Changes in Activities of Somatovisceral Systems in Newborn Rats under Conditions of Nicotinic Cholinoreceptor Blockage and Activation of Cholinoreactive Structures.

Relationship between the residual effects of disorders in the cholinergic system and the activities of the cardiac, respiratory, and somatomotor systems of 1- and 16-day-old rats were studied. Experiments were carried out on intact conscious rats before and after drug injection (nicotinic cholinoreceptor blocker benzohexonium). In order to increase the level of cholinoreactive structure activation, acetylcholinesterase inhibition by eserine was carried out. Injection of benzohexonium caused rarefaction of HR, respiration rate, and a decrease of motor activity parameters in rats of both age groups. Injection of eserine after cholinolytic premedication led to further rarefaction of the respiration rate and HR. The reaction of the somatosensory system to changed level of cholinoreactive structure activation was age-specific. Motor activity increased in 1-day-old rats and was depressed significantly in 16-day-old ones.

[Hypolipidemic activity of N-cholinergic antagonist Benzohexonium in the experiments ].

Methods: Experiments were carried out on outbred albino male rats (n = 150, 230-250 g). For modeling dislipoproteinemia (DLP) we used 3 models: single intraperitoneal injection of the detergent triton WR-1339; administration of ethanol; maintenance on a special hypercholesterolaemic diet (HD) during 21 days. Animals were divided into four groups: normal control, model group, gemfibrozil (Gfb) group, benzohexonium (Benz) group. Rats received per os benzohexonium (20mg/kg), reference drug gemfibrozil (50 mg/kg). We determined content of total cholesterol (TCh), triglycerides (TG) in samples of blood serum and liver, TCh in aorta. TCh, TG and Ch-HDL were analyzed spectrophotometrically using of standardized methods. Results: Compared with model group the contents of TCh, TG in serum and liver were significantly decreased in model + Benz group, whereas Ch-HDL was raised in rats fed special HD (P<0.05). Calculated index of atherogenity (TCh - Ch-HDL) / (Ch-HDL) showed the positive effect. Conclusion: The results obtained were shown the hypolipidemic activity of N-cholinergic antagonist Benzohexonium (20 mg/kg) lowered the content of lipids in blood, liver, and aorta.

Changes in contractile activity of the large intestine in rabbits during the poststress period before and after blockade of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.

The rabbits were exposed twice to stress, fixation to a frame in the supine position, for 60 min. Contractile activity of all portions of the large intestine was shown to increase significantly during the poststress period. These changes were not observed under conditions of blockade of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. This state can be considered as dyskinesia impairing large intestinal transit of chyme.

A new activity of N-cholinolytic drug benzohexonium.

We have found that N-cholinolytic drug benzohexonium produces a hypolipidemic effect: it reduces dyslipoproteinemia, fatty infiltration of the liver, and risk of atherosclerotic lesions.

Cardiovascular responses evoked by activation or blockade of GABA(A) receptors in the hypothalamic PVN are attenuated in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen.

Previous evidence indicates that a balance between inhibitory gabaergic and excitatory angiotensinergic factors in the PVN is important for cardiovascular control. We investigated the cardiovascular response evoked from activation or blockade of GABA(A) receptors in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), in transgenic rats with low brain angiotensinogen [TGR(ASrAOGEN)]. Brain Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels were also determined. In functional experiments, TGR(ASrAOGEN) and Sprague-Dawley rats (SD, control) were anesthetized with urethane and blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) were recorded. Brain Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels were largely reduced in TGR(ASrAOGEN) compared with SD rats. Inhibition of PVN neurons with the GABA(A) agonist, muscimol (1 nmol/100 nL), resulted in an attenuated fall in all cardiovascular variables in TGR(ASrAOGEN) compared with SD rats. This difference was particularly pronounced in HR (TGR Mus -23±6 bpm vs. -77±9 bpm SD Mus; P<0.05) and RSNA (TGR -3±10% vs.-29±8% SD; P<0.05). Furthermore, the sympathetic response evoked by blockade of GABA(A) receptors in the PVN of TGR(ASrAOGEN) was also largely suppressed. The present data indicate that the sympathetic outflow mediated by PVN neurons under basal conditions is suppressed in TGR(ASrAOGEN) rats corroborating the functional significance of brain angiotensin production in the central regulation of sympathetic output to the cardiovascular system.

Mechanism for the inhibition of contractile activity of the gastric antrum and pylorus in rabbits during psychogenic stress.

Psychogenic stress in rabbits (fixation to a frame) was accompanied by the inhibition of contractile activity of the gastric antrum and pylorus. These changes persisted during blockade of muscarinic receptors, nicotinic receptors, alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, and beta(1)/beta(2) adrenoceptors. A stress-induced decrease in gastric motor activity was mediated by the nonadrenergic noncholinergic mechanism. It resulted from the influence of a hormonal stress factor on the stomach, which was probably realized through nonadrenergic inhibitory neurons of the enteric nervous system.

Cerebral sympathetic nerve activity has a major regulatory role in the cerebral circulation in REM sleep.

Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in neurons projecting to skeletal muscle blood vessels increases during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, substantially exceeding SNA of non-REM (NREM) sleep and quiet wakefulness (QW). Similar SNA increases to cerebral blood vessels may regulate the cerebral circulation in REM sleep, but this is unknown. We hypothesized that cerebral SNA increases during phasic REM sleep, constricting cerebral vessels as a protective mechanism against cerebral hyperperfusion during the large arterial pressure surges that characterize this sleep state. We tested this hypothesis using a newly developed model to continuously record SNA in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) before, during, and after arterial pressure surges occurring during REM in spontaneously sleeping lambs. Arterial pressure (AP), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral vascular resistance [CVR = (AP - ICP)/CBF], and SNA from the SCG were recorded in lambs (n = 5) undergoing spontaneous sleep-wake cycles. In REM sleep, CBF was greatest (REM > QW = NREM, P < 0.05) and CVR was least (REM < QW = NREM, P < 0.05). SNA in the SCG did not change from QW to NREM sleep but increased during tonic REM sleep, with a further increase during phasic REM sleep (phasic REM > tonic REM > QW = NREM, P < 0.05). Coherent averaging revealed that SNA increases preceded AP surges in phasic REM sleep by 12 s (P < 0.05). We report the first recordings of cerebral SNA during natural sleep-wake cycles. SNA increases markedly during tonic REM sleep, and further in phasic REM sleep. As SNA increases precede AP surges, they may serve to protect the brain against potentially damaging intravascular pressure changes or hyperperfusion in REM sleep.

Hylan B gel restores structure and function to laser-ablated canine vocal folds.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated cross-linked hyaluronic acid (hylan B gel) as a scaffold for tissue regeneration and mucosal wave restoration in carbon dioxide laser-ablated canine vocal folds. METHODS: Five beagles underwent stroboscopy before ablation of the left vocal fold with a carbon dioxide laser. Four weeks later, stroboscopy was repeated before and after submucosal injection of hylan B gel into the left vocal fold of 4 animals and of saline solution in 1 animal. Stroboscopy was repeated 12 weeks later, and histologic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Four weeks after laser ablation, all animals had soft tissue defects and absence of mucosal waves. Hylan B injection restored mucosal waves, and saline injection did not. Twelve weeks after injection, hylan B-injected larynges had tissue regeneration and mucosal waves, and the saline-injected larynx had neither. Histology showed regenerated lamina propria with residual foci of hylan B in the hylan B-injected larynges and dense submucosal scar in the saline-injected animal. CONCLUSIONS: Submucosal hylan B gel injection in laser-ablated canine vocal folds restored tissue volume and mucosal waves and facilitated functional tissue regeneration over 12 weeks. Hylan B gel may have utility as a soft tissue scaffold for rehabilitation of phonatory function in vocal folds with lamina propria defects.

Sensitization to nicotine significantly decreases expression of GABA transporter GAT-1 in the medial prefrontal cortex.

This study investigated GABA signaling following induction of behavioural sensitization to nicotine. Rats were repeatedly injected with saline, nicotine or hexamethonium for 18 days and gene expression was measured with qPCR. Nicotine upregulated GABAA alpha1 subunit expression in the nucleus accumbens (p<0.05) while no changes were observed for GABAA alpha3, alpha4 or alpha5. In the medial prefrontal cortex, no change in expression of the GABAA subunits was observed. We found that nicotine significantly decreased expression of the transporter GAT-1/SLC6A1 (p<0.05) in the medial prefrontal cortex while the expression of the GAT-3/SLC6A11 (p<0.05) transporter was increased in the nucleus accumbens. This provides the first evidence of neuroadaptive changes in the GABA system after nicotine sensitization and the first demonstration of an effect on GAT-1 or GAT-3 transporters in the addiction field. The GAT-1 findings also provide evidence for an alternative theory of why most schizophrenic individuals also use tobacco products.

Role of brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in centrally administered corticotropin-releasing factor-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone in rats.

The present study was undertaken to clarify the central mechanisms involved in the intracerebroventricularly administered corticotropin-releasing factor-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone in urethane- and alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats using microdialysis and immunohistochemical techniques. When corticotropin-releasing factor was given at 0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 nmol/animal intracerebroventricularly, it dose-dependently increased noradrenaline release but not adrenaline release in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. The 1.5 nmol/animal dose of corticotropin-releasing factor-induced noradrenaline release was attenuated by CP-154,526 (butyl-ethyl-{2,5-dimethyl-7-(2,4,6 trimethylphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl}amine), a selective corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist, at 1.3 micromol/animal, intracerebroventricularly, and was also abolished by phentolamine at 0.66 micromol/animal, intracerebroventricularly. In addition, the corticotropin-releasing factor-induced elevation of noradrenaline release in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and plasma corticosterone were abolished by hexamethonium, a non-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, at 1.8 micromol/animal, intracerebroventricularly, and alpha-conotoxin MII, a potent alpha(3)beta(2) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, at 30 nmol/animal, i.c.v. Corticotropin-releasing factor at 1.5 nmol/animal, i.c.v. evoked a significant expression of Fos, an immediate-early transcription factor in neurons, on the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-containing neurons and alpha(3) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit-expressing neurons in the locus coeruleus, but not in the medullary A(1) and A(2) regions containing noradrenergic neurons. These results suggest that centrally administered corticotrophin-releasing factor elevates plasma corticosterone by the corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor and alpha(3) subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (probably alpha(3)beta(2) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor) mediated activation of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus in rats.

Repeated administration of nicotine attenuates the development of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice.

Clinical use of morphine in pain management is a controversial issue. Both nicotine and morphine are widely abused. So, investigating the interaction between nicotinic and opioid receptors is of great interest to both basic mechanistic and clinical view. We investigated the influence of repeated administration of nicotine on the development of morphine tolerance and dependence. Adult male albino mice were rendered dependent on morphine by subcutaneous (s.c.) injections three times daily for 3 days. Repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of nicotine (0.001-2 mg/kg) or saline (1 ml/kg) was performed 15 min prior to each morphine injection. Maximal possible effect (MPE%) of morphine (50 mg/kg; s.c.) was used on the fourth day as an index for the development of tolerance. Likewise, to assess the occurrence of dependence in drug-treated mice, naloxone (5 mg/kg; i.p.) was injected 2 h after the last dose of morphine. Repeated nicotine administration significantly attenuated the development of tolerance in a dose-dependent manner whereas it significantly decreased withdrawal jumping behavior in a biphasic profile (V-shape) manner. Furthermore, the central nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine (0.01-0.1 mg/kg; i.p.) neither the peripheral nicotinic receptor antagonist hexamethonium (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg; i.p.) nor the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (2.5-10 mg/kg; i.p.), dose-dependently antagonized both the inhibition of withdrawal jumping as well as increase in MPE% which was produced by repeated nicotine administration (0.1 mg/kg; i.p.). On the other hand, 3 days of solely nicotine treatment resulted in significant jumping behavior precipitated by naloxone after single morphine injection on the test day. The data suggests that the inhibitory effect of nicotine on the morphine tolerance and dependence is mediated by central nicotinic receptors and there is a cross-dependence between nicotine and morphine.

[Effects of cholinergic antagonists in stress].

Effects of methacine, hexamethonium and their combinations with neostigmine on activity of B-lymphocytes in various phases of immune response and development of stress ulcers induced in animals were studied. The drugs were found to modulate B-lymphocyte activity for 28 days and longer. By a water-immersion stress model it was shown that methacin is effective not only as m-cholinolytic but also as an immunoprophylactic drug reducing destructive changes in gastric mucosa. Injection of methacin 30 min before stress (block of m-cholinoreceptors) or 14 days before stress (maximal increase of B cell activity) results in 3-4-fold inhibition of ulcerogenesis in gastric mucosa.

Cardiovascular effects of trans-dehydrocrotonin, a diterpene from Croton cajucara in rats.

Previous studies have established the gastroprotective, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects of trans-dehydrocrotonin (t-DCTN), a major diterpene isolated from the Amazon medicinal plant Croton cajucara. This study aims to examine the potential effects of t-DCTN on hemodynamic parameters that include resting arterial blood pressure and heart rate in vivo, and on left atrial force, spontaneous beating atria, and aortic rings of rats in vitro. Intravenous bolus injections of t-DCTN (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg) to urethane anesthetized normotensive rats reduced the mean arterial pressure and heart rate in a dose-dependent manner. The hypotensive effect of t-DCTN (10 mg/kg) appears not mediated through effects on the muscarinic cholinergic receptor, beta-adrenoceptor, or ganglionic blockade, for it was not affected by atropine, propranolol, or hexamethonium but was abolished by N(w)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. The diterpene t-DCTN showed no significant influence on inotropism. In isolated rat aortic rings with intact or denuded endothelium, t-DCTN relaxed the tonic contraction induced by phenylephrine (1 microM). Its vasorelaxant effect seen at smaller concentrations in endothelium intact preparations was, however, abolished in endothelium denuded or in l-NAME treated tissues. These data indicate the hypotensive and bradycardia effects of t-DCTN, possibly related in part to the release of nitric oxide and in part to direct effects on vascular smooth muscle, and cardiac pacemaker activity.

Characterization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in cultured arterial chemoreceptor cells of the cat.

Neurotransmitters appear to be involved in chemotransmission of the carotid body, a major arterial chemoreceptor. Substantial data indicate that acetylcholine (ACh) is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the carotid body, regulating the excitability of afferent nerve endings and glomus cells (putative chemoreceptor cells). In this study we characterized properties of nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) in cultured cat glomus cells using immunocytochemistry and whole cell patch clamp techniques. Cultured glomus cells expressed immunoreactivity for alpha3, alpha4, and beta2 subunits of nAChRs. An application of ACh elicited inward current. Nicotinic AChRs of glomus cells showed high affinity for ACh. The current-voltage relationship showed strong inward rectification at positive membrane potential. alpha-Conotoxin MII (20 nM), dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE; 1 nM), and hexamethonium (300 microM) significantly inhibited ACh-induced current. These results indicate that cultured cat glomus cells possess functional nAChRs, and that their characteristics are consistent with those of alpha3, alpha4 and beta2 containing nAChRs.

[Mechanism of the serotonin effect on motility of the duodenum, ileum, and jejunum in awake rabbits]. / Mekhanizmy vliianiia serotonina na motornuiu aktivnost' dvenadtsatiperstnoi, toshchei i podvzdoshnoi kishki u bodrstvuiushchikh krolikov.

I. v. administration of serotonin to alert rabbits produced a phasic change of contractile activity of duodenum, ileum, and jejunum including excitatory and inhibitory components. It is shown that stimulation of the small bowel motility is caused by serotonin activation of non-cholinergic excitatory mechanism with participation of effector cholinergic neurones. The initial suppression of the motility is caused by participation of nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibitory mechanism, and the secondary inhibition of contractile activity of a small bowel with serotonin has an adrenergic nature.

Cross-linked hyaluronan for augmentation of the posterior pharyngeal wall: an experimental study in rats.

Velopharyngeal insufficiency can be treated in different ways. Augmentation injections of various space-filling materials have been tried, but a substance that has the ideal properties--easy to inject, non-toxic, and not immunogenic, and having a lasting effect--has not yet been found. Hylan b gel, a double cross-linked hyaluronan solution, is a new tissue augmentor that is not immunogenic and is easy to use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the persistence of and the tissue reaction to hylan b gel injected into the posterior pharyngeal wall of 12 rats. Six rats acted as controls. A light immediate, and no late, inflammatory reaction developed in the pharyngeal mucosa after injection. Six months after injection, the gel was still present and the substance had been invaded by and surrounded by newly-formed, loose connective tissue. These results indicate that hylan b gel may be an appropriate substance in the augmentation of mild velopharyngeal insufficiency in man. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term effects.

[Ganglionic blockers in abdominal surgery: facts and hypotheses. I. Benzohexonium and motor function of the gastrointestinal system in the early postoperative period]. / Ganglioblokatory v abdominal'noi khirurgii: fakty i gipotezy. Soobshchenie I. Benzogeksonii i motornaia funktsiia zheludochno-kishechnogo trakta v rannem posleoperatsionnom periode.

The method of registration of the intraluminal pressure was used to study the function of the stomach, small intestine and sigmoid colon under conditions of partial ganglionic blockade in the first days after truncal vagotomy and resection of the stomach. It was found that benzohexonium in doses 0.1-0.3 mg/kg failed to substantially decrease the frequency of early functional motor-evacuation disorders of the "operated" stomach, but the results of using N-cholinolytic was better after truncal vagotomy than after resection of the stomach. Benzohexonium in doses 0.1-0.2 mg/kg failed to considerably stimulate the motor function of the small intestine while the doses of 0.3-0.4 mg/kg resulted in a decrease of its contractile activity. No reliable changes in the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the sigmoid colon motor function were found against the background of ganglionic blockade. So, for prevention and correction of early postoperative motor-evacuation disorders of the gastrointestinal tract the ganglionic blockade with N-cholinolytics should not be taken as a method of choice or a variant of monotherapy.

[Ganglionic blockers in abdominal surgery: facts and hypotheses. 2.Clinical, pathophysiological and pharmacological aspects of ganglionic blocker use]. / Ganglioblokatory v abdominal'noi khirurgii: fakty i gipotezy. Soobshchenie 2. Klinicheskie, patofiziologicheskie i farmakologicheskie aspekty primeneniia ganglioblokatorov.

The authors discuss facts and hypotheses on the effects of benzohexonium upon the motor activity of the intestine and the significance of N-cholinolytics for prophylactics and treatment of postoperative pareses of the gastrointestinal tract. The ganglioblockers possess antistress effect, reduce the degree of pathological vegetative reactions and facilitate realization of the mechanisms of selfregulation of functions of the small and large intestine. Using benzohexonium during operation and in the first days after it makes the intestinal pareses less frequent. N-cholinolytics however do not have a considerable stimulating influence on the contracting activity of the gastrointestinal tract that accounts for their not high effectiveness in treatment of early functional motor evacuatory disorders. The points of action of gangliolytics, those at the level of the intestinal wall included, can not be considered to be completely established, as well as the mechanisms of their indirect effect. The ganglionic blockade should be considered as the basic method of prophylactics of the postoperative paresis of the intestine.

[Regulation of oxidative phosphorylation by liver mitochondria receptors after adaptation by rats to periodic normal pressure and acute hypoxia]. / Retseptorna rehuliatsiia okysliuval'noho fosforyluvannia mitokhondrii pechinky za adaptatsiï shchuriv do periodychnoï normobarychnoï i hostroï hipoksiï.

It is known that NO-dependent mechanisms are involved in mitochondrial adaptive reactions to different factors. The object of this study was to investigate the role of cholino- and adrenoreceptors in NO-dependent reactions of rat liver mitochondria to acute hypoxia (AH) and intermittent hypoxic training (IHT). Eight groups of Wistar male rats participated in the study. Animals of Gr. I underwent daily i.p. saline injections during 14 days. Gr. II was examined after a single AH test (inhalation of 7% O2, 30 min) with the same saline treatment. Another six groups were exposed to IHT (11% O2, 15-min sessions with 15 min rest intervals, 5 times daily during 14-days), at that 15 min before every IHT session animals underwent i.p. treatment: Gr. III and IV--saline, Gr. V--L-arginine, Gr. VI--NO synthase blocker L-NNA, Gr. VII--L-arginine with alpha-, beta-adrenoblockers phentolamine and obzidane, Gr. VIII--L-arginine with M- and N-cholinoreceptor blockers athropine and benzohexonium. After IHT Gr. IV-VIII were exposed to a single AH test and decapitated just after that. In control rats AH provoked: 1) in the presence of succinate, a 33% augmentation of ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration (V3) with a 18% decrease of O2 uptake efficiency (ADP/O ratio); 2) in the presence of alpha-ketoglutarate, a NAD-dependent substrate, no changes in V3 were observed, also 21% augmentation of ADP/O ratio registered. These events were accompanied by 36% increase in succinate dehydrogenase (SDG) activity, two-fold augmentation of malon dialdehyde (MDA) content and 43% increase in diene conjugates (DK). IHT caused reorganization of mitochondrial energy metabolism improving the protection against acute hypoxia. A decrease by 40% in activation of mitochondrial respiration in the presence of succinate (V3--by 40% and V4--by 34%), a reduction of MDA and DK content (by 32% and 20%, respectively), an increase in SGD activity by 31% was observed in Gr. IY compared to Gr. II. Extra exogenous NO (Gr.Y) did not influence V3 and V4 in the presence of succinate, but in the presence of alpha-ketoglutarate decreased them by 9% and 29%, respectively, as well as ADP/O ratio by 28% on the background of SDG inhibition by 24% and the decrease of MDA content by 34%, that is reduced aerobic energy supply and reactive oxygen species production. L-arginine effects were abolished by L-NNA. Effects of cholinoreceptor blockers over L-arginine (Gr. VIII) resembled effects of AH: considerable activation of succinate and alpha-ketoglutarate oxidation in stage V3 by 44% and 75%, respectively, was observed which was accompanied by a decrease in ADP/O by 21% and 31%, and V3/V4 by 15% and 28%, respectively, in comparison to Gr.Y. It indicates that effects of L-arginine are mediated mainly by cholinoreceptors. The effects of adrenoreceptors blockade strengthened the combined effects of IHT with L-arginine treatment, confirming primary role of cholinoreceptors in NO-dependent mitochondrial reactions to IHT. Thus, oxygen uptake and its effective usage depend on dynamic status of adreno- and cholinoreceptors. We conclude that protective effects of the combination of IHT with NO-donor treatment under acute hypoxia are mainly realized through cholinoreceptors.

[Ganglion block in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery]. / Ganglionarnaia blokada pri operatsiiakh na serdtse s iskusstvennym krovoobrashcheniem.

Ganglion blockers increase the antinociceptive defense in anesthesiological support of cardiopulmonary bypass operations for mitral and aortic valve failure. Benzohexonium decreased total peripheral vascular resistance, increased cardiac and stroke indexes, and increased systolic potency of the heart. Ganglionar blocking was associated with an increase of systemic oxygen transport, arrhythmias developed rarely, blood concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH, vasopressin, and leukinferon were lower.