Characterization of human presenilin 1 transgenic rats: increased sensitivity to apoptosis in primary neuronal cultures.

Mutations in the gene for presenilin 1 are causative for the majority of cases of early onset familial Alzheimer's disease. Yet, the physiological function of presenilin 1 and the pathological mechanisms of the mutations leading to Alzheimer's disease are still unknown. To analyse potential pathological effects of presenilin 1 over-expression, we have generated transgenic rats which express high levels of human presenilin 1 protein in the brain. The over-expression of presenilin 1 leads to saturation of its normal processing and to the appearance of full-length protein in the transgenic rat brain. The transgenic protein is expressed throughout the brain and is predominantly found in neuronal cells. Cultured primary cortical neurons derived from these transgenic rats are significantly more sensitive than non-transgenic controls to apoptosis induced by standard culture conditions and to apoptosis induced by trophic factor withdrawal. Furthermore, the observed apoptosis is directly correlated with the expression of the transgenic protein. The results further emphasize the role of presenilin 1 in apoptotic cell death in native neuronal cultures.

Proteolytical processing of mutated human amyloid precursor protein in transgenic mice.

The evidence that betaA4 is central to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) came from the identification of several missense mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene co-segregating with familial AD (FAD). In an attempt to study the proteolytical processing of mutated human APP in vivo, we have created transgenic mice expressing the human APP695 isoform with four FAD-linked mutations. Expression of the transgene was controlled by the promoter of the HMG-CR gene. Human APP is expressed in the brain of transgenic mice as shown by Western blot and immunohistology. The proteolytic processing of human APP in the transgenic mice leads to the generation of C-terminal APP fragments as well as to the release of betaA4. Despite substantial amounts of betaA4 detected in the brain of the transgenic mice, neither signs of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology nor related behavioural deficits could be demonstrated.

RP 59037 and RP 60503: anxiolytic cyclopyrrolone derivatives with low sedative potential. interaction with the gamma-aminobutyric acidA/benzodiazepine receptor complex and behavioral effects in the rodent.

This study describes the pharmacological properties of two novel cyclopyrrolone derivatives, RP 59037 [2-(7-chloro-2-naphthyridin-1,8-yl)-3-(5- methyl-2-oxohexyl)isoindolin-1-one] and RP 60503 [2-(7-chloro-2-naphthyridin-1,8-yl)isoindolin-1-yl-4- acetamidobutyrate], in the rodent. These compounds possess high affinity for the benzodiazepine binding site on the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor in rat cerebrocortical membranes with Ki values of 0.98 nM (RP 59037) and 1.16 nM (RP 60503). Neither compound discriminates between the putative benzodiazepine BZ1 and BZ2 binding site subtypes present in the rat cerebellum and hippocampus, respectively. Both compounds protect mice against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures with ID50 values of 0.21 mg.kg-1 p.o. (RP 59037) and 5.96 mg.kg-1 p.o. (RP 60503). The two compounds displayed a restricted anticonvulsant profile compared to diazepam and, in this respect, resembled the pyrazoloquinoline partial agonist, CGS 9896. RP 59037 and RP 60503 were active in two rat models predictive of anxiolytic drug action, a modified Geller-Seifter conflict paradigm (minimal effective dose, 0.33 mg.kg-1 p.o. for RP 59037 and 5 mg.kg-1 p.o. for RP 60503) and the elevated plus maze (minimal effective dose, 0.33 mg.kg-1 p.o. for RP 59037 and 5 mg.kg-1 p.o. for RP 60503). Only very low activities were observed in tests of sedative or myorelaxant effects (ED50 > 50 mg.kg-1 p.o.). It is concluded that the two cyclopyrrolones possess a dissociated behavioral profile, displaying potent anxiolytic and anticonvulsant properties with little or no sedative or myorelaxant effects. Although both compounds appear to be partial agonists at their allosteric recognition site on the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor, RP 60503 seems to be more dissociated than RP 59037, which would be compatible with it having lower intrinsic activity. This difference is reflected in a higher receptor occupancy requirement for activity, and a smaller modulatory effect on the binding of t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphothionate.