Lidocaine block of cardiac sodium channels

Lidocaine block of cardiac sodium channels was studied in voltage-clamped rabbit purkinje fibers at drug concentrations ranging from 1 mM down to effective antiarrhythmic doses (5-20 μM). Dose-response curves indicated that lidocaine blocks the channel by binding one-to-one, with a voltage-dependent K(d). The half-blocking concentration varied from more than 300 μM, at a negative holding potential where inactivation was completely removed, to approximately 10 μM, at a depolarized holding potential where inactivation was nearly complete. Lidocaine block showed prominent use dependence with trains of depolarizing pulses from a negative holding potential. During the interval between pulses, repriming of I (Na) displayed two exponential components, a normally recovering component (τless than 0.2 s), and a lidocaine-induced, slowly recovering fraction (τ approximately 1-2 s at pH 7.0). Raising the lidocaine concentration magnified the slowly recovering fraction without changing its time course; after a long depolarization, this fraction was one-half at approximately 10 μM lidocaine, just as expected if it corresponded to drug-bound, inactivated channels. At less than or equal to 20 μM lidocaine, the slowly recovering fraction grew exponentially to a steady level as the preceding depolarization was prolonged; the time course was the same for strong or weak depolarizations, that is, with or without significant activation of I(Na). This argues that use dependence at therapeutic levels reflects block of inactivated channels, rather than block of open channels. Overall, these results provide direct evidence for the “modulated-receptor hypothesis” of Hille (1977) and Hondeghem and Katzung (1977). Unlike tetrodotoxin, lidocaine shows similar interactions with Na channels of heart, nerve, and skeletal muscle.     

Exchange diffusion of dopamine induced in planar lipid bilayer membranes by the ionophore X537A

The ionophore X537A causes a large increase in the [(14)C]dopamine (a catecholamine) permeability of planar bilayer membranes. Dopamine transport increases linearly with the ionophore concentration. At relatively high concentrations in the presence of dopamine, the ionophore omdices a conductance which is nearly ideally selective for the dopamine cation. However, the total dopamine flux as determined in tracer experiments is not affected by an electric field and is over 10(5) times larger than predicted from the estimated dopamine conductance. Increasing the dopamine concentration on the side containing radioactive dopamine (the cis side) saturates the dopamine transport. This saturation is relieved by trans addition of nonradioactive dopamine, tyramine, H(+), or K(+). With unequal concentrations of dopamine cis and trans (49 and 12.5 mM), the unidirectional dopamine fluxes are equal. Increasing H(+) cis and trans decreases dopamine transport. It is concluded that at physiological pH, the X537A-induced transport of dopamine occurs via an electrically silent exchange diffusion of dopamine cation with another cation (e.g., dopamine(+), H(+), or K(+)). X537A induces a Ca(++)-independent release of catecholamines from sympathetic nerves by interfering with intracellular storage within storage vesicles (R.W. Holz. 1975. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 375:138-152). It is suggested that X537A causes an exchange of intravesicular catecholamine with a cytoplasmic cation (perhaps K(+) or H(+)) across the storage vesicle membrane.     

Recessive Mutations in SLC38A8 Cause Foveal Hypoplasia and Optic Nerve Misrouting without Albinism

Foveal hypoplasia and optic nerve misrouting are developmental defects of the visual pathway and only co-occur in connection with albinism; to date, they have only been associated with defects in the melanin-biosynthesis pathway. Here, we report that these defects can occur independently of albinism in people with recessive mutations in the putative glutamine transporter gene SLC38A8. Nine different mutations were identified in seven Asian and European families. Using morpholino-mediated ablation of Slc38a8 in medaka fish, we confirmed that pigmentation is unaffected by loss of SLC38A8. Furthermore, by undertaking an association study with SNPs at the SLC38A8 locus, we showed that common variants within this gene modestly affect foveal thickness in the general population. This study reveals a melanin-independent component underpinning the development of the visual pathway that requires a functional role for SLC38A8.     

Evidence for an ascending inhibitory histaminergic pathway to the cerebral cortex.

Previous observations from our laboratory indicate that metiamide is a specific histamine antagonist in rat cerebral cortex. In view of the recent finding that histamine levels and L-histidine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.22) activity in cerebral cortex decrease following disruption of the ipsilateral medial forebrain bundle (MFB), the present investigation was undertaken to examine whether iontophoretically applied metiamide antagonizes the inhibition of deep cerebral cortical neurones produced by stimulation of the MFB. In rats anaesthetized with a mixture of methoxyflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen, stimulation of the ipsilateral MFB or the cortical surface with iontophoretically applied histamine depressed the firing of cortical neurones. Metiamide antagonized the histamine-induced depression and reduced the duration of inhibition produced by MFB stimulation. However, it did not alter the inhibition induced by the cortical surface stimulation. These results indicate that a histaminergic pathway ascending through the MFB may inhibit rat cerebral cortical neurones.     

A cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of bluetongue virus serotype 8 in sheep and goats in 2006 and 2007 in the Netherlands

Background

In August 2006 a major epidemic of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV8) started off in North-West Europe. In the course of 2007 it became evident that BTV8 had survived the winter in North-West Europe, re-emerged and spread exponentially. Recently, the European Union decided to start vaccination against BTV8. In order to improve the understanding of the epidemiological situation, it was necessary to execute a cross-sectional serological study at the end of the BT vector season. Cattle were the target species for cross-sectional serological studies in Europe at the end of 2006 and 2007. However, there was no information on the BTV8-seroprevalence in sheep and goats.

Results

On the basis of our cross-sectional study, the estimated seroprevalence of BTV8-exposed locations in the Netherlands in 2006 was 0% for goats (95% confidence interval: 0 – 5.6%) and 7.0% for sheep (95% confidence interval: 3.5 – 12.9%). The estimated seroprevalence of BTV-8 exposed locations in 2007 was 47% for goats (95% confidence interval: 36 – 58%) and 70% for sheep (95% confidence interval: 63 – 76%). There was a wide range in within-location seroprevalence in locations with goats and sheep (1 – 100%). A gradient in seroprevalence was seen, with the highest level of seroprevalence in the southern Netherlands, the area where the epidemic started in 2006, and a decreasing seroprevalence when going in a northern direction.

Conclusion

There is a much higher estimated seroprevalence of locations with goats exposed to BTV8 than can be inferred from the rather low number of reported clinical outbreaks in goats. This is probably due to the fact that clinical signs in infected goats are far less obvious than in sheep. The wide range in within-location seroprevalence observed means that the proportion of animals protected in 2008 by a natural infection in 2006 and/or 2007 can differ highly between flocks. This should be taken into account when vaccinating animals.

     

Modulation of the Acetylcholine System in the Superior Cervical Ganglion of Rat: Effects of GABA and Hypoglossal Nerve Implantation After In Vivo GABA Treatment

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) was applied to the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of CFY rats in vitro and in vivo, with or without implantation of a hypoglossal nerve, to evaluate the effects of these experimental interventions on the acetylcholine (ACh) system, which mainly serves the synaptic transmission of the preganglionic input. Long-lasting GABA microinfusion into the SCG in vivo apparently resulted in a "functional denervation." This treatment reduced the acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) activity by 30% (p less than 0.01) and transiently increased the number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, but had no significant effect on the choline acetyltransferase (acetyl-coenzyme A:choline-O-acetyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.6) activity, the ACh level, or the number of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. The relative amounts of the different molecular forms of AChE did not change under these conditions. In vivo GABA application to the SCG with a hypoglossal nerve implanted in the presence of intact preganglionic afferent synapses exerted a significant modulatory effect on the AChE activity and its molecular forms. The "hyperinnervation" of the ganglia led to increases in the AChE activity (to 142.5%, p less than 0.01) and the 16S molecular form (to 200%, p less than 0.01). It is concluded that in vivo GABA microinfusion and GABA treatment in the presence of additional cholinergic synapses has a modulatory effect on the elements of the ACh system in the SCG of CFY rats.     

Activation of cPLA2, PKC, and ERKs in the Rat Cerebral Cortex During Ischemia/Reperfusion

Release of the excitotoxic amino acid, glutamate, into the extracellular space during ischemia/reperfusion contributes to neuronal injury and death. To gain insights into the signal transduction pathways involved in glutamate release we examined the time course of changes in enzyme levels and activities of cPLA₂, PKC and ERKs in the rat cerebral cortex after four vessel (4VO) ischemia followed by reperfusion. Measurement both by enzymatic assay and Western blot analysis showed significant increases in the activity and protein levels of cPLA₂ during 10–20 min of ischemia. Activity remained elevated at 10 min and 20 min of reperfusion, whereas cPLA levels had returned to base line levels after 20 min of reperfusion. PKC activity increased significantly in the particulate, but not in the cytosolic, fractions both during ischemia and reperfusion. Increases in PKC levels were recorded in the particulate fraction during ischemia and reperfusion, and in the cytosolic fraction during ischemia. Western blot analysis with a phosphospecific antibody for characterization of MAPK (ERKs) activation revealed significantly increased phosphorylation of ERK₁, and ERK₂ in the particulate fraction, of ERK₂ in the cytosolic fraction, during ischemia and of both enzymes in the particulate and cytosolic fractions after 10 min of reperfusion. The relevance of the results to glutamate release is discussed.     

Uptake of Adenosine by Isolated Rat Brain Capillaries

Abstract: Adenosine uptake by isolated rat brain capillaries is a carrier-mediated, temperature- and pH-sensitive process. The K _m value for adenosine uptake is 4.74 μ m and the V _max is 21.7 picomol/mg protein/10 min. This is a high-affinity uptake system that can be cross-inhibited by several nucleosides and by the adenosine analogs tubercidin and 5'-deoxyadenosine. The uptake is very sensitive to inhibition by papaverine, hexobendine, and dipyridamole. These results confirm the existence of a nucleoside transport system associated with the blood-brain barrier observed during in vivo studies.