Second trimester diagnosis of Neu Laxova syndrome

This is the first report of a prenatally diagnosed case of Neu Laxova syndrome (NLS) from India. This also includes a case of NLS in monochorionic diamniotic twins and two more cases in which we were able to detect most of the features of NLS as early as 19 to 20 weeks by routine antenatal ultrasonography. Severe intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), microcephaly, central nervous system (CNS) abnormality, joint contractures, and abnormal facies are the major diagnostic features observed in prenatal ultrasonography. Risk factors such as consanguinity and history of intrauterine death or stillbirth in siblings have been noted in all the cases, but none of the three families that were reported had previously had an affected fetus. The spectrum of skin manifestations and frequency of occurrence of major clinical features of the syndrome have been discussed. Review of the literature on NLS and possibility of detecting the syndrome in the second trimester is discussed.

Modulation of 5-HT1A receptor mediated response by fluoxetine in rat brain

Radioligand binding studies were done to investigate the effect of chronic administration of fluoxetine on 5-HT1 receptor mediated response to adenylate cyclase (AC) in rat brain. Our studies revealed a significant decrease in the densities of 5-HT1 and 5-HT1A receptor sites in cortex and hippocampus of rat brain after chronic administration of fluoxetine (10 mg/Kg body wt.). However there was no significant change in the affinity of [3H]5-HT and [3H]DPAT for 5-HT1 and 5-HT1A receptor sites, respectively. However, in striatum, along with a significant (75%) downregulation of 5-HT1 sites, the affinity of [3H]5-HT to these sites was increased, as revealed by decrease in Kd (0.50 +/- 0.08 nM). Displacement studies showed that fluoxetine has higher affinity for 5-HT1A receptors with a Ki value of 14.0 +/- 2.8 nM, than 5-HT1 sites. No significant change was observed in basal AC activity in any region after fluoxetine exposure. However, in cortex of experimental rats the 5-HT stimulated AC activity was significantly increased (16.03 +/- 0.97 pmoles/mg protein; p < 0.01), when compared to 5-HT stimulated AC activity (12.98 +/- 0.78 pmoles/mg protein) in control rats. The increase in 5-HT stimulated AC activity in cortex may be due to the significant downregulation of 5-HT1A sites in cortex after fluoxetine exposure as these sites are negatively coupled to AC. The observed significant decrease in 5-HT1 sites with concomitant increase in 5-HT stimulated AC activity, after fluoxetine treatment, suggests that fluoxetine, which has high affinity for these sites, acts by modulating the 5-HT1A receptor mediated response in brain.

Inactivation of 5-HT1A and [3H]5-HT binding sites by N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1, 2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) in rat brain

Inactivation of 5-HT1A and [3H]5-HT binding sites by N-Ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1, 2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) was studied in regions of rat brain. After exposure to EEDQ (4 mg/kg body wt.) for 7 days, it is observed that the density of 5-HT1 receptor sites was decreased by nearly 20% in both cortex and hippocampus. The decrease, however, in 5-HT1A sites was more significant (70%) in both the regions. The affinity of [3H]5-HT to 5-HT1 sites was decreased significantly in both cortex and hippocampus after exposure to EEDQ, without affecting the Kd of 5-HT1A sites. Displacement studies suggested that EEDQ has high affinity to 5-HT1 sites with a Ki of 42.9+/-2.4 nM. After exposure neither basal nor 5-HT stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was changed in cortex. The results of this study suggest that EEDQ decreases the density of 5-HT1 and 5-HT1A receptor sites but does not cause functional downregulation of these sites in rat brain.

Imipramine-induced changes in 5-HT2 receptor sites and inositoltrisphosphate levels in rat brain

The effect of chronic administration of Imipramine on [3H]Spiperone binding to 5-HT2 sites and inositoltrisphosphate (IP3) levels in rat cerebral cortex was studied. Our data shows that treatment with imipramine (5 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) for 30 days significantly down regulates 5-HT2 receptors sites (262 +/- 29 fmol/mg protein) in cerebral cortex (38%), compared to control rats (425 +/- 60 fmol/mg protein., P < 0.001). However there was no significant change in the affinity of [3H]-Spiperone binding (kd) to 5-HT2 sites in cerebral cortex after exposure to imipramine (Kd = 0.84 +/- 0.11 nM). It is also observed that imipramine treatment significantly reduces 5-HT stimulated [3H]IP3 formation in cerebral cortex (6,411 +/- 708 dpm/mg protein), compared to the saline treated rats (12,238 +/- 1,544 dpm/mg protein; P < 0.001), with concomitant decrease in Pdtlns-4-5-P2. This study suggests that the therapeutic action of imipramine in brain might be by reducing hypersensitivity of 5-HT2 receptors by down regulation, which leads to reduced levels of inositolphospholipids. This inturn reduces the levels of IP3. In conclusion, imipramine acts at presynaptic site by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and at post synaptic site it downregulates 5-HT2 sites with decreased IP3 levels after chronic exposure.

Increased acetylcholinesterase activity in selected regions of rat brain after chronic (-)-deprenyl administration

(-)-Deprenyl, 0.05, 1.0, 2.0, and 10.0 mg/kg body weight, was administered intraperitonially to Wistar rats for 30 days. The activity of acetylcholinesterase, and monoamine oxidase A and B were assayed in different brain regions. After the experimental period acetyl cholinesterase activity was found to be significantly increased in frontal cortex [P < 0.001] and hippocampus [P < 0.001] but not in striatum and brainstem at 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg dose, the maximum increase being at 0.1 mg/kg dose. Monoamine oxidase B activity was inhibited by more than 90% at 1.0, 2.0, and 10.0 mg/kg dose while 0.05 and 0.1 dose inhibited only about 55% and 70% respectively. Monoamine oxidase A activity was inhibited to more than 70% at 1.0 mg dose and to more than 90% at 2.0 and 10.0 mg/kg dose. At 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg dose monoamine oxidase A activity was not significantly altered.

Protective effect of Liv.52 on alcohol-induced fetotoxicity

The adverse effects of maternal alcohol consumption on the development of the fetus are well known. The adverse effects of ethanol on the liver are now believed to be due to acetaldehyde formed as an intermediate metabolite of ethanol. Liv.52 has been shown to bring about faster elimination of acetaldehyde from the body and thus prevent alcoholic liver damage. Other toxic effects of alcohol may also be due to acetaldehyde and may be prevented by Liv.52. In this study, rats were given 20% (v/v) ethanol in drinking water, during the gestation period, and the effect on maternal body weight and fetal outcome was noted. The protective effect of Liv.52 administration during the gestation period was studied. The results show that ethanol ingestion caused a decrease in gestational weight gain, total fetal weight, and number of live fetuses. There were increases in resorptions. Liv.52 administration reduced the deleterious effects of ethanol. The concentration of acetaldehyde in the amniotic fluid of ethanol-consuming animals was 0.727 microgram/ml. Liv.52 administration lowered it to 0.244 microgram/ml. The protective effect of Liv.52 could be due to the rapid elimination of acetaldehyde.