dizocilpine-maleate and Muscle-Rigidity

The electromyographic (EMG) stretch reflex in the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles was elicited by passive bending and stretching of the rat's hind foot in the ankle joint. The EMG stretch reflex was increased by pretreatment with reserpine (10 mg/kg ip) which is a model compound commonly used to induce parkinsonian rigidity in laboratory animals. Dizocilpine (MK-801) (0.32, 0.64 and 1.28 mg/kg sc) inhibited long-latency supraspinal components of the reserpine-increased EMG stretch reflex, whereas a short-latency spinal component was not diminished. The present results suggest that MK-801 exhibits an antiparkinsonian action against reserpine-induced rigidity.

Topics: Animals; Dizocilpine Maleate; Dopamine; Electromyography; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Male; Muscle Rigidity; Parkinson Disease, Secondary; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reaction Time; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Reflex, Stretch; Reserpine

MK-801, a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors, is known to exhibit a beneficial action in many animal models of Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of MK-801 on the reserpine-induced muscle rigidity. The rigidity was estimated by a direct mechanomyographic method. This method consists in successive bending and straightening of a rat's hind foot in the ankle joint and measuring the resistance of the foot to passive movements. Reserpine in doses of 5-10 mg/kg ip, given alone or in combination with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha MT, 250 mg/kg ip), induced rigidity. The strongest muscle rigidity was induced by 10 mg/kg of reserpine 1 hour after administration. MK-801 (0.32-1.28 mg/kg sc) injected 70 min after reserpine (10 mg/kg ip) decreased the rigidity induced by the latter compound. Similarly, MK-801 (1.28 mg/kg sc), administered 27 h 40' after joint treatment with reserpine (10 mg/kg ip) and alpha MT (250 mg/kg ip), strongly inhibited the reserpine-induced muscle rigidity. The obtained results show that the glutamatergic hyperactivity plays a significant role in the reserpine-induced rigidity. As the reserpine-induced motor disturbances are commonly accepted to be an animal model of parkinsonian symptoms, it may be assumed that the NMDA receptor blocking component may contribute substantially to the therapeutic action of antiparkinsonian drugs.

Topics: Animals; Dizocilpine Maleate; Foot; Male; Muscle Rigidity; Muscle Tonus; Parkinson Disease; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Reserpine

Systemically administered N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, MK-801 ((+)5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate) and CPP (3-[(+-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl]-propyl-1-phosphonate), potentiate the ability of L-dopa (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) to reverse akinesia and to alleviate muscular rigidity in monoamine-depleted rats. On the basis of these findings, it is proposed that NMDA antagonists may be beneficial as adjunctive treatment in the therapy of Parkinson's disease. CPP locally injected into the subthalamic nucleus, entopeduncular nucleus--the rat homologue of the internal pallidal segment--or substantia nigra pars reticulata of monoamine-depleted rats stimulates locomotor activity and alleviates rigidity, whereas local microinjection of CPP into the neostriatum is ineffective. These results make it unlikely that the neostriatum is the site of the antiparkinsonian action of NMDA antagonists in monoamine-depleted rats, whereas the subthalamic nucleus, internal pallidal segment, and substantia nigra pars reticulata appear to be important for the effects of NMDA antagonists.

Topics: Animals; Dizocilpine Maleate; Drug Synergism; Electromyography; Levodopa; Male; Methyltyrosines; Motor Activity; Muscle Rigidity; N-Methylaspartate; Parkinson Disease; Piperazines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reserpine

Effects of intravenous antagonists of excitatory amino acids on decerebrate rigidity in the rat were examined. Kynurenate, ketamine, (4S, 5R)-4-(2-methylpropyl)-3-[3-(perhydroazepin-1-yl)propyl]-5-phenyl- 1,3- oxazolidin-2-one hydrochloride (MLV-6976), (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cyclo-hepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), 3-((/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) and DL-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (APH) reduced the severity of decerebrate rigidity in a dose-dependent manner, although there was a large variability in the effective doses. The blood pressure, which was determined simultaneously, did not show a uniform change in the presence of these antagonists. The time course of the change of the blood pressure did not coincide with that of decerebrate rigidity. These results suggest a possibility that the glutamatergic system may function, at least in part, in the onset of the decerebrate rigidity.

Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Azepines; Blood Pressure; Decerebrate State; Dibenzocycloheptenes; Dizocilpine Maleate; Ketamine; Kynurenic Acid; Male; Muscle Relaxants, Central; Muscle Rigidity; Oxazoles; Oxazolidinones; Piperazines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains