Giancarlo Bruni

Correlation between cardiac oxidative stress and myocardial pathology due to acute and chronic norepinephrine administration in rats

Background: To investigate the cardiotoxic role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and of products derived from catecholamines auto‐oxidation, we studied: (1) the response of antioxidant cardiac cellular defence systems to oxidative stress induced by norepinephrine (NE) administration, (2) the effect of NE administration on cardiac β1‐adrenergic receptors by means of receptor binding assay, (3) the cellular morphological alterations related to the biologically cross‐talk between the NE administration and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1), interleukins IL6, IL8, IL10]Methods and Results: A total of 195 male rats was used in the experiment. All animals underwent electrocardiogram (EKG) before being sacrificed. The results obtained show that NE administration influences the antioxidant cellular defence system significantly increasing glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio significantly decreases and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increase showing a state of lipoperoxidation of cardiac tissue. We describe a significant apoptotic process randomly sparse in the damaged myocardium and the effect of ROS on the NE‐mediated TNF‐α, MCP‐1, and IL6, IL8, IL10 production. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that catecholamines may induce oxidative damage through reactive intermediates resulting from their auto‐oxidation, irrespective of their interaction with adrenergic receptors, thus representing an important factor in the pathogenesis of catecholamines‐induced cardiotoxicity. The rise of the cardioinhibitory cytokines may be interpreted as the adaptive response of jeopardized myocardium with respect to the cardiac dysfunction resulting from NE injection.

Myocardial findings in fatal carbon monoxide poisoning: a human and experimental morphometric study.

Abstract The aim of this study was to define the status of the myocardium in selected human cases of acute, fatal carbon monoxide intoxication and the myocardial changes in rats exposed to carbon monoxide in relation to the type of cardiac arrest and the effects of reoxygenation following pre-fatal CO intoxication. The human study consisted of 26 cases (17 accidental and 9 suicide) of acute, fatal CO intoxication, without evidence of obstructive coronary atherosclerosis or history of ischemic heart disease which were compared with 45 cases of fatal head trauma in subjects who died instantaneously (26 cases) or within 1–12 h (19 cases). Inhalation of a lethal dose of CO in rats was compared with sub-lethal doses plus reoxygenation with and without pre-treatment by a betablocker. In all human and experimental histological sections, changes were normalised per mm2 area. In the human cases the myocardium did not show any ischemic types of changes or other lesions. Only in “three accidental” cases a few, small foci of coagulative myocytolysis were detected. In the case of spontaneous death in 31 rats following CO intoxication, no pathological myocardial changes were seen. Of the 15 “reoxygenated” rats, 2 of the 7 spontaneous deaths presented coagulative myocytolysis with 15 ± 6 foci and 381 ± 255 necrotic myocells. All the eight rats sacrificed at 3 h had coagulative myocytolysis with 5 ± 4 foci and ¶60 ± 47 myocells. Of the 24 reoxygenated rats pre-treated with a betablocker, 5 died spontaneously after a short survival and 2 of these showed 11 ± 9 foci and 21 ± 20 myocells. The 19 rats sacrificed after 3 h all presented coagulative myocytolysis with figures of 75 ± 43 and ¶356 ± 301 with 0.5 mg/kg of propranolol hydrochloride and 55 ± 45 and 253 ± 216 with 2 mg/kg, respectively.

Synthesis of new 1,2,3-benzotriazin-4-one-arylpiperazine derivatives as 5-HT1A serotonin receptor ligands

A series of novel 1,2,3-benzotriazin-4-one derivatives was prepared and evaluated as ligands for 5-HT receptors. Radioligand binding assays proved that the majority of the novel compounds behaved as good to excellent ligands at the 5-HT1A receptor, some of which were selective with respect 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. Six analogues (1a, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2e and 2i) were selected and further evaluated for their binding affinities on D1, D2 dopaminergic and alpha1-, alpha2-adrenergic receptors. A o-OCH3 derivative (2e) bound at 5-HT1A sites with subnanomolar affinity (IC50 = 0.059 nM) and shows high selectivity over all considered receptors and may offer a new lead for the development of therapeutically efficacious agents.

Synthesis of oxypropanolamine derivatives of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine, β-adrenergic affinity, inotropic, chronotropic and coronary vasodilating activities

Aseries of oxypropanolamine derivatives of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine were synthesized and evaluated for inotropic, chronotropic and coronary vasodilating activities in the canine heart, affinity to beta(1)-adrenergic receptor in turkey erythrocytes and affinity to the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor in the rat lung. Among these compounds, 4-acetyl-6-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy)propoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine showed 2.1-fold more potent affinity to the beta(1) receptor than propranolol and 7-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy)propoxy-N-butyryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine showed 2.5-fold more potent affinity to the beta(2) receptor and furthermore 4386-fold more potent selectivity to the beta(2) receptor than propranolol. In addition, 4-acetyl-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino-2-hydroxy]propoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine showed 1.1-fold more potent affinity to the beta(1) receptor than propranolol and also 1147-fold more potent selectivity to the beta(1) receptor. With a few exceptions, negative inotropic and chronotropic actions of these compounds were dependent on the size of the 4-substituent obeying the order: unsubstituted < acetyl < propanoyl < butanoyl, while the benzoyl substituent conferred even stronger negative actions in the 6-oxypropanolamine derivatives. Neither negative inotropic and chronotropic actions related with affinity to beta(1)-adrenoceptor nor coronary vasodilator action related with affinity to beta(2)-adrenoceptor were observed. 4-acetyl-7-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino-2-hydroxy]propoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine exerted potent positive inotropic, chronotropic and coronary vasodilating actions. The inotropic and chronotropic actions of the latter compound may be attributed to the release of intrinsic catecholamines, as concluded by the absence of beta(1)-adrenoceptor affinity and disappearance of activity in the presence of a beta-blocker.

Synthesis and binding affinities for 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors of a series of 1- and 2-(4-arylpiperazinylalkyl)-4-(benzoyl)-1,2,3-triazole derivatives

Abstract Anumber of 1- and 2-(4-arylpiperazinylalkyl)-4-(benzoyl)-1,2,3-triazole derivatives (1–4) were prepared in order to obtain compounds with a high affinity and selectivity for 5-HT 1A receptors. 5-HT 1A, 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C affinities were determined by radioligand binding experiments and the most active compounds were also tested for binding affinities on dopaminergic D-1, D-2 and adrenergic α 1 , α 2 receptors. The modification of aromatic substituents, the length of the alkyl chain and its position on the 4-benzoyl-1,2,3-triazole ring were explored. Most of the considered compounds generally showed moderate to high affinity for the 5-HT 1A receptor binding site. Three derivatives 2c , 3c and 3e bind to 5-HT 1A receptors in the nanomolar range (IC 50 values = 2, 7.2 and 2.6 nM respectively). The most active compound, 2c , presented a high degree of selectivity versus all considered receptors. It was found that the benzoyltriazole derivatives 1h and 4c are new selective ligands for 5-HT 2A (IC 50 = 89 nM) and 5-HT 2C receptors (IC 50 = 17 nM), respectively.

Synthesis, binding affinity and selectivity of new β1- and β2-adrenoceptor blockers

Abstract The synthesis of a new series of sesamol derivatives with β-adrenergic blocking activity is described. The affinity and selectivity of these compounds for β1- and β2-adrenoceptors were studied in comparison with those of ICI-118551 and propranolol. Some of the synthesized compounds show very good affinity for the β2-receptors of rat lung membranes and two of them provide interesting selectivity.

Differentiation state affects morphine induced cell regulation in neuroblastoma cultured cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy. Our purpose was to investigate in vitro how cancer cell survival occurs in presence of morphine in undifferentiated and differentiated SHSY-5Y human neuroblastoma cultured cell line. Exposure of differentiated cells to morphine dose-dependently induced apoptosis in these cells through c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/caspase pathway. Otherwise, morphine induced activation for mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, caused positive regulation of cell survival in undifferentiated cells. Therefore, cell differentiation state bimodally affects the cellular regulation activity triggered by morphine in isolated cultured neuroblastoma cells raising concerns about the application of morphine to this type of cancer patients.

Synthesis, β-adrenergic blocking activity and β-receptor binding affinities of 1-substituted-3-(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-phenoxy)-propan-2-ol oxalates

Abstract The compounds 1-isopropylamino-3-(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-phenoxy)-propan-2-ol oxalate ( 5 ) and 1- tert -butylamino-3-(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-phenoxy)-propan-2-ol oxalate ( 6 ) were synthesized from thymol ( 1 ), a naturally occurring agent in Thymus vulgaris L. Pharmacological evaluation of 5 and 6 were carried out using mouse ECG and isolated rat uterus models. Pretreatment of 5 (100 μg/kg, i.v.) and 6 (50 μg/kg, i.v.) antagonized isoprenaline (2 μg/kg, i.v.) induced tachycardia, similar to that of atenolol (CAS 29122-68-7, 20 μg/kg, i.v.) pretreatment in mouse ECG experiments as measured by R-R interval. Pretreatment of 5 and 6 blocked isoprenaline and adrenaline induced relaxation of isolated rat uterus (unprimed). Also the compounds 5 and 6 were subjected to in vitro β 1 - and β 2 -adrenergic receptor binding assay using turkey erythrocyte membrane (β 1 ) and lung homogenate of rats (β 2 ). Both 5 and 6 showed β-adrenergic receptor affinity comparable with that of propranolol (propranolol hydrochloride, CAS 318-98-9) with out selectivity to any one β-adrenergic receptor. These results suggest that both the compounds possess non-selective β-adrenergic blocking activity, with the tert -butyl derivative 6 being more active than the isopropyl derivative 5 .

Symbiotic approach to drug design: N-[(4-chloro-3-sulfamoylbenzamido)-ethyl]propanolamine derivatives as β-adrenergic blocking agents with diuretic activity

Abstract A series of oxypropanolamines and iminoxypropanolamines, in which the aminic substituent was the 2-(4-chloro-3-sulfamoylbenzamido)-ethyl group, were synthesized as potential β-blocker/diuretic agents. All of these compounds were tested for β 1 -adrenoceptor affinity and β-blocking potency. For the most active compounds, diuretic and antihypertensive properties as well as affinity for α 1 -adrenoceptors were also investigated. Compounds 4 and 10 were found to display contemporaneously β-blocking, diuretic and antihypertensive activities.

Inhibition of ornithine-decar☐ylase produced byS(+) andR(−) ibuprofen in rats

The differences between the S(+) and R(-) ibuprofen enantiomers in anti-inflammatory activity were assayed by measuring the release of 14CO2 in rats treated with labelled 14COOH-ornithine. Furthermore we investigated in vitro the inhibitory activity on ornithine-decarboxylase and the anti-inflammatory activity of R(-) and S(+) ibuprofen by using the carrageenin-induced paw oedema test in the rat.