Kazuo Koshiya

Brain peptidases: Their possible neuronal and glial localization

Neuronal and glial localization of brain peptidases was investigated by means of the kainic acid (KA) lesion technique. Activities of 6 different peptidases were measured in the rat caudate-putamen (CP) and substantia nigra (SN) 2, 7 and 21 days after unilateral intra-CP injection with 2.5 micrograms of KA. As an indicator of KA lesion in CP, substance P content in both CP and SN was also determined. In addition, activities of the same peptidases in the primary and secondary glial cell cultures of fetal rats were measured and compared to those in CP homogenate. After the KA injection, prolyl endopeptidase (Pro-EP) activity was decreased in the lesioned CP and, to a lesser extent, in the ipsilateral SN. The activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the lesioned CP was decreased with a complex time course, whereas a slow and progressive reduction was observed in the SN. Alanyl and leucyl aminopeptidase (Ala-AP and Leu-AP respectively) activities gave only small changes after the lesion; Ala-AP was decreased and Leu-AP was increased in the lesioned CP, while both were decreased in the SN. Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP) and arginyl endopeptidase (Arg-EP) activities were increased 5-fold in the CP 7 days after the KA injection. Their increases paralleled that of beta-glucuronidase, the lysosomal marker enzyme. Cultured glial cells contained only a trace amount of ACE activity. Ala-AP and Pro-EP activities were considerably lower in the glial culture cells than in the CP homogenate. In contrast, DAP and Arg-EP as well as lysosomal marker enzymes showed much higher activity in the former than in the latter. These results suggest that (1) Ala-AP and Pro-EP have large neuronal components, (2) ACE is preferencially localized in neurons and (3) DAP and Arg-EP are associated with glial lysosomal function. It is, therefore, concluded that at least a part of the brain peptidases are differentially localized in neurons and glia, and may be involved in specific neuronal or glial function.

Characterization of a novel muscarinic receptor agonist, YM796; comparison with cholinesterase inhibitors in in vivo pharmacological studies.

Previous reports have shown that (+/-)-YM796 (2,8-dimethyl-3-methylene-1-oxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane) exhibits M1 agonistic activity and ameliorates cognitive impairment, and that the (-)-S isomer is active in in vitro studies. We report here the characterization of the (-)-S isomer, YM796 ((-)-(S)-2,8-dimethyl-3-methylene-1-oxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane L-tartrate monohydrate), and its (+)-R isomer in in vivo pharmacological studies in comparison with the cholinesterase inhibitors tacrine, amiridine and E-2020. YM796 (0.031-0.5 mg/kg p.o.), like the racemate, reversed the cognitive impairment in passive avoidance tasks of rats with nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions, whereas (+)-R-YM796 was ineffective in this experimental amnesia. YM796 exhibited only weak effects on mouse salivation and hypothermia, a peripheral cholinergic response and a central cholinergic response, respectively. The (+)-R isomer, however, failed to induce these cholinergic responses. YM796 also ameliorated the memory deficits induced by scopolamine in rats and electroconvulsive shock in mice. The potency of YM796 in these experimental amnesia models was over a 100 times greater than that of tacrine, over 10 times greater than that of E-2020, and 6 times greater than that of amiridine. In salivary secretion and hypothermia, YM796 was 2-4 times weaker than tacrine and E-2020, and 1-2 times stronger than amiridine. Thus, YM796s ratio of anti-amnesic effects to salivary secretion and hypothermia was much greater than that of the cholinesterase inhibitors tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacological studies on YM992, a novel antidepressant with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitory and 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity.

YM992 ((S)-2-[[(7-fluoro-4-indanyl)oxy]methyl]morpholine monohydrochloride) is a novel compound that has selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) re-uptake inhibition and 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity in vivo. YM992, fluoxetine and citalopram showed 5-HT uptake inhibition activity in l-5-hydroxy-tryptophan (l-5-HTP)-treated mice. YM992 and trazodone attenuated 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist-induced head-twitches in mice, indicating that these drugs had 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity. YM992 and amitriptyline were highly active in the mouse tail suspension test. In contrast, fluoxetine and citalopram showed only a tendency to reduce the immobility time. Single treatment with YM992 as well as trazodone and fluoxetine ameliorated the learning deficit of olfactory-bulbectomized rats, whereas citalopram and amitriptyline showed an ameliorative effect only after chronic treatment. Although YM992 has moderate affinity for alpha1-adrenoceptors, alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonism of YM992 in vivo was 10 times weaker than that of trazodone. These results demonstrate that YM992 has 5-HT uptake inhibition and 5-HT2A receptor antagonistic activity in vivo, and suggest that YM992 may be a novel antidepressant with high efficacy in clinical use.

Acute changes in nigral substance P content induced by drugs acting on dopamine, muscarine and GABA receptors

SummaryEffects of acutely administered drugs acting on dopamine, muscarine or GABA receptors on the substance P content in rat substantia nigra were examined. Systemic injection of apomorphine caused a significant reduction in the nigral substance P content. This effect was found to be partially inhibited by atropine pretreatment. Haloperidol completely abolished the effect of apomorphine, while sulpiride did not. When administered alone, haloperidol, sulpiride or atropine had no effect on the nigral substance P content. Oxotremopine, the muscarine receptor agonist, reduced substance P content in the rostral half of the substantia nigra. Reduction in the nigral substance P content was also induced by treatment with the GABA receptor antagonist picrotoxin. On the other hand, diazepam increased the substance P content.These results suggest that the striatonigral substance P neurons could be regulated by dopaminergic, cholinergic and GABAergic systems, and that the dopaminergic influence on the substance P neurons may be mediated, at least in part, by the cholinergic system.

Purification and properties of ATPase from an alkalophilic Bacillus

Abstract ATPase was purified from an alkalophilic Bacillus. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 410,000 and consists of five types of subunits of molecular weights of 60,000 (α), 58,000 (β), 34,000 (γ), 14,000 (δ), and 11,000 (ϵ). The subunit structure is suggested to be α3β3γδϵ. The enzyme is activated by Mg2+ and Ca2+. The pH optima of the enzyme with 0.1 and 2.0 m m Mg2+ are 9 and 6, and those with 1 and 10 m m Ca2+ are 8–9 and 7, respectively. Ca2+-ATPase hydrolyzes only ATP, whereas Mg2+-ATPase hydrolyzes GTP and, to a lesser extent, ATP. The values of V and Km of the enzyme with ATP in the presence of 10 m m Ca2+ or 0.6 m m Mg2+ at pH 7.2 are 17 or 0.5 units/mg protein and 1.2 or 0.3 m m , respectively. The enzyme with Mg2+ is appreciably activated by HCO−3. Relationship of the ATPase to the active transport system in the bacterium is suggested.

Localization of angiotensin-converting enzyme, prolyl endopeptidase and other peptidases in cultured neuronal or glial cells

To determine the cellular localization of nervous tissue peptidases, 7 peptidases and 2 lysosomal marker enzyme activities were measured in cultured mouse and rat cells. Neuronal cells of both species exhibited higher activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and prolyl endopeptidase (Pro-EP) than glial cells did. In contrast, arginyl endopeptidase and lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase, ?-glucuronidase) in the neuronal cell lines were lower than those in the glial cell lines. Other peptidases (alanyl aminopeptidase, arginyl aminopeptidase, leucyl aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase) activities were not specifically localized in either cell lines. The effects of cellular differentiation on these peptidase activities in the PC 12h cell line and rat glioblasts were also examined using nerve growth factor (NGF) and glia maturation factor (GMF), respectively. Neuron specific peptidase (ACE and Pro-EP) activities were decreased in PC12h cells cultured with NGF, and Pro-EP activity was increased in the glioblast cells cultured with GMF. These results support the idea that some of the peptidases are differentially localized in neuronal or glial cells, and play physiological roles in central or peripheral neural tissues.

Effect of orotic acid on the metabolism of cerebral cortical astrocytes during hypoxia and reoxygenation: An NMR spectroscopy study

Astrocytes were incubated under normoxic or hypoxic conditions in Dulbeccos minimum essential medium containing [12‐13C]acetate, unlabeled glucose and in some cases orotic acid, an intermediate in pyrimidine biosynthesis. After 12 hr the medium was replaced by fresh medium without drug and incubation was continued for 17 hr in a normal oxygen atmosphere (reoxygenation). Thereafter, medium was removed, cell extracts were prepared, and metabolism in the treatment group was compared to the untreated hypoxia group and to control. 13C and H NMR spectra revealed that 13C enrichment in citrate and glutamine C‐4 in the initial medium were increased in the presence of orotic acid, compared to the untreated hypoxia group but lower than control. The drug increased acetate utilization during hypoxia to normoxic levels. Thus it appears that the treatment group had a more active mitochondrial metabolism, which was also reflected in higher intracellular uridine diphosphoryl sugars and ADP concentrations. Glutamine labeling was increased in the cell extracts in the presence of orotic acid. Thus it appears that, in the presence of the pyrimidine nucleotide precursor, astrocytes are capable of normal metabolism during hypoxia which might have implications for neuronal survival during low oxygen insults, since neurons are dependent on astrocyte produced precursors for their neurotransmitter synthesis.

Post-ischaemic treatment with orotic acid prevents neuronal injury in gerbil brain ischaemia

WE studied the effects of orotic acid, a precursor of pyrimidine nucleotide, on delayed neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 neurones induced by global cerebral ischaemia in Mongolian gerbils. Neuronal damage was significantly reduced in animals treated with orotic acid 2 h before ischaemia at doses of 100, 200 or 300 mg kg−1, i.p. A dose of 300 mg kg−1 given 24 h after ischaemia also suppressed CA1 neuronal damage, but had no effect when given at 48 or 72 h. These results demonstrate a protective effect of orotic acid on ischaemic neuronal damage with a wide therapeutic time window.

Effects of YM-43611, a Novel Dopamine D2-Like Receptor Antagonist, on Immediate Early Gene Expression in the Rat Forebrain

The pharmacological characteristics of two benzamides, YM-43611, a potent and selective dopamine D3 and D4 antagonist, and YM-09151-2 (nemonapride), were compared with two reference antipsychotic agents, haloperidol and clozapine, in terms of modification of c-fos and related gene expression in the rat forebrain. After subcutaneous injection of YM-43611 (1 or 5 mg/kg), nemonapride (4 mg/kg), haloperidol (1 mg/kg), or clozapine (25 mg/kg), Fos immunocytochemistry was employed, and the distributions of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons were compared. As was the case for the two reference antipsychotics, the two benzamides enhanced c-Fos immunoreactivity in a number of forebrain regions. Specifically, like clozapine and nemonapride, YM-43611 significantly increased the number of immunoreactive cells in the nucleus accumbens shell and islands of Calleja. In contrast to clozapine and nemonapride, YM-43611 did not increase c-fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. Haloperidol and nemonapride elevated the number of positive cells in the striatum and nucleus accumbens core, whereas clozapine and YM-43611 did not. Clozapine increased the number of Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the lateral septal nucleus and the diagonal band nucleus, but YM-43611, nemonapride, and haloperidol did not. The present findings demonstrate that in comparison with three other drugs, YM-43611 has restricted effects on c-fos expression in the rat forebrain and is active primarily in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens and the islands of Calleja. The ability of YM-43611 to block D3 and D4 receptors may contribute to its unique actions on Fos induction.

Neuroprotective effect of YM-39558 in focal cerebral ischemia in cats

We studied the effect of YM-39558, orotic acid ethylester, in a focal cerebral ischemia model in anesthetized cats. YM-39558 has good permeability across the blood brain barrier, and in the brain is hydrolyzed to orotic acid, the main active substance. Cats were subjected to permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 6 h, then killed and examined histologically. Treatment with YM-39558 (intravenous infusion of 11.8 mg (10 mg as orotic acid)/6 ml per kg per h) starting 15 min after MCA occlusion markedly reduced the volume of ischemic damage (from 2450 +/- 82 mm3 of the cerebral hemisphere in the saline-treated cats to 1644 +/- 123 mm3 in the YM-39558-treated cats, P < 0.01). In contrast, YM-39558 (2.26 and 1.18 mg/0.8 ml per kg per h) showed no significant protective effect on ischemic damage. No significant differences were observed between saline- and YM-39558-treated cats concerning physiological variables including brain temperature. This evidence for the neuroprotective efficacy of YM-39558 in gyrencephalic species suggests its therapeutic potential in the treatment of stroke in humans.