Mitsuru Kawaguchi

Characterization of Central- and Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptors in Rat Salivary Glands

Benzodiazepines have been shown to inhibit salivary secretion from the rat salivary gland. This action is mediated by specific benzodiazepine binding sites in the glands. The presence and characteristics of central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in rat parotid and submandibular glands were examined employing [3H]Ro15-1788 and [3H]PK11195 as radioligands. [3H]Ro15-1788 and [3H]PK11195 bound with high affinity for both salivary glands ([3H]Ro15-1788: 24.5 and 37.4 mM, [3H]PK11195: 1.37 and 1.88 nM, for parotid and submandibular glands, respectively). [3H]Ro15-1788 binding sites occupied only 0.22 to 0.43% of the total binding for benzodiazepine receptors in the glands. The rank order of the competing potency of [3H]Ro15-1788 binding (Ro15-1788 = clonazepam > diazepam > flunitrazepam > PK11195 > Ro5-4864) and [3H]PK11195 binding (Ro5-4864 = PK11195 > diazepam = flunitrazepam > clonazepam) demonstrated that [3H]Ro15-1788 and [3H]PK11195 binding sites were characteristic of the central and peripheral type, respectively. These studies show that both central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors exist in rat parotid and submandibular glands.

Singlet Oxygen–mediated Hydroxyl Radical Production in the Presence of Phenols: Whether DMPO–·OH Formation Really Indicates Production of ·OH?¶

The reaction of singlet oxygen (1O2) generated by ultraviolet‐A (UVA)–visible light (λ > 330 nm) irradiation of air‐saturated solutions of hematoporphyrin with phenolic compounds in the presence of a spin trap, 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline‐N‐oxide (DMPO), gave an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum characteristic of the DMPO–hydroxyl radical spin adduct (DMPO–·OH). In contrast, the ESR signal of 5,5‐dimethyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐N‐oxyl, an oxidative product of DMPO, was observed in the absence of phenolic compounds. The ESR signal of DMPO–·OH decreased in the presence of either a ·OH scavenger or a quencher of 1O2 and under anaerobic conditions, whereas it increased depending on the concentration of DMPO. These results indicate both 1O2‐ and DMPO‐mediated formation of free ·OH during the reaction. When DMPO was replaced with 5‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐5‐methyl‐1‐pyrroline‐N‐oxide (DEPMPO), no DEPMPO adduct of oxygen radical species was obtained. This suggests that 1O2, as an oxidizing agent, reacts little with DEPMPO, in which a strong electron‐withdrawing phosphoryl group increases the oxidation potential of DEPMPO compared with DMPO. A linear correlation between the amounts of DMPO–·OH generated and the oxidation potentials of phenolic compounds was observed, suggesting that the electron‐donating properties of phenolic compounds contribute to the appearance of ·OH. These observations indicate that 1O2 reacts first with DMPO, and the resulting DMPO–1O2 intermediate is immediately decomposed/reduced to give ·OH. Phenolic compounds would participate in this reaction as electron donors but would not contribute to the direct conversion of 1O2 to ·OH. Furthermore, DEPMPO did not cause the spin‐trapping agent–mediated generation of ·OH like DMPO did.

Subregion-specific vulnerability to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampal neurons.

It is well known that in certain disease states, including ischemia and Alzheimers disease, neurodegeneration occurs in the hippocampus and that vulnerability to neuronal death is area dependent. The present study investigated the mechanism of area-dependent vulnerability to neuronal death under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions induced by tunicamycin (TM), using rat organotypic hippocampal cultures (OHC) and hippocampal slices. Analysis of propidium iodide uptake showed that TM-induced neuronal death in a concentration-dependent manner (20-80 microg/mL) and that the rank order of vulnerability among hippocampal subregions was dentate gyrus (DG)>CA1>CA3. Results of immunohistochemistry using hippocampal slices also showed that procaspase-12-positive cells in area CA3 were significantly fewer than those in area CA1 and the DG. Moreover, procurement of neurons in areas CA1, CA3 and the DG by laser microdissection, followed by Western blot analysis, also revealed that the level of procaspase-12 in area CA3 was significantly lower than those in area CA1 and the DG. Pretreatment with z-ATAD-fmk, a cell-permeable caspase-12-selective inhibitor significantly attenuated the TM-induced increase of PI fluorescence in the CA1 and DG subregion but not in area CA3. These results suggest that TM elicits subregion-specific neuronal toxicity in OHC and that the vulnerability to TM-induced toxicity is at least partly dependent on the expression level of endogenous procaspase-12 in each area of the hippocampus.

Inhibitory effect of diazepam on muscarinic receptor-stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in rat parotid acinar cells

This study examined the effect of diazepam (DZP) on phosphoinositide turnover, which plays an important role in the regulation of salivary secretion, in rat parotid acinar cells. DZP (10−9 M to 10−5 M), a potent agonist of both central‐ and peripheral‐type benzodiazepine receptors, dose‐dependently decreased inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) production stimulated by carbachol, a muscarinic receptor agonist, in the cells. DZP produced a maximum inhibitory response at a concentration of 10−5 M, with IP3 production decreased to 63% of maximal levels. The concentration inducing half maximal inhibition of IP3 production was approximately 3.5×10−8 M. An inhibitory response to DZP was produced by a short‐term pretreatment (<3 min) of the cells and prevented by antagonist and competing ligand for the central‐ and peripheral‐type benzodiazepine receptors, flumazenil and PK 11195, respectively. DZP showed a non‐competitive inhibition of carbachol‐stimulated IP3 production. It did not directly inhibit the activities of GTP‐binding regulatory proteins and phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate‐specific phospholipase C (PLC) in the parotid gland membranes, though choline chloride inhibited PLC activity. DZP (10−5 M) attenuated the increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the cells following stimulation of the muscarinic and α1‐adrenoceptors. These results suggest that in the parotid acinar cells, DZP inhibits muscarinic receptor‐stimulated IP3 production through benzodiazepine receptors and that PLC activity which produces IP3 is inhibited by chloride. The decreases in IP3 and [Ca2+]i in the cells may be connected with the suppression of salivary secretion induced by DZP.

Effects of Anticonvulsants on Local Anaesthetic‐Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

The effects of various anticonvulsants on local anaesthetics procaine- and lidocaine-induced convulsions were investigated in rats. Pretreatment with diazepam (2.5-5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and clonazepam (5-10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) completely protected the rats against both local anaesthetic-induced convulsions. Phenobarbital (12.5-50 mg/kg, subcutaneously) also significantly decreased the incidence of both convulsions and prolonged their latencies. Carbabazepine (10-40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) did not completely repress both convulsions, but it prolonged their latencies. Phenytoin (5-20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and primidone (30-60 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) markedly enhanced both local anaesthetic-induced convulsions, as shown by shortening of latency and increase in mortality. Valproate (100-200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) produced a protective effect against procaine-induced convulsions, while it strongly enhanced lidocaine-induced convulsions. These results suggest that the benzodiazepines are effective drugs to prevent neurotoxicity induced by local anaesthetics, while phenytoin and primidone potentiate them.

siRNA‐mediated gene silencing in the salivary gland using in vivo microbubble‐enhanced sonoporation

OBJECTIVES siRNA-induced gene silencing in the salivary gland using microbubble-enhanced sonoporation was used to develop an in vivo gene knockdown technique. METHODS siRNA targeting rat glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenas (GAPDH) was mixed with echo-enhanced microbubbles and reverse-injected into rat parotid glands using transdermal ultrasound. To compare direct and transdermal ultrasound efficiencies, an incision was made on the lateral neck to expose the parotid glands for direct application. The efficiency of gene suppression was determined using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction 24-72 h after siRNA delivery. Cytotoxicity was assessed using histological analysis. RESULTS Expression of rat GAPDH in the parotid glands was silenced 48 h after siRNA was delivered by ultrasound (frequency: 1 MHz; intensity: 2 W cm(-2); exposure time: 2 min). High-intensity ultrasound induced tissue damage and apoptotic change. Echo-enhanced microbubbles significantly improved siRNA-induced gene silencing by 10-50%. Compared with transdermal application, direct-exposure ultrasound was only slightly effective, and no significant difference in gene expression was observed. CONCLUSION The results indicate that microbubble-enhanced sonoporation can yield in vivo siRNA gene silencing in the rat parotid gland. This technique could be applied to provide gene knockdown organs for functional genomic analyses and to develop siRNA-based gene therapy.

Inhibitory regulation of amylase release in rat parotid acinar cells by benzodiazepine receptors

This study examined the influence of benzodiazepine receptors on amylase release from rat parotid acinar cells. Diazepam (10(-8)-10(-6) M), which is a potent agonist of both central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, dose dependently decreased amylase release induced by isoprenaline and carbachol, which are beta-adrenoceptor and muscarinic receptor agonists, respectively. The maximum inhibitory response was obtained with 10(-6) M diazepam: amylase release was decreased to 57% (isoprenaline) and 39% (carbachol) of maximal levels, while these responses were completely inhibited by propranolol and atropine, respectively. Clonazepam and 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-p-chlorophenyl)-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2- one (Ro 5-4864), which are selective agonists of central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, respectively, also produced a significant and dose-dependent decrease in isoprenaline-induced amylase release. The inhibitory potency was diazepam > clonazepam > Ro 5-4864. Flumazenil and 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide (PK 11195), which are selective antagonists of central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, respectively, dose dependently blocked the inhibition of isoprenaline-induced amylase release by diazepam. At a concentration of 10(-5) M, flumazenil and PK 11195 restored amylase release to approximately 75% of that in the presence of isoprenaline alone. The combination of both antagonists completely prevented the inhibition by diazepam. Similarly, the inhibitory responses of clonazepam and Ro 5-4864 were completely blocked by flumazenil and PK 11195, respectively. These results suggest that, in rat parotid acinar cells, benzodiazepines inhibit beta-adrenoceptor and muscarinic receptor-stimulated amylase release and that both central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors contribute to this inhibitory regulation.

Immunohistochemical study on GABAergic system in salivary glands

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its receptors are found in the central nervous system and several peripheral tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and distribution of GABA and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), a GABA biosynthetic enzyme, in rat salivary gland. Western blot and real time quantitative RT-PCR revealed that GAD67 was the major isoform of GAD in the salivary glands. Furthermore, both GABA and GAD were detected around the acinar cells in the submandibular glands by immunohistochemical analysis. When both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves related to the submandibular glands were denervated, the immunoreactivities of GABA and GAD were dramatically depressed, and levels of GAD67 and GABA significantly decreased. However, no morphological changes in the glands were observed after denervation. These results indicate that GAD67 is present around acinar cells in the salivary glands, and suggest that the GABAergic system in the glands is closely related to the autonomic nervous system.

Expression of BMP7 is associated with resistance to diabetic stress: Comparison among mouse salivary glands

We determined mRNA levels of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), a growth and differentiation factor belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, in the salivary glands of mice with streptozotocin (200 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced diabetes. We also examined the effects of BMP7 on secretion of saliva and degenerative change in salivary glands in diabetic mice. In normal mice, BMP7 mRNA levels were high in the submandibular gland and low in the parotid gland, while in diabetic mice, levels were significantly decreased in the parotid gland, but not in the submandibular gland. No significant difference was observed in mRNA levels of BMP receptors between normal and diabetic mice. In diabetic mice, pilocarpine (4 mg/kg, i.p.)-stimulated salivary secretion showed a remarkable decrease in both parotid and submandibular gland, although degree of reduction was smaller in the latter. Notable degeneration with vacuolation and atrophy was also found in parotid gland, whereas degeneration of submandibular gland was slight. Administration of BMP7 (50 and 100 microg/kg, i.v.) in diabetic mice induced a significant increase in salivary secretion, with rate of recovery higher in parotid gland than in submandibular gland. In diabetic mice, BMP7 also exhibited a powerful protective effect in degenerated salivary gland, especially in parotid gland. These results suggest that BMP7 acts to prevent diabetic damage in salivary gland, and that its cytoprotective effect is closely correlated with mRNA levels in tissue.

Characterization of Motor Neuron Prostaglandin E2 EP3 Receptor Isoform in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with adult onset, characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid mediator, exerts its biological functions by binding to four subtypes of E-prostanoid (EP1-4). Among them, EP3 has been shown to have multiple isoforms, EP3α, EP3β, and EP3γ, produced by alternative splicing. Since PGE2 has been shown to have important pathophysiological roles in ALS, experiments were performed to identify EP3 receptor isoform(s) in spinal motor neurons of wild-type (WT) and ALS model (G93A) mice. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of adult mice demonstrated expression of EP3α and EP3γ mRNAs in the lumbar spinal cord, whereas EP3β mRNA was barely detectable. Laser capture microdissection was used to dissect out motor neurons from frozen samples of lumbar spinal cord in these mice for analysis by real-time PCR. We found that expression of EP3γ mRNA was predominant in these neurons, whereas EP3α and EP3β mRNAs were undetectable. At the early symptomatic stage, the mRNA expression profiles of these splice isoforms in G93A motor neurons were comparable to those in neurons from WT mice. These results suggest that the PGE2-to-EP3 signaling pathway is mediated mainly by the EP3γ isoform in the motor neurons of mice, and that modulation of the EP3γ isoform in motor neurons may be a promising new therapeutic approach for ALS.