Studies on brain guanidino compounds by automatic liquid chromatography

Effects of GABAmimetics on electrocorticographic spike discharges induced by guanidinoethanesulfonic acid (amidino-taurine) in the rat

The effect of guanidinoethanesulfonic acid (GES) on rat electrocorticograms (ECoG) and the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA-agonists on the ECoG changes induced by GES were studied. Sporadic spike discharges began 2-5 min after 1 mumol GES/10 microliters on filter paper was applied to the pia mater of the left sensorimotor cortex; spike discharges extended to the opposite cerebral hemisphere 60 min after the onset of the ipsilateral spike discharges. The spike discharges with a frequency of 5-10 spikes/min lasted until the end of the 4 hour recording. The induced spike discharges were suppressed when the original GES soaked filter paper was replaced by one containing GES (1 mumol) supplement combined with taurine (1 mumol/10 microliters). GABA (1 mumol) and its receptor agonist, muscimol (10 nmol) and (3R)-(-)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid (1 mumol) also suppressed the GES-induced spike discharges when applied topically. Diazepam (DZP) (10 mg/kg) suppressed the GES-induced spike discharges 10 min after i.p. injection, but phenobarbital (20 mg/kg) increased the frequency and voltage of spike discharges 100 min following subcutaneous administration. Intraperitoneal injection of either valproate (200 mg/kg) or phenytoin (25 mg/kg), after the completion of the spike discharges, showed no effect. These findings suggest that neurotransmission or neuromodulatory effects of taurine participate in GES-induced seizure activity, and that GABAA and DZP receptors may play a role in the mechanism that suppresses GES-induced seizures.

Increase of methylguanidine and guanidinoacetic acid in the brain of amygdala-kindled rats

Guanidino compounds are intrinsic chemoconvulsants. We investigated the regional and time-dependent changes of these compounds in the amygdala (AM) of kindled rats versus electroconvulsive shock (ECS) seizures using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Twenty-eight days after the last AM-kindled seizure, guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and methylguanidine (MG) levels were significantly increased in the bilateral AM as compared with those of control rats, which had been implanted with electrodes but were not stimulated. Both compounds, however, tended to decrease in the bilateral AM after ECS seizure. In addition, we measured these compounds after induction of one afterdischarge (AD) in the AM. These compounds increased significantly 7 days after AD was induced in the ipsilateral AM. We suggest that the increase of these compounds is coincident with AD generation and specific to AM kindling and the kindled state.

Effect of guanidinoethanesulfonic acid on brain monoamines in the mouse

Guanidinoethanesulfonic acid (GES) is known to induce convulsive seizures when administered intracisternally to rabbits and cats. The effects of GES on behavior, electroencephalographic recording and brain monoamine levels were examined in mice. When GES (900 nmol) was intraventricularly injected into mice, focal clonic movements of the face, vibrissae and ears together with twitching of the limbs were observed 0.5-1 min after the injection. Hypersensitivity was observed up to 7 min after the injection, after which the mice behaved normally. GES also induced sporadic spike discharges on electrocorticogram. The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) of the GES-injected mice were lower than those of the saline-injected mice in the hippocampus, diencephalon, pons-medulla oblongata and cerebellum 5 min after the injection. No changes in the norepinephrine or dopamine levels were found after the GES injection. The level of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid increased in the striatum and cerebellum 5 min after the GES injection. These results suggest that GES-induced convulsive activities enhance the serotonergic neuroactivity in order to suppress the convulsions.

Determination of guanidino compounds by anion-exchange chromatography and amperometric detection

Guanidino compounds were separated and determined by anion-exchange chromatography and electrochemical detection using a basic aqueous eluent and a nickel working electrode. It was found necessary to use a sample clean-up procedure prior to chromatographic analysis of uremic dialysate and serum samples. The effect of eluent hydroxide concentration on the retention of guanidino compounds was studied. Quantitative calibration showed that working curves were non-linear. Electrochemical detection for guanidino compounds with a nickel working electrode, while not selective, has high detection sensitivity. Detection limits for guanidino compounds ranged from 3 to 12 pmol.

Measurement during convulsions of guanidino compound levels in cerebrospinal fluid collected with a catheter inserted into the cisterna magna of rabbits

An easy method for collecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was developed using a catheter inserted into the cisterna magna of rabbits. Levels of guanidino compounds in CSF collected by this method were measured. Levels of guanidinoacetic acid and creatinine increased at the onset of a pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsion. These levels normalized 2 h after the convulsion. The arginine level started to decrease 2 h after the convulsion, continued to decrease gradually and normalized 4 days after the convulsion. These results suggest that guanidinoacetic acid and creatinine are related to the initiation of PTZ-induced convulsions, and that 4 days are required for the metabolism of guanidino compounds to return to normal after a convulsion in rabbits.

Fluorometrical analysis of guanidino compounds in human cerebrospinal fluid

Guanidino compounds in CSF of 57 human subjects were determined fluorometrically after reaction with phenanthrenequinone in alkali solution, using HPLC. Creatinine (65.2 +/- 13.4 nmol/ml), arginine (24.7 +/- 6.4 nmol/ml), and homoarginine (0.7 +/- 0.3 nmol/ml) were found in all subjects. Trace amounts of guanidinosuccinic acid and guanidinoacetic acid were detected in some of the subjects. Brain guanidino compounds, taurocyamine, N-acetylarginine, and methylguanidine were not detected in CSF.

Post-column derivatization of guanidino compounds in high-performance liquid chromatography using ninhydrin

A new method for the high-performance liquid chromatography of guanidino compounds using ninhydrin as the fluorescence reagent is described. Use of organic solvent is not required since ninhydrin is highly soluble in aqueous media, and the problem of precipitation formation occurring in the phenanthrenequinone method was avoided. Creatine was also assayed in the present procedure. Separation of ten guanidino compounds was completed within 30 min using a small-size (38 X 4.2 mm I.D.) strong cation-exchange column.

Ion-exchange chromatographic separation and fluorometric detection of guanidino compounds in physiologic fluids

A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for the separation and fluorometric detection of guanidino compounds in physiologic fluids. All guanidino compounds were separated on a 17 X 0.46 cm cation-exchange column using a stepwise pH gradient. The chromatographic system was designed to enable the use of the specific reagent 9,10-phenanthrenequinone as a means of monitoring the guanidino compounds of physiologic fluids. This new analytical method is so sensitive that it enables the analysis at the picomole level. Our automatic guanidino-compound analyzer was successfully applied to the quantitative determination of all guanidino compounds in physiologic fluids from normal controls and uremic patients.

Quantitative analysis of methylguanidine and guanidine in physiologic fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection method

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of methylguanidine and guanidine in physiological fluids. These quanidino compounds are separated on a 6 x 0.23 cm cation-exchange column with 0.5 M sodium hydroxide solution. The guanidino compounds are detected with a fluorometer, which monitors the fluorescent guanidine derivatives produced by the reaction of the eluted constituents with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. Sensitivity to sub-nanomole levels of methylguanidine and guanidine is demonstrated. The method was successfully applied to physiological fluids such as serum and cerebrospinal fluid from uremic patients.