Role of 5-HT2C receptors of the dorsal hippocampus in the modulation of anxiety- and panic-related defensive responses in rats.

The role of 5-HT2C receptors (5-HT2CRs) in the regulation of anxiety has been widely acknowledged. However, conflicting results have been reported on whether stimulation of these receptors increases or decreases anxiety. We here investigated the role of 5-HT2CRs of the dorsal hippocampus (DH) in the mediation of anxiety- or panic-associated defensive behaviors and in the anxiolytic effect of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine. In the Vogel conflict test, administration of the mixed 5-HT2CR agonist mCPP into the DH of male Wistar rats was anxiogenic, whereas infusions of the more selective agonists MK-212 and RO-600175 were anxiolytic. The 5-HT2CR antagonist SB-242084, on the other hand, was anxiogenic. A sub-effective dose of this antagonist blocked the anxiolytic effect of RO-600175, but not the increase in anxiety observed with mCPP, indicating that the latter effect was not due to 5-HT2CR activation. In full agreement with these findings, MK-212 and RO-600175 in the DH also inhibited inhibitory avoidance acquisition in the elevated T-maze, whereas SB-242084 caused the opposite effect. None of these drugs interfered with escape expression in this test, which has been associated with panic. Chronic administration of imipramine (15 mg/kg, ip, 21 days) caused an anxiolytic effect in the elevated T-maze and light-dark transition tests, which was not blocked by previous infusion of SB-242084 into the DH. Therefore, facilitation of 5-HT2CR-mediated neurotransmission in the DH decreases the expression of anxiety-, but not panic-related defensive behaviors. This mechanism, however, is not involved in the anxiolytic effect caused by imipramine.

Peptidomimetic plasmepsin inhibitors with potent anti-malarial activity and selectivity against cathepsin D.

Following up the open initiative of anti-malarial drug discovery, a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) phenotypic screening hit was developed to generate hydroxyethylamine based plasmepsin (Plm) inhibitors exhibiting growth inhibition of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum at nanomolar concentrations. Lead optimization studies were performed with the aim of improving Plm inhibition selectivity versus the related human aspartic protease cathepsin D (Cat D). Optimization studies were performed using Plm IV as a readily accessible model protein, the inhibition of which correlates with anti-malarial activity. Guided by sequence alignment of Plms and Cat D, selectivity-inducing structural motifs were modified in the S3 and S4 sub-pocket occupying substituents of the hydroxyethylamine inhibitors. This resulted in potent anti-malarials with an up to 50-fold Plm IV/Cat D selectivity factor. More detailed investigation of the mechanism of action of the selected compounds revealed that they inhibit maturation of the P. falciparum subtilisin-like protease SUB1, and also inhibit parasite egress from erythrocytes. Our results indicate that the anti-malarial activity of the compounds is linked to inhibition of the SUB1 maturase plasmepsin subtype Plm X.

Inhibited Ru(bpy)3 2+ electrochemiluminescence related to electrochemical oxidation activity of inhibitors.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) has been accepted by the analytical chemist as a powerful tool for detection of many inorganic and organic compounds. Ru(bpy)3 2+ has been the most popular ECL system, and many investigations have been focused on the application based on the enhancement or inhibition of Ru(bpy)3 2+ ECL system. However, not much attention has been paid to the theoretical investigation of this ECL system, especially to the inhibiting mechanism for the Ru(bpy)3 2+ ECL system. In the present study, many of the inorganic and organic compounds with electrochemical oxidation activity were found to strongly inhibit Ru(bpy)3 2+ ECL. To explain these inhibited ECL phenomena, a new "electrochemical oxidation inhibiting" mechanism has been proposed via the establishment of a corresponding model. The effects of applied potential, uncompensated resistance, and concentration of inhibitor on the inhibited ECL derived from the model have been verified by experiments. The new ECL inhibition mechanism can be commonly used to explain many kinds of inhibited ECL presently observed, and it is envisioned to result in finding of more inhibitors of this type and establishment of new sensitive ECL detection methods for them.

N-acetyl-L-cysteine abolishes the bromoethylamine-induced choline incorporation into renal papillary tissue.

The role of regenerative processes in the protective effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) against bromoethylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis was assessed in rats given bromoethylamine (BEA)(1.2 mmol/kg), N-acetylcysteine (6 mmol/kg), or N-acetyl-cysteine plus BEA. Renal papillary slices were dissected after 15 hours of treatment, and 14C-choline incorporation into total phospholipid, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylcholine was measured. Bromoethylamine elicited an increase in the incorporation of 14C-choline into choline-containing phospholipid, an effect that was abolished when N-acetylcysteine was administered prior to bromoethylamine. These studies indicate that the defensive mechanism of N-acetylcysteine against bromoethylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis is not related to regenerative processes and that N-acetylcysteine abolishes the bromoethylamine-induced choline incorporation into papillary phospholipid.

Inhibition of rat liver hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase activity by alkylamines.

Triethylamine, which was used as an elution solvent for column chromatography to purify chemically synthesized 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), was a potent inhibitor of rat liver sulfotransferase (ST) activities toward androsterone and dehydroepiandrosterone, but not ST activities toward cortisol and 2-naphthol. Examination of fourteen primary, secondary and tertiary amines revealed that a secondary amine, di-n-butylamine, and three tertiary amines, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine and tri-n-butylamine, specifically inhibited ST activities toward androgen.

Effects of reserpine and L-cysteine and glutathione depletion on 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide-induced tubular necrosis in Swiss ICR mice.

Female Swiss ICR mice were injected ip with 100 or 300 mg 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide (BEA)/kg body weight. Male Swiss ICR mice were subjected to water deprivation, or treated with 5% dextrose in water, dimethylsulphoxide, piperonyl butoxide, SKF-525A, sodium phenobarbital, beta-naphthoflavone, probenecid, reserpine, diethyl maleate, buthionine sulphoximine or L-cysteine. Urine collected sequentially from male Swiss ICR mice given 300 mg BEA/kg body weight was analysed for glucose, protein, pH and specific gravity. Female mice were less sensitive to BEA than were male mice. Diuresis, antidiuresis, treatment with cytochrome P-450 inducers and inhibitors, and the antioxidant dimethyl-sulphoxide had no effect on the incidence or severity of tubular necrosis (TN) induced by BEA. Probenecid and L-cysteine decreased the severity, but they had no effect on the incidence of TN. Glutathione depletion by diethyl maleate and inhibition of glutathione synthesis by buthionine sulphoximine decreased the dose of BEA necessary to cause TN; buthionine sulphoximine was more effective than diethyl maleate. Reserpine decreased both the incidence and severity of TN. Glycosuria, aciduria and decreased urinary specific gravity occurred before morphological changes were seen under the microscope, indicating that the functional changes precede the morphological changes. These data indicate that glutathione is important in protecting against BEA-induced TN, that BEA or a metabolite is concentrated in the tubule epithelium by way of anion transport, and that vasoconstriction contributes to the development of BEA-induced TN.

Sulfur-containing amino acids that increase renal glutathione protect the kidney against papillary necrosis induced by 2-bromoethylamine.

Papillary necrosis was observed in the kidneys of rats, 72 h after receiving a single injection of bromoethylamine (BEA). This effect was associated with renal glutathione (GSH) depletion 1 h after the administration of BEA. Stimulation of renal GSH synthesis by pretreatment of the animals either with glutamine + glycine + cystine or N-acetyl-L-cysteine was attempted. Low doses of these precursors administered previously to BEA, respectively, decreased or abolished the GSH depletion. Nevertheless, both pretreatments failed to modify the magnitude of renal papillary necrosis. High doses of these precursors did not modify the BEA-induced GSH depletion, but they significantly increased GSH levels 24 h after BEA administration. At this time, although a smaller intensity of renal papillary necrosis was observed with the amino acid mixture pretreatment, N-acetyl-L-cysteine pretreated rats showed no papillary necrosis. It is suggested that the observed protective effects against BEA-induced renal papillary injury may be ascribed in some measure, to a mechanism independent of GSH.

Irreversible blockade of responses to a partial agonist acting at the histamine H1-receptor.

N,N-Diethyl-2-(1-pyridyl)-ethylamine (E-2-P) has been shown previously to behave as a simple partial agonist at the histamine H1-receptor of guinea-pig ileum. When isolated longitudinal muscle strips from this preparation were tested with E-2-P before and after blockade with 2-haloalkylamines, it was found that these agents produced an irreversible shift to the right in the dose-response curve without significant depression of the maximum response even at very high antagonist concentrations. Under these circumstances the maximum response to the partial agonist may exceed the maximum response to histamine itself since the latter shows a much diminished maximum response at a very high concentrations of antagonist. These findings are not readily explicable in terms the usual "receptor-reserve' model of the histamine receptor system in ileum. A tentative explanation is provided, involving interaction with the antagonist at more than one site.

Inhibitory effect of bromazepam on basal and betazole-stimulated gastric acid secretion in man.

Basal, as well as betazole-stimulated gastric acid secretion in man is reduced after the intravenous administration of bromazepam. In subjects staying awake, this reduction is limited to the first two 15-minute periods. The reduction is highly significant in subjects who fall asleep after receiving the drug. Natural sleep causes the same depression. The low level of acid secretion is maintained until the subjects are awakened when there is a sharp and highly significant rise. Acid secretion in subjects who fall asleep after the simultaneous administration of betazole and bromazepam is significantly higher than after the administration of bromazepam alone. Sleep causes a much greater depression of basal and betazole-stimulated acid secretion than does the benzodiazepine itself. Acid secretion was measured by continuous intragastric titration and a pH-sensitive endoradiosonde.

Metoclopramide in gastrooesophageal reflux.

In 30 patients with gastrooesophageal reflux, intravenous metoclopramide (Maxolon) has been shown to increase the gastrooesophageal sphincter pressure. The rise is dose-related until a maximum pressure, proportional to the resting sphincter tone, is reached. The effect is reversed by atropine. Peristaltic waves are increased in pressure by metoclopramide.In 18 patients with gastrooesophageal reflux intravenous metoclopramide diminished the frequency of reflux episodes and increased the rate at which the oesophagus emptied itself of an acid load.