Effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor on abnormalities of electroretinogram and vascular factors in diabetic rats

The effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor, [5-(3-thienyl) tetrazol-1-yl] acetic acid (TAT), on the electroretinogram was determined in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Laboratory chow containing 0.05% TAT was given to rats for 2 months, while other diabetic rats were untreated. Groups of TAT-treated and untreated normal rats were also studied. Treatment with TAT produced significant improvement of the electroretinogram. TAT shortened the peak latencies of the b-wave oscillatory potentials, which were significantly prolonged in untreated diabetic rats (P < 0.0001 vs. untreated normal rats). This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the retinal sorbitol and fructose concentrations (by 46.5% and 25.7%, respectively). TAT treatment of diabetic rats also markedly reduced ADP-induced platelet aggregation and significantly increased the red blood cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate level, accompanied by a marked reduction in sorbitol and fructose concentrations of platelet and red blood cells. There were significant correlations between the summed b-wave peak latencies and platelet aggregation or the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate level in diabetic rats. These findings suggest that an aldose reductase inhibitor, TAT, has therapeutic value for diabetic retinopathy.

Does plasma free-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl(ethylene)glycol increase in the delirious state? A comparison of the effects of mianserin and haloperidol on delirium

Sixty-six patients (47 men, 19 women, mean age 65 years) with delirium were treated with mianserin (10-60 mg/day) or haloperidol (2-6 mg/day) at Kurume University Hospital. The clinical effects of these drugs were compared before and after treatment using the Delirium Rating Scale. At the same time, blood was sampled to analyse plasma mianserin, free-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl(ethylene)glycol (MHPG) and homovanillic acid concentrations. Marked improvement after 1 week was observed in 69.4% of patients undergoing mianserin treatment, and in 70.6% of those receiving haloperidol. A statistically significant difference in the clinical effects of these drugs was not observed. Although improvement in the delirious state and a decrease in the plasma free-MHPG concentration were observed after drug administration, the plasma free-homovanillic acid concentration showed no significant change. The higher plasma free-MHPG concentration in the delirious state suggests the existence of a preparatory state whereby noradrenaline metabolism is involved in the appearance of the abnormal behaviour associated with delirium. These data suggest that free-MHPG concentrations could potentially be used as a predictor of delirium.

Aromatase in the normal breast and breast cancer

Adipose tissue and muscle constitute the larger proportion of body mass, and therefore aromatization in these tissues is the major source of circulating estrogens in postmenopausal women. Although plasma estrogen concentrations are very low, levels in breast cancers from postmenopausal patients are reported to be 10-fold higher than in plasma and normal tissue. Whereas studies on aromatase activity in the tumor suggest that estrogen may be produced locally, the significance of this contribution has been questioned. Using immunocytochemistry (ICC) to an anti-aromatase antibody, a relatively strong immunoreaction was detected in tumor epithelial cells as well as in the terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) of the normal breast. Aromatase expression was detected in the cytoplasm of tumor epithelial cells and the surrounding stromal cells of over 50% of tumors in a series of 19 breast cancers. In situ hybridization (ISH) to aromatase mRNA confirmed the immunocytochemical result that the epithelial cells are the primary site of estrogen synthesis in the breast and breast cancers. In the 10 tumors which showed immunoreaction to aromatase, the average aromatase activity measured in cryosections was 286.5 +/- 18.6 fmol estrogen/mg protein/h (SE), whereas in nine tumors with weak aromatase immunoreaction, the enzyme activity was 154.7 +/- 19.3 fmol estrogen/mg protein/h (P < 0.05) (SE). The functional significance of tumor aromatase and locally produced estrogens on the growth of tumors was suggested by the correlation between aromatase activity and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a marker of cell proliferation (P < 0.005). Although intratumoral aromatase activity did not correlate with steroid receptors significantly, there was a trend for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors to express aromatase. In addition, proliferation ([3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA) during histoculture, was increased by both estradiol and testosterone in tumors with high aromatase activity. Our results suggest that some tumors synthesize sufficient estrogen to stimulate their proliferation. It may thus be important to inhibit tumor aromatase as well as to reduce circulating levels of estrogen for effective breast cancer treatment.

Temperature sensitivity of proteoliposomes reconstituted from a mixture of scallop and rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases

We reconstituted proteoliposomes by mixing scallop and rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum, SR, at different protein weight ratios, and investigated the effects of temperature on their Ca2+-transport activity. When proteoliposomes containing scallop and rabbit SR at a protein ratio of 1:1 were pre-incubated in the presence of Ca2+ at 39 degrees C for 10 min, the Ca2+-transport activity was almost completely lost, whereas the activity of proteoliposomes containing rabbit SR alone decreased only slightly. Essentially the same results were obtained for proteoliposomes reconstituted with Ca2+-ATPases partially purified from scallop and rabbit SR. The susceptibility of the reconstituted proteoliposomes to heat inactivation increased with an increase in the protein weight ratio of scallop to rabbit SR, the maximum being approached at a ratio higher than 1. When the scallop SR was thermally treated before reconstitution, the resulting vesicles showed as high Ca2+-transport activity as that of control vesicles reconstituted from rabbit SR alone. The former vesicles were not inactivated on further treatment at high temperature. In contrast, when the scallop SR was heated in EGTA before reconstitution of vesicles with rabbit SR, the Ca2+-transport activity of the vesicles was strongly inhibited by subsequent treatment at high temperature in the presence of Ca2+. These results can be easily explained if we assume that Ca2+ transport by the reconstituted vesicles can be catalyzed through a dimeric interaction between the scallop and rabbit Ca2+-ATPases in the membrane. Pre-incubation of these vesicles at 39 degrees C for 10 min in the presence of Ca2+ may destroy the dimeric interaction due to denaturation of the scallop Ca2+-ATPase.

Increased alanine uptake and lipid synthesis from alanine in isolated hepatocytes of Wistar-Kyoto fatty rats: an inhibitory effect of biguanides

To examine the pathophysiological characteristics of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, alanine metabolism in isolated hepatocytes of male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) fatty rats (genetically obese and hyperglycemic) and their lean littermates was investigated. The effects of glucagon and the biguanides, metformin and buformin, on alanine metabolism were also studied by measuring alanine uptake and lipid synthesis from alanine. WKY fatty rats showed higher plasma insulin and lipid concentrations than lean rats at 5 as well as at 12 weeks of age. Alanine uptake into hepatocytes was increased in fatty rats only at 12 weeks of age compared with lean rats. Lipid synthesis from alanine in hepatocytes was increased in fatty rats at 5 and 12 weeks of age compared with lean rats. Glucagon increased alanine uptake into hepatocytes but did not affect lipid synthesis from alanine in both fatty and lean rats. Low concentrations (0.1 mM) of biguanides decreased lipid synthesis from alanine only in fatty rats without inhibiting alanine uptake into hepatocytes. These observations suggest that lipid synthesis from alanine in hepatocytes of WKY fatty rats is accelerated prior to the onset of diabetes mellitus, which might be associated with the development of diabetes, and that an inhibitory effect on increased lipid synthesis is one of the pharmacodynamic actions of biguanides.

Ocular membrane permeability of hydrophilic drugs for ocular peptide delivery

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ocular membrane permeability and the permeation mechanism of hydrophilic drugs such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), p-nitrophenyl beta-cellopentaoside (PNP) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). The penetration of hydrophilic drugs was measured across the isolated corneal and conjunctival membranes of albino rabbits using a two-chamber diffusion glass cell. The corneal permeabilities of hydrophilic drugs were much lower than those of beta blockers reported previously. The corneal penetration of TRH was the highest among the hydrophilic drugs studied. Scraping the corneal epithelium increased the penetration of hydrophilic drugs. Conjunctival membranes showed higher permeability to hydrophilic drugs compared with corneal membranes. The permeability of drugs was also analysed by Fick's equation. The partition parameter and diffusion parameter of TRH, PNP and LHRH in the cornea were lower than those in scraped cornea and conjunctiva. In addition to the data of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran reported previously, the permeability coefficient of hydrophilic drugs through the cornea, scraped cornea and conjunctiva correlated with molecular weight of the drugs. The diffusion parameters of hydrophilic drugs decreased with an increase of molecular weight for all ocular membranes. The extent of dependency of partition parameters on the molecular weights of drugs varied according to the ocular membrane. These results indicate that ocular membranes are sufficiently different in permeation character and mechanism to control the extent and pathway for ocular absorption of hydrophilic drugs.

In-situ ocular absorption of ophthalmic beta-blockers through ocular membranes in albino rabbits

Ocular membranes have been characterized by in-situ absorption of the ophthalmic beta-blockers carteolol (hydrophilic) and timolol and befunolol (lipophilic) using a cylindrical cell. After introduction of drug solution into the cell on the cornea, sclera (bulbar conjunctival and scleral layer) or palpebral conjunctiva, the disappearance of the drug from the cell was determined as in-situ absorption. The ophthalmic drugs disappeared from the conjunctival and scleral membranes although disappearance from the cornea was hardly observed. The conjunctival membrane showed the highest permeability. Lipophilic drugs were more permeable than hydrophilic. In-situ apparent permeability coefficients of the ophthalmic drugs through the conjunctiva and sclera correlated with the lipophilicity of drugs. A high drug concentration in the aqueous humor was observed after corneal application. There is a relationship between concentration in the aqueous humor was observed after corneal application. There is a relationship between concentrations of drugs in the aqueous humor and previously reported in-vitro apparent permeability coefficients of the drugs in the cornea. This in-situ method using a cylindrical cell is a useful method of investigating the ocular absorption of ophthalmic drugs.

Diabetic neuropathy in sucrose-fed Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats: effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor, TAT

In an animal model of human non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were fed with sucrose for 8 weeks to obtain severe hyperglycemia. The effects of sucrose administration on peripheral nerve functions, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and coefficient of variance of R-R interval (CVR-R), were investigated with concomitant measuring of sciatic nerve blood flow (SNBF), ADP-induced platelet aggregation and polyol content in the sciatic nerves. The effects of an aldose reductase inhibitor, TAT, on these parameters were also studied. Administration of sucrose to OLETF rats caused significant body weight reduction and remarkable hyperglycemia. Sucrose-fed OLETF rats demonstrated significantly delayed MNCV, decreased CVR-R, reduced SNBF and increased platelet aggregation activity to ADP. Sorbitol and fructose accumulation, and myo-inositol depletion in sciatic nerves were observed only in sucrose-fed OLETF rats. These abnormalities were all ameliorated by the treatment with TAT. These observations suggest that the sucrose-fed OLETF rat is a useful animal model for studying the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy in human NIDDM, and that an aldose reductase inhibitor is a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.

Inhibitory action of reveromycin A on TGF-alpha-dependent growth of ovarian carcinoma BG-1 in vitro and in vivo

The antitumor effect of reveromycin A (RM-A), an inhibitor of EGF-dependent cell proliferation on murine and human tumor cell lines, was examined in vitro and in vivo, RM-A showed little antitumor effect against three murine tumors tested, but showed strong antitumor effect (a minimum treated/control ratio of 36%) against a human ovarian carcinoma BG-1, which is known to be a transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha)-secreting and estrogen receptor-expressing cell line. In BG-1 cells, RM-A inhibited the cell proliferation induced by TGF-alpha at the concentration range 30-300 nM, but did not inhibit the proliferation induced by 17 beta-estradiol (E2).RM-A is a possible new antitumor drug with a novel mechanism of action and may also be a useful tool for the analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated cell proliferation in tumor cells.

In vitro selection of variants of herpes simplex virus type 1 which differ in cytopathic changes

To analyze the mechanisms for in vitro emergence of the syncytial variants of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), several cell lines were infected with a mixture of equal amounts of two HSV-1 variants, one syncytial and the other non-syncytial, and changes in their relative abundance were monitored during passage. With a combination of two variants of the Miyama strain of HSV-1, the syncytial variant became dominant during passage in Vero, RK-13 and FL cells. On the other hand, the ratios of the two variants remained around 1:1 during the passage in HEp-2, MGC and HEL cells. In another set of variants of the SKO strain of HSV-1, the outcomes were different from those of the Miyama strain in the FL, MGC and HEp-2 cells. The ratios of the two variants remained around 1:1 during passage in FL cells, while the non-syncytial variant became dominant during passage in MGC and HEp-2 cells. In addition, we examined the effects of a complement and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on the outcome of the selection. As a result, the complement slowed the selection of a syncytial variant, whereas IFN-beta facilitated it.

Early effects of gamma knife radiosurgery on brain metastases: assessment by 201TlCl SPECT and 99mTc-DTPA-human serum albumin SPECT

Thallium-201 chloride (201TlCl) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to determine tumor viability, and the early and delayed images of technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid-human serum albumin (99mTc-HSA-D) SPECT were used to assess tumor vascularity and permeability, respectively, in 17 patients with 18 brain metastases. SPECT was performed before, 1 week after, and 1 month after radiosurgery. The ratios of 201Tl and 99mTc-HSA-D uptake in a tumor were expressed as a ratio to uptake in the corresponding normal contralateral areas (uptake index). Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium was used to determine tumor volume. 201Tl index decreased significantly 1 week (p < 0.05) and 1 month (p < 0.005) after radiosurgery. In contrast, 99mTc-HSA-D indices of early and delayed images obtained at 1 week after radiosurgery were not significantly different from the pretreatment values. However, both were significantly low (p < 0.05) 1 month after radiosurgery. No change in tumor volume was detected 1 week following radiosurgery, but there was a significant decrease (p < 0.005) after 1 month. The reduction in tumor viability that occurs before the appearance of evidence of tumor shrinkage represents the early effect of radiosurgery on brain metastases. Reduction in tumor size, vascularity, and permeability occur subsequently.

The usefulness of anti-fucosylated antigen antibody YB-2 for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Levels of fucosylated antigens in sera from patients with liver diseases were examined by a newly developed sandwich-type enzyme immuno assay with the aid of anti-fucosylated antigen antibody, YB-2 which reacts simultaneously with Y, Leb and H type 2 antigens. When the cut-off value was set arbitrarily at mean +3 SD values of normal, 30 (69.8%) of the 43 patients with HCC, 14 (53.8%) of the 26 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 24 (45.3%) of the 53 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) were found to be positive, whereas all of the 30 samples from healthy controls were negative. The levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) in HCC were not correlated with those of YB-2 antigens. The positive rates of the combination YB-2 and AFP assay and YB-2 and PIVKA-II assay in HCC were significantly higher (83.7 and 86.0%, respectively) than that of the AFP and PIVKA-II combination (65.1%) which had been reported to be the best combination up to this time.

Estrogen regulates vascular endothelial growth/permeability factor expression in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors

Vascular endothelial growth/permeability factor (VEG/PF) is expressed in some normal tissues and at high levels in a wide range of tumors. This growth factor is believed to be a key mediator of angiogenesis. Recent reports have shown that VEG/PF mRNA in the normal rat uterus is stimulated by estradiol (E2). In this study, we investigated the expression of VEG/PF in the mammary gland and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced, hormone-dependent mammary tumor of the rat model, and also whether VEG/PF is regulated by E2. VEG/PF mRNA from tumor extracts was amplified by RT-PCR with VEG/PF primers and generated two main products which corresponded in size to those expected for VEG/PF 164 and 120. In some cases, a third product corresponding in size to that expected for VEG/PF 188 was also generated. No such PCR products were generated from equal amount of RNA from normal mammary tissue, rat brain, or liver. Using immunocytochemistry, VEG/PF expression was detected in the epithelial cells of the tumors. We developed an ELISA assay to measure VEG/PF protein concentrations and found a 4-fold difference between normal mammary glands (1.3 +/- 0.11 ng/mg protein) and tumors (4.44 +/- 0.66) (P < 0.01). E2 treatment (5 microg/rat, s.c.) of rats 24 h after ovariectomy, greatly enhanced the expression of RT-PCR products in tumors within 2 h, which reached a maximum at 6-8 h but declined by 48 h. VEG/PF concentrations were also increased 8-12 h after E2 injection. When rats were given two injections of aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA 10 mg/rat s.c.) 24 h apart, to reduce estrogen concentrations, a low level of RT-PCR products was maintained for at least 96 h. After a single injection of 4-OHA, RT-PCR products remained low until 36 h when an increase occurred corresponding with a rise in plasma E2 levels. Injection of E2 2 h after 4-OHA treatment, caused a rise in RT-PCR products in 6-8 h. However, there was no significant change in VEG/PF concentrations. An increase in VEG/PF protein concentrations followed the increase in mRNA levels by 4-6 h. Thus, it appears that E2 causes a rapid induction of VEG/PF expression in mammary tumors that is similar to that observed in the normal uterus. These findings suggest that one mechanism by which estrogen acts as a mammary tumor promotor is by stimulating VEG/PF, leading to increased tumor angiogenesis and/or permeability of the microvessels to allow tumor cell migration.

Molecular analysis of outer capsid glycoprotein (VP7) genes from two isolates of human group C rotavirus with different genome electropherotypes

Nucleotide sequences for the VP7 gene of human group C rotavirus were determined for two strains isolated in Okayama, Japan, during a 1988-1990 epidemic. These isolates, OK118 and OK450, were selected as prototypes of two different electropherotypes, patterns I and II, respectively. The genes were identical in size (1,063 bp), and both contained singled open reading frames encoding 332 amino acids. The alignment of two sequences revealed 46 nucleotide substitutions, 11 of which were predicted to give amino acid changes. The deduced amino acid sequence of VP7 from OK118 was similar to published sequences of a Japanese isolate and three foreign isolates (more than 98.4% identity), whereas the VP7 sequence of OK450 revealed around 96% identity with these isolates and had nine unique amino acid substitutions. The VP7 genes of nine Okayama isolated were than analyzed by dot blot hybridization with the VP7 probes of OK118 and OK450. Under highly stringent conditions, the OK118 probe produced strong hybridization signals with the genes of five pattern I strains and one pattern II strain, while the OK450 probe strongly reacted only with those of three pattern II strains. Our results concluded that relative sequence diversity in the VP7 gene was observed between two different electropherotypes prevalent in a limited area.

Rapid formation of advanced glycation end products by intermediate metabolites of glycolytic pathway and polyol pathway

To clarify roles of intermediate metabolites of the glycolytic pathway and the polyol pathway in nonenzymatic glycation under physiological conditions, we incubated bovine serum albumin with intermediates of both pathways in the micromolar range as well as with 20 mmol/l glucose, and observed the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). We found that triose phosphates, glyceraldehyde, and a novel polyol pathway-related metabolite, fructose 3-phosphate along with its breakdown product, 3-deoxyglucosone were extremely potent glycating agents that at nearly physiological concentrations on incubation with albumin produced substantial amounts of AGEs as early as 24 hours, while 20 mmol/l glucose afforded trace amounts of AGEs after two week incubation. The results along with the previous evidence of the increased level of intermediates in diabetic states may suggest that the intermediate metabolites rather than glucose contribute to enhanced glycation in diabetic tissues, inspite of the much lower concentrations compared with glucose.

Growth inhibition of human prostate cells in vitro by novel inhibitors of androgen synthesis

The long-standing strategy for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer has been to reduce androgenic stimulation of tumor growth by removal of the testes, the primary site of testosterone synthesis. However, a low level of androgenic stimulation may continue, even after castration, by the conversion of adrenal androgens to 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate tumor cells. Two important enzymes of the androgen biosynthetic pathway are 17alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase, which regulates an early step in the synthesis of testosterone and other androgens in both the testes and adrenal glands, and 5alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to the more potent androgen, DHT, in the prostate. We have identified new inhibitors of these enzymes that may be of use in achieving a more complete ablation of androgens in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Three derivatives of androstene were shown to inhibit 17alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase with potencies 2-20-fold greater than that of ketoconazole, a previously established inhibitor of this enzyme. Derivatives of pregnane and pregnene displayed activities against 5alpha-reductase that were comparable to that of N-(1,1-dimethyl-ethyl)-3-oxo-4-aza-5alpha-androst-1-ene-17beta-car boxamide. All of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitors were able to at least partially inhibit the mitogenic effect of testosterone in either histocultures of human benign prostatic hypertrophic tissue or in cultures of the LNCaP human prostatic tumor cell line. For these compounds, it appears that this inhibition can be attributed to a reduction of DHT synthesis in these cultures, because no inhibitory effect was observed in DHT-treated cultures, and none of the compounds had a cytotoxic effect. Surprisingly, one of the inhibitors of 17alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase, 17beta-(4-imidazolyl)-5-pregnen-3beta-ol, was also able to inhibit the mitogenic effect of testosterone in both the histoculture and cell culture assays and had an effect against DHT as well. In transcriptional activation assays, it was found that this compound is an antagonist of both the wild-type androgen receptor and the mutant androgen receptor, which is present in LNCaP cells. In conclusion, the abilities of these compounds to inhibit androgen synthesis and, in some cases, to exert antiandrogen activity, did in fact translate to an inhibitory effect on the growth of human prostatic tissue in vitro, suggesting their potential utility in the treatment of prostatic cancer.

Nerve function and blood flow in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats with sucrose feeding: effect of an anticoagulant

To investigate the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats, an animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and non-diabetic Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats were fed with or without sucrose and/or cilostazol, an anticoagulant, for 8 weeks. Sucrose-fed diabetic rats showed a delayed motor nerve conduction velocity, decreased R-R interval variability of electrocardiogram, reduced sciatic nerve blood flow, increased platelet aggregability and a decreased erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration compared with non-sucrose-fed diabetic rats and non-diabetic rats. These abnormalities were significantly prevented by treatment with cilostazol without changes in the nerve tissue levels of polyols. These findings indicate that sucrose-fed Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats may be a useful animal model of neuropathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and that cilostazol may prevent the development of diabetic neuropathy by modifying vascular factors.

Long-term patterns of change in ERPs across repeated measurements

Ten subjects were tested for eight sessions using an auditory oddball paradigm at 1-week and 1-month intervals to examine the stability of multiple event-related potential (ERP) components, in terms of trait (between session) and state (within session) reliability. The between session reliabilities presented as intraclass correlations (r') were 0.54 for the P300 amplitude and 0.47 for the P300 latency. Pearson correlation coefficients, representing within-session reliabilities, ranged from 0.54 to 0.68 for P300 amplitude and 0.12 to 0.46 for P300 latency. Statistical analysis of results from the eight sessions demonstrated that session-dependent reduction and recovery of the P300 amplitude occurred during the testing sessions. Other ERPs measurements such as N100-P300, N200-P300, N100, and N200 amplitudes did not exhibit any significant changes. The between- and within-session reliabilities of P300 components suggest that P300 may be a reproducible biological marker of state and trait even across repeated measurements. We speculate that the observed long-term patterns of change in P300 may have reflected habituation and dishabituation of certain processes in the human central nervous system.

Topiramate reduces abnormally high extracellular levels of glutamate and aspartate in the hippocampus of spontaneously epileptic rats (SER)

The spontaneously epileptic rat (SER), a double mutant, manifests both tonic and absence-like seizures. The effect of topiramate, a novel antiepileptic drug, on the extracellular levels of excitatory amino acids (EAA) in the hippocampus of SER was investigated using in vivo microdialysis. The basal levels of glutamate and aspartate in dialysates of hippocampus in SER were 2- to 3-fold higher than those in normal Wistar rats. Both the dose-response relationship and the time course of the suppression of tonic seizures by topiramate were similar to the attenuation of glutamate level in SER. Topiramate (40 mg/kg i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced both glutamate and aspartate levels in SER while showing no effect on normal Wistar rats. These findings suggest that topiramate reduces abnormally high extracellular levels of glutamate and aspartate in the hippocampus of SER. This effect may, at least in part, be related to the anticonvulsant activity of topiramate.