K. Haba

Time course of changes in lipid peroxidation, pre- and postsynaptic cholinergic indices, NMDA receptor binding and neuronal death in the gerbil hippocampus following transient ischemia

Brief (5 min) bilateral carotid occlusion in the gerbil produces forebrain ischemia resulting, as previously reported, in almost complete neuronal loss in the CA1 region of the hippocampus; this neuronal destruction occurs between the 4th and 7th day post-ischemia. Various hippocampal biochemical indices were measured from just after such ischemia to 21 days of recirculation, and the temporal pattern of changes compared with that of cell loss. The level of thiobarbiturate reacting substances (TBARS), a measure of lipid peroxidation, was greatly elevated at 30 min after ischemia, rapidly returned to normal levels (by 60 min), but was again elevated on days 4-14. The beginning of this second period of elevation correlated closely with the onset of neuronal loss and the very abrupt and large (to about 32%) decrease in specific N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) binding sites, measured with radioactive CPP. The number of muscarinic binding sites, measured with radioactive quinuclidinyl benzilate, showed an even greater decrease (to 13%) at 21 days post-ischemia, but the decrease was delayed (starting at day 7) and much more gradual than the loss in NMDA binding. In neither case was there any change in binding affinity at any time studied. Acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations were initially greatly decreased (to about 15% at 5 min), transiently increased (to about 130% at 30 min), and then decreased again (to about 15% at 60 min), after which gradual recovery occurred and was completed by day 14. Since no inhibition of choline acetyltransferase activity was observed at any time, the reversible depression in ACh must depend upon some factor other than loss of this key synthetic enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A method for parallel determination of choline acetyltransferase and muscarinic cholinergic receptors: application in aged-rat brain

We have devised a method for the parallel determination of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mCh-R) in the same brain tissue. The method for CAT activity determination is more rapid, simplified, stable, and economical than the usual Fonnums method. With our method, age-associated changes in CAT activity and mCh-R levels were examined. Although CAT activity hardly changed with age except in a few areas, mCh-R binding of aged-rats was markedly reduced in all areas. These results suggest that the change in mCh-R represents an age-associated biochemical change in the brain and that determination of CAT activity is not sufficient for the study of age-associated changes in the brain cholinergic system.

Long-lasting effect of ceruletide on dyskinesia and monoaminergic neuronal pathways in rats treated with iminodipropionitrile

In a model of dyskinesia induced by the administration of iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) in the rat, we evaluated the effects of ceruletide, an analogue of cholecystokinin, on behavioral abnormalities and monoaminergic neuronal function. Vertical head twitching in the IDPN-treated animals was inhibited for over 5 h following a single subcutaneous dose of 160 micrograms/kg ceruletide. In animals dosed daily for 2 or 3 days, the number of head twitches at 24 h after the last dose was about one-third of the number before treatment. After repeated daily doses of ceruletide for 6 days, the number of head twitches was reduced to low levels and remained significantly below pretreatment levels until the 4th posttreatment day. These results indicate that the inhibition of dyskinesia by ceruletide was long-lasting. Assays of monoaminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites in various brain regions indicate that an imbalance between dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal systems plays a major role in the pathogenesis of the IDPN-induced dyskinesia, i.e. the ratio of (DOPAC+HVA)/5-HIAA was significantly greater in the striatum but significantly smaller in the hippocampus of the IDPN-treated vs normal animals. This initially abnormal ratio of (DOPAC+HVA)/5-HIAA in the striatum and hippocampus of IDPN-treated animals returned to normal following treatment with ceruletide, corresponding with the reduction of the head twitching. The alterations in monoaminergic neuronal function induced by repeated administration of ceruletide persisted for at least 3 days, even though its plasma half-life is several minutes. Ceruletide also exerted a marked effect on monoaminergic neuronal function in the IDPN-treated rats, in contrast to only a slight effect in normal animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neurotransmitter and Receptor Alterations in the Rat Persistent Dyskinesia Model Induced by Iminodipropionitrile

Chronic administration of iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), a neurotoxin, to rats produces a persistent behavioral syndrome characterized by lateral and vertical head twitching, random circling and hyperactivity. Conventionally, this IDPN-induced dyskinesia has been considered to be due to abnormalities in the serotonin neuronal system. However, the present study also demonstrated marked alterations in the dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) neuronal systems. These were activation of DA neurons in the nucleus accumbens and thalamus + midbrain, decreased activity in the other brain areas and a decrease in D1 DA receptors. ACh contents were decreased in most brain areas while muscarinic ACh receptors were increased in the striatum, superior colliculus and geniculate nucleus. These alterations in the ACh neuronal system may be secondary to abnormalities in the DA neuronal system. IDPN-induced dyskinesia was enhanced by administration of L-dopa, which increases DA concentration, but was completely inhibited by ceruletide, which inhibits DA release. The dyskinesia was also inhibited by sulpiride, a central antagonist of D2 DA receptors. Interestingly, apomorphine and bromocriptine, which are DA receptor agonists, did not aggravate, but decreased dyskinesia in the IDPN-treated rats. These results strongly suggest that dyskinesia is caused not by abnormality of postsynaptic receptors in the DA neuronal system but by abnormally enhanced function of the presynaptic DA neurons themselves. In addition, ceruletide may be useful in the treatment of dyskinesia, and bromocriptine alone or in combination with L-dopa may be effective in Parkinsons disease without the development of dyskinesia. Thus, the IDPN-treated rat model is useful for clarifying the biochemical pathophysiology of dyskinesia and developing drugs for its treatment.

Loss of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor binding in rat hippocampal areas at the chronic stage after transient forebrain ischemia: Histological and NMDA receptor binding studies

Althoughneuronal death following brain ischemia was originally considered to be due to an energy deficiency resulting from an impaired respiratory chain, the observation of “delayed neuronal death” indicated some other factor. It is believed that delayed neuronal death after transient forebrain ischemia appears as a result of release of glutamate, an excitatory amino acid. In the present study, transient ischemia for 20 minutes in a rat four-vessel occlusion model was induced, and serial changes in histology and N-methyl-d-asparate receptor (NMDA-R) binding were evaluated up to the chronic stage. Destruction of pyramidal cells and extensive astrocytic proliferation in the CA1 area of the hippocampus was completed by 10 days after cerebral ischemia followed by cerebral blood recirculation. However, the glutamate receptor subtype, NMDA-R, showed no change in all brain regions until after 10 days, but decreased in the hippocampus to 50% after 21 days despite no evidence of histological progression of neuronal death. The results show that the time course for appearance of light microscopic damage in the hippocampal region does not parallel that for depletion of NMDA-R binding sites.

Effects of dihydroergotoxine on central cholinergic neuronal systems and discrimination learning test in aged rats

We evaluated changes in the cholinergic neuronal system and learning ability with aging. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, a presynaptic index of the cholinergic system, was decreased in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus in the brain of aged rats compared with young adults. Muscarinic cholinergic binding sites (receptors, MCR), a postsynaptic index of the cholinergic system, were markedly decreased in all areas of the brain. However, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg of dihydroergotoxine (DHET) for 14 days normalized both ChAT and MCR in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In the striatum, ChAT was normalized, but MCR did not recover. Aged rats showed marked learning impairment in a 30-day operant type brightness discrimination learning test. Daily DHET administration restored the discrimination ability in the aged rats to nearly the young adult level. DHET had no effects on central cholinergic indices or learning test results in young adult rats. These findings suggest that learning is impaired in aged rats due to impairment in the central cholinergic neuronal system, and that DHET normalizes the decreased function in this system, restoring the learning ability.

Super-Delayed Changes of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor in the Gerbil Hippocampus Following Transient Ischemia

Cases of sequelae of cerebrovascular disease such as vascular dementia due to death of many neurons have been gradually increasing. Such neuronal death following brain ischemia has been considered to be due to energy deficiency resulting from an impaired respiratory chain. However, analysis of the delayed neuronal death showed that neuronal death is not caused by mere energy deficiency. Most studies on delayed neuronal death focused on the morphological changes and energy metabolism in the acute to subacute stage. There are few reports concerning biochemical changes in the chronic stage, especially in neurotransmitter receptors.

Alterations of somatostatin and its modulation by levodopa in MPTP-treated mouse brain

We examined the changes in the concentrations of neuropeptides in various regions of the mouse brain 1, 2 or 6 weeks after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment (30 mg/kg i.p. twice/day for 5 days) and further examined the effects of levodopa injections (200 mg/kg i.p.) for 14 days starting 4 weeks after MPTP treatment on regional somatostatin (SRIF) concentrations. Substance P, cholecystokinin-octapeptide and thyrotropin-releasing hormone did not show any significant changes up to 6 weeks after MPTP treatment, whereas the SRIF concentration increased 1 week after MPTP treatment but decreased thereafter, showing a marked decrease in the striatum and hippocampus after 6 weeks. In the striatum, the decreased concentration of SRIF recovered to the normal level with levodopa injections. This SRIF depletion could be a change secondary to dopamine depletion. On the other hand, in the cerebral cortex, while showing no change in the SRIF concentration after MPTP treatment, the concentration decreased significantly with levodopa injections. In the hippocampus, the decreased SRIF levels were still low after levodopa treatment. Since it has been reported that SRIF concentrations are significantly reduced in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of demented parkinsonians and patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type and that levodopa treatment induced various psychiatric side effects, the results of the present study suggest some relationship among levodopa treatment, SRIF depletion and the demented state.

Increased choline acetyltransferase activity by Chinese herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to-go-keishi-ka-shakuyaku-to in aged rat brain.

The effect of a Chinese herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to-go-keishi-ka-shakuyaku-to (TJ-960) on the brain choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity was studied in adult (3.5 months of age) and aged (24 months of age) rats. After oral administration of 5% TJ-960 solution for 3 months, CAT activity in the hippocampus, pons-medulla oblongata and striatum of aged rats was significantly lower than that of adult rats. CAT activity in the cerebellum, however, was significantly higher in the aged rats, as compared to the adult rats. TJ-960 significantly increased CAT activity in the hippocampus and striatum of aged rats, but did not affect the activity of the enzyme in the adult rat brain.

Effects of chronic bifemelane hydrochloride administration on receptors for N-methyl-D-aspartate in the aged-rat brain

We assayed N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors [3H]3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid ([3H]CPP) bindings) and evaluated their distribution in the brain by quantitative autoradiography in young adult and aged rats. In the young adult rats, NMDA receptors were present at relatively high concentrations in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In the aged rats, NMDA receptors were decreased in the nealy all areas of the brain, especially in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Chronic administration of bifemelane hydrochloride, a drug for sequela of cerebrovascular diseased, at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day for 14 days, markedly attenuated these decrease in NMDA receptors. Since NMDA receptors are considered to be involved in memory and learning processes, our results suggest that bifemelane hydrochloride may be applicable to the treatment of disturbed memory and learning.