Microtubules and protein secretion in rat lacrimal glands. Inhibitory effect of the tubulin . colchicine complex isolated from lacrimal glands upon brain tubulin polymerization. Identification of the complex by gel electrophoresis

The specific inhibitory effect of colchicine upon protein secretion by lacrimal glands could be related to the formation of a complex between colchicine and tubulin from the soluble fraction of the gland. By gel electrophoresis under nondissociating conditions, it is shown that this complex is similar to the colchicine . tubulin complex from brain. The complex isolated from lacrimal glands is highly inhibitory upon brain tubulin assembly since as low as 0.07 microM complex impedes the polymerization of 8 microM tubulin by 50%, compared to 3 microM for free colchicine. Therefore, a small percentage of complexed tubulin (0.9%) is enough for polymerization to be blocked. In lacrimal glands the complex might prevent the polymerization of tubulin, and colchicine shift the tubulin in equilibrium microtubules equilibrium to microtubules disassembly. The disorganization of the labile microtubular system could lead to a modification of the transport of the secretory granules and to a perturbation of secretion.

[Migraines and tiapride. About four observations (author's transl)]

Many therapies have been tried in migraines syndroms without completely successful results. So it seems to us interesting to try the efficiency of triapride in this indication. There were 4 observations of patients treated during six months, at least. they all four showed excellent, or very good results. Clinically, headaches of migraine syndroms have been less frequent and less acute; sometimes they have completely disappeared. So, we think that triapride may, in particular migraines, be useful in long term therapy.

Presynaptic subsensitivity as a possible basis for sensitization by long-term dopamine mimetics

A possible cellular basis for dopaminergic sensitization by long-term dopamine mimetics was examined in rat brain striatum. Long-term apomorphine or amphetamine administration (10 mg/kg/day for 14 days) resulted in a decrease in the specific binding of 3H-apomorphine, but no change in 3H-haloperidol binding. Long-term apomorphine treatment also enhanced the cataleptogenic action of haloperidol, with many rats being spontaneously cataleptic after apomorphine withdrawal. It is suggested that the reduced 3H-apomorphine binding signifies less presynaptic receptors. This permits less autoregulation and enhanced dopamine agonist action, possibly accounting for the dopaminergic sensitization by long-term agonists.

Dopaminergic supersensitivity after neuroleptics: time-course and specificity

It is known that a single dose of a neuroleptic can elicit dopaminergic supersensitivity in animals. On the other hand, the clinical syndrome of tardive dyskinesia takes many months of years to develop. To resolve this apparent discrepancy, it is possible that subclinical or latent tardive dyskinesia is fully compensated in most patients taking neuroleptics. In others, where the tardive dyskinesia is full-blown and grossly apparent, the dopaminergic supersensitivity may be decompensated. Such compensatory and decompensatory phases have been proposed earlier by Hornykiewicz (1974), in the case of Parkinson's Disease. Dopaminergic supersensitivity persists for a period proportional to the lenght of the neuroleptic treatment. It is not yet clear whether the relation between the length of treatment and the persistence of supersensitivity holds for very long treatments, but in principle the relationship might account for the persistence of tardive dyskinesia after years of neuroleptic pretreatment.

Dopamine receptors in the central nervous system

Dopamine receptors in the central nervous system can be studied by measuring the specific binding of [3H]dopamine, [3H]haloperidol, d-[3H]LSD, [3H]dihydroergocryptine or [3H]apomorphine. The receptors are stereoselectively blocked by +)-butaclamol, a neuroleptic. All neuroleptics inhibit the specific binding of [3H]haloperidol in relation to their clinical potencies. The radioligand that desorbs most slowly from the receptor is [3H]apomorphine, thus making it a reliable ligand for dopamine receptors. Dopamine agonists that compete for [3H]apomorphine binding do so at concentrations that correlate with their potency in stimulating striatal adenylate cyclase. Structure-activity analysis, using [3H]apomorphine, confirms that the active dopamine-mimetic conformation is the beta rotamer of dopamine. Prolonged exposure in vitro of caudate homogenate to high concentrations of dopamine leads to increased binding of [3H]apomorphine or [3H]haloperidol, suggesting receptor "sensitization." Chronic haloperidol treatment of rats leads to an increased number of dopamine/neuroleptic receptors in the striatum, but a decrease in the pituitary.

Spontaneous spinal extradural hematoma

Spontaneous spinal extradural hematoma is an uncommon but reversible cause of acute paraplegia. Only 44 cases have been reported in the English literature. This paper adds two cases and analyzes the data in previous case reports to identify prognostic factors. Patients with a history of trauma or an incomplete myelographic block have a good prognosis. In most patients no cause of bleeding is found at operation.

Catalepsy induced by morphine or haloperidol: effects of apomorphine and anticholinergic drugs

To investigate the extent of cholinergic involvement in opiate-induced catalepsy, the effects of three anticholinergic drugs were studied on morphine-induced catalepsy. Haloperidol-induced catalepsy was also examined. Maximum catalepsy in rats was obtained with 30 mg/kg morphine or 3 mg/kg haloperidol. The anticholinergic drugs atropine, benztropine, and scopolamine were unable to antagonize morphine-induced catalepsy, yet readily antagonized haloperidol-induced catalepsy. Low doses of apomorphine (7.5 mg/kg), on the other hand, readily antagonized morphine catalepsy, but 13-fold higher doses of apomorphine were needed to block haloperidol-induced catalepsy. The results are compatible with the idea that catalepsy can be mediated via the striatum or the amygdala; morphine-dopamine antagonism may occur in the amygdala, whereas morphine-dopamine-cholinergic interactions occur in the striatum.

New insights into the active center of rat liver cystathionase

Treatment by urea of purified rat liver cystathionase (L-Cystathionine cysteine-lyase (deaminating), EC 4.4.1.1) provoked a similar alteration of two activities of the enzyme, namely cysteine desulfhydration and homoserine deamination. Since the decreases of the two activities were also comparable as a result of chymotrypsin digestion of the enzyme, these observations suggest that the two sites responsible for the one and the other activites are in close proximity. Studies of the effect of derivatives of substrates (S-carboxymethylcyste-ine, S-carboxyethylcysteine, S-carboxymethylhomocysteine and S-carboxyethylhomocysteine) on both activities were performed. All of them inhibited cysteine desulfhydration and homoserine deamination; in several cases, the type of inhibition was also determined. The results are in agreement with the hypothesis that each of the two sites of the active center has, at least, three binding points which "recognise" groupings of substrates or of inhibitors, and this led us to propose a model for the active center. Each site has an -NH-2 binding point, hence the active center has two -NH-2 binding points; therefore, as cystathionase consists of four subunits and contains four molecules of pyriodoxal phosphate, it might be of interest to determine whether the smallest active molecule is the dimer.

The additive effects of tranquilizers and dopamine on smooth muscle

(1) The carbachol-contracted ileum was inhibited 50% by 3.5 × 10−6 M dopamine, 7 × 10−8 M chlorpromazine, and 4 × 10−7 M haloperidol.(2) The electrically contracted ileum was inhibited 50% by 2.5 × 10−6 M dopamine, 10−7 M chlorpromazine, and 3.5 × 10−6 M haloperidol.(3) The two neuroleptics did not increase the dopamine mean inhibitory dose (ID50), nor did dopamine alter the ID50 for the neuroleptics. The evidence does not support the receptor–blockade theory of neuroleptic action, since the neuroleptic and dopamine actions in the ileum were additive. The evidence provides some support for the excitability–blockade hypothesis of neuroleptic action.