dizocilpine-maleate and gamma-glutamylaminomethylsulfonic-acid

We have demonstrated that dorsal root ganglion neurons transduced with a recombinant replication-defective herpes simplex virus vector coding for glutamic acid decarboxylase (QHGAD67) release GABA to produce an analgesic effect in rodent models of pain. In this study, we examined the mechanism of transgene-mediated GABA release from dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro and in vivo. Release of GABA from dorsal root ganglion neurons transduced with QHGAD67 was not increased by membrane depolarization induced by 60 mM extracellular K+ nor reduced by the removal of Ca2+ from the medium. Release of GABA from transduced dorsal root ganglion neurons was, however, blocked in a dose-dependent manner by NO-711, a selective inhibitor of the GABA transporter-1. The amount of GABA released from a spinal cord slice preparation, prepared from animals transduced by subcutaneous inoculation of QHGAD67 in the hind paws, was substantially increased compared to animals transduced with control vector Q0ZHG or normal animals, but the amount of GABA released was not changed by stimulation of the dorsal roots at either low (0.1 mA, 0.5-ms duration) or high (10 mA, 0.5-ms duration) intensity. We conclude that QHGAD67-mediated GABA release from dorsal root ganglion neurons is non-vesicular, independent of electrical depolarization, and that this efflux is mediated through reversal of the GABA transporter.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dizocilpine Maleate; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Drug Interactions; Electric Stimulation; Embryo, Mammalian; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; GABA Antagonists; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Ganglia, Spinal; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Glutamic Acid; Glutamine; Isoenzymes; Neurons, Afferent; Nipecotic Acids; Oximes; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Simplexvirus; Spinal Nerves; Transfection; Tubulin

This study characterizes the receptor subtypes and investigates some of the mechanisms by which glutamate, injected intraplantarly (i.pl.) into the mouse paw, produces nociception and paw oedema. I.pl. injection of glutamate induced a rapid-onset, dose-related pain response associated with oedema formation, with mean ED(50) values of 2.6 (1.6-4.3) and 0.5 (0.4-0.7) micromol/kg, respectively. Pretreatment with Chicago sky blue 6B (100 microg/kg), an inhibitor of glutamate uptake, caused a significant (about sixfold) reduction of the mean ED(50) value for glutamate-induced nociception, but not paw oedema. NMDA receptor antagonist MK 801, given by systemic (i.p.), intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), i.pl. or intrathecal (i.t.) routes, produced graded inhibition of glutamate-induced nociception. Non-NMDA receptor antagonists NBQX or GAMS, metabotropic antagonist E4CPG, and also the antagonist that acts at the NMDA receptor-associated glycine binding site felbamate, significantly inhibited the nociception induced by glutamate. L(omega)-N-nitro-arginine (given i.p., i.t., i.pl. or i.c.v.) prevented the nociception and paw oedema caused by glutamate, an effect that was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP), given i.pl., greatly potentiated glutamate-induced nociception and oedema formation. Finally, the i.pl. injection of glutamate was accompanied by a graded increase in the nitrite levels of the hindpaw exudate. It is concluded that the nociception caused by i.pl. injection of glutamate probably involves the activation of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors by a mechanism which largely depends on the activation of L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway. Glutamate-induced paw oedema seems to be primarily mediated by non-NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors and release of nitric oxide.

Topics: Animals; Azo Compounds; Coloring Agents; Dizocilpine Maleate; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edema; Enzyme Inhibitors; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Extremities; Glutamic Acid; Glutamine; Male; Mice; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nitrites; Nitroarginine; Nociceptors; Penicillamine; Quinoxalines; Trypan Blue

The behavioural and convulsant effects of imipenem (Imi), a carbapenem derivative, were studied after intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration in DBA/2 mice, a strain genetically susceptible to sound-induced seizures. The anticonvulsant effects of some excitatory amino acid antagonists and muscimol (Msc), a GABAA agonist, against seizures induced by i.p. or i.c.v. administration of Imi were also evaluated. The present study demonstrated that the order of anticonvulsant activity in our epileptic model, after i.p. administration, was (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)-cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801) > (+/-)(E)-2-amino-4-methyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoate ethyl ester (CGP 39551) > 3-((+/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propenyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPPene) > 3-((+/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CCP) > 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(F)-quinoxaline (NBQX). Ifenprodil, a compound acting on the polyamine site of NMDA receptor complex was unable to protect against seizures induced by Imi, suggesting that the poliamine site did not exert a principal role in the genesis of seizures induced by Imi. In addition, the order of anticonvulsant potency in our epileptic model, after i.c.v. administration, was CPPene > MK-801 > Msc > (-)-2-amino-7-phosphonic acid (AP7) > gamma-D-glutamylaminomethylsulphonate (gamma-D-GAMS) > NBQX > kynurenic acid (KYNA) > 6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). The relationship between the different site of action and the anticonvulsant activity of these derivatives was discussed. Although the main mechanism of Imi induced seizures cannot be easily determined, potential interactions with the receptors of the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters exists. In fact, antagonists of excitatory amino acids are able to increase the threshold for the seizures or to prevent the seizures induced by Imi. In addition, Imi acts on the central nervous system by inhibition of GABA neurotransmission and Msc, a selective GABAA agonist, was able to protect against seizures induced by Imi.

Topics: 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; Amino Acids; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Dizocilpine Maleate; Excitatory Amino Acids; Glutamine; Imipenem; Kynurenic Acid; Mice; Mice, Inbred DBA; Muscimol; Piperazines; Piperidines; Quinoxalines; Seizures

Our previous studies showed that the survival of cerebellar granule cells in culture is promoted by treatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate. Here we report on the influence of another glutamate analogue, kainic acid, which, in contrast to N-methyl-D-aspartate, is believed to stimulate transmitter receptors mediating fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials. The kainate effect was complex: increased survival at low concentrations (the maximum, at 25-50 microM, was about 50% promotion), whereas concentrations exceeding 50 microM resulted first in a loss of the effect, and then at concentrations of 2-5 x 10(-4) M cells became vulnerable to kainate. The trophic influence of kainate is mediated through receptors other than the N-methyl-D-aspartate preferring subtype. In contrast to the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate, that of kainate did not depend on the medium K+ level and was potently blocked by dinitroquinoxalinedione, which--at the concentration used here--did not counteract the promotion of cell survival evoked by N-methyl-D-aspartate. Quisqualate was a potent inhibitor of the rescue by kainate. Furthermore, blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors with the selective antagonists MK-801 or aminophosphonovalerate did not inhibit, but rather potentiated the trophic effect of kainate. Possible mechanisms underlying the trophic effect of chronic depolarization or treatment with excitatory amino acids are discussed, and it is proposed that they involve elevated free cytoplasmic calcium activity following increased influx through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (high K+ and kainate) or receptorgated channels (N-methyl-D-aspartate).

Topics: alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; Animals; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cerebellum; Dipeptides; Dizocilpine Maleate; DNA; Electric Stimulation; Glutamine; Ibotenic Acid; Kainic Acid; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; N-Methylaspartate; Potassium; Quinoxalines; Quisqualic Acid; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Amino Acid; Receptors, Cell Surface