Exogenous Tryptophan Increases Synthesis, Storage, and Intraneuronal Metabolism of 5-Hydroxytryptamine in the Rat Hypothalamus

The effects of tryptophan administration on neurochemical estimates of synthesis [5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) accumulation following administration of a decarboxylase inhibitor], storage [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentrations], and metabolism [5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations] of 5-HT in selected regions of the hypothalamus were determined using HPLC coupled to an electrochemical detector. Tryptophan methyl ester HCl (30-300 mg/kg i.p.) produced a dose-dependent increase in the rate of 5-HTP accumulation throughout the hypothalamus but had no effect on the rate of accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. Peak 5-HTP levels were attained by 30 min following administration of tryptophan (100 mg/kg i.p.) and were maintained for an additional 60 min. Tryptophan also produced concomitant dose-dependent increases in 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in these same regions without changes in the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio. These results indicate that exogenous tryptophan administration selectively increases the synthesis, storage, and metabolism of 5-HT in the hypothalamus without altering the synthesis of catecholamines. Inhibition of 5-HT uptake with chlorimipramine or fluoxetine produced modest (10-40%) reductions in 5-HIAA concentrations throughout the hypothalamus, revealing that only a minor portion of 5-HIAA is derived from released and recaptured 5-HT, whereas the major portion of this metabolite reflects intraneuronal metabolism of unreleased 5-HT. In both chlorimipramine- and fluoxetine-treated rats, 5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased by tryptophan administration, indicating that the increase in synthesis of 5-HT following precursor loading is accompanied by an increase in the intraneuronal metabolism of 5-HT.     

Further Studies on the Nature of Postsynaptic Dopamine Uptake and Metabolism in Rat Striatum: Sodium Dependency and Investigation of a Possible Role for Carrier-Mediated Uptake into Serotonin Neurons

The nature of postsynaptic sites involved in the uptake and metabolism of striatal 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine, DA) was investigated. The accumulation of [3H]DA (10(-7) M) into slices of rat striatum was found to be greatly dependent (greater than 99%) on the presence of sodium ion in the incubation medium. However, the formation of the [3H]dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and [3H]homovanillic acid (HVA) was only partially reduced in the absence of sodium (DOPAC, 27% of control; HVA, 47% of control). Inhibition of carrier-mediated DA neuronal uptake with nomifensine (10(-5) M) significantly decreased DA accumulation (18% of control) and [3H]DOPAC formation (62% of control), but enhanced [3H]HVA production (143% of control). Inhibition of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) neuronal uptake system with fluoxetine (10(-6) M) or selective 5-HT neuronal lesions with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) had no effect on [3H]DOPAC or [3H]HVA formed from [3H]DA in the presence or absence of nomifensine. These results demonstrate that the uptake and subsequent metabolism of striatal DA to DOPAC and HVA is only partially dependent on carrier-mediated uptake mechanism(s) requiring sodium ion. These data support our previous findings suggesting a significant role for synaptic glial cell deamination and O-methylation of striatal DA. Further, experiments with fluoxetine or 5,7-DHT suggest that 5-HT neurons do not significantly contribute in the synaptic uptake and metabolism of striatal DA.     

氟西汀联合同步放化疗治疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床观察

目的：观察氟西汀联合同步放化疗治疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌（none small cells lung carcinoma,NSCLC）的临床疗效及其安全性。方法：选择2010年10月～2011年4月我院收治的III期不能手术的NSCLC患者47例,根据患者的入院顺序,随机分为两组,同步放化疗组（对照组）22例,接受三维适形或调强放疗：肿瘤处方剂量60~66Gy,常规分割：1．8～2．0Gy／次;放疗期间同步两周期“紫杉醇＋顺铂”方案化疗,放疗后再原方案巩固化疗2--3个周期;氟西汀联合治疗组（实验组）25例,从同步放化疗开始起同时服用氟西汀（20-40mg／day）,持续服药半年。随访至1年,观察和评价两组的疗效以及不良反应的发生情况。结果：对照组与实验组的客观有效率分别为77-3％（17／22）和80％（20／25）（P〉0．05）;1年生存率分别为68．2％（15／22）和80％（20／25）（P〉0．05）;1年局控率分别为45．5％（10／22）和76％（19／25）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗后,实验组患者CD＋／CD8＋比率由1．34±0．23升至1．58±0．22（P〈0．05）,而汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）总分由13．4±4．8降至9．6±3（P〈0．05）;全组患者主要不良反应为骨髓抑制、消化道反应、放射性食管炎和放射性肺炎,来发生4级不良反应,两组3级不良反应发生率无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论：对于不能手术的局部晚期NSCLC患者,在同步放化疗的基础上联合氟西汀治疗可以提高肿瘤的1年局控率,促进抗肿瘤免疫,并缓解患者的抑郁情绪,且不加重不良反应。     

选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂的临床应用进展

5-羟色胺（5-hydroxy tryptamine,5-HT）是中枢及外周神经系统中一种重要的神经递质。5-羟色胺转运体（5-HT transporter,5-HTT）可将5．HT再摄取,降低细胞外5-HT浓度,从而调节神经信号传导。5-HTT异常在某些精神疾病的发病中起重要作用。近年来选择性5．羟色胺再摄取抑制剂（selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,SSRIs）在临床上的应用日趋广泛,如治疗抑郁症、焦虑症、抑郁和焦虑共病等常见的精神疾病。氟西汀、帕罗西汀、舍曲林、氟伏沙明和西酞普兰是目前临床上最常用的五种SSRIs,被誉为抗抑郁药的“五朵金花”。本文详细介绍近年来在临床上药物治疗抑郁症取得的成果以及这类药物的药效学、药动学、不良反应和相互作用等,并简要介绍SSRIs在其它疾病领域取得的应用进展。     

Antidepressants attenuate the dexamethasone-induced decrease in viability and proliferation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells: A involvement of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK1/2)

Excessive glucocorticoid levels in depressed patients have been associated with atrophic changes in some brain regions, but only few studies suggest that some antidepressants can interfere with deleterious effect of glucocorticoids on neuronal cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid and some antidepressants from different chemical groups (imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline, citalopram, fluoxetine, reboxetine and tianeptine) on SH-SY5Y cells cultured in the medium containing steroid-free serum. DEX in concentrations from 1 to 100 μM did not change LDH release but exposure to 10 μM and 100 μM DEX for 24, 48 and 72 h caused a significant reduction in cell viability and proliferation as confirmed by MTT reduction and BrdU ELISA assays, respectively. Twenty four-hour incubation of cells with antidepressants (0.05–10 μM) and DEX (10 μM) showed that imipramine, amitriptyline, desipramine, citalopram and fluoxetine at concentrations from 0.1 up to 1 μM, reboxetine (0.1 μM) and tianeptine (0.05 μM) prevented the DEX-induced decreases in cell viability and proliferation rate. The protective effects of antidepressants were ameliorated by inhibitors of MAPK/ERK1/2, but not PI3-K/Akt pathway as shown for imipramine, fluoxetine and reboxetine. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed the decrease in the activated form of ERK1/2 (p-ERK) after DEX treatment and this effect was inhibited by imipramine. Thus, the reduction in SH-SY5Y cell viability caused by DEX appears to be related to its antiproliferative activity and some antidepressant drugs in low concentrations attenuate this effect by mechanism which involves the activation of MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway.     

Effects of fluoxetine on growth and behavior in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus

This laboratory study examined the effects of the specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine on growth following molting and on a range of behaviors in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus. For growth experiments, male Form I and Form II crayfish were weighed and measured and placed individually in water containing 0–500 μg/L of fluoxetine. They were held in fluoxetine or control water until they molted and were reweighed two weeks post-molt. In behavior experiments, juvenile and adult animals were held individually in 0, 2, 200, or 500 μg/L of fluoxetine for 10 days and tested in an open field arena to assess locomotion, thigmotaxis, sheltering, and habituation to a novel environment. Under our laboratory conditions, crayfish exposed to fluoxetine at 500 μg/L showed significantly enhanced growth: post-molt Form I animals had greater body weight and post-molt Form II animals had greater carapace length, relative to controls. In open field tests, juvenile crayfish exposed to 2 and 500 μg/L fluoxetine displayed significantly reduced locomotion compared to controls. The results indicate that crayfish growth and locomotion can be manipulated by short-term exposure to ambient fluoxetine, suggesting that this means of exposure may offer a useful and noninvasive way to examine drug effects in freely moving animals. However, effects were only observed at concentrations well above fluoxetine levels currently reported in the environment. This suggests that O. rusticus may be relatively resistant to this form of pharmaceutical pollution but whether effects would occur following long-term exposure to lower concentrations is unknown.     

Design and synthesis of 3-(azol-1-yl)phenylpropanes as microbicidal spermicides for prophylactic contraception

We designed a series of 25 3-(azol-1-yl)phenylpropanes which yielded 10 compounds (3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 19, 21, 23, 26) that irreversibly immobilized 100% human sperm at 1% (w/v) concentration in 60 s; 12 compounds (8, 9, 15, 16, 19-21, 23-25, 27, 28) that showed potent microbicidal activity at 12.5-50 μg/mL against Trichomonas vaginalis; and 17 compounds (3-11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30) that exhibited potent anticandida activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5-50 μg/mL. Almost all the compounds exhibited high level of safety towards normal vaginal flora (Lactobacillus) and human cervical (HeLa) cells in comparison to the marketed spermicide nonoxynol-9 (N-9). All the biological activities were evaluated in vitro. Two compounds (4, 8) with good safety profile exhibited multiple (spermicidal, antitrichomonas and anticandida) activities, warranting further lead optimization for furnishing a prophylactic vaginal contraceptive.     

神经节苷脂钠对缺血性脑卒中小鼠空间学习记忆能力的影响

摘要 目的：探讨神经节苷脂钠对缺血性脑卒中小鼠空间学习记忆能力的影响。方法：缺血性脑卒中小鼠模型(n=42)随机分为三组-模型组、氟西汀组与神经节苷脂钠组,每组14只小鼠。氟西汀组、神经节苷脂钠组、对照组分别给予10 mg/kg氟西汀与10 mg/kg神经节苷脂钠、等剂量生理盐水腹腔注射,1次/d,持续28 d。结果：氟西汀组、神经节苷脂钠组给药第7 d、14 d、28 d的逃避潜伏期、改良神经损伤严重程度评分(Modified neurological severity score,mNSS)低于模型组(P<0.05),穿越平台次数高于模型组(P<0.05),神经节苷脂钠组与氟西汀组对比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。氟西汀组、神经节苷脂钠组给药第28 d的海马组织B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因(B-cell lymphoma-2,Bcl-2)蛋白相对表达水平高于模型组(P<0.05),BCL2-Associated X(Bax)蛋白相对表达水平、脑卒中相对面积低于模型组(P<0.05),神经节苷脂钠组与氟西汀组对比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：神经节苷脂钠在缺血性脑卒中小鼠的应用能促进恢复空间学习记忆能力,缓解神经损伤,抑制海马组织神经元细胞的凋亡,降低脑卒中面积。     

选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂的临床应用进展

5-羟色胺(5-hydroxy tryptamine,5-HT)是中枢及外周神经系统中一种重要的神经递质。5-羟色胺转运体(5-HT transporter,5-HTT)可将5-HT再摄取,降低细胞外5-HT浓度,从而调节神经信号传导。5-HTT异常在某些精神疾病的发病中起重要作用。近年来选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,SSRIs)在临床上的应用日趋广泛,如治疗抑郁症、焦虑症、抑郁和焦虑共病等常见的精神疾病。氟西汀、帕罗西汀、舍曲林、氟伏沙明和西酞普兰是目前临床上最常用的五种SSRIs,被誉为抗抑郁药的"五朵金花"。本文详细介绍近年来在临床上药物治疗抑郁症取得的成果以及这类药物的药效学、药动学、不良反应和相互作用等,并简要介绍SSRIs在其它疾病领域取得的应用进展。     

Therapeutic mechanism in seasonal affective disorder: do fluoxetine and light operate through advancing circadian phase?

In the context of Lewy's phase delay hypothesis, the present study tested whether effective treatment of winter Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is mediated by advancing of circadian phase. Following a baseline week, 78 outpatients with SAD were randomized into 8 weeks of treatment with either fluoxetine and placebo light treatment or light treatment and placebo pill. Depression levels were measured on the Ham₁₇₊₇ and the BDI-II, and circadian phase was estimated on the basis of daily sleep logs and self-reported morningness-eveningness. Among the 61 outpatients with complete data, both treatments were associated with significant antidepressant effect and phase advance. However, pre- and post-treatment comparisons found that the degree of symptom change did not correlate with the degree of phase change associated with treatment. The study therefore provides no evidence that circadian phase advance mediates the therapeutic mechanism in patients with SAD. Findings are discussed in terms of the limitations of the circadian measures employed.