ergoline and Brain-Neoplasms

Insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) is an important promoter in the tumorigenesis of several extracranial and intracranial neoplasms. In astrocytic-cell tumors, the role of autocrine and paracrine IGF-I expression in enhancing tumoral progression is well established. However, the influence of systemic IGF-I levels on the clinical behavior of astrocytic neoplasms remains an open subject of research. We report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented simultaneously with acromegaly and an anaplastic astrocytoma, which had rapidly progressed from a low-grade astrocytoma. The coexistence of systemic IGF-I hypersecretion with a quick progression in the histopathological grade of the astrocytoma raises the compelling question of whether the clinical behavior of the astrocytic tumor was influenced by the acromegalic status. The role of IGF-I signaling in the pathogenesis of astrocytic-cell tumors and the experience with therapeutic strategies addressing this pathway in astrocytomas are also discussed.

Topics: Acromegaly; Adult; Astrocytoma; Brain Neoplasms; Cabergoline; Cranial Irradiation; Craniotomy; Disease Progression; Ergolines; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neoplasm Staging; Peptides, Cyclic; Somatostatin; Treatment Outcome; Up-Regulation

This study describes the depression of calcium currents caused by activation of human D3 dopamine receptors which have been stably expressed in the neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 cell line. Transfected cells, which had been differentiated with prostaglandin E1 and isobutylmethylxanthine, exclusively expressed D3 receptor mRNA, which was demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques. Transfected cells had high affinity binding sites for iodosulpiride, with a Kd of 0.8 nM and receptor density of 240 fmol mg-1 protein. Calcium currents were recorded using nystatin-perforated patch clamp techniques. In contrast to untransfected cells that had been differentiated, high-threshold calcium currents in differentiated hD3-NG108-15 cells were depressed by application of dopamine and quinpirole. These responses were abolished by the dopamine receptor antagonist S-(-)-sulpiride (1 microM), demonstrating that they were caused by the activation of the transfected dopamine receptors. Coupling of human D3 receptors to calcium currents was sensitive to the action of pertussis toxin, suggesting the involvement of G-proteins of the Gi and/or G(o) subtype. These results demonstrate that human D3 receptors represent a functional class of dopamine receptor.

Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Calcium Channel Blockers; Calcium Channels; Cell Differentiation; Dopamine Agents; Ergolines; Glioma; GTP-Binding Proteins; Humans; Neuroblastoma; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Quinpirole; Receptors, Dopamine; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Receptors, Dopamine D3; RNA, Messenger; Sulpiride; Tumor Cells, Cultured

5-HT receptor denervation supersensitivity has been proposed to explain behavioural supersensitivity to L-5-HTP in rats with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) lesions. No upregulation of 5-HT2 binding sites was found despite supersensitivity to putative 5-HT2,1C drugs. To test the hypothesis that the 5-HT1C properties of these drugs are involved instead, dose-response and time-course studies of 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 receptors were performed using several different radioligands in rat brain after making neonatal 5,7-DHT lesions by intraperitoneal injection. 5-HT1C sites labelled with [3H]-mesulergine showed a distinct regional distribution: brainstem > diencephalon > cortex > hippocampus > cerebellum, constituting 65, 70, 31, 70, and 73% of total sites labelled by [3H]-mesulergine in the absence of 20 nM spiperone to block 5-HT2 sites, respectively. 5,7-DHT lesions did not significantly alter BMAX, KD, or nH of [3H]-mesulergine-labelled 5-HT1C sites in cortex or other regions but did reduce the density of cortical [3H]-paroxetine sites (-55%). Cortical 5-HT1C sites labelled by [3H]-5-HT or [3H]-mianserin, and cortical 5-HT2 sites labelled by [3H]-DOB or [3H]-ketanserin, were also unaffected. These data suggest that although denervation supersensitivity of 5-HT1C or 5-HT2 receptors may occur at the level of the receptor transducer-effector, there is no evidence it occurs at the receptor recognition site.

Topics: 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Binding Sites; Brain Neoplasms; Brain Stem; Cerebellum; Cerebral Cortex; Diencephalon; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ergolines; Female; Hippocampus; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Mianserin; Pregnancy; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Receptors, Serotonin; Serotonin; Time Factors; Tritium

A patient with a primary adenohypophyseal neoplasm who had a long course marked by multiple surgical resections, radiation therapy, and high-dose dopamine agonist therapy developed local invasion as well as cranial and extracranial osseous metastatic lesions. The serum prolactin levels were greatly elevated, and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated prolactin in the cytoplasm of primary and metastatic tumor cells. Ultrastructural features of lactotrophic differentiation, including misplaced granule exocytosis, were observed. This is the third reported case of prolactin cell carcinoma that metastasized despite high-dose dopamine agonist therapy. Analysis of the patient's serum prolactin showed no abnormality in the chromatographic profile of biologic activity.

Topics: Biological Assay; Brain Neoplasms; Bromocriptine; Combined Modality Therapy; Ergolines; Female; Histocytochemistry; Hormones; Humans; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Pergolide; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin