The epistatic interaction between the dopamine D3 receptor and dysbindin-1 modulates higher-order cognitive functions in mice and humans.

The dopamine D2 and D3 receptors are implicated in schizophrenia and its pharmacological treatments. These receptors undergo intracellular trafficking processes that are modulated by dysbindin-1 (Dys). Indeed, Dys variants alter cognitive responses to antipsychotic drugs through D2-mediated mechanisms. However, the mechanism by which Dys might selectively interfere with the D3 receptor subtype is unknown. Here, we revealed an interaction between functional genetic variants altering Dys and D3. Specifically, both in patients with schizophrenia and in genetically modified mice, concomitant reduction in D3 and Dys functionality was associated with improved executive and working memory abilities. This D3/Dys interaction produced a D2/D3 imbalance favoring increased D2 signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) but not in the striatum. No epistatic effects on the clinical positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores were evident, while only marginal effects on sensorimotor gating, locomotor functions, and social behavior were observed in mice. This genetic interaction between D3 and Dys suggests the D2/D3 imbalance in the PFC as a target for patient stratification and procognitive treatments in schizophrenia.

Nanoparticulated Systems Based on Natural Polymers Loaded with Miconazole Nitrate and Lidocaine for the Treatment of Topical Candidiasis.

People with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing candidiasis which is a fungal infection caused by several species of Candida genus. In this work, polymeric nanoparticles containing miconazole nitrate and the anesthetic lidocaine clorhydrate were developed. Miconazole was chosen as a typical drug to treat buccopharyngeal candidiasis whereas lidocaine may be useful in the management of the pain burning, and pruritus caused by the infection. Nanoparticles were synthesized using chitosan and gelatin at different ratios ranging from 10:90 to 90:10. The nano-systems presented nanometric size (between 80 and 300 nm in water; with polydispersion index ranging from 0.120 to 0.596), and positive Z potential (between 20.11 and 37.12 mV). The determined encapsulation efficiency ranges from 65 to 99% or 34 to 91% for miconazole nitrate and lidocaine clorhydrate, respectively. X-ray diffraction and DSC analysis suggested that both drugs were in amorphous state in the nanoparticles. Finally, the systems fitted best the Korsmeyer-Peppas model showing that the release from the nanoparticles was through diffusion allowing a sustained release of both drugs and prolonged the activity of miconazole nitrate over time against Candida albicans for at least 24 h.

Composite Microparticles Based on Natural Mucoadhesive Polymers with Promising Structural Properties to Protect and Improve the Antifungal Activity of Miconazole Nitrate.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a recurrent oral infection caused by Candida species. Gel formulation containing miconazole nitrate is the most common approach for treating oral candidiasis. However, traditional oral topical antifungal therapies have many limitations, including short contact time with the oral mucosa and the necessity to administrate various doses per day. Thus, the aim of this work was to formulate composited microparticulated systems based on combinations of mucoadhesive cationic, anionic, and nonionic polymers that could protect and modify the drug release rate and therefore avoid a fast dilution of the drug by saliva. Microparticulated systems were prepared by the spray drying method employing chitosan, gelatin, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. The morphology of the systems was investigated by scanning electron microscopy; drug crystallinity was studied by X-ray, while interactions between polymers were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Drug release and halo zone test were employed to analyze the release and activity of the systems loaded with miconazole against Candida albicans cultures. The most appropriate microparticulated system was the one based on chitosan and gelatin which showed homogeneous morphology (mean size of 1.7 ± 0.5 µm), a protective effect of the drug, and better antifungal effect against Candida culture than miconazole nitrate and the other assayed systems. Taking into account these results, this approach should be seriously considered for further evaluation of its safety and in vivo efficacy to be considered as an alternative therapeutic system for the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Development and Evaluation of Buccal Films Based on Chitosan for the Potential Treatment of Oral Candidiasis.

In this work, chitosan films were prepared by a casting/solvent evaporation methodology using pectin or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose to form polymeric matrices. Miconazole nitrate, as a model drug, was loaded into such formulations. These polymeric films were characterized in terms of mechanical properties, adhesiveness, and swelling as well as drug release. Besides, the morphology of raw materials and films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy; interactions between polymers were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and drug crystallinity studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. In addition, antifungal activity against cultures of the five most important fungal opportunistic pathogens belonging to Candida genus was investigated. Chitosan:hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose films were found to be the most appropriate formulations in terms of folding endurance, mechanical properties, and adhesiveness. Also, an improvement in the dissolution rate of miconazole nitrate from the films up to 90% compared to the non-loaded drug was observed. The in vitro antifungal activity showed a significant activity of the model drug when it is loaded into chitosan films. These findings suggest that chitosan-based films are a promising approach to deliver miconazole nitrate for the treatment of candidiasis.

Antifungal, cytotoxic and SAR studies of a series of N-alkyl, N-aryl and N-alkylphenyl-1,4-pyrrolediones and related compounds.

The synthesis, in vitro evaluation and SAR studies of 67 maleimides and derivatives acting as antifungal agents are reported. A detailed SAR study supported by theoretical calculations led us to determine that: an intact maleimido ring appears to be necessary for a strong antifungal activity, dissimilarly affected by the substituents in positions 2 and 3. The best activities were shown by 2,3-nonsubstituted followed by 2,3 dichloro- and 2-methyl-substituted maleimides. They all were fungicide rather than fungistatic enhancing the importance of their antifungal activity. 2,3-Dimethyl and 2,3-diphenyl-maleimides possessed marginal or null activity. The presence of a flexible connecting chain in N-phenylalkyl maleimides appears not to be essential for antifungal activity, although its length shows a correlation with the antifungal behavior, displaying maleimides with alkyl chains of n=3 and n=4 the best antifungal activities in most fungi. Different substituents on the benzene ring did not have a clear influence on the activity. Values of chemical potential properties as well as of energy do not sufficiently discriminate between active and inactive compounds. Nevertheless, it was found that, although logP alone is not strong enough to properly predict the antifungal activity, the comparison of its values for compounds within the same sub-type, showed an enhancement of antifungal activity along with an increment of lipophilicity. In addition, the LUMO's electronic clouds of the highly active compounds showed to be concentrated on the imido ring, indicating that their carbon atoms are potential sites for nucleophilic attack. Same results were obtained from MEPs. Most of the active compounds did not show cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines and no one possessed hemolytic activity, indicating that their activity is selective to pathogenic fungi and that they are not toxic at MIC concentrations.

The cell cycle molecules behind neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease: perspectives for drug development.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of senile dementia, has become a considerable social and economical problem. Current AD therapeutics provide mainly symptomatic short-term benefit, rather than targeting disease mechanisms. The hallmarks for AD are beta-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and regionalized neuronal loss. Additional neuropathological features have been described that may provide some clues to the mechanism by which neurons die in AD. Specifically, the aberrant expression of cell cycle proteins and the presence of de novo-replicated DNA in neurons have been described both in AD brain and in culture models of the disease. The unscheduled cell cycle events are deleterious to neurons, which undergo death rather than complete the cell cycle. Although our understanding of the neuronal cell cycle is not complete, experimental evidence suggests that compounds able of arresting the aberrant cell cycle will yield neuroprotection. This review focuses on drug development centered on the cell cycle hypothesis of AD.

Formulation and in-vitro efficacy of antifungal mucoadhesive polymeric matrices for the delivery of miconazole nitrate.

Oral candidiasis is the most common opportunistic infection affecting patients with the human immunodeficiency virus. Miconazole buccal tablets or miconazole gel are approved for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis. However, buccal films present more flexibility and also offer protection for the wounded mucosa, reducing pain. Due to their small size and thickness, buccal films may improve patients' compliance, compared to tablets. Additionally, they may increase the relatively short residence time on the mucosa of oral gels, which are easily removed by saliva. Polymeric films loaded with miconazole nitrate were prepared by a casting/solvent evaporation methodology using chitosan, carbopol, gelatin, gum arabic, and alginate to form the polymeric matrices. The morphology of films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy; interactions between polymers were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and drug crystallinity by differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. Films were characterized in terms of thickness, folding endurance, tensile properties, swelling, adhesiveness, and drug release. Finally, the antifungal activity against cultures of the five most important fungal opportunistic pathogens belonging to Candida genus was investigated. The more appropriate formulations were those based on chitosan-gelatin and chitosan-carbopol which showed good mechanical properties and adhesiveness, a relative low swelling index, improved drug release, and showed better in vitro activity against Candida cultures than miconazole nitrate raw material. Thus, it will be possible to produce a new pharmaceutical form based on polymeric films containing chitosan and miconazole nitrate, which could be loaded with low drug concentration producing the same therapeutic effect against Candida cultures.

Progenitor cells from the adult mouse brain acquire a neuronal phenotype in response to beta-amyloid.

Neurospheres from adult mouse subventricular zone (SVZ) were grown in suspension cultures for 12-15 days. Neurospheres consisted mainly of neural precursor cells (NPCs) immunoreactive for nestin and also contained nestin-negative precursors. We used these neurospheres to determine the effects of synthetic beta-amyloid fragments (both betaAP(1-42) and betaAP(25-35)) on NPC proliferation, differentiation and survival. We show that neurospheres exposed to 25 microM betaAP(25-35) or betaAP(1-42) for 24 h (a toxic condition for mature neurons) did not undergo apoptosis. Instead, betaAP(25-35) orientated nestin-negative precursors towards nestin-positive NPCs and turned nestin-positive NPCs into neuroblasts. Intracerebroventricular infusion of full-length betaAP(1-42) increased the population of PSA-NCAM-positive cells in the SVZ, without affecting proliferation. We conclude that betaAP influences the fate of progenitor cells, driving their differentiation towards a neuronal lineage.

Activation of cell-cycle-associated proteins in neuronal death: a mandatory or dispensable path?

Cell-cycle-related proteins, such as cyclins or cyclin-dependent kinases, are re-expressed in neurons committed to death in response to a variety of insults, including excitotoxins, hypoxia and ischemia, loss of trophic support, or beta-amyloid peptide. In some of these conditions events that are typical of the mid-G1 phase, such as cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 activation, are required for the induction of neuronal death. In other cases, the cycle must proceed further and recruit steps that are typical of the G1/S transition for death to occur. Finally, there are conditions in which cell-cycle proteins might be re-expressed, but do not contribute to neuronal death. We hypothesize that cell-cycle signaling becomes a mandatory component of neuronal demise when other mechanisms are not enough for neurons to reach the threshold for death. Under this scheme, the death threshold is set by the extent of DNA damage. Whenever the extent of DNA damage is below this threshold, a cell-cycle signaling becomes crucial for the induction of neuronal death through p53-dependent or -independent pathways.

Mitogenic effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) in LNCaP prostate adenocarcinoma cells: role of the high- and low-affinity NGF receptors.

We have investigated the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the androgen-dependent, prostate adenocarcinoma LNCaP cell line. Exposure of LNCaP cells to NGF resulted in a significant increase of cell proliferation. The effect was concentration dependent and equally present in serum- or charcoal-stripped serum-supplemented and serum-deprived conditions. The mitogenic action of NGF was accompanied by an enhanced expression of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and resulted additive to the proliferative effect of dihydrotestosterone. The proliferative effect of NGF appeared to be mediated by the high-affinity NGF receptor, p140trka. Only p140trka, but not the low-affinity NGF receptor, p75LNGFR, was expressed in LNCaP cells; both the proliferative response and the phosphorylation of p140trka upon NGF treatment were prevented by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor K252a. LNCaP cells transiently transfected with the cDNA encoding for p75LNGFR appeared more sensitive to NGF, as demonstrated by the increased number of p75LNGFR-transfected LNCaP cells exposed for 72 h to NGF compared with wild LNCaP cultures. However, p75LNGFR-transfected LNCaP cells rapidly underwent apoptotic death when deprived of NGF. Our study demonstrates the physiological relevance of NGF in the regulation of prostate cell proliferation and the relative contribution of the high- and low-affinity NGF receptors in this control.

Measurement of peptide secretion and gene expression in the same cell.

A combined reverse hemolytic plaque-in situ hybridization assay was developed to allow analysis of the relationship between peptide secretion and gene expression within individual cells. We used the pituitary lactotroph as a model system, but this strategy should be widely applicable. It can be used to test hypotheses regarding if and when peptide secretion and gene expression are coupled in any system in which antibodies to the secreted peptide and probes complementary to the mRNA are available. Using the mRNA hybridization signal to identify certain cell types, this method may also be useful in further studies on the biochemical mechanism of peptide secretion. In addition, questions regarding whether a cell known to secrete a given peptide contains other specific mRNAs and the relationship between these mRNAs and the secretion of the peptide can be studied using this strategy. We found striking heterogeneity among lactotrophs in both gene expression and PRL secretion and a lack of correlation of these parameters within individual lactotrophs under every treatment examined. We also present the first direct visualization and quantitation of the percentage of nonsecreting PRL mRNA-containing cells after estradiol treatment and in the presence or absence of the PRL secretagogue, TRH. Finally, we found that in ovariectomized rats, nonsecreting lactotrophs exhibited significantly higher levels of PRL mRNA than lactotrophs that were actively secreting PRL during the assay.

Effects of age and long term ovariectomy on prolactin secretion, as assessed by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay.

PRL secretion from pituitary lactotrophs was assessed using the reverse hemolytic plaque assay in young (2- to 3-month-old), middle-aged (10- to 12-month-old), and middle-aged long term ovariectomized (LT-OVX) rats to investigate whether 1) a change in the percentage of pituitary cells secreting PRL is detectable in middle-aged animals, 2) the amount of PRL secreted per cell changes with age, 3) aging involves a change in responsiveness to TRH and/or dopamine (DA), and 4) LT-OVX can prevent any of these changes. Young and middle-aged rats were OVX for 1 week. LT-OVX rats were OVX at 2-3 months of age and used when they were 10-12 months old. All animals were implanted with Silastic capsules containing estradiol (E2) in sesame oil and killed 3 or 8 days later. Anterior pituitaries were collected, and cells were dispersed and prepared for the reverse hemolytic plaque assay. Three days after E2 was implanted, the percentage of anterior pituitary cells that secrete PRL was higher in middle-aged compared to young rats. LT-OVX prevented this increase; the percentage of cells secreting PRL was significantly lower in LT-OVX than in both young and middle-aged rats. Basal secretion of PRL per cell was not different in young compared to middle-aged rats and was significantly lower in LT-OVX than in either young or middle-aged rats. TRH induced similar increases in plaque size in young and middle-aged rats, but had no effect in LT-OVX rats. DA (10(-7) M) inhibited plaque size only in LT-OVX rats; however, higher concentrations of DA were equally effective in the three experimental groups. Eight days after E2 was implanted, the percentage of cells that secrete PRL increased in LT-OVX rats, but was still significantly lower than that in middle-aged animals. After 8 days of E2 treatment, PRL release was similar in the three experimental groups under basal conditions. In LT-OVX rats TRH produced a small increase in PRL secretion (30-40%); DA suppressed PRL release in a similar manner in the three groups. These data demonstrate that middle-aged rats exhibit an increase in the percentage of cells secreting PRL without a concomitant detectable change in the amount of PRL released by single cells and/or a change in responsiveness to TRH or DA. Long term estrogen deprivation prevents this age-related change, suppresses responsiveness to TRH, and enhances sensitivity to DA.

Neuroprotective effect of insulin-like growth factor I in immortalized hypothalamic cells.

The neuroprotective action of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was tested in immortalized hypothalamic GT1-7 cells exposed to reduced glutathione depleting agents, which cause oxidative stress and cell death. The extent of cell survival was assessed by either using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cytotoxicity assay or counting at the fluorescence microscope GT1-7 cells prelabeled with fluorescent dyes selective for viable and dead cells. Treatments with buthionine sulfoximine (500 microns), diethylmaleate (1 mM), and ethacrynic acid (200 microns) caused diffuse GT1-7 cell death (40-60%). Exposure of the same cells to IGF-I (either before or concomitant to the toxic agent, depending on the drug used) significantly prevented neuronal death. This effect was rapid, concentration-dependent, maximal at concentrations of 25-50 ng/ml, and mimicked by IGF-II, fibroblast growth factor, and the potent antioxidant idebenone. In contrast, IGF-I, as well as idebenone, were completely ineffective in antagonizing the toxic effect produced by different concentrations of menadione. In conclusion, the present data demonstrate a protective role for IGF-I against glutathione depleting agents-induced damage in GT1-7 cells suggesting an antioxidant action of this growth factor in hypothalamic neurons.

Relaxin stimulates prolactin secretion from anterior pituitary cells.

The anterior pituitary has recently been implicated as a relaxin target issue because of the cAMP elevation after relaxin treatment. We attempted to correlate this finding with an endocrine response to relaxin in rats. Anterior pituitary cells were enzymatically dispersed and subjected to the reverse hemolytic plaque assay. PRL secretion was significantly stimulated 1.31-fold by human relaxin at the lowest concentration studied (30 pM) and maximally stimulated 1.65-fold at 0.3 nM relaxin. Antibodies directed against relaxin inhibited this effect, as did the PRL inhibitory hormone, dopamine. In contrast to the response of PRL cells, there was no effect or a slight inhibition of LH release after incubation with relaxin. In conclusion, we propose that one of the pituitary cell types responsive to relaxin in culture is the PRL-secreting mammotroph.

Involvement of nitric oxide in the regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone release from the GT1-1 neuronal cell line.

A role for nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of hypothalamic neurohormone secretion has been suggested. The aim of the present study was to establish a direct involvement of this novel intracellular regulatory molecule in the control of GnRH release. For this purpose, the GT1-1 GnRH-secreting continuous cell line was treated with various agents that can modify the endogenous NO synthase activity or, alternatively, with substances that can liberate NO, mimicking an increased concentration of this molecule in the cell. Treatment of GT1-1 cells with increasing concentrations of L-arginine, the direct precursor of NO, produced a marked reduction of norepinephrine-stimulated GnRH release despite a lack of effect on basal secretion. Similarly, the NO donors SIN-1 and acidified NaNO2 potently reduced basal as well as KCl-stimulated GnRH secretion. Conversely, sodium nitroprusside caused a significant inhibition of KCl-stimulated, but not basal, GnRH secretion. Addition of these agents to GT1-1 cells resulted in a marked increase in intracellular cGMP accumulation. Addition of the NO synthase inhibitors N-nitro-L-arginine and N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester stimulated basal GnRH secretion without modifying norepinephrine- or KCl-stimulated release. In addition, treatment of GT1-1 cells with both L-arginine analogs produced a significant inhibition of the basal cGMP concentration. Together, these data suggest an inhibitory role for NO in the control of GnRH secretion from GT1-1 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces apoptosis in immortalized hypothalamic neurons: involvement of ceramide-generating pathways.

To investigate possible effects that may contribute, together with a direct action on neurohormone secretion, to the impairment of gonadal axis function during inflammation, we evaluated the effect of TNF alpha on the growth and viability of GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons and the intracellular transduction pathways involved in these effects. TNF alpha caused a reduction of cell number and an induction of apoptotic death. These effects were mimicked by cell-permeable analogs of ceramide and by neutral or acidic sphingomyelinase. Exposure to acidic sphingomyelinase induced a persistent (up to 48 h) reduction of cell growth and apoptosis, whereas the effect of neutral sphingomyelinase was time limited. The involvement of acidic sphingomyelinase in TNF alpha action was demonstrated by the partial prevention of ceramide generation, apoptosis, and reduced cell growth by the inhibitor of the acidic sphingomyelinase-generating pathway, D609, whereas the involvement of ceramide was proved by complete prevention of TNF alpha-induced effects by treatment with okadaic acid at concentrations inhibiting ceramide-dependent protein phosphatase. The present data indicate that TNF alpha, through activation of ceramide-generating pathways, is able to affect GT1-7 cell viability, suggesting an additional effect that may contribute to the global action of this cytokine on neuroendocrine activities.

Acute effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on secretion of prolactin as assessed by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay.

The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on acute secretion of PRL by pituitary lactotrophs was examined under basal conditions and after treatment with TRH or dopamine. We used the reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA) to determine the amount of PRL secreted per lactotroph and the percentage of pituitary cells secreting PRL. Young (2- to 3-month-old) female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and 1 week later implanted with a Silastic capsule containing 180 micrograms/ml estradiol in sesame oil. Three days later, rats were killed, anterior pituitaries were removed, and cells were enzymatically dispersed and prepared for use in the RHPA. In Exp I, time and dose responses to bFGF were determined using the RHPA. Basic FGF reduced (P less than 0.0001) the mean basal secretion of prolactin per lactotroph. The effect was similar at 30, 60, 120, and 240 min of incubation. The reduction in PRL was greatest at 3.36 x 10(-6) M, while lesser reductions were observed at 1.68 x 10(-6) and 5.60 x 10(-7) M. A dose of 3.36 x 10(-6) M (60 ng/ml) and an incubation time of 60 min were subsequently used in Exp II. In Exp II, we examined the effects of bFGF on TRH stimulation and dopamine inhibition of PRL secretion. PRL secretion was maximally stimulated (P less than 0.01) by 10(-7) M TRH. Basic FGF blocked the TRH-induced increase in PRL secretion. PRL secretion was maximally reduced (P less than 0.001) by 10(-5) M dopamine. Coincubation of bFGF with dopamine reduced (P less than 0.01) the mean plaque area to the same extent as dopamine alone. In each experimental situation changes in mean plaque area reflected a shift in the frequency distribution of the plaque area. Neither bFGF, TRH, dopamine, nor the combined treatments influenced the percentage of pituitary cells secreting PRL compared to basal conditions. We have demonstrated that 1) bFGF reduces the basal secretion of PRL in an acute manner; 2) bFGF blocks the TRH-induced increase in PRL; and 3) bFGF does not potentiate the inhibitory effect of dopamine on PRL secretion and, therefore, may act in part through the same inhibitory pathway as dopamine. We conclude from these data that bFGF, or related factors, could play a role in the regulation of PRL secretion.

Glia mediates the neuroprotective action of estradiol on beta-amyloid-induced neuronal death.

17beta-Estradiol (17beta-E(2)) is known to exert neuroprotective activity against beta-amyloid, but its exact target and mechanism of action in this effect have not been elucidated. The involvement of astroglia in neuroprotection of 17beta-E(2) against the beta-amyloid fragment [betaAP((25-35))] has been evaluated using an experimental paradigm in which medium conditioned from rat astroglia pretreated with 17beta-E2 was transferred to pure rat cortical neurons challenged with 25 microm betaAP((25-35)) for 24 h. The toxicity of betaAP((25-35)) was assessed by flow cytometry, evaluating the ability of the peptide to induce an aberrant mitotic cell cycle in neurons. The results obtained indicate that conditioned medium from astrocytes preexposed to 17beta-E(2) for 4 h increased the viability of cortical neurons treated with betaAP((25-35)). This effect was not modified by treatment with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780, added directly to neurons, nor was it mimicked by direct addition of 17beta-E(2) to neuronal cultures during exposure to betaAP((25-35)). A soluble factor stimulated by 17beta-E(2) seemed to be involved, and accordingly, the intracellular and released levels of TGF-beta1 were increased by 17beta-E(2) treatment, as established by Western blot analysis. In addition, the intracellular content of TGF-beta1 in immunopositive cells, as detected by flow cytometry, was reduced, suggesting that 17beta-E(2) stimulated mainly the release of the cytokine. In support of a role for TGF-beta1 in astrocyte-mediated 17beta-E(2) neuroprotective activity, incubation with a neutralizing anti-TGF-beta1 antibody significantly modified the reduction of neuronal death induced by 17beta-E(2)-treated astrocyte-conditioned medium.

Maitotoxin increases inositol phosphates in rat anterior pituitary cells.

Maitotoxin is a potent marine poison that mobilizes calcium in most vertebrate cell types and accelerates secretion from anterior pituitary cells. It is not known whether voltage-sensitive calcium channels or other mechanisms initiate the effects of maitotoxin on anterior pituitary cells. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels may also be achieved by releasing internal calcium stores via inositol trisphosphate (InsP3). Indeed, maitotoxin rapidly increased inositol phosphate accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner. Calcium channel antagonists such as nifedipine and verapamil did not block this response nor did calcium-mobilizing agents (BAYk8644, A23187) mimic this effect. These data suggest that the mechanism by which maitotoxin acts at the pituitary may include the activation of an enzyme that produces the calcium-mobilizing signal InsP3.

Adenosine deaminase increases release of excitatory amino acids through a mechanism independent of adenosine depletion.

Addition of adenosine deaminase to cultured cerebellar neurones, led to large increases in the influx of 45Ca2+ and hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositide. These effects were inhibited or attenuated by glutamate receptor antagonists (AP5 or MK-801) and were not observed in cells stimulated by maximum concentrations of glutamate or quisqualate. Stimulation of the influx of 45Ca2+ and hydrolysis of phosphoinositide by adenosine deaminase may be secondary to an enhanced release of endogenous glutamate that in turn activates specific excitatory amino acid receptors. Accordingly, adenosine deaminase potently increased release of D-[3H]aspartate, an effect that requires the presence of extracellular Na+ and is insensitive to inhibition by MK-801. None of the effects of adenosine deaminase may be simply related to a fall in endogenous adenosine. In fact, the action of adenosine deaminase was neither reversed by agonists (L-PIA or NECA), nor mimicked by antagonists (IBMX or theophylline) of adenosine receptors. It is speculated that adenosine deaminase stimulates release of neurotransmitter through a mechanism independent of depletion of adenosine. A possible direct action of adenosine deaminase should be taken into account when the enzyme is used to unmask the effects of endogenous adenosine.