Alterations of GABA metabolism and seizure susceptibility in the substantia nigra of the kindled rat acclimating to changes in osmotic state.

Seizure susceptibility and GABA metabolism were altered in the substantia nigra [SN] of adult male Sprague Dawley rats when these animals were acclimating to an altered plasma osmolality. Changes in GABA metabolism were measured in vivo in SN of the freely moving rat. Suitable precautions were taken to avoid any post-mortem flux of glutamate to GABA and to correct for the underestimation of GABA build up in SN due to the finite diffusion rate of gamma-vinyl GABA [GVG] after stereotaxic injection of small amounts into one side of the brain. Control experiments provided evidence that changes in osmolality, within a normal physiological range, did not affect significantly gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase [GABA-T]. Also kindling via the medial septum [MS], in the absence of electrical stimulation did not alter GABA metabolism in SN, thus providing a stable baseline for studies of osmotic effects. Hyperosmolality was associated with a rise in seizure thresholds, with a marked reduction of the rate of GABA synthesis in SN, and with a substantial increase in turnover time of the GABA pool. Hypoosmolality, of a degree known to be associated with mild cerebral edema and swelling localized to astrocytes, markedly reduced seizure threshold, and reduced GABA pool size in SN, but did not alter the rate of GABA synthesis significantly. These results demonstrate by new and independent means the relationship between GABA metabolism in the SN and seizure susceptibility in vivo.

Effect of intravenous aminophylline on plasma levels of catecholamines and related cardiovascular and metabolic responses in man.

Theophylline is thought to act by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase, with a resultant increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. However, this concept is largely based on in vitro studies using concentrations of theophylline which greatly exceed therapeutic plasma concentrations. To investigate the relationship of the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of theophylline to activation of the sympathetic nervous system, i.v. aminophylline was administered to six healthy males under basal conditions. Each subject received four infusions. Mean theophylline concentrations (+/- SEM) of 4.5 +/- 0.2, 10.0 +/- 0.5, 14.0 +/- 0.5 and 20.0 +/- 1.2 micrograms/ml were achieved. Plasma epinephrine increased 262% (from 29 +/- 4 to 105 +/- 14 pg/ml, p less than 0.01) and plasma norepinephrine increased 64% (from 190 +/- 18 to 312 +/- 51 pg/ml, p less than 0.05) during the high-dose infusion. The increases in circulating catecholamines were dose-related (p less than 0.001 by analysis of variance). Dose-related increases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, free fatty acids and insulin were also observed (p less than 0.001 by analysis of variance). Although the duration of total electromechanical systole (QS2) and left ventricular ejection time adjusted for heart rate fell during the aminophylline infusions, this positive inotropic response was not influenced by dose, except possibly the high dose. Echocardiographic ejection fraction was not changed by the aminophylline infusions. We conclude that the acute cardiovascular and metabolic effects of theophylline may be mediated in part by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.