Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ETHACRYNIC ACID”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,297 records · Page 72Linked to original sources

Differential effects of cation-chloride co-transport-blocking diuretics in a rat hippocampal slice model of epilepsy.

The cation-Cl- co-transport-blocking loop diuretics have clinically known anticonvulsant activity, though they can also induce seizures. We explored the effects of ethacrynic acid (ETA), furosemide (FUR) and bumetanide (BUM), prototypical blockers of cation-Cl- co-transport, on the epileptiform field potentials induced in CA3 area of hippocampal slices from 5-weeks-old rats by a high K+-low Ca2+ perfusion fluid. That milieu induces frequent spontaneous field bursts, making single fimbrial stimuli to evoke several repetitive population spikes, of increased amplitude. ETA (0.25-1 mM) concentration-dependently reduced spontaneous field bursting, up to terminating it. FUR, 5 mM also inhibited spontaneous field bursting, while BUM (12.5-100 microM) only presented an inconsistent tendency. Both ETA and FUR showed a less marked ability to depress the evoked responses, but approximately mM concentrations significantly reduced the number of repetitive population spikes and their amplitude. BUM only modestly reduced population spike amplitude, without concentration-dependence. This study shows that K+-Cl- co-transport-blocking diuretics ETA and FUR inhibit high K+-induced epileptiform activity in hippocampal slices from (nearly) adult rats, while the Na+-K+-2Cl- co-transport-preferring diuretic BUM had only negligible activity. These results support that neuronal K+-Cl- co-transport-blockade provides antiepileptic effects.

Animals↗

Role of cellular glutathione and glutathione S-transferase in the expression of alkylating agent cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells.

Glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in the protection of cells against toxic effects of many electrophilic drugs and chemicals. Modulation of cellular GSH and/or GST activity levels provides a potentially useful approach to sensitizing tumor cells to electrophilic anti-cancer drugs. In this study, we describe the interactions of four representative alkylating agents (AAs), melphalan, 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide (4HC), an an activated form of cyclophosphamide, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), and cisplatin, with GSH and GST in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Depletion of cellular GSH pools by approximately 80% by treatment of the cells with the GSH synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) sensitized the tumor cells to each AA to a different extent, with dose-modifying factors of 2.39, 2.21, 1.64, and 1.27 observed for melphalan, 4HC, cisplatin, and BCNU, respectively. Treatment of the cells with the GST inhibitor ethacrynic acid (EA) failed to show any significant effects on the cytotoxicity of these AAs. However, EA did potentiate the cytotoxicity of melphalan when given in combination with BSO, an effect that may be due to a more complete depletion of cellular GSH levels by the combined modulator treatment. Following a 1-hr exposure to cytotoxic-equivalent concentrations of these AAs, GSH levels decreased substantially in the case of 4HC and BCNU, but increased by 30-50% in the case of cisplatin and melphalan. BSO pretreatment largely blocked this effect of cisplatin and melphalan on cellular GSH, while it further enhanced the GSH-depleting activity of both 4HC and BCNU. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that (a) GSH affects the cytotoxicity of different AAs to different extents, (b) basal GST expression in MCF-7 cells does not play a major role in AA metabolism, (c) EA can potentiate the enhancing effect of BSO on melphalan cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, and (d) depletion of cellular GSH by pretreatment with BCNU or cyclophosphamide may correspond to a useful strategy for enhancing the anti-tumor activity of other AAs given in a sequential combination.

Alkylating Agents↗

Differential responses of hepatic monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferases of mice to a combination of cadmium and nickel.

The acute combined effects of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) on hepatic monooxygenase activities (ethylmorphine N-demethylase, EMND; aminopyrine N-demethylase, AMND; aniline 4-hydroxylase, AH), cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, microsomal heme and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities toward several substrates (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, CDNB; 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, DCNB; ethacrynic acid, EAA; 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)-propane, ENPP) were determined and compared with those of Cd or Ni alone in mice. Male adult mice (25-30 g) were administered either a single dose of Cd (3.58 mg CdCl2.H2O/kg, i.p.) 48 hr prior to killing or a single dose of Ni (59.5 mg NiCl2.H2O/kg, s.c.) 16 hr prior to killing. For the combined treatment, the animals received the single dose of Ni 32 hr after the single dose of Cd and were then killed 16 hr later. Cd treatment alone significantly decreased EMND, AMND, and AH activities and cytochrome P-450 and heme levels as compared with controls. Cytochrome b5 level was not altered by Cd treatment. Cd also inhibited GSH level and the GST activities toward CDNB, EAA and ENPP significantly. No significant change was observed in the GST activity for DCNB by Cd. Ni treatment alone, however, decreased the monooxygenase and GST activities studied, and cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, heme and GSH levels significantly. Combined treatment significantly depressed the monooxygenase activities and cytochromes and heme levels. GSH level was not significantly altered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aniline Hydroxylase↗

The effect of the plasma bicarbonate level on proximal tubule sodium reabsorption in NH4Cl-loaded dogs.

In an attempt to examine the effects of mild and severe chronic metabolic acidosis on proximal tubule sodium reabsorption, 6 dogs were given 10 mEq. per kilogram per day and 5 dogs were given 20mEq. per kilogram per day of ammonium chloride for 3 days and compared to 12 normal dogs during a steady-state water diuresis and following the administration of ethacrynic acid (EA) intravenously (2 mg. per kilogram) utilizing standard clearance methodology, In the severely acidotic group (pH decrease is greater tthan 0.2) plasma pH was 7.08 +/- 0.06 and plasma bicarbonate was 6.3 +/- 1.0 Eq. per liter compared to a pH of 7.33 +/-0.02 and bicarbonate of 13.4 +/- 0.7 in mild acidosis (pH decrease is less than 0.2). During a steady-state water diuresis urine flow was 14.2 +/- 0.9 in severely acidotic compared to 10.5 +/-0.7 ml. per minute per 100 ml. glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in normal dogs (p is less than 0.01). Following EA sodium clearance increased 38.4 +/- 3.5 in severely acidotic dogs and 27.6 +/- 2.0 ml. per minute per 100 ml. GFR in normal dogs (p is less than 0.02). In mild acidosis, steady-state fractional urine flow and the increase in fractional sodium clearance following EA were not significantly different than normal dogs. We conclude that chronic metabolic acidosis leads to an increase in distal solute load and enhanced natriuretic effect of EA secondary to a decrease in proximal tubule sodium reabsorption which may be dependent upon the degree of reduction in the plasma bicarbonate level.

Acidosis↗

Depletion of reduced glutathione enhances motor neuron degeneration in vitro and in vivo.

The mechanism of selective and age-dependent motor neuron degeneration in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has not been defined and the role of glutathione (GSH) in association with motor neuron death remains largely unknown. A motor neuron-like cell culture system and a transgenic mouse model were used to study the effect of cellular GSH alteration on motor neuron cell death. Exposure of NSC34 motor neuron-like cells to ethacrynic acid (EA) or l-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) dramatically reduced the cellular GSH levels, and was accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) measured by the dichlorofluorescin (DCF) fluorescent oxidation assay. In addition, GSH depletion enhanced oxidative stress markers, AP-1 transcriptional activation, c-Jun, c-Fos and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in NSC34 cells analyzed by a luciferase reporter, Western blotting and quantitative PCR assays respectively. Furthermore, depletion of GSH decreased mitochondrial function, facilitated apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) translocation, cytochrome c release, and caspase 3 activation, and consequently led to motor neuron-like cell apoptosis. In an ALS-like transgenic mouse model overexpressing mutant G93A-Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene, we showed that the reduction of GSH in the spinal cord and motor neuron cells is correlated with AIF translocation, caspase 3 activation, and motor neuron degeneration during ALS-like disease onset and progression. Taken together, the in vitro and in vivo data presented in the current report demonstrated that decreased GSH promotes multiple apoptotic pathways contributing, at least partially, to motor neuron degeneration in ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

Effects of ototoxic diuretics (loop diuretics) on the endolymphatic sac.

The acute and chronic effects of treatment with ethacrynic acid (EA) and furosemide (FU) on the structure of the murine endolymphatic sac were studied by means of light and transmission electron microscopy. The animals were treated with loop diuretics in doses which are known to cause morphological alterations of the stria vascularis and a significant reduction of the endocochlear potential. A single intravenous injection of either EA or FU resulted in immediate morphological changes such as an increase in cytoplasmic contents of endoplasmic reticulum and more prominent Golgi structures of the light cells. These cells developed membrane-bound granules and a smooth tubular network in the apical cytoplasm. These findings together with the appearance of a precipitate on the luminal aspect of the cell membrane suggested secretory activity. Ten days after daily intraperitoneal injections with loop diuretics in subtoxic doses, the epithelial cytoarchitecture of the endolymphatic sac was altered, with pronounced veiling of the light cells by the dark cells. It is concluded that the changes in the endolymphatic sac epithelium after treatment with ototoxic diuretics may not be a result of a primary toxic effect on the sac per se, but rather be secondary to alterations in fluid and ion homeostasis in the rest of the inner ear.

Animals↗

The effect of inhibition of glutathione S-transferase P on the growth of the Jurkat human T cell line.

To investigate the possible role of glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP) in carcinogenesis and cell proliferation, ethacrynic acid (EA) was used to inhibit GSTP in the human Jurkat T cell line. At lower doses (0-30 microM), EA led to a decreased rate of proliferation as assessed by the MTT assay. This was associated with a decreased DNA S+G2/M phase population and also a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis. At concentrations of EA > 30 microM, cells suffered non-specific cytotoxic injury and underwent necrosis. The total cell number fell over the time course of the experiment. A resistant subculture of cells which proliferated in the presence of EA at 30 microM was selected by continuous growth in the presence of EA. Although this had a higher basal rate of apoptosis than control cells, it also showed a significantly larger growth fraction as assessed by flow cytometry. GSTP is frequently overexpressed in human tumours and animal models of carcinogenesis, and is regarded as a marker of the 'drug-resistant phenotype' of initiated cells. Our findings suggest that the role of GSTP in models of chemical carcinogenesis and in tumours may be its permissive effect on cell cycle activity and downregulation of apoptosis, thus allowing expansion of a population of initiated cells.

Apoptosis↗

Agents which block potassium-chloride cotransport prevent sound-triggered seizures in post-ischemic audiogenic seizure-prone rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the loop diuretics furosemide, bumetanide and ethacrynic acid, which block the KCC1 potassium-chloride transporter in the kidney loop of Henle and the KCC2 potassium-chloride transporter in neuronal membranes, would prevent sound-triggered seizures in post-ischemic audiogenic seizure-prone rats. The rats were infused with the test agent via tail vein shortly before being tested for seizure susceptibility by exposure to loud noise (an alarm bell) for 60 s. Sound exposures were repeated at intervals to determine the time course of the seizure suppression effect. All three loop diuretics suppressed sound-triggered seizures in post-ischemic rats tested 2 days to 4 weeks after the ischemic exposure. Furosemide 200 mg/kg had no effect in 4/4 rats made acutely audiogenic seizure-prone by infusion of bicuculline into the inferior colliculus, indicating that the effect was not due to general anti-seizure activity. Mannitol 2 g/kg had no effect in 6/6 post-ischemic rats, indicating that the effect was not due to diuresis or fluid shifts. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the exposure to global ischemia caused an upregulation of the potassium-chloride transporter KCC2 in neurons which persisted for at least 4 weeks.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Relationship between glucose and sodium excretion in the new-born dog.

1. The relationship between renal glucose and sodium excretion was studied in thirty-three new-born dogs aged 1-14 days and in ten adult dogs.2. Glucose was infused into the animals at rates sufficient to produce an amount of filtered glucose at least 1.5 times the tubular transport of glucose (saturating glucose load). In both puppies and adults tubular glucose reabsorption at saturating glucose loads varied directly with the glomerular filtration rate (r = 0.54 and 0.73 respectively, P < 0.01 for both).3. In the puppy, as the fraction of filtered sodium excreted (C(Na)/C(In)) increased from 0.05 to 0.45, the ratio, renal tubular glucose transport divided by glomerular filtration rate at saturating glucose loads, (T(G)/GFR)(m), decreased from 3.7 to 1.7 mg/ml. (r = -0.75, P < 0.01). In the adult C(Na)/C(In) was below 0.08 in all experiments and (T(G)/GFR)(m) was within the 95% confidence limits predicted by regression analysis of the data from puppies. Although mean (T(G)/GFR)(m) was greater in the adult than in the puppy (P < 0.01), when puppies had C(Na)/C(In) similar to that for adults, they had (T(G)/GFR)(m) values equivalent to that for the adult.4. There was excellent correlation between glucose excretion and water excretion for both adult and new-born dogs (r = 0.93 and 0.87, respectively). However, for any glucose loss, water loss was greater in the puppy than in the adult (P < 0.01).5. During the control period total sodium excretion (per gram kidney) and C(Na)/C(In) were similar in the new-born and adult dog. However, during glucose loading, the puppies excreted more sodium and had a higher C(Na)/C(In) than did the adult, although glucose excretion was greater in the adult than in the puppy (P < 0.01 for all comparisons).6. Glomerular blood flow, as measured by radioactive microspheres, was redistributed towards inner cortical nephrons during glucose loading in the puppy. There was no such redistribution of glomerular blood flow in the adult.7. Sodium reabsorption beyond the proximal tubule was blocked with ethacrynic acid and chlorothiazide. In the puppy, the increase of C(Na)/C(In) following a glucose load was the same whether the glucose load followed control or distal blockade collections, suggesting that reductions of sodium reabsorption following a glucose load probably came from the proximal tubule. C(Na)/C(In) during glucose loading plus distal blockade was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the puppy (0.598) than in the adult (0.280), indicating that glucose diuresis produced a greater inhibition of proximal tubular sodium reabsorption in the new-born than in the adult dog. These results support the hypothesis that the high sodium excretion rate during glucose diuresis in the new-born dogs appears to be due to the greater sensitivity of the neonatal proximal tubule to the osmotic effect of glucose. When presented with a glucose osmotic load the new-born dog diminishes net proximal sodium reabsorption more than does the adult and thus depresses tubular glucose reabsorption to a greater extent. The lower values of maximal glucose transport rates found in new-born animals may be related, therefore, to the higher fractional sodium excretion rates during glucose diuresis rather than to a diminished intrinsic glucose transport capacity in the new-born kidney.

Age Factors↗

Ouabain-uninhibited sodium transport in human erythrocytes. Evidence against a second pump.

Others have concluded that a second Na "pump" (active Na outflux) exists in human erythrocytes. This second pump was said to be ouabain-insensitive, unlike the classic ouabain-sensitive Na-K pump. An alternative explanation is that "pump II" is Na exchange diffusion. These hypotheses were examined in the present experiments, utilizing (22)Na influx and outflux measurements, net Na fluxes, and ATPase determinations. Ouabain-uninhibited Na outflux was reduced 0.58+/-0.05 mmol/liter cells per h when extracellular Na (Na(o)) was replaced by Mg. Ethacrynic acid or furosemide produced similar decrements of outflux (0.50 mmol) in the presence of ouabain and Na(o). However, these diuretics had minimal inhibitory effects on outflux in the absence of Na(o) suggesting that they inhibited principally the Na(o)-dependent outflux. Whereas this ouabain-uninhibited portion of outflux was dependent on Na(o), it was independent of K(o). Contrary to expectations, Na influx did not change when intracellular Na was altered. No uphill, net Na transport (ouabain-uninhibited) could be demonstrated under a variety of circumstances. Furosemide at high concentrations inhibited ATPase, reducing both ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive enzyme at 1.0 mM concentration while showing no effect on ATPase at 0.05-0.1 mM concentration. The effects of furosemide on ATPase and on Na flux were dissociable on a dose-response curve. Energy depletion for 22 h practically eliminated the Na(o)-dependent, diuretic-inhibited Na outflux. Activation energies and temperature coefficients for the diuretic-inhibited outflux were one-half the values for the classic ouabain-inhibited pump. These data are interpreted as evidence against a second Na pump. Exchange diffusion accounts adequately for most of these observations; however, the ouabain-insensitive fluxes may be complex and composed of several processes.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Highly selective and prolonged depletion of mitochondrial glutathione in astrocytes markedly increases sensitivity to peroxynitrite.

Glutathione, a major endogenous antioxidant, is found in two intracellular pools in the cytoplasm and the mitochondria. To investigate the importance of the smaller mitochondrial pool, we developed conditions based on treatment with ethacrynic acid that produced near-complete and highly selective depletion of mitochondrial glutathione in cultured astrocytes. Recovery of mitochondrial glutathione was only partial over several hours, suggesting slow net uptake from the cytoplasm. Glutathione depletion alone did not significantly affect mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content, or cell viability when assessed after 24 hr, although the activities of respiratory chain complexes were altered. However, these astrocytes showed a greatly enhanced sensitivity to 3-morpholinosydnonimine, a peroxynitrite generator. Treatment with 200 microm 3-morpholinosydnonimine produced decreases within 3 hr in mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content and caused the release of lactate dehydrogenase, contrasting with preservation of these properties in control cells. These properties deteriorated further by 24 hr in the glutathione-depleted cells and were associated with morphological changes indicative of necrotic cell death. This treatment enhanced the alterations in activities of the respiratory chain complexes observed with glutathione depletion alone. Cell viability was markedly improved by cyclosporin A, suggesting a role for the mitochondrial permeability transition in the astrocytic death. These studies provide the most direct evidence available for any cell type on the roles of mitochondrial glutathione. They demonstrate the critical importance of this metabolite pool in protecting against peroxynitrite-induced damage in astrocytes and indicate a key contribution in determining the activities of respiratory chain components.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes increase glutathione S-transferase mRNA and protein: correlation with activation of the antioxidant response element.

A series of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes was evaluated to determine if these compounds could mediate inducible expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) through the 5'-flanking antioxidant response element (ARE). The ARE from rGST A1 was subcloned into a luciferase reporter construct and used to transiently transfect rat Clone 9 hepatoma cells. Transfected cells were treated with 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE), trans-2-hexenal (t-2-HE), 2-propenal (acrolein, 2-PE), and ethacrynic acid (EA), a control compound also containing an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl moiety. Each compound was evaluated for cytotoxicity to construct dosing regimens in transfection studies. IC50 values for growth inhibition were measured using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. IC50 values in Clone 9 cells were: 4-HNE, 6.3 +/- 0.7 microM; t-2-HE, 16.0 +/- 0.7 microM; 2-PE, 2.2 +/- 0.4 microM; and EA, 38.0 +/- 1.6 microM. A dose-dependent increase in luciferase activity was observed in transfected cells with all four compounds tested, indicating that alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes function as direct activators of the ARE. To determine whether or not the observed promoter activation led to increased transcriptional and translational induction of GST, cells were treated with the various compounds and assayed for increases in GST mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity. Studies in Clone 9 cells revealed increased steady-state message for GST A1 and A4, increased GST A4-4 protein by Western blotting, and increased GST activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in response to treatment with all four compounds evaluated. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that EA and certain alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes produced as a result of cellular membrane lipid peroxidation are activators of the ARE and efficient inducers of GST A1-1 and A4-4.

Acrolein↗

Characteristics of a sulphydryl group essential for sodium exchange diffusion in beef erythrocytes.

1. In the beef red blood cell, the component of the Na efflux which is insensitive to ouabain but depends on the presence of external Na, is not affected by furosemide but is reduced by several agents: ethacrynic acid, dinitrofluorobenzene, p-chloromercuribenzene (PCMB), N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzene sulphonate (PCMBS). Some of these agents increased a parallel passive permeability which could mask the reduction of efflux.2. N-ethylmaleimide and PCMBS, which in our experimental conditions (initial concentration 5 x 10(-4)M and 5 x 10(-6)M respectively, haematocrit 7.7%) do not increase the leak, inhibit Na influx and efflux markedly and equally. This provides further evidence of the existence of a typical ouabain-insensitive Na exchange diffusion in beef red blood cell.3. Inhibition of the exchange diffusion mechanism by N-ethylmaleimide or PCMBS is not total and their inhibitory effects are slightly additive. Various arguments suggest that their effects on exchange diffusion can be attributed to a reaction with sulphydryl groups.4. These sulphydryl groups are rapidly titrable by a poorly penetrating agent such as PCMBS, and the inhibitory effect is rapidly reversible. Thus, it is assumed that the sulphydryl groups containing proteins are superficially located on the outer border of the membrane.5. After inhibition, there is no change in half saturation constant for the complexing reaction for transfer, suggesting that the inhibited sites are no longer functioning but that the uninhibited sites are in every way normal.6. N-ethylmaleimide and PCMBS act similarly in sheep red blood cells.7. PCMBS does not affect sodium movement in human erythrocytes, but N-ethylmaleimide inhibits markedly the ouabain-insensitive Na efflux.

Animals↗

Onset of ototoxicity in the cat is related to onset of auditory function.

Cats are altricial mammals; they are born deaf and undergo rapid maturation of the auditory periphery late in the first and throughout the 2nd week of life. Previous studies, using multiple aminoglycoside administration over several days or weeks, have indicated that there is a reduction in the degree of ototoxicity in young animals provided the drug is administered prior to the onset of auditory function. In order to provide a more precise relationship between the degree of ototoxicity and auditory development, we used a single administration of Kanamycin (KA) and the loop diuretic ethacrynic acid (EA), as the co-administration of these drugs is known to produce a rapid and profound hearing loss in adult animals. Thirty kittens were administered with KA and EA at ages that varied from 2 to 16 days after birth (DAB) using a fixed dose per kilogram body weight sufficient to profoundly deafen adult animals. All animals made an uneventful recovery from the procedure. At 26 DAB, tone-pip-evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were recorded from each animal in order to establish the extent of the hearing loss. The degree of hearing loss was compared with normal ABR audiograms recorded from 6 age-matched control animals. All animals treated with KA/EA at 9 DAB or older had a profound hearing loss similar to adult animals. Animals treated between 2 and 8 DAB exhibited severe high-frequency hearing losses. The extent of the loss was correlated with age (r = 0.63) and body weight (r = 0.72) such that hearing loss tended to spread towards lower frequencies as age and/or weight increased. All animals exhibited bilaterally symmetrical hearing losses which remained relatively stable over monitoring periods of up to 6 months following the drug treatment. These findings imply that the onset of ototoxicity is related, at least in part, to the onset of auditory function in the kitten. The rapid onset of deafness following this procedure makes it a useful technique in the study of both ototoxicity and cochlear development.

Aging↗

Cochlear pathology following chronic electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve: II. Deafened kittens.

The present study examines the effects of long-term electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve on cochlear histopathology and spiral ganglion cell survival in young sensorineural deafened cats. Eight kittens were deafened using kanamycin and ethacrynic acid, and implanted with bipolar or monopolar scala tympani electrodes. Following recovery from surgery the animals were unilaterally stimulated using charge balanced biphasic current pulses for 450-1730 hours over implant periods of up to four months. Charge densities varied from 0.6-0.9 microC.cm-2 geom. per phase for monopolar electrodes to 12-26 microC.cm-2 geom. per phase for the bipolar electrodes. Electrically-evoked auditory brainstem responses (EABRs) were periodically monitored during stimulation to confirm that the stimulus levels were above threshold, and to monitor any change in the response of the auditory nerve. Following completion of the stimulation program cochleae were prepared for histological examination. EABRs exhibited relatively stable thresholds for both stimulated and implanted, unstimulated control cochleae for the stimulus duration. While the growth in response amplitude as a function of stimulus current remained stable for the bipolar control and monopolar stimulated cochleae, the five cochleae chronically stimulated using bipolar electrodes exhibited a moderate to large increase in response amplitude. These increases were associated with a more widespread fibrous tissue response which may have altered the current distribution within these cochleae. Implanted control cochleae exhibited significantly less tissue response within the scala tympani. Importantly, we observed no statistically significant difference in the spiral ganglion cell density associated with chronic electrical stimulation when compared with unstimulated control cochleae. While the present study supports the safe application of cochlear implants in young profoundly deafened children, it does not corroborate previous studies that have reported electrical stimulation providing a trophic effect on degenerating auditory nerve fibres.

Analysis of Variance↗

Time course of efferent fiber and spiral ganglion cell degeneration following complete hair cell loss in the chinchilla.

Ethacrynic acid (EA) is known to interact with aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin (GM). In the chinchilla, co-administration of GM and EA can produce hair cell lesions ranging from a small loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) in the base of the cochlea to complete destruction of all hair cells, depending on dosing parameters. Although hair cell loss has been characterized, little is known about the fate of efferent fibers or spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in this model. To study the time course of efferent fiber and SGN loss, chinchillas were injected with GM (125 mg/kg IM) followed immediately by EA (40 mg/kg IV). Estimates of efferent fiber loss and density changes were made after 3 days or 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks of survival. Estimates of SGN loss and density changes were made after 15 days or 1, 2, 4, or 6 months of survival. Cochlear function was rapidly abolished and all cochlear hair cells were missing within 24 h after treatment. Inner hair cells (IHCs) in the middle turn of the cochlea died earlier than cells in the apex or base, and OHCs in Rows 1 and 2 died earlier than OHCs in Row 3. Degeneration of efferent nerve fibers began 3-7 days post-injection, versus 15-30 days for SGNs, and the loss of efferent fibers was essentially complete within 1 month, versus 2-4 months for SGNs. The rapid time course of efferent fiber and SGN loss in the chinchilla may make it a practical model for studying mechanisms of neural loss and survival in the mammalian inner ear.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Segmental nephron sodium and potassium reabsorption in newborn and adult dogs during saline expansion.

Studies were carried out in 23 anesthetized neonatal dogs aged 2 to 20 days and in 16 adult dogs to compare the effects of saline volume expansion on renal tubular Na and K reabsorption between newborn and adult animals. Proximal- and distal-tubule function was estimated by the distal-nephron-blockade technique using ethacrynic acid and amiloride. During saline infusion, which increased extracellular volume by approximately 30% for both age groups, total nephron fractional Na reabsorption was 0.91 for the adult but 0.98 for the puppy (P less than 0.01). However, proximal tubule fractional Na reabsorption was greater in the adult (0.64) than in the puppy (0.48, P less than 0.01) whereas distal nephron fractional Na reabsorption was much greater in the newborn (0.51) than in the adult (0.26, P less than 0.01). Sodium reabsorption normalized to kidney weight was lower in all segments of the neonatal kidney than in the adult kidney. The filtered sodium load was lower in the newborn (27.0 mueq min-1g-1) than in the adult (105.0, P less than 0.01), and the Na load to the distal nephron was also lower in the newborn (14.0 mueq min-1g-1) than in the adult (37.2, P less than 0.01). Fractional K excretion was similar in both age groups even though the fraction of filtered K escaping proximal-tubule reabsorption was greater in the newborn than in the adult, indicating greater net K fractional reabsorption in the distal nephron of the newborn than in the adult kidney. These results indicate that in response to saline expansion there is a greater proximal tubule natriuresis in the neonate than in the adult but overall renal Na excretion is less in the newborn animal due to enhanced fractional Na reabsorption in the neonatal distal nephron, particularly in Henle's Loop. This increase in distal nephron fractional sodium reabsorption may be related in part to the relatively small absolute Na load presented to the distal nephron of the neonatal kidney.

Absorption↗

Chlorpromazine protection against Ca(2+)-dependent and oxidative cell injury. Limitations due to depressed mitochondrial function.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ), a phenothiazine, demonstrated both cytoprotective and toxic effects on cardiomyocytes. CPZ markedly reduced cytotoxicity caused by two toxic challenges, each with a distinct cytotoxic mechanism. Lethal cell injury was induced in cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes by either: (1) ionomycin, a Ca2+ ionophore that caused Ca(2+)-dependent cell injury; or (2) ethacrynic acid (EA), a glutathione (GSH) depletor that killed cells primarily via peroxidative damage. Pretreatment with 50 microM CPZ reduced the extent of ionomycin-induced cell death, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, but enhanced the loss of intracellular ATP and collapsed the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi). In EA-treated cultures, 50 microM CPZ also lowered LDH leakage and diminished the peroxidative damage responsible for the cytotoxicity, but again enhanced the loss of intracellular ATP and collapsed the delta psi. CPZ protection was incomplete and limited to a narrow concentration range that was essentially identical for both toxic challenges. Maximum protection was observed with 50 microM CPZ, yet the amount of residual damage was similar to the degree of injury caused by a mitochondrial uncoupler, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone alone. In the absence of either challenge, 50 microM CPZ did not affect cellular energy status or kill the cells, but a higher concentration of CPZ (150 microM) did deenergize unchallenged cardiomyocytes. These data demonstrate that CPZ can reduce cytotoxicity caused by either Ca(2+)-dependent events or oxidative stress. However, even at an optimally protective level, CPZ in combination with either ionomycin or EA deenergized the cells, although neither toxic challenge nor 50 microM CPZ alone seriously affected delta psi. It would appear that intracellular perturbations induced by either challenge promote a depression of mitochondrial function by CPZ, which limits the protective action of the drug. Since both of the challenges used contain toxicologic features exhibited by a wide variety of toxic insults, results of this study have both mechanistic and clinical implications.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗