Qualitative and quantitative changes in monoamine oxidase activity after acute third ventricle treatment of GABA, muscimol, and picrotoxin in rat

The effect of acute IIIrd ventricle injection of GABA, muscimol, and picrotoxin on the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) has been investigated in serum and a few hypothalamic nuclei of the rat brain using biochemical, histochemical, and cytophotometric techniques. Biochemical estimation demonstrated a significant reduction in MAO enzyme activity after GABA and muscimol injection, whereas picrotoxin produced pronounced increase in the enzyme activity. Histochemical and cytophotometric studies confirmed the biochemical findings. Even in brain, GABA and muscimol inhibited and picrotoxin stimulated the MAO activity. From the above findings, it may be concluded that GABA, muscimol, and picrotoxin regulate the MAO activity, possible mechanisms for which are being discussed.     

Butyrylcholinesterase fluctuation in male albino rats with intracerebroventricular injection of gamma aminobutyric acid, muscimol, and picrotoxin

The effects of intracerebroventricular injection of gamma-Aminobutyric acid, muscimol, or picrotoxin have been studied on butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities in the serum and several hypothalamic nuclei using biochemical, histochemical, and cytophotometric techniques, respectively. The blood samples were withdrawn from indwelling catheters in jugular vein 1, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after injection of the drugs. Biochemical estimations demonstrated a significant inhibition of BuChE after GABA and muscimol injections, whereas a pronounced stimulation of BuChE was observed after injection of picrotoxin. The peak changes were observed within 30 min of drug injection. Cytophotometric studies have appeared to dovetail the biochemical findings. Only a marginal decrease was observed after injection of GABA in all nuclei, while muscimol induced a very conspicuous decrease of BuChE. On the contrary, intracerebroventricularly administered picrotoxin markedly increased the levels of BuChE activity. Thus it could be concluded that probably GABA and muscimol along with picrotoxin appear to alter BuChE.     

Effects of intrahypothalamic injections of GABA, muscimol, pentobarbital, and L-glutamic acid on feed intake of satiated sheep

Five wethers were surgically prepared with cranial implants to study the role of gabaminergic neural pathways on the hypothalamic control of feeding behaviour in ruminants. In the first experiment, the animals were injected (1 microL) with a physiological Tyrode (0.95%) solution, muscimol (0.5 and 1.0 nmol), GABA (0.5 and 1.0 nmol), and L-glutamic acid (0.5 and 1.0 nmol). Feed intake following injections of muscimol (1.0 nmol) and L-glutamic acid (0.5 and 1.0 nmol) was twice as large as that following the Tyrode solution, at 60-min postinjections. These results, however, were not statistically significant (p = 0.12-0.15). In the second experiment, the animals were injected (1 microL) with saline, muscimol (0.8 nmol), L-glutamic acid (0.8 nmol), and pentobarbital (0.26 mumol). Fifteen minutes after the injections, pentobarbital had induced a significant feeding response when compared with control values (p less than 0.01), whereas the effect of L-glutamic acid was not significant. However, 30 min after the injections, feed intake of sheep having received L-glutamic acid was higher than that obtained with the control injections (p less than 0.01). The response to pentobarbital was stronger than that to either muscimol or L-glutamic acid. Histological analyses of brain tissue indicated that injections were performed in the ventromedial hypothalamus of four sheep and in the dorsomedial hypothalamus of the other. The data indicate that L-glutamic acid stimulates feed intake by acting either as a precursor of GABA or by a direct stimulation of glutaminergic neural pathways involved in the control of feed intake.     

Modulation of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity,mechanism and function

Summary The mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.3.3.99) is subjected to apparently complicated regulatory mechanism. Yet, systematic analysis of the mechanism reveals the simplicity of the control. There are two stable forms of the enzyme; the non-active form stabilized as 1:1 complex with oxaloacetate and the active form stabilized by binding of activating ligands. This model quantitatively describes either the equilibrium level of active enzyme or the kinetics of activation-deactivation, in the presence of various concentrations of opposing effectors. The site where the regulatory ligands interact with the enzyme is not the substrate bonding site. The marked differences of dissociation constants of the same ligand from the two sites clearly distinguish between them.This model is fully developed for simple cases where the activating ligands are dicarboxylic acids or monovalent anions. On the other hand with activators such as ATP or CoQH₂, quantitation is still not at hand. This stems from the difficulties in maintaining determined, measurable, concentrations of the ligand in equilibrium with the membranal enzyme.While in active form the histidyl flavin moity of the enzyme is reduced by physiological substrate (succinate; CoQH₂). The non-active form is not reduced by these compounds, only strong reductants with low redox potential reduce the non-active enzyme. It is suggested that deactivation is a simple modulation of the redox potential of the flavin form E 0 mV in the active enzyme to E < –190 mV. The switch from one state to another might be achieved by distortion of the planar form of oxidized flavin to the bend configuration of the reduced flavin. Thus, in the active enzyme such distortion will destabilize the oxidized state of the flavin, shifting the redox potential to the higher value. The binding of oxaloacetate to the regulatory sites releases the distorting forces by relaxing the conformation of the enzyme. Consequently, the flavin assumes its planar form with the low redox potential. This assumption is supported by the spectral shifts of the flavin associated with the activation deactivation transition.The suicidal oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate, carried by the succinate dehydrogenase, plays an important role in modulating the enzyme activity in the mitochondria. This mechanism might supply oxaloacetate for deactivation in spite of the negligible concentration of free oxaloacetate in the matrix. The oxidation of malate by the enzyme is controlled by the redox potential at the immediate vicinity of the enzyme, and is imposed by the redox level of the membranal quinone.Finally, the modulation of succinate dehydrogenase activity is closely associated with regulation of NADH oxidation through the mutual inhibition between oxidases (Gutman, M. in Bioenergetics of Membranes, L. Packer et al., ed. Elsevier 1977, p. 165). The consequence of these interactions is the selection for the main electron donnor for the respiratory chain, during mixed substrate respiration, according to the metabolic demands from the mitochondria.Abbreviations SDH succinate dehydrogenase (succinate: acceptor oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.3.99.1)); - OAA oxaloacetate - Act activator - E_A, E_A active and non active forms of the enzyme, respectively - K'eq apparent equilibrium constant - K'd apparent dissociation constant - K_Act, K_OAA dissociation constant of the respective ligand from the enzyme - K'a, k'd the apparent rate constants of activation and deactivation, respectively - ka, kd the true rate constant of activation and deactivation respectively - ETP, ETP_II non phosphorylating and phosphorylating submitochondrial particles - PMS phenazine methosulfate - DCIP dichlorophenol indophenol - CoQ ubiquinone - TIFA Thenotriflouvoacetone - NEM N methyl Maleimide     

Conformational analysis of muscimol, a GABA agonist

The potential energy barriers for rotation around the C₅C₆ bond in muscimol and two related isoxazoles have been calculated using the MINDO/3 molecular orbital method. The preferred conformations have N₇C₆C₅C₄ torsion angles near ± 100 °, in agreement with crystallographic data. The activities of muscimol and related isoxazoles as bicuculline-sensitive inhibitors of neuronal firing, however, are best accounted for in terms of “active conformations” with N₇C₆C₅C₄ torsion angles in the range +(32–46) °. These findings predict a limited range of possible “active conformations” for the flexible neurotransmitter GABA at postsynaptic receptors common to GABA, (+)-bicuculline salts and muscimol.     

Changes in the dehydrogenase and GABA transaminase activity in the cerebral cortex during corazol kindling

The experiments on (CBA X C57BL/6)F1 mice have shown that regular corazol injections in subliminal doses stimulated seizure susceptibility (pharmacological kindling). Cytophotometric assay of the activity of oxidative metabolism enzymes (glutamate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, alpha-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase) and GABA-transaminase in the sensorimotor cortex of kindled mice in post-convulsive period, and 24 hours or 30 days after corazol injections were discontinued, has revealed some specific alterations of the enzymes under study, that suggest the existence of two phases of energy metabolism disturbances. The first phase (24 hours after corazol injections were discontinued) is characterized by intensified succinic acid oxidation, while the second phase (30 days after the last injection) is characterized by anaerobic glycolysis in neuronal and glial cells. Inhibition of GABA-transaminase activity was particularly marked in postconvulsive period. From a molecular point of view these data may be considered as enzyme disturbances during stimulation of seizure susceptability or seizure activity and as a compensation component ensuring anticonvulsive mechanisms and reparative processes (antagonistic principle of molecular mechanism regulation) during activation of antiepileptic system.     

Hyperactivation of succinate dehydrogenase in lymphocytes of newborn rats

We measured the activity of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) within cells, in media with near-physiological composition, in lymphocytes immobilized in a blood smear on glass. SDH activity was studied in newborn rats characterized by natural hyperadrenergic status and also in adult animals injected with epinephrine. In most newborns very high activities were recorded, which exceeded the activities in adults at rest 7-8-fold or 3-fold according to the conventional calculation, or more than 30- and 6-fold according to our more precise calculation. The findings support our concept about a selective interaction between adrenergic stimulation and oxidation of succinic acid. According to this concept, epinephrine and norepinephrine specifically activate oxidation of succinic acid, whereas blood micromolar concentrations of the latter stimulate the release of catecholamines (the receptor-mediated signaling effect). This interaction is half of a substrate-hormonal regulatory system responsible for connection of vegetative nervous system with oxidation in mitochondria of the innervated organs. The increase in succinate oxidation by catecholamines includes activation of the faster pathways of succinate generation than the complete Krebs cycle, in particular, the glyoxylate cycle that is shown in the newborn rats in the present study.     

Changes in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase in muscle fibers of functionally different muscles in the rat after a reduction in exertion--hypodynamia

In 105 male rats of Wistar strain distal parts of one of the thoracic extremities are amputated with keeping intact the places where the brachial muscle is fixed. This does not restrict the volume of the brachium movements but essentially decreases their dynamic component (power loading). For 45 days dynamics of succinate-dehydrogenase (SDG) activity is being revealed in muscle fibers (MF) of functionally different muscles: m. brachialis, m. serratus ventralis and m. triceps brachii (the medial head). Average tendency of the process, changes in the distribution margins, asymmetry and kurtosis are taken into account. Under hypodynamia reconstruction of the MF has a wavy character with a gradually longer period of fluctuations. In all the muscles appear MF with a greater than in the control SDG activity. In the medial head of the m. triceps brachii the fibers with the lowest SDG activity disappear. The amount of MF with the lowest activity decreases, while those with the higher--increases, the process being more pronounced in the m. triceps brachii. The amount of MF with middle activity of the enzyme remains nearly unchanged. MF with different initial enzymatic activity do not change simultaneously. The degree of the changes in the fibers and the power leading are connected with each other, the fibers with the low initial SDG activity including into the reaction at a sharper decrease of the latter. The changes in quantitative ratio of MF with different SDG activity are not the same in every muscle studied.     

Quantitative succinate dehydrogenase histochemistry in the hippocampus of aged rats

Quantitative histochemical methods (microphotometric kinetic and end-point measurements, and morphometric analyses of reactive areas) were used to investigate the levels of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the hippocampus of young adult (3-6 months old) and aged male rats (24-27 months old). Methodological studies concerning the demonstration of SDH activity, which were performed using hippocampi of young animals, revealed a linear relationship between the reaction time and the amount of reaction product for up to 20 min; kinetic (continuous) and end-point measurements provided the same results. In a number of experiments, it was established that an incubation medium consisting of 100 mM succinate, 10 mM sodium azide, 3 mM nitro blue tetrazolium chloride, 0.25 mM phenazine methosulfate, and 7.5% polyvinylalcohol in 0.05 M Hepes buffer (final pH 7.5) was optimal for quantitative SDH histochemistry in the hippocampus. Comparative quantitative investigations of SDH activity in rat hippocampi showed that, in most regions and layers of the hippocampus of both young and aged rats, the levels of SDH activity increased along the rostrocaudal axis of the hippocampus, i.e., higher levels were present in the caudal than in the rostral pole. In both groups, the highest SDH levels were observed in the molecular layer of the cornu ammonis (CA)-1, the CA-3, and the fascia dentata (middle and outer thirds), most of which are termination fields of the excitatory perforant path arising from the regio ento-rhinalis. Furthermore, in almost all of the investigated layers, the older animals exhibited lower SDH levels than young animals. These differences were statistically significant in the molecular layer of the fascia dentata and in most layers of the CA-3. The lower SDH levels in aged animals are discussed in relation to the reduced capacity for energy metabolism in the aging brain.     

Quantitative succinate dehydrogenase histochemistry in the hippocampus of aged rats

Summary Quantitative histochemical methods (microphotometric kinetic and end-point measurements, and morphometric analyses of reactive areas) were used to investigate the levels of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the hippocampus of young adult (3–6 months old) and aged male rats (24–27 months old). Methodological studies concerning the demonstration of SDH activity, which were performed using hippocampi of young animals, revealed a linear relationship between the reaction time and the amount of reaction product for up to 20 min; kinetic (continuous) and end-point measurements provided the same results. In a number of experiments, it was established that an incubation medium consisting of 100 mM succinate, 10 mM sodium azide, 3 mM nitro blue tetrazolium chloride, 0.25 mM phenazine methosulfate, and 7.5% polyvinylalcohol in 0.05M Hepes buffer (final pH 7.5) was optimal for quantitative SDH histochemistry in the hippocampus. Comparative quantitative investigations of SDH activity in rat hippocampi showed that, in most regions and layers of the hippocampus of both young and aged rats, the levels of SDH activity increased along the rostrocaudal axis of the hippocampus, i.e., higher levels were present in the caudal than in the rostral pole. In both groups, the highest SDH levels were observed in the molecular layer of the cornu ammonis (CA)-1 the CA-3, and the fascia dentata (middle and outer thirds), most of which are termination fields of the excitatory perforant path arising from the regio entorhinalis. Furthermore, in almost all of the investigated layers, the older animals exhibited lower SDH levels than young animals. These differences were statistically significant in the molecular layer of the fascia dentata and in most layers of the CA-3. The lower SDH levels in aged animals are discussed in relation to the reduced capacity for energy metabolism in the aging brain.Dedicated to Professor Dr. T.H. Schiebler on the occasion of his 65th birthdaySupported by the Deutsche Forschungsmeinschaft (Ku 541/2-1)     

Effect of intraventricular injection of muscimol on appetite in rats kept at high and temperate ambient temperatures

The central mechanism controlling food intake in response to the change in environmental temperature has been little examined. The GABA agonist, muscimol, was injected into the lateral ventricle of rats which were acclimated to temperate (26 degrees C) and hot (33 degrees C) environments. Muscimol obviously stimulated the feeding behavior of rats in both environments. However, when muscimol was administered at doses of 100 and 250 ng, the food intake at 26 degrees C was greater than that at 33 degrees C. In addition, the stimulating effect of muscimol (250 ng) on food intake at 26 degrees C lasted longer than that at 33 degrees C. These findings suggested that there might be a difference in muscimol metabolism at the two temperatures.     

Electron microscopic-cytochemical heterogeneity of succinate dehydrogenase activity in rat cardiomyocytes

The ultrastructural localization of succinate dehydrogenase in white rat heart myocytes is studied and heterogeneity of reaction products in separate mitochondria and their groups is described. The enzyme activity is cardiomyocyte electron density dependent. This dependence, in all probability, is the result of different structural and functional states of cells and their organelles, that is revealed by electron microscopy as different electron density of these. It is found that middle electron density cells have the maximum enzyme activity. The mechanisms of enzyme activity dependence of cell electron density are discussed.