3H-dopamine uptake by synaptic storage vesicles of rat whole brain and brain regions

A crude preparation of neurotransmitter storage vesicles was obtained by differential centrifugation and the ability to take up ³H-dopamine was evaluated $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$. The uptake was highly dependent on temperature, had an absolute requirement for ATP and Mg²⁺ and was inhibited totally by reserpine. The uptake displayed saturation kinetics, with a Km of 0.26 μM at 20°. ³H-dopamine uptake was inhibited competitively by norepinephrine, with a Ki of 0.69 μM. Vesicles derived from a primarily dopaminergic region (corpus striatum) exhibited the same ratio of uptakes of ³H-dopamine/³H-norepinephrine as did those from a primarily noradrenergic region (cerebral cortex). These results indicate that viable rat brain storage vesicles can be readily prepared and used for evaluation of pharmacologic effects on ³H-dopamine uptake, and that dopaminergic and noradrenergic storage vesicles exhibit identical uptake properties.     

The isomers of cocaine and tropacocaine: Effect on 3H-catecholamine uptake by rat brain synaptosomes

Compared to (+)-$\text{pseudo}$cocaine, (?)-cocaine was 20 times more potent in inhibiting uptake of ³H-norepinephrine (³HNE) by cortical synaptosomes and 66 times more potent with respect to ³H-dopamine (³HDA) uptake by striatal synaptosomes. Although the tropacocaine isomers were equipotent as inhibitors of ³HNE uptake in the cortex, tropacocaine was 3.9 times more potent as an inhibitor of ³HDa uptake in the striatum than $\text{pseudo}$tropococaine. A major known cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine failed to inhibit the accumulation of ³HNE and ³HDA by synaptosomes from the cortex and striatum, respectively. The implications of these findings in relation to the motor stimulation seen with (?)-cocaine, (+)-$\text{pseudo}$cocaine and benzoylecgonine in rats are discussed.     

Chronic ethanol alters the receptor binding characteristics of the delta opioid receptor ligand,DAla2DLeu5 enkephalin in mouse brain

The binding characteristics of the delta opioid receptor ligand, ³HDAla²DLeu⁵ enkephalin, were markedly altered in brains obtained from mice fed an ethanol-containing diet for five days. Control mice exhibited both a high and low affinity site for ³HDAla²DLeu⁵ enkephalin, whereas those consuming the ethanol diet were found to possess only one binding site. This singular site has an intermediate K_D value with an increase in receptor number when compared to the high and low affinity sites observed in control mice. The $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ addition of ethanol to a brain membrane preparation obtained from untreated mice, at a concentration equivalent to that found in the blood of the ethanol-treated mice, did not markedly affect DAla²DLeu⁵ enkephalin binding characteristics. No alteration in the binding characteristics of ³H-naloxone, a mu receptor ligand, was noted following five days of ethanol consumption. Mice maintained on the ethanol-containing diet were tolerant to the activity-stimulating effects of acute ethanol administration. These results suggest that mice consuming an ethanol diet in sufficient quantities to render them tolerant exhibit a specific loss of a ³HDAla²DLeu⁵ enkephalin binding site, while the binding of ³H-naloxone was unchanged.     

Uptake of (-) 3H-norepinephrine by storage vesicles prepared from whole rat brain: properties of the uptake system and its inhibition by drugs.

Neurotransmitter storage vesicles were isolated from rat brain by differential centrifugation and the uptake of (?) ³H-norepinephrine was determined $\text{in vitro}$. Uptake showed a marked temperature dependence, an absolute requirement for ATP-Mg²⁺, and was inhibited $\text{in vitro}$ by reserpine. Uptake was linear for 5 min at 30°, but not at 37°. The uptake was saturable and displayed a single Km value of 4 × 10^?7 M. Other phenylamines and indoleamines displayed competitive inhibition of norepinephrine uptake; the affinities followed the rank order: reserpine>harmaline>serotonin>epinephrine> dopamine>norepinephrine>metaraminol. Uptake was reduced in vesicles isolated from rats treated intracisternally with 6-hydroxydopamine but not from rats treated with 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine, suggesting that most of the uptake occurs in catecholaminergic, and not serotonergic, vesicles. This method provides a ready characterization of pharmacologic effects on rat brain storage vesicle properties, as demonstrated by the prompt and complete inhibition of uptake $\text{in vitro}$ after administration of reserpine $\text{in vivo}$.     

Metabolism and uptake of L-pipecolic acid by brain and heart

Metabolism and uptake of $\text{L}$-[1-¹⁴C]pipecolate was studied in the rat through tail vein injection at low (30 μg/kg) and high (30 mg/kg) doses. No radioactive compound other than $\text{L}$-pipecolate was detected in the brain or heart samples 0.5 to 60 min after injection. The contents of $\text{L}$-pipecolate in the brain dropped rapidly to reach a plateau value 2 min after injection both in the low and high dose experiments (from 0.06 to 0.05 and from 86 to 55 nmole/g brain, respectively). Similar results were observed for the heart except that the heart had $\text{L}$-pipecolate contents 2–3 fold higher than the brain at every time interval. The influx of $\text{L}$-pipecolate to the brain, as measured by the plasma/brain ratio of its contents, was 3 fold lower than the heart at each sampling point throughout the course of measurement for both dosages. The influx of $\text{L}$-pipecolate from the plasma to the heart reached an equilibrium, i.e., plasma/heart = 1, 60 min after injection for both dosages; the plasma to brain ratio was 3 at 60 min. These results indicate that there is a blood-brain transport barrier for $\text{L}$-pipecolate in the rat, which may account for the differences in neuronal effects of $\text{L}$-pipecolate when administered intracerebrally or intraperitoneally.     

Inhibition by β-carbolines of monoamine uptake into a synaptosomal preparation: Structure-activity relationships

The potency of a series of β-carboline compounds to inhibit ³H-serotonin (³H-5-HT) uptake into a synaptosomal suspension from mouse brain was studied. The $\text{in vitro}$ structure-activity study showed the tetrahydro-β-carbolines to be the most potent inhibitors compared to unsaturated β-carbolines. $\text{In vitro}$ inhibition of ³H-norepinephrine (³H-NE) and ³H-dopamine (³H-DA) uptake was determined for some tetrahydro-β-carbolines, and the degree of inhibition of uptake of these amines was less than that for ³H-5-HT (EC50s being 5–13 times those for ³H-5-HT). The tetrahydro-β-carbolines were also found to effectively inhibit ³H-5-HT but not ³H-NE or ³H-DA uptake when they were administered intra-peritoneally. These results suggest that the behavioral effects of the tetrahydro-β-carbolines which have been reported previously may be due to a relatively selective involvement of the serotonergic neurotransmitter system.     

Dietary ascorbic acid deficiency in guinea pigs: No effect on ethanol preference,spiroperidol binding,or monoamine oxidase activity

Ascorbic acid levels are commonly reported to be decreased in alcoholics. Although this deficiency could be due to dietary factors, there is evidence that ascorbic acid may be involved in the metabolism and acute effects of ethanol, possibly related to the pathogenesis of alcoholism. Therefore, we examined ethanol preference in guinea pigs receiving an ascorbate deficient $\text{vs}$ a normal diet. Brain and spleen ascorbic acid levels were dramatically decreased, but ethanol preference was not altered by the acute dietary deficiency of this vitamin. In addition, an acute stressor (cold water swim), alone or in combination with ascorbate deficiency, had no effect on ethanol preference. At termination of the experiment, two measures of brain aminergic function (MAO activity and ³H-spiroperidol binding), purportedly altered by ethanol or ascorbic acid or both, were not associated with tissue ascorbate levels.     

The effects of removal of sodium ions from the mucosal solution on sugar absorption by rabbit ileum

Net absorption and accumulation of d-galactose, β-methyl d-glucose and low concentrations of $\text{3-O-}\text{methyl}\text{-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}$ by sheets of rabbit ileum are observed even when Na⁺ in the mucosal solution is replaced by choline. This indicates that active sugar transport can occur in the direction opposite to the brush-border Na⁺ gradient.     

Ethanol inhibits veratridine-stimulated sodium uptake in synaptosomes

The effects of ethanol and pentobarbital on voltage-sensitive sodium channels in whole brain (rat) synaptosomes were studied using isotopic flux measurements. Incubation of synaptosomes with ethanol or pentobarbital $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ inhibited veratridine-stimulated ²²Na⁺ uptake. The effect of ethanol is dose-dependent, occurs at sublethal, pharmacologically relevant concentrations and is fully reversible. These results suggest that ethanol and pentobarbital directly interfere with sodium channel function in nervous tissue. Alterations in sodium channel function may be a possible mechanism for the central nervous system (CNS) depressant action of ethanol and related compounds.     

Caffeine injection raises brain tryptophan level,but does not stimulate the rate of serotonin synthesis in rat brain

Acute caffeine injection (100 mg/kg) elevates brain levels of tryptophan (TRP), serotonin (5HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA). Experiments were performed to determine if the increases in 5HT and 5HIAA result from a stimulation of the rate of 5HT synthesis. Both the rate of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) accumulation following NSD-1015 injection, and the rate of ³H-5-hydroxyindole synthesis from ³H-tryptophan were measured $\text{in vivo}$ following caffeine administration and found to be normal. Tryptophan hydroxylase activity, as measured $\text{in vitro}$ in brain homogenates, was also unaffected by caffeine. The results suggest that the elevations in brain 5HT and 5HIAA levels produced by caffeine do $\text{not}$ reflect enhanced 5HT synthesis, despite significant elevations in brain TRP level. Some other mechanism(s) must therefore be responsible for these elevations in brain 5-hydroxyindole levels.     

Sensitivity of rat brain adenylate cyclase to activation by calcium and ethanol after chronic exposure to ethanol

Rats were fed ethanol (Lieber-DeCarli diet) for three weeks. Stimulation of cerebellar adenylate cyclase by calcium was measured in control (pair-fed), chronic-alcohol and alcohol-withdrawn animals. No differences in the sensitivity or maximal stimulation of this enzyme were observed among these groups. Ethanol $\text{in}$,$\text{vitro}$ (1%) stimulated brain adenylate cyclase approximately 50% in the presence or absence of calcium. Chronic alcohol exposure $\text{in}$,$\text{vivo}$ did not alter the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to stimulation by alcohol $\text{in}$,$\text{vitro}$.     

dl-N-methyl-3-(o-methoxyphenoxy)-3-phenylpropylamine hydrochloride, Lilly 94939, a potent inhibitor for uptake of norepinephrine into rat brain synaptosomes and heart.

dl-N-Methyl-3-(o-methoxyphenoxy)-3-phenylpropylamine hydrochloride, Lilly 94949, is a potent inhibitor for uptake of norepinephrine (NE) into synaptosomes of rat brain with inhibitor constant (Ki) value of 1.8 × 10⁻⁷M. Lilly 94939 profoundly reduces the $\text{in vivo}$ accumulation of radioactivity from labeled NE in heart with ED₅₀ value of 1.5 mg/kg i.p. The inhibitory effects of the compound in synaptosomes and heart are most profound within 15 min of an intraperitoneal injection of Lilly 94939 at 10 mg/kg but much deminished at the 4th hr. These properties are in great contrast with its trifluoromethyl analog, Lilly 110140, which has previously been reported as a selective inhibitor of serotonin uptake in synaptosomes and without any effect on the accumulation of radioactivity from labeled NE in heart.     

Incorporation of 18 O into homovanillic acid of rat brain during exposure to oxygen 18 containing atmospheres

Rats were exposed to air containing ¹⁸O₂ at atmospheric pressure. $\text{In vivo}$ incorporation of ¹⁸O in brain homovanillic acid (HVA) was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. One ¹⁸O atom was incorporated into each molecule of HVA indicating that tyrosine is the predominant precursor of brain dopamine and that the oxygen in the 3-position is of atmospheric origin. Intraperitoneal administration of ¹⁸O-enriched water did not alter the ¹⁸O content of brain HVA Mass fragmentography (2) was used to measure the increase in ¹⁸O and the decrease in ¹⁶O in HVA from rat brain over several hours of exposure to an ¹⁸O enriched atmosphere. These experiments demonstrate the possibility to pulse label brain dopamine and its metabolites by $\text{in vivo}$ inhalation of stable oxygen isotopes. The procedure should be useful for quantitative determinations of the turnover of brain dopamine in animals and man.     

Inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase by disulfiram; possible relation to the disulfiram-ethanol reaction

Disulfiram inhibited mouse and rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH) $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$. Inhibition of LADH by disulfiram appears to be non-competitive. The inhibition constants (Ki) were about 1.5 × 10^?4 M and 4.3 × 10^?5 M for mouse and rat LADH respectively. Ethanol elimination was significantly reduced in mice pretreated with disulfiram. At identical time intervals after ethanol administration, the concentration of ethanol in blood from disulfiram-, cyanamide-, or dimethyl formamide-treated mice were significantly higher than the ethanol concentration in blood from control mice. Both cyanamide and dimethyl formamide (DMF) can precipitate a disulfiram-like reaction in man when ethanol is ingested. These and previous experiments suggest that elevated concentrations of ethanol should be considered in the etiology of some of the symptoms seen in the disulfiram-ethanol reaction.     

Central noradrenergic activity and the formation of glycol sulfate metabolites of brain norepinephrine

The present study utilized intraventricular injection of Na₂³⁵SO₄ to detect drug induced changes in the $\text{in vivo}$ formation of the two major metabolites of rat brain norepinephrine (NE) - the sulfate conjugates of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MOPEG-SO₄) and 3,4-dihyd (DOPEG-SO₄). Assays involved the hypothalamus only. Rats pretreated with clonidine showed a reduced formation of both MOPEG-³⁵SO₄ and DOPEG-³⁵SO₄ after intraventricular Na₂³⁵SO₄ as well as reduced synthesis of ³H-NE from intraventricular ³H-tyrosine. Phenoxybenzamine (POB) produced increases in the synthesis of both ³⁵S-labeled conjugates and ³H-NE. Neither drug altered the loss of exogenous ³H-MOPEG-SO₄ but clonidine increased both the accumulation of labeled sulfate and the sulfation of exogenous MOPEG in pheniprazine treated rats. These results show that the rates of formation of the labeled glycol sulfates are sensitive indicators of changes in brain NE turnover but can also be influenced by factors involved in sulfation that are unrelated to NE turnover. Blockade of NE synthesis with alpha methyltyrosine did not affect resting or POB-elevated levels of the labeled conjugates until stores of NE were reduced by 40%. The latter findings suggest that central noradrenergic neurons can release and metabolize NE at a normal rate despite synthesis blockade so long as adequate stores of NE are available.     

Protein synthesis in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions from rat brain and liver after acute or chronic ethanol administration

Incorporation of C¹⁴ Leucine was determined $\text{in vitro}$ or $\text{in vivo}$ in isolated mitochondria and microsomes of rat brain and liver after acute or chronic ethanol administration $\text{in vivo}$.The protein synthesis in mitochondrial and microsomal preparation was inhibited respectively by chloramphenicol and cycloeximide, specific inhibitors for the two systems tested. The experimental data demonstrate that the $\text{in vitro}$ protein synthesis in both systems, mitochondrial and microsomal, is strongly affected only after chronic treatment which produces significant activation at the mitochondrial and microsomal level in the liver and an inhibition on the same systems of the brain.The data for $\text{in vivo}$ protein synthesis instead show strong inhibition after acute administration, except for brain mitochondria, which are practically unaffected, while after chronic treatment no significant alterations are observed.     

Conditions for ethanol precipitation of active 50 S ribosomal subunits from Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli 50 S ribosomal subunits lose activity when precipitated by ethanol from fractions obtained in sucrose density gradient sedimentation. This loss of activity is due to a partial extraction of protein $\text{L7}\text{L12}$ caused by the presence of high sucrose concentrations. Partial extraction also occurs in the absence of added salt or sucrose at low magnesium concentrations. Fully active 50 S subunits can be obtained if the sucrose is diluted to a concentration of 10% or less and the magnesium concentration raised to 20 mm before the addition of ethanol.     

Sucrose transport by Streptococcus mutans. Evidence for multiple transport systems

The transport of sucrose by selected mutant and wild-type cells of Streptococcus mutans was studied using washed cocci harvested at appropriate phases of growth, incubated in the presence of fluoride and appropriately labelled substrates. The rapid sucrose uptake observed cannot be ascribed to possible extracellular formation of hexoses from sucrose and their subsequent transport, formation of intracellular glycogen-like polysaccharide, or binding of sucrose or extracellular glucans to the cocci. Rather, there are at least three discrete transport systems for sucrose, two of which are $\text{phospho}\text{enol}\text{pyruvate-dependent}$ phosphotransferases with relatively low apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values and the other a non-phosphotransferase (non-PTS) third transport system (termed TTS) with a relatively high apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$. For strain 6715-13 mutant 33, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values are 6.25·10^?5 M, 2.4·10^?4 M, and 3.0·10^?3 M, respectively; for strain NCTC-10449, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values are 7.1·10^?5 M, 2.5·10^?4 M and 3.3·10^?3 M, respectively. The two lower $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ systems could not be demonstrated in mid-log phase glucose-adapted cocci, a condition known to repress sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity, but under these conditions the highest $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ system persists. Also, a mutant devoid of sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity fails to evidence the two high affinity (low apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$) systems, but still has the lowest affinity (highest $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$) system. There was essentially no uptake at 4°C indicating these processes are energy dependent. The third transport system, whose nature is unknown, appears to function under conditions of sucrose abundance and rapid growth which are known to repress $\text{phospho}\text{enol}\text{pyruvate-dependent}$ sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity in S. mutans. These multiple transport systems seem well-adapted to S. mutans which is faced with fluctuating supplies of sucrose in its natural habitat on the surfaces of teeth.     

The distribution of copper in neonatal mottled mutant mice after exposure to copper and penicillamine

Tissue copper levels of brindled ($\text{Mo}$^br) mice and normal litter-mates after single and repeated dosing with CuCl₂ and/or D-penicillamine are examined, together with a study of the cytosol distribution of copper after CuCl₂ treatment. The results confirm that the mutant mouse kidney is capable of extensive copper accumulation in association with the low MW copper-binding protein. Deficient tissues such as brain, heart and spleen are able to sequester sufficient of the exogenous copper to raise their levels to the normal control level, whereas mutant liver levels, even after copper treatment, remain below normal, indicating that the $\text{Mo}$ gene affects the ability of the liver to retain copper.     

Cofactor recycling in liquid membrane-enzyme systems.

In contrast to other entrapment techniques, hydrocarbon-based liquid surfactant membranes have been shown to effectively retain NADH and NAD⁺. The activities of an immobilized yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) - NAD⁺ system and of a coupled cofactor recycling system involving ADH, diaphorase and ferricyanide were examined by determining the extent of both ethanol consumption and acetaldehyde accumulation in the external aqueous solution. The results establish suitability of the liquid membrane system for the immobilization of enzyme systems involving $\text{in}$-$\text{situ}$ cofactor regeneration.