In vivo incorporation of lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Escherichia coli.

The strain Escherichia coli JRG26, which has a defect in the lipoic acid biosynthesis, was cultivated in the presence of R-lipoic acid, S-lipoic acid, RS-dithiolane-3-caproic acid, RS-bisnorlipoic acid, and RS-tetranorlipoic acid, respectively. With the exception of the last compound the strain was able to grow with all these substances. R-lipoic acid was the most efficient factor, concentrations of 10 ng/l were sufficient to support growth of the cells, while 10(4)-fold to 10(7)-fold higher concentrations were necessary for the other compounds. The specific catalytic activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex isolated from the cells grown on RS-dithiolane-3-caproic acid was only slightly lower than from cells grown on R-lipoic acid. With RS bisnorlipoic acid the specific activity was one third compared to that of the native enzyme complex. The incorporation of the RS-bisnorlipoic acid into the pyruvate dehydrogenase could directly be demonstrated by polyclonal antibodies directed against R-lipoic acid and RS-bisnorlipoic acid, both conjugated to BSA. Western blot analysis showed that the antibodies against the R-lipoic acid reacted specifically with the E2 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex purified from cells grown on this factor, while antibodies against RS-bisnorlipoic acid reacted with the enzyme complex isolated from cells grown in the presence of this compound.

Using lipoate enantiomers and thioredoxin to study the mechanism of the 2-oxoacid-dependent dihydrolipoate production by the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes.

The thioredoxin-catalyzed insulin reduction by dihydrolipoate was applied to study the 2-oxoacid: lipoate oxidoreductase activity of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms of the transfer of reducing equivalents from the complexes to free lipoic acid (alpha-lipoic acid, 6,8-thiooctic acid) were distinguished using the high stereoselectivity of the complex enzymes to the R-enantiomer of lipoate. Unlike these enzymes, thioredoxin from E. coli exhibited no stereoselectivity upon reduction with chemically obtained dihydrolipoate. However, coupled to the dihydrolipoate production by the dehydrogenase complexes, the process was essentially sensitive both to the enantiomer used and the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase activity of the complexes. These results indicated the involvement of the third complex component, dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, in the 2-oxoacid-dependent dihydrolipoate formation. The implication of the investigated reaction for a connection between thioredoxin and the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes in the mitochondrial metabolism are discussed.

Two stereoisomeric imidazoline derivatives: synthesis and optical and alpha 2-adrenoceptor activities.

Two eight-step pathways for synthesizing the stereoisomeric compounds (-)-2-[1-(2,6-dichlorophenoxy)ethyl]-2-imidazoline hydrochloride ("levlofexidine" hydrochloride; (-)-lofexidine hydrochloride) and (+)-2-[1-(2,6-dichlorophenoxy)ethyl]-2-imidazoline hydrochloride ("dexlofexidine" hydrochloride; (+)-lofexidine hydrochloride) and the optical resolution of (+/-)-lofexidine are described. (-)-Lofexidine, a stereoselective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, due to its center of asymmetry, is demonstrated to be a potent drug for the treatment of hypertension (doses 0.561 microgram/kg) and to have the highest affinity and a concentration dependency for alpha 2-adrenoceptors in direct binding studies (0.36 nmol/L). (+)-Lofexidine is 10 times less potent.

Mode of antinociceptive action of flupirtine in the rat.

1. Flupirtine is a novel, centrally acting, non-opioid analgesic agent. The present investigation was undertaken to ascertain which neuronal systems might be responsible for its antinociceptive effect in rodents. The antinociceptive responses to the test compounds were examined in the tail-flick test. 2. The selective destruction of noradrenergic pathways by 6-hydroxydopamine considerably reduced the flupirtine-induced inhibition of nociceptive responses but not the clonidine-induced antinociception which was significantly enhanced. Depletion of spinal 5-hydroxytryptaminergic pathways by pretreatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine failed to affect the action of flupirtine and clonidine. 3. The depletion of neurotransmitters by reserpine totally abolished the antinociceptive action of flupirtine. By contrast, clonidine-induced inhibition of nociceptive responses remained unchanged. 4. Inhibition of the synthesis of noradrenaline by alpha-methyl-L-p-tyrosine attenuated the antinociception induced by flupirtine. In contrast, inhibition of the synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine by (+/-)-6-fluorotryptophan did not influence the antinociceptive activity of flupirtine. 5. Inhibition of noradrenaline uptake by imipramine led to a significant augmentation of flupirtine-induced antinociception. 6. Selective antagonists at alpha-adrenoceptors significantly decreased the antinociceptive action of flupirtine. Antinociception induced by clonidine was significantly diminished by idazoxan but not by prazosin. 7. The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonist, ketanserin diminished the antinociceptive activity of flupirtine, probably due to its additional alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist activity. The antinociceptive effect of clonidine was not influenced by ketanserin. 8. Cholinoceptor antagonists such as mecamylamine and pirenzepine did not alter the antinociceptive action of flupirtine. Flupirtine-induced antinociception also remained unchanged after pretreatment with haloperidol. 9. Flupirtine has no pharmacologically relevant affinity for alpha 1-, alpha 2-adrenoceptors, 5-HT1- and 5-HT2-receptors as shown in direct binding studies. 10. The present results indicate that the antinociceptive action induced by flupirtine depends on the descending noradrenergic pain-modulating system.

Interaction of alpha-lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues with the enzyme components of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Lipoic acid (alpha-lipoic acid, thioctic acid) is applied as a therapeutic agent in various diseases accompanied by polyneuropathia such as diabetes mellitus. The stereoselectivity and specificity of lipoic acid for the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and its component enzymes from different sources has been studied. The dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase component from pig heart has a clear preference for R-lipoic acid, a substrate which reacts 24 times faster than the S-enantiomer. Selectivity is more at the stage of the catalytic reaction than of binding. The Michaelis constants of both enantiomers are comparable (Km = 3.7 and 5.5 mM for R- and S-lipoic acid, respectively) and the S-enantiomer inhibits the R-lipoic acid dependent reaction with an inhibition constant similar to its Michaelis constant. When three lipoic acid homologues were tested, RS-1,2-dithiolane-3-caproic acid was one carbon atom longer than lipoic acid, while RS-bisnorlipoic acid and RS-tetranorlipoic acid were two and four carbon atoms shorter, respectively. All are poor substrates but bind to and inhibit the enzyme with an affinity similar to that of S-lipoic acid. No essential differences with respect to its reaction with lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues exist between free and complex-bound dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from human renal carcinoma has a higher Michaelis constant for R-lipoic acid (Km = 18 mM) and does not accept the S-enantiomer as a substrate. Both enantiomers of lipoic acid are inhibitors of the overall reaction of the bovine pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, but stimulate the respective enzyme complexes from rat as well as from Escherichia coli. The S-enantiomer is the stronger inhibitor, the R-enantiomer the better activator. The two enantiomers have no influence on the partial reaction of the bovine pyruvate dehydrogenase component, but do inhibit this enzyme component from rat kidney. The implications of these results are discussed.

The detection of specific [3H]imipramine binding in bovine retina.

Using [3H]imipramine, specific imipramine binding was demonstrable in the crude membrane homogenate of bovine retina. Scatchard analysis of the saturation experiments revealed an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 6.4 nM and a maximal number of binding sites of 780 fmol/mg protein. These results and the substrate specificity show that the properties of imipramine binding to retinal membranes are essentially the same as described for the rat brain.

Specific [3H]strychnine binding associated with glycine receptors in bovine retina.

Saturable, specific [3H]strychnine binding can be demonstrated in homogenates of bovine retina. Scatchard plots revealed only one set of binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of about 60 nM and a maximal number of binding sites of about 1.5 pmol/mg protein. The structural specificity of [3H]strychnine binding sites in bovine retina parallels the properties found for [3H]strychnine binding sites in the spinal cord of several vertebrates. Thus, the data do not give any evidence that specific [3H]strychnine binding in bovine retina labels taurine rather than glycine receptors and favors glycine rather than taurine as inhibitory neurotransmitter in bovine retina. The subcellular distribution of specific [3H]strychnine binding in bovine retina parallels that of sodium-dependent, high-affinity uptake of glycine and taurine. All 3 parameters are mainly found in the P2 fractions of bovine retina homogenates, containing conventional synaptosomes, most abundant in the inner plexiform layer, but can also be found in the P1 fractions, containing large synaptosomes from the photoreceptor cell layer.

5-HT1A-agonistic properties of naftopidil, a novel antihypertensive drug.

Naftopidil, a novel antihypertensive compound, possesses 5-HT1A agonistic properties in addition to being an alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist. The IC50 values for alpha 1-adrenoceptors (235 nmol/l) and for 5-HT1A receptors (108 nmol/l) lie in the same concentration range. The reduction in blood pressure of anesthetized cats by 8-OH-DPAT and urapidil was completely abolished by spiroxatrine, a 5-HT1A antagonist. However, the decreases in blood pressure induced by naftopidil were only partly antagonized by spiroxatrine.

Benzodiazepine antagonism by harmane and other beta-carbolines in vitro and in vivo.

Harmane and other related beta-carbolines are putative endogenous ligands of the benzodiazepine receptor. Since the compounds are potent convulsants they may have agonist activities at the benzodiazepine receptor while the benzodiazepines may be antagonists. This hypothesis was proved by comparing the in vivo and in vitro antagonism of benzodiazepines by harmane and other beta-carbolines. Harmane is clearly a competitive inhibitor of benzodiazepine receptor binding in vitro. Moreover, harmane-induced convulsions can be inhibited reversibly by diazepam in a manner which is consistent with the assumption of competitive antagonism in vivo. For some beta-carboline derivatives a correlation was found between the affinity for the benzodiazepine receptor in vitro and the convulsive potency in vivo. Thus, the data reported suggest that harmane or other related beta-carbolines are putative endogenous agonists of the benzodiazepine receptor. This suggestion is further supported by the observation that diazepam is equally potent in inhibiting harmane- or picrotoxin-induced convulsions, indicating a convulsive mechanism within the GABA receptor-benzodiazepine receptor system.

Beta-carboline binding indicates the presence of benzodiazepine receptor subclasses in the bovine central nervous system.

Receptor binding studies were performed with tritiated propyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate ( [3H]PrCC), tritiated ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate ( [3H]ECC), and tritiated flunitrazepam ( [3H]FNT) in membrane preparations from different regions of the bovine brain and retina. Specific binding in all regions investigated was associated with benzodiazepine receptor sites. However, not all benzodiazepine receptors in the regions investigated as determined by the specific binding of tritiated flunitrazepam ( [3H]FNT) are available for [3H]PrCC suggesting that specific [3H]PrCC binding labels only one subclass or subpopulation of the benzodiazepine receptor. This benzodiazepine receptor subclass is sensitive to GABAergic modulation and amounts for about 60% of the benzodiazepine receptors in bovine cortex, hippocampus, and retina but for about 80% of the benzodiazepine receptors in the bovine cerebellum. By contrast, specific [3H]ECC binding in the cerebellum and the hippocampus labeled the same number of benzodiazepine receptors as [3H]FNT, giving no evidence for a benzodiazepine receptor subclass specificity of this compound in the bovine CNS.

1-Methyl-beta-carboline (harmane), a potent endogenous inhibitor of benzodiazepine receptor binding.

The interaction of several beta-carbolines with specific [3H]-flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine receptors in rat brain membranes was investigated. Out of the investigated compounds, harmane and norharmane were the most potent inhibitors of specific [3H]-flunitrazepam binding, with IC50-values in the micromolar range. All other derivatives, including harmine, harmaline, and several tetrahydroderivatives were at least ten times less potent. Harmane has been previously found in rat brain and human urine, so it is the most potent endogenous inhibitor of specific [3H]-flunitrazepam binding known so far, with a several fold higher affinity for the benzodiazepine receptor than inosine and hypoxanthine. Thus, we suggest that harmane or other related beta-carbolines could be potential candidates as endogenous ligands of the benzodiazepine receptor.

Kinetic evaluation of MAO-B-activity following oral administration of selegiline and desmethyl-selegiline in the rat.

The monoamine oxidase (MAO) B activity of rat brain was inhibited by selegiline and its desmethyl-metabolite in vitro with IC50-values of 11.25 nmol/l and 625.00 nmol/l, respectively. When measured in an ex vivo experiment following oral treatment of rats, the large difference in potency was distinctly reduced, from factor 60 in vitro to factor 3 ex vivo. Restoration experiments of MAO-B-activity after cessation of treatment revealed a nearly identical time course for both compounds. It is concluded that desmethyl-selegiline is an irreversible blocker of MAO-B, nearly equipotent to selegiline after multiple oral administration. No pharmacologically relevant inhibition of MAO-A was found with both compounds.

Effect of selegiline and desmethyl-selegiline on cortical electric activity in rats.

The pharmaco-EEG changes caused by the monoamine oxidase (MAO) B inhibitor selegiline were compared with the frequency band alterations aroused by its desmethyl metabolite after oral administration in rats. After single administration (5 mg/kg) the EEG changes caused by selegiline or desmethyl-selegiline differed significantly. Distinct decreases in delta and clear increases in theta EEG frequency bands were obvious after administration of selegiline. The single oral dose of desmethyl-selegiline (5 mg/kg) caused only trendly the same EEG changes observed after giving the mother compound. Following repeated administration on four consecutive days no significant differences in the frequency band changes could be seen after selegiline or desmethyl-selegiline. Based on present results it is likely that the mode of action of desmethyl-selegiline appears to be similar or identical with the mode of action of the parent compound, selegiline.

Radioreceptor assay for the determination of alpha 1-adrenoceptor-binding material in rat plasma following single oral administration of naftopidil.

Naftopidil could be characterized by receptor binding studies as an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist with a binding affinity constant (Ki) of 58.3 nmol/l. both enantiomers of naftopidil revealed similar values, indicating no stereoselective inhibition of 3H-prazosin-binding. An alpha 1-adrenergic radiorecptor assay (RRA) was developed to determine receptor-binding material (parent compound and active metabolites) in the plasma of rats following single oral administration of naftopidil (50 mg/kg). The results indicate a rapid absorption. At the first sampling time (0.5 h) maximum concentration of receptor-binding material was measured. Terminal half-life was calculated with 16.7 h.

Absorption of [7,8-14C]rac-a-lipoic acid from in situ ligated segments of the gastrointestinal tract of the rat.

rac-a-Lipoic acid (CAS 62-46-4, thioctic acid) is used in human therapy besides the parenteral route also orally in gastric juice soluble galenic formulations in patients suffering from diabetic polyneuropathy which also involves the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract in about 20% of the diabetic population. In those patients the most common manifestation of the disease due to small intestine dysfunction is diarrhoea as a consequence of which malabsorption of orally administered drugs may result. Due to the importance of the knowledge on absorption characteristics, in preclinical studies on pharmacokinetics the extent of [14C]absorption from a solution of [7,8-14C]rac-a-lipoic acid was investigated in the rat after oral administration by means of comparison of the AUCs from the [14C]plasma concentrations vs those from the intravenous route, yielding 66%. An alternative evaluation by comparison of [14C]material excreted into the urine yielded 93% [14C]absorption. Despite this high and nearly complete absorption, due to the gastroenteral disturbances mentioned above, the question was investigated if the absorption is restricted to only a small area of the GI tract or is extended over a wider area. The latter is expected to make the absorption less sensitive against variations caused by gastrointestinal disturbances due to longer residence times in the GI tract. In order to approach most closely the physiological situation--as compared with different in vitro incubation techniques using isolated GI tract sacs--the in situ technique on 5 ligated areas of the GI tract of the aneasthetized rat (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon with caecum) was established.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amitriptylinoxide: receptor-binding profile compared with other antidepressant drugs.

The interactions of amitriptylinoxide and various antidepressant drugs with different neurotransmitter and drug receptors were investigated by receptor binding studies. Amitriptylinoxide had less affinity than amitriptyline for most of the receptors studied. Half maximal inhibition of acetylcholine receptor binding occurred for amitriptylinoxide at 18 mumol/l (amitriptyline: 0.32 mumol/l). Comparing all studied antidepressants for muscarinic acetylcholine receptor binding, amitriptylinoxide had the weakest affinity of all tested tricyclic compounds. Also the affinity of amitriptylinoxide for alpha-receptor binding was about 60 fold less than that of amitriptyline. For all antidepressants investigated, the lowest affinities were found for benzodiazepine, opiate and beta-receptor binding. The weak affinities of amitriptylinoxide for various receptors may be responsible for its reduced side-effects, while it still retains potent antidepressant properties by stabilising the amitriptyline-level in the brain.

Monitoring of the effects of antidepressant drugs in the freely moving rat by radioelectroencephalography (tele-stereo-EEG).

Chronic implantation of four bipolar concentric electrodes into frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and reticular formation of the rat allows continuous recording of bioelectric potentials during the action of various drugs. Frequency analysis of the potentials serves to quantify EEG changes over longer periods of time. Segmentation of the spectra into six frequency bands and integration of their power provides parameters by which the different drugs can be differentiated from each other. The action of classic tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and imipramine as well as the effect of doxepine is characterized by a general decrease in power with respect to all frequency bands and all brain areas. Amitriptylinoxide can be distinguished from them by its lack of decrease in beta-2 power and a smaller decrease in alpha-1 power. Amphetamine lacks decreases in alpha-1 frequencies in the striatum and the reticular formation. Both diazepam and haloperidol show increases in beta-2 power; haloperidol increases alpha-1 power, whereas diazepam diminishes it. LSD can be differentiated from amphetamine by its increases in alpha-1 power in the hippocampus and striatum. Thus all antidepressants show very similar changes with respect to the frequency patterns obtained after drug injection, whereas drugs used for other indications can be well distinguished from each other and also from antidepressants.

Dose-proportional plasma levels of the analgesic flupirtine maleate in man. Application of a new HPLC assay.

Single oral doses of the non-opioid, centrally-acting analgesic flupirtine maleate (Katadolon, CAS 75507-68-5) were administered to healthy volunteers and the 2 h plasma levels determined with a new specific HPLC assay. 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg were ingested as the commercial capsules in a double-blind randomized cross-over design with time intervals of at least 6 d. Dose-proportionality was observed for the median 2 h plasma levels which is in agreement with dose-proportionality previously described for multiple-dose studies.