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Metabolism of inositol phosphates in the protozoan Paramecium. Characterization of a novel inositol-hexakisphosphate-dephosphorylating enzyme.

Basal and stimulated levels of inositol phosphates were determined in the protozoan Paramecium labelled with myo-[3H]inositol. Under resting conditions, intracellular InsP6 (phytic acid), InsP5 and InsP4 concentrations were 140, 10 and 2 microM, respectively. InsP5 was comprised of 56% Ins(1,2,3,4,5)P5 and/or Ins(1,2,3,5,6)P5, 40% Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5 and/or Ins(2,3,4,5,6)P5 and small amounts of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 and Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5. InsP4 was mainly Ins(1, 4, 5, 6)P4 and/or Ins(3, 4, 5, 6)P4. Other inositol phosphates were not detected at a detection limit of 50-85 nM. Using various depolarizing and hyperpolarizing stimuli, no significant changes in level of inositol phosphates were observed in vivo, indicating that in the ciliate a contribution of inositol phosphates to signal-transduction mechanisms is unlikely. In homogenates prepared from myo-[3H]inositol-labelled cells, a marked relative increase in InsP3 and InsP4 over the concentrations in vivo was observed. These inositol phosphates were identified as degradation products of endogenous InsP6. A novel separation methodology for inositol phosphates was established to allow unequivocal assignment of phosphate locations of all dephosphorylated InsP6-derived products. The dephosphorylation was catalyzed by a phytase-like enzyme with a molecular mass of 240 kDa, most likely of a hexameric structure. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.0 and did not require divalent cations for activity. Substrate concentrations above 300 microM were inhibitory. Dephosphorylation of InsP6 by the Paramecium enzyme differs from that of phytases from plants in that it proceeds via a sequential release of phosphate groups from positions 6, 5, 4 and 3 of the myo-inositol ring or/and positions 4, 5, 6 and 1.

Animals↗

Kinetic analysis of A23187-mediated polyphosphoinositide breakdown in rat cortical synaptosomes suggests that inositol bisphosphate does not arise primarily by degradation of inositol trisphosphate.

The kinetics of polyphosphoinositide breakdown and inositol phosphate formation have been studied in rat cortical synaptosomes labelled in vitro with myo-[2-3H]inositol. Intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ concentrations have been varied by the use of Ca-EGTA buffers or by adding the ionophore A23187 in the presence and absence of 1 mM Ca2+. The former studies have revealed that, at very low (20 nM) intrasynaptosomal free Ca2+ levels, inositol bisphosphate, but not inositol monophosphate levels are reduced. Addition of A23187 in the absence of added Ca2+ gives rise to greatly enhanced inositol bisphosphate accumulation, which is further enhanced if 1 mM Ca2+ is present in the extrasynaptosomal medium. At all time points examined (down to 2 s after adding ionophore), the ratio of inositol trisphosphate/inositol bisphosphate accumulation does not exceed 0.2, and calculations based on inositol bis- and trisphosphate breakdown rates in synaptosomal lysates suggest that only a minority of the inositol bisphosphate arises from degradation of inositol trisphosphate. Addition of ionophore in the presence (but not in the absence) of 1 mM Ca2+ leads to rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) and ATP and slower breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdInsP). The rates of loss of PtdinsP2 and ATP are very highly correlated, suggesting that polyphosphoinositide resynthesis may be limited by ATP availability at high Ca2+ levels. Analysis of 32P-labelled synaptosomes also reveals that A23187 produces Ca2+-dependent losses of PtdInsP2, PtdInsP, ATP, and GTP radioactivity and a marked increase in the radioactivity of a compound distinct from nucleotides or any of the lipid breakdown products tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The formation of inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,2-cyclic 4-bisphosphate on stimulation of mouse pancreatic minilobules with carbamylcholine.

When [3H]myoinositol-prelabeled pancreatic minilobules were incubated with carbamylcholine (CCh) for 30 min, followed by ionophoresis on paper of the aqueous extracts, there were distinct peaks of radioactivity immediately preceding inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), which, based on earlier studies with inositol 1,2-cyclic phosphate (IcP), are the expected positions for inositol 1,2-cyclic 4-bisphosphate (IcP2) and inositol 1,2-cylic 4,5-trisphosphate (IcP3). These peaks were essentially absent on ionopherograms of extracts from minilobules not incubated with CCh. Similar results were obtained with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), except that the putative inositol cyclic phosphate peaks eluted immediately before the non-cyclic inositol polyphosphates, as to be expected. Taking advantage of the unique acid lability of the inositol cyclic phosphates, we demonstrate that the putative inositol cyclic polyphosphate peaks were specifically eliminated by prior hydrolysis of the aqueous extracts, as shown by either ionophoresis or HPLC. After preparative isolation of putative IcP2 and IcP3 by ionophoresis, acid hydrolysis shifted the positions of putative IcP2 and IcP3 peaks to the positions of standard IP2 and IP3, respectively, as shown by either ionophoresis or HPLC. The amounts of IcP, IcP2, and IcP3 formed on CCh stimulation, as measured by ionophoresis, were 0.7, 6.8, and 29.8% of that of, IP, IP2, and IP3, respectively (average of two experiments which agreed within 10%).

Animals↗

Effects of hyperglycaemia on sorbitol and myo-inositol contents of cultured embryos: treatment with aldose reductase inhibitor and myo-inositol supplementation.

To demonstrate the myo-inositol depletion hypothesis in hyperglycaemia-induced embryopathy, rat conceptuses of 9.5 days of gestation in the early head-fold stage were grown in vitro during neural tube formation for 48 h with increasing amounts of glucose. The effects of an aldose reductase inhibitor and the myo-inositol supplementation were also investigated. Sorbitol and myo-inositol contents were measured in separated embryos and extra-embryonic membranes including yolk sac and amnion at the end of culture. After addition of 33.3 mmol/l and 66.7 mmol/l glucose to the culture media, the myo-inositol content of the embryos was significantly decreased by 43.1% (p less than 0.05) and 64.6% (p less than 0.01) of the control group, while a marked accumulation of sorbitol was observed (25 and 41 times that of the control). Although the addition of an aldose reductase inhibitor (0.7 mmol/l) to the hyperglycaemic culture media containing an additional 66.7 mmol/l glucose significantly reduced the sorbitol content of embryos to approximately one-eighth, the myo-inositol content of embryos remained decreased and the frequency of neural lesions was unchanged (23.1% vs 23.9%, NS). Supplementation of the myo-inositol (0.28 mmol/l) completely restored the myo-inositol content of the embryos and resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of neural lesions (7.1% vs 23.9%, p less than 0.01) and a significant increase in crown-rump length and somite numbers. Much less significantly, sorbitol accumulation was also observed in the extra-embryonic membrane in response to hyperglycaemia, neither hyperglycaemia nor the myo-inositol supplementation modified the myo-inositol contents of the extra-embryonic membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldehyde Reductase↗

Carbachol causes rapid phosphodiesteratic cleavage of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and accumulation of inositol phosphates in rabbit iris smooth muscle; prazosin inhibits noradrenaline- and ionophore A23187-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates.

Rabbit iris smooth muscle was prelabelled with myo-[3H]inositol for 90 min and the effect of carbachol on the accumulation of inositol phosphates from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2], phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) was monitored with anion-exchange chromatography. Carbachol stimulated the accumulation of inositol phosphates and this was blocked by atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, and it was unaffected by 2-deoxyglucose. The data presented demonstrate that, in the iris, carbachol (50 microM) stimulates the rapid breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 into [3H]inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) and diacylglycerol, measured as phosphatidate, and that the accumulation of InsP3 precedes that of [3H]inositol bisphosphate (InsP2) and [3H]inositol phosphate (InsP). This conclusion is based on the following findings. Time course experiments with myo-[3H]inositol revealed that carbachol increased the accumulation of InsP3 by 12% in 15s and by 23% in 30s; in contrast, a significant increase in InsP release was not observed until about 2 min. Time-course experiments with 32P revealed a 10% loss of radioactivity from PtdIns(4,5)P2 and a corresponding 10% increase in phosphatidate labelling by carbachol in 15s; in contrast a significant increase in PtdIns labelling occurred in 5 min. Dose-response studies revealed that 5 microM-carbachol significantly increased (16%) the accumulation of InsP3 whereas a significant increase in accumulation of InsP2 and InsP was observed only at agonist concentrations greater than 10 microM. Studies on the involvement of Ca2+ in the agonist-stimulated breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the iris revealed the following. Marked stimulation (58-78%) of inositol phosphates accumulation by carbachol in 10 min was observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Like the stimulatory effect of noradrenaline, the ionophore A23187-stimulated accumulation of InsP3 was inhibited by prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic blocker, thus suggesting that the ionophore stimulation of PtdIns(4,5)P2 breakdown we reported previously [Akhtar & Abdel-Latif (1978) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 204, 655-688; Akhtar & Abdel-Latif (1980) Biochem. J. 192, 783-791] was secondary to the release of noradrenaline by the ionophore. The carbachol-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates was inhibited by EGTA (0.25 mM) and this inhibition was reversed by excess Ca2+ (1.5 mM), suggesting that EGTA treatment of the tissue chelates extracellular Ca2+ required for polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase activity. K+ depolarization, which causes influx of extracellular Ca2+ in smooth muscle, did not change the level of InsP3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Expression of yeast INM1 encoding inositol monophosphatase is regulated by inositol, carbon source and growth stage and is decreased by lithium and valproate.

Inositol monophosphatase plays a vital role in the de novo biosynthesis of inositol and in the phosphoinositide second messenger signalling pathway. We cloned the Saccharomyces cerevisiae open reading frame (ORF) YHR046c (termed INM1), which encodes inositol monophosphatase, characterized the protein Inm1p and analysed expression of the INM1 gene. INM1 was expressed in bacteria under the control of the lacZ promoter. The purified protein has inositol monophosphatase activity that is inhibited by the antibipolar drug lithium, but not valproate. In the inm1Delta:URA3 null mutant, inositol monophosphatase activity was reduced but not eliminated. The disruption had little effect on growth in the presence of lithium or valproate and no effect on growth in the absence of inositol. To characterize the regulation of INM1, we examined the effects of inositol, carbon source, growth phase, and the antibipolar drugs lithium and valproate on INM1 expression using an INM1-lacZ reporter gene. Unlike all other phospholipid biosynthetic enzyme-encoding genes studied, which contain the UASINO regulatory element, INM1 expression is increased in the presence of inositol. In addition, INM1 expression was repressed during growth in glycerol and derepressed as glucose-grown cells entered stationary. Both lithium and valproate, which cause a decrease in intracellular inositol, effect a decrease in INM1 expression. A model is presented to account for regulation of INM1 expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lithium and valproate decrease inositol mass and increase expression of the yeast INO1 and INO2 genes for inositol biosynthesis.

Bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive illness) is a chronic, severe, debilitating illness affecting 1-2% of the population. The Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs lithium and valproate are not completely effective in the treatment of this disorder, and the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects have not been established. We are employing genetic and molecular approaches to identify common targets of lithium and valproate in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that both drugs affect molecular targets in the inositol metabolic pathway. Lithium and valproate cause a decrease in intracellular myo-inositol mass and an increase in expression of both a structural (INO1) and a regulatory (INO2) gene required for inositol biosynthesis. The opi1 mutant, which exhibits constitutive expression of INO1, is more resistant to inhibition of growth by lithium but not by valproate, suggesting that valproate may inhibit the Ino1p-catalyzed synthesis of inositol 1-phosphate. Consistent with this possibility, growth in valproate leads to decreased synthesis of inositol monophosphate. Thus, both lithium and valproate perturb regulation of the inositol biosynthetic pathway, albeit via different mechanisms. This is the first demonstration of increased expression of genes in the inositol biosynthetic pathway by both lithium and valproate. Because inositol is a key regulator of many cellular processes, the effects of lithium and valproate on inositol synthesis have far-reaching implications for predicting genetic determinants of responsiveness and resistance to these agents.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins↗

D-chiro-inositol is more effective than myo-inositol in preventing folate-resistant mouse neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND: Among mouse genetic mutants that develop neural tube defects (NTDs), some respond to folic acid administration during early pregnancy, whereas NTDs in other mutants are not prevented. This parallels human NTDs, in which up to 30% of cases may be resistant to folic acid. Most spina bifida cases in the folic acid-resistant 'curly tail' mouse can be prevented by treatment with inositol early in embryonic development. Here, the effectiveness and safety during pregnancy of two isomers, myo- and D-chiro-inositol, in preventing mouse NTDs was compared. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inositol was administered either directly to embryos in vitro, or to pregnant females by s.c. or oral routes. Although D-chiro- and myo-inositol both reduced the frequency of spina bifida in curly tail mice by all routes of administration, D-chiro-inositol consistently exhibited the more potent effect, reducing spina bifida by 73-86% in utero compared with a 53-56% reduction with myo-inositol. Pathological analysis revealed no association of either myo- or D-chiro-inositol with reduced litter size or fetal malformation. CONCLUSIONS: D-chiro-inositol offers a safe and effective method for preventing folic acid-resistant NTDs in the curly tail mouse. This raises the possibility of using inositol as an adjunct therapy to folic acid for prevention of NTDs in humans.

Administration, Oral↗

Metabolism of myo-inositol during sporulation of myo-inositol-requiring Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We investigated the sporulation properties of a series of diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains homozygous for inositol auxotrophic markers. The strains required different amounts of inositol for the completion of sporulation. Shift experiments revealed two phases of inositol requirement during sporulation which coincided with the two phases of lipid synthesis found by earlier workers. Phase I was at the beginning and during premeiotic deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis; phase II immediately preceded the appearance of mature asci. Of the inositol taken up by sporulating cells, 90% was incorporated into inositol phospholipids. By two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography, eight compounds were resolved, one of which was sporulation specific. The majority of the inositol phospholipids were, however, identical to those found in vegetatively growing cells. In the absence of inositol, the cells did not sporulate but, after a certain time, were unable to return to vegetative growth. These nonsporulating cells did, however, incorporate acetate into lipids and double their deoxyribonucleic acid content in the premeiotic phase. We believe that it is this lack of coordination of biosynthetic events which causes inositol-less death on sporulation media without inositol.

Acetates↗

Role of inositol-containing sphingolipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during inositol starvation.

The in vitro lipid requirements of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-dolichol phosphate N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase for the inositol-containing sphingolipids from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were characterized in terms of concentration and specificity. The effects of combinations of lipids, especially phosphatidylinositol and the inositol-containing sphingolipids, were also tested on the transferase. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol stimulated the enzyme 3.3- and 2.8-fold, respectively. The inositol-containing sphingolipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine did not stimulate the activity of the transferase. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in combination with phosphatidylinositol had no effect on the transferase activity; however, the inositol-containing sphingolipids markedly inhibited the stimulation of the transferase by phosphatidylinositol. This inhibition by the sphingolipids was prevented if phosphatidylcholine, in addition to the other lipids, was present in the assay mixture. In addition, changes due to inositol starvation in the in vivo membrane lipid environment, i.e., phosphatidylinositol and the inositol-containing sphingolipids, were analyzed to determine whether they corresponded to the observed in vitro effects. Three hours after the beginning of inositol starvation, there were 9- and 14-fold reductions in the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol in membrane fractions IIA (vesicles) and IV (endoplasmic reticulum), respectively, although there was only a 6-fold reduction in membrane fraction I (plasma membrane). The accumulation of [14C]inositol into inositol-containing sphingolipids also reflected the differences in the cellular location of membranes.

Cell Membrane↗

[3H]inositol incorporation into phosphatidyl-inositol in work-induced growth of rat muscle.

Unilateral tenotomy of the gastrocnemius muscle in normal rats caused rapid hyptertrophy of the soleus and plantaris muscles. The phospholipid content of hypertrophied muscles increased; the increase was proportional to the extent of hypertrophy and was distributed proportionally among the major phospholipid components. During the growth process, the hypertrophying muscles incorporated [3H]inositol into phosphatidyl-inositol more rapidly than did the contralateral, control limb muscles. The increased incorporation was evident 2 h after the operation and cannot be explained solely by an increased uptake of [3H]inositol. After growth had ceased, the incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidyl-inositol gradually returned toward control levels. The increase in incorporation after tenotomy was prevented by simultaneous spinal section to abolish activity in the tenotomized limb muscles. By contrast, in rats that had been forced to swim for prolonged periods of time, there was no increased incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidyl-inositol. It is concluded that the increased incorporation of [3H]inositol into phosphatidyl-inositol is related to increased muscle activity sufficient to produce compensatory hypertrophy.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Modulation of myo-[3H]inositol uptake by glucose and sorbitol in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells. II. Characterization of high- and low-affinity myo-inositol transport sites.

Myo-[3H]inositol accumulation in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells (BLECs) occurred by high- and low-affinity, Na(+)-dependent transport sites. The high- and low-affinity transport systems had a Km of 27 +/- 4 and 157 +/- 22 mumol/l, respectively, and Vmax of 652 +/- 35 and 2952 +/- 308 pmol/mg protein/hr, respectively. The uptake of myo-[3H]inositol was lowered after chronic (20 hr) incubation of cultured cells in 40 mmol/l glucose throughout the concentration range for 1.5-400 mumol/l myo-inositol. The coadministration of sorbinil (0.1 mmol/l) to 40 mmol/l glucose partially prevented the inhibitory effect of glucose on myo-[3H]inositol uptake. Although the aldose reductase inhibitor prevented the inhibitory effect of glucose on the low-affinity transport site, a glucose-sensitive process for myo-[3H]inositol uptake on the high-affinity transport site was uncovered by Lineweaver-Burk analysis. Acute exposure (3 hr) of cultured BLECs maintained in physiologic medium (Eagle's minimal essential medium, 5.5 mmol/l glucose) to a range of 5.5-44 mmol/l glucose plus sorbinil also caused a decrease in myo-[3H]inositol uptake. Dixon plot analysis confirmed that the acute effect of glucose was the result of competitive inhibition of the high-affinity myo-inositol transport site. Acute exposure of cultured cells to 10-40 mmol/l sorbitol also diminished the accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol. Dixon plot analysis established that the acute effect of exogenous sorbitol was the result of competitive inhibition of the low-affinity myo-inositol transport site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldehyde Reductase↗

The mechanism for synergism between phospholipase C- and adenylylcyclase-linked hormones in liver. Cyclic AMP-dependent kinase augments inositol trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ mobilization without increasing the cellular levels of inositol polyphosphates.

The ability of cAMP-dependent hormones to modulate the actions of Ca2(+)-mobilizing hormones was studied in single fura-2-injected guinea pig hepatocytes. In 91% of cells the cAMP-linked hormone, isoproterenol, applied alone, did not alter cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. In 78% of cells which had been pre-exposed to a low concentration of angiotensin II, isoproterenol was able to increase cytosolic Ca2+. Isoproterenol did not, however, increase inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or inositol tetrakisphosphate on its own, or in the presence of angiotensin II. Isoproterenol was also able to raise cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in cells microinjected with inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate or a photoactivatable derivative of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. The elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration induced by isoproterenol in angiotensin II-treated cells and cells injected with caged inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was blocked by heparin, implying that the effect was mediated by an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor agonist. In permeabilized hepatocytes, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release was enhanced by 8-bromo-cAMP and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase. Cyclic AMP-dependent kinase shifted the dose-response curve for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ release to the left by a factor of 4 and increased the total amount of Ca2+ released by 25%. These results indicate that increased sensitivity of the intracellular Ca2+ releasing organelle to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is responsible for synergism between phospholipase C- and adenylylcyclase-linked hormones in the liver.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Inositol metabolism and cell growth in a Chinese hamster ovary cell myo-inositol auxotroph.

The intracellular concentrations of polyphosphoinositides and inositol phosphates were determined, and their role in growth factor-initiated cell division was investigated in a Chinese hamster ovary cell inositol auxotroph (CHO-K1-Ins). Metabolic labeling experiments during inositol starvation of CHO-K1-Ins cells showed that 1) the lipid-linked inositol component was maintained at the expense of the soluble inositol pool, 2) the decreasing cellular content of phosphatidylinositol was replaced by phosphatidylglycerol, and 3) the concentrations of inositol polyphosphates and polyphosphoinositides were conserved at the expense of inositol and phosphatidylinositol. These data show that homeostatic mechanisms exist for the maintenance of the polyphosphoinositide and inositol phosphate pools at the expense of inositol and phosphatidylinositol. The addition of alpha-thrombin to growth-arrested (serum-starved) CHO-K1-Ins cells stimulated the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA to the same extent as that observed following serum readdition. gamma-Thrombin was also an effective mitogen, but active site-inhibited alpha-thrombin was not. Both alpha- and gamma-thrombin, but not catalytic site-inhibited alpha-thrombin, initiated phosphatidylinositol turnover in vivo and increased phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phospholipase C activity in vitro. Serum and insulin were potent CHO-K1-Ins cell mitogens, but neither triggered phosphatidylinositol turnover in vivo nor activated phospholipase C in vitro. The activation of phospholipase C plays a determinant role in thrombin-initiated cell cycle progression in Chinese hamster ovary cells, although other growth factor-signaling pathways exist that are independent of polyphosphoinositide catabolism.

Animals↗

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of myo-inositol phosphates including inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate.

1H and 31P NMR spectra of a variety of phosphorylated myo-inositols have been analyzed using a Bruker WH-360 spectrometer. Proton and phosphorus chemical shifts and coupling constants are reported for myo-inositol 1-phosphate, myo-inositol 2-phosphate, myo-inositol 5-phosphate, myo-inositol 1,2-cyclic phosphate, myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. These data provide the basis for the chemical identification and characterization of biologically relevant inositol phosphates.

Hydrogen↗

Oral maternal inositol supplementation does not increase rat conceptus inositol levels.

Lithium (Li) is an effective drug for prophylaxis and treatment of major affective disorders. It is teratogenic both to animals and human beings. Depletion of inositol is associated both with lithium side effects and teratogenesis. There is no direct evidence showing that in humans Li-teratogenesis is associated with the phosphoinositol (PI) cycle. It is conceivable that the teratogenic effect of Li in humans is also associated with inositol depletion and therefore is amenable to inositol supplementation. To test the hypothesis that oral inositol may cross the placental barrier and may be useful as a protective supplement to lithium therapy during pregnancy, we studied the effect of 2.5% inositol in drinking water on embryonic inositol levels in rats. There was no effect on fetal inositol concentration. However, weight of embryos of mothers receiving inositol was significantly higher. These data do not support the concept that inositol supplementation may be useful in preventing human Li-induced teratogenesis.

Administration, Oral↗