch-23390 (0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg) significantly antagonized the DDAVP-induced locomotor stimulation when administered in the higher dose, that also produced a significant reduction of locomotor activity per se, whereas the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist raclopride (0.08 and 0.16 mg/kg) had no significant effect. The two dopamine blockers administered together produced a significant, dose-dependent reduction of DDAVP-induced locomotor stimulation, while controls were not significantly affected. Also the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine decreased the DDAVP-induced locomotor stimulation in a dose (20 mg/kg) that did not influence locomotor activity in controls, and, finally, administration of Sch-23390, raclopride and phenoxybenzamine antagonised the DDAVP-induced effect in a dose combination that failed to influence locomotor activity per se. In vivo microdialysis experiments in awake, freely moving rats indicated that DDAVP increases dopamine overflow in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area of importance for initiation of locomotor activity, by approximately 25%, as compared to baseline levels. Taken together, these results indicate that the central stimulatory action of DDAVP involves granula-mediated dopamine release and subsequent activation of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, and that alpha-adrenoceptors possibly also are involved.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Changes in apparent in vivo binding of [3H]raclopride and [3H]N-methylspiperone induced by oxotremorine.

The effects of muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine (0.3 mg/kg), and antagonist, scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg), on in vivo [3H]raclopride (RAC) and [3H]N-methylspiperone (NMSP) binding were investigated. Following tracer administration to control or pretreated mice, binding potentials, and the rate constants k3 and k4 were determined by kinetic analysis. Oxotremorine resulted in a 70% increase in striatal RAC binding potential compared with controls. RAC and NMSP showed almost identical decreases in k3 (40%), whereas k4 for RAC was unexpectedly decreased by 64%. Scopolamine resulted in no significant changes in RAC or NMSP binding. These results, in combination with previous data obtained in reserpinized mice, show that 1) competition by endogenous ligand may not be the only factor influencing the magnitude of apparent in vivo receptor binding, and 2) interneuronal communication may be partly mediated by changes in the rates of ligand-receptor binding.

Animals↗

Enhancement of 3H-N-methylspiperone binding but not 3H-raclopride binding in mouse striatum by MK-801: evidence that factors other than competition by endogenous dopamine are responsible for changes in D2 receptor binding in vivo. Short communication.

The effect of acute pretreatment with MK-801 on the binding in vivo of both 3H-N-methylspiperone (NMSP) and 3H-raclopride (RAC) were compared in mice. In the striatum, MK-801 significantly increase 3H-NMSP binding, whereas no significant alterations in 3H-RAC binding were seen. In contrast, binding in the cerebral cortex of both radiolabeled ligands was not changed by MK-801. Kinetic analysis revealed that the increase in 3H-NMSP binding induced by MK-801 was due to an increase in the rate constant k3(k3 = kon.Bmax). In vivo saturation experiments showed that Bmax for 3H-NMSP binding was relatively unchanged and an increase in the apparent association rate constant (kon) was the main reason for an increase in the k3 for 3H-NMSP binding. As 3H-RAC binding is known to be much more sensitive to competitive inhibition than is 3H-NMSP binding, these results strongly suggest that factors other than competition by endogenous dopamine may contribute to changes in receptor binding in vivo caused by NMDA-antagonism.

Animals↗

Adaptations of NMDA and dopamine D2, but not of muscarinic receptors following 14 days administration of uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists.

Behavioral changes have previously been reported following administrations of uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists memantine, amantadine and MK-801 for 14 days, at the doses that produce plasma levels comparable to those seen in patients (20, 100 and 0.31 mg/kg/day respectively). Using the same doses, the effect on receptor binding (autoradiography) was studied in rats. [3H]MK-801 binding was increased in the dentate gyrus and CA3 region of the hippocampus (35.2 and 24.3% respectively) following 3 days S.C. infusion of memantine by ALZET minipumps. One daily injection of memantine for 14 days, increased [3H]MK-801 binding in the frontal cortex by 40.3%. The same treatment with amantadine did increase [3H]raclopride binding to dopamine D2 receptors by 13.5%. None of these treatments changed the expression of muscarinic receptors. It is concluded that subchronic blockade of the NMDA receptor by uncompetitive antagonists at moderate (therapeutically-relevant) doses induced only minor changes in NMDA and dopamine D2 receptor expression.

Amantadine↗

Root growth inhibition by aluminum is probably caused by cell death due to peroxidase-mediated hydrogen peroxide production.

The effect of aluminum on hydrogen peroxide production and peroxidase-catalyzed NADH oxidation was studied in barley roots germinated and grown between two layers of moistened filter paper. Guaiacol peroxidase activity significantly increased after 48 h and was approximately two times higher after 72 h in Al-treated roots. The oxidation of NADH was also significantly increased and, like guaiacol peroxidase activity, it was two times higher in A1-treated roots than in controls. Elevated H2O2 production was observed both 48 and 72 h after the onset of imbibition in the presence of A1. Separation on a cation exchange column allowed the detection of two peaks with NADH peroxidase and H2O2 production activity. However, a difference between control and Al-treated plants was found only in one fraction, in which four times higher guaiacol peroxidase activity and five times higher NADH peroxidase activity were expressed and about three times more H2O2 was produced. One anionic peroxidase and three cationic peroxidases were detected in this fraction by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The anionic peroxidase was activated in the Al-treated root tips and also oxidized NADH but was detectable only after a long incubation time. Two of the cationic peroxidases were capable of oxidizing NADH and producing a significant amount of H2O2, but only one of these was activated by A1 stress. The role of these peroxidases during A1 stress in barley root tips is discussed.

Aluminum↗