The human genes for hemophilia A and hemophilia B flank the X chromosome fragile site at Xq27.3.

Two DNA recombinant clones, shown by separate studies to contain DNA sequences homologous to the genes coding for the human blood coagulation Factors VIII and IX, were hybridized in situ to metaphases or prometaphases derived from patients with the fragile-X syndrome and from a normal control. The results of these experiments indicate that (i) both genes are located in the subtelomeric region of the long arm of the human X chromosome flanking the fragile site at Xq27.3, (ii) the resolution of this localization is approximately 0.5% the length of the human haploid genome, i.e., 1.8 X 10(7) bp, (iii) the linear order of loci within the above region is Factor IX-fragile site-Factor VIII-Xqter. Both the localization and the linear order of these loci have been confirmed by Southern blotting studies using the same molecular probes and a panel of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids known to have retained different segments of the human X chromosome. The findings described herein and the knowledge that Factor IX deficiency recombines freely with at least two loci of the G6PD cluster support our hypothesis that the chromosomal region which includes the fragile-X site is normally a region of high meiotic recombination.     

Tyrosine Increases Tissue Dopamine Concentration in the Rat

Abstract: Dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in the stomach, duodenum, and brain were measured after subcutaneous injection of tyrosine methyl ester in the rat. Tyrosine significantly increased dopamine concentrations in each tissue without altering norepinephrine levels. The increase in dopamine concentration in the stomach or duodenum was observed 1 h after tyrosine methyl ester injection, but it returned to normal 4 h after the administration of the chemical.     

2,3-benzodiazepine-type AMPA receptor antagonists and their neuroprotective effects

AMPA receptors are fast ligand-gated members of glutamate receptors in neuronal and many types of non-neuronal cells. The heterotetramer complexes are assembled from four subunits (GluR1-4) in region-, development- and function-selective patterns. Each subunit contains three extracellular domains (a large amino terminal domain, an agonist-binding domain and a transducer domain), and three transmembrane segments with a loop (pore forming domain), as well as the intracellular carboxy terminal tail (traffic and conductance regulatory domain). The binding of the agonist (excitatory amino acids and their derivatives) initiates conformational realignments, which transmit to the transducer domain and membrane spanning segments to gate the channel permeable to Na+, K+ and more or less to Ca2+. Several 2,3-benzodiazepines act as non-competitive antagonists of the AMPA receptor (termed also negative allosteric modulators), which are thought to bind to the transducer domains and inhibit channel gating. Analysing their effects in vitro, it has been possible to recognize a structure-activity relationship, and to describe the critical parts of the molecules involved in their action at AMPA receptors. Blockade of AMPA receptors can protect the brain from apoptotic and necrotic cell death by preventing neuronal excitotoxicity during pathophysiological activation of glutamatergic neurons. Animal experiments provided evidence for the potential usefulness of non-competitive AMPA antagonists in the treatment of human ischemic and neurodegenerative disorders including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, periventricular leukomalacia and motoneuron disease. 2,3-benzodiazepine AMPA antagonists can protect against seizures, decrease levodopa-induced dyskinesia in animal models of Parkinson's disease demonstrating their utility for the treatment of a variety of CNS disorders.     

Alterations in Brain Extracellular Dopamine and Glycine Levels Following Combined Administration of the Glycine Transporter Type-1 Inhibitor Org-24461 and Risperidone

The most dominant hypotheses for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia have focused primarily upon hyperfunctional dopaminergic and hypofunctional glutamatergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system. The therapeutic efficacy of all atypical antipsychotics is explained in part by antagonism of the dopaminergic neurotransmission, mainly by blockade of D₂ dopamine receptors. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia can be reversed by glycine transporter type-1 (GlyT-1) inhibitors, which regulate glycine concentrations at the vicinity of NMDA receptors. Combined drug administration with D₂ dopamine receptor blockade and activation of hypofunctional NMDA receptors may be needed for a more effective treatment of positive and negative symptoms and the accompanied cognitive deficit in schizophrenia. To investigate this type of combined drug administration, rats were treated with the atypical antipsychotic risperidone together with the GlyT-1 inhibitor Org-24461. Brain microdialysis was applied in the striatum of conscious rats and determinations of extracellular dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, glycine, glutamate, and serine concentrations were carried out using HPLC/electrochemistry. Risperidone increased extracellular concentrations of dopamine but failed to influence those of glycine or glutamate measured in microdialysis samples. Org-24461 injection reduced extracellular dopamine concentrations and elevated extracellular glycine levels but the concentrations of serine and glutamate were not changed. When risperidone and Org-24461 were added in combination, a decrease in extracellular dopamine concentrations was accompanied with sustained elevation of extracellular glycine levels. Interestingly, the extracellular concentrations of glutamate were also enhanced. Our data indicate that coadministration of an antipsychotic with a GlyT-1 inhibitor may normalize hypofunctional NMDA receptor-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission with reduced dopaminergic side effects characteristic for antipsychotic medication.     

Somatostatin depletion by cysteamine: mechanism and implication for duodenal ulceration

Cysteamine (CSH) and its close derivatives deplete immunoreactive somatostatin (SS) in rat organs. The effect of CSH is dose and time dependent and reversible. Structural requirements of the analogs are the presence of either -SH or -NH2 on a two- or three-carbon alkyl molecule; both radicals together increase, whereas insertion of carboxyl abolishes potency. The duodenal ulcerogenic potency of CSH derivatives is correlated significantly with their SS-depleting activity in the gastric mucosa. The mechanism of this action of CSH is poorly understood, but it is not caused by increased release, enhanced degradation of the peptide, or selective necrosis of SS cells. It is likely that in the intracellular environment CSH causes a conformational change in the peptide that affects the antigenic and functional properties of SS.     

Alternating sources of perisomatic inhibition during behavior

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The effect of oral calcium-loading test on the distribution of urinary phosphates in healthy and hypercalciuremic children

The distribution of inorganic phosphate ions in urine is calculated with known stability constants, measured pH and electrolyte concentrations. The distribution of phosphate ions in the urine of healthy children is considerably different from that of hypercalciuremic children. Before and after oral calcium-loading test, the most significant difference is in the molar fraction of CaHPO4.