Kiminao Mizukawa

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)

The preventive effect of cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressant, on the late onset reduction of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia

We previously reported that a late onset reduction of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (LORMAR) occurs in the gerbil hippocampus after 5 min of transient ischemia. This reduction begins as late as 7 days post-ischemia and accompanies the accumulation of glia, but is subsequent to completion of the disappearance of CA1 pyramidal cells. In the present study, we showed that this LORMAR was prevented by daily post-ischemic administration of the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA). The effectiveness of CsA against the LORMAR indicates that an immune mechanism may be involved in the progressive brain damage occurring after transient ischemia.

Ultrastructure of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase-positive neurons in the cat cerebral cortex, amygdala and caudate nucleus.

The ultrastructure of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase-positive neurons in cat cerebral cortex, amygdala and caudate nucleus was investigated by electron microscopy using a modified method applicable to aldehyde-fixed tissues. These NADPH diaphorase-positive neurons were morphologically similar to neurons immunohistochemically positive for somatostatin. They had large amounts of electron-dense formazan reaction products scattered through the whole cytoplasm but not in the mitochondria or nucleus. Similar electron-dense reaction products were visible in the dendrites of these neurons. The results indicate that NADPH diaphorase histochemistry is a useful method for the ultrastructural examination of particular groups of neurons.

Post-ischemic administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor ENA-713 prevents delayed neuronal death in the gerbil hippocampus

We examined by morphological methodology the effect of (S)-N-ethyl-3-[(1-dimethyl-amino)ethyl]-N-methyl-phenylcarbamate hydrogentartrate (ENA-713), an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on ischemia-induced neuronal death in the gerbil hippocampus due to a 5-min ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries after light ether anesthesia. Pyramidal cells had been decreased to 27% of sham-operated controls and the number of hypertrophic astrocytes expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markedly increased in the hippocampal CA1 subfield 14 days after ischemia. However, post-ischemic administration of ENA-713 (three times 0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly ameliorated this ischemia-induced decrease in the number of pyramidal cells by 47% of sham-operated controls, furthermore, it reduced the ischemia-induced accumulation of GFAP-positive astrocyte in the CA1 region. Together with previous results showing that ENA-713 protected against the ischemia-induced cholinergic abnormalities in the gerbil brain and improved cholinergic dysfunctions in the senescent rat brain, our present findings suggest that ENA-713 prove to be useful for treatment with senile dementia such as cerebrovascular dementia.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor ENA-713 protects against ischemia-induced decrease in pre- and postsynaptic cholinergic indices in the gerbil brain following transient ischemia

The effects of pre-treatment with ENA-713, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on changes in pre- and postsynaptic cholinergic indices in gerbil brain following transient ischemia were studied at 4 and 14 days after recirculation. In the ischemic group, hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) level was significantly reduced (to 23% of sham-operated controls) at 4 days post-ischemia, but this reduction was completely prevented by ENA-713 treatment. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and cholinesterase (ChE) activities were not significantly changed at 4 and 14 days post-ischemia. Although the maximum number (Bmax) of muscarinic ACh receptor (mACh-R) binding in the hippocampus was decreased (to 44%) without any change in affinity at 14 days post-ischemia, this decrease was also inhibited by ENA-713 treatment. In addition, histological experiment indicated that ENA-713 inhibited ischemia-induced pyramidal cell loss in the hippocampal CA1 regions. Thus, these findings suggest that ENA-713 has protective, neurotrophic and therapeutic effects on cerebrovascular type dementia due to cerebral ischemia.

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase-positive neurons in cat cerebral white matter

Two populations of neurons in the cat cerebral white matter were detected using histochemistry for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase activity. One type was bipolar in shape with two cell processes extending in opposite directions, existed mainly in the subcortical areas and was oriented parallel to fiber bundles. The second type had 4 or 5 very long, prominent and varicose cell processes radiating in various directions. They were round or polygonal in shape and formed networks in the white matter of the frontoparietal area. NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons were also examined by the modified Golgi-Cox silver impregnation method. With this impregnation method, the same two morphological types could be detected but the detailed morphology of these particular populations of neurons was revealed much more fully by NADPH-diaphorase enzyme histochemistry than by the silver impregnation method.

Effects of an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Agonist and its Antagonist CPP on the Levels of Dopamine and Serotonin Metabolites in Rat Striatum Collected In Vivo by Using a Brain Dialysis Technique

Abstract3-((±)-2-Carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) is an antagonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor. In the present study, levels of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured after intracerebroventricular injection of NMDA, CPP or both in rat striatum using a brain dialysis method. The injection of NMDA produced a significant increase in DOPAC level. HVA level was also increased by NMDA injection. The level of 5-HIAA was not affected by NMDA injection. The injection of CPP had no effect on DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA levels. The injection of CPP restrained the increase of DOPAC and HVA levels induced by NMDA injection. The results suggest that intracerebral injection of NMDA may increase dopamine release from rat striatum, but have no effect on serotonin release. Furthermore, CPP inhibits NMDA induced release of dopamine.

Regional responses of rat brain muscarinic cholinergic receptors to immobilization stress

The effect of immobilization stress (IM-stress) on the muscarinic cholinergic (m-Ch) receptor binding was determined in 8 brain regions using [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB). IM-stress produced an increase in specific QNB binding in the septum, striatum, hippocampus and pons + medulla oblongata. Scatchard analysis revealed that IM-stress produced an increase in the affinity of m-Ch receptors in the septum, hippocampus and pons + medulla oblongata, but did not alter the maximum number of binding sites (Bmax). In the striatum, an increase in specific QNB binding was due to both the increase in Bmax and reduction of the dissociation constant (Kd). The present study suggests that IM-stress induces supersensitivity of postsynaptic m-Ch receptors probably due to a decrease in presynaptic cholinergic activities in the septum, striatum, hippocampus and pons + medulla oblongata. As the m-Ch receptors in the striatum and pons + medulla oblongata are affected by IM-stress, further studies of the m-Ch neural system must be performed under stressful situations in these regions as well as in the septum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

Post-ischemic administration of bifemelane hydrochloride prohibits ischemia-induced depletion of the muscarinic M1-receptor and its mRNA in the gerbil hippocampus

Parallel determinations of muscarinic cholinergic M1 receptor (M1-R) binding and of M1-R mRNA levels were carried out in the gerbil hippocampus 14 days after 5 min of transient ischemia. Both were reduced in the ischemic tissue to about 50% of the levels found in sham-operated controls, indicating that the late loss of M1-R is probably dependent on decreased synthesis. Three administrations of bifemelane hydrochloride (15 mg/kg, i.p., just after ischemia and 6 and 12 h later) completely prevented neuronal death in the hippocampus and ischemia-induced losses of hippocampal M1-R and its mRNA. Since vascular dementia may depend upon the ischemia-induced losses in cholinergic communication in the hippocampus, these findings suggest that it may be possible to prevent its occurrence by post-ischemic treatment with bifemelane hydrochloride.

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.