A patch clamp study of the effects of ciprofloxacin and biphenyl acetic acid on rat hippocampal neurone GABAA and ionotropic glutamate receptors

When pharmaceutical drugs become environmental pollutants: Potential neural effects and underlying mechanisms

Pharmaceutical drugs have become consumer products, with a daily use for some of them. The volume of production and consumption of drugs is such that they have become environmental pollutants. Their transfer to wastewater through urine, feces or rinsing in case of skin use, associated with partial elimination by wastewater treatment plants generalize pollution in the hydrosphere, including drinking water, sediments, soils, the food chain and plants. Here, we review the potential effects of environmental exposure to three classes of pharmaceutical drugs, i.e. antibiotics, antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on neurodevelopment. Experimental studies analyzing their underlying modes of action including those related to endocrine disruption, and molecular mechanisms including epigenetic modifications are presented. In addition, the contribution of brain imaging to the assessment of adverse effects of these three classes of pharmaceuticals is approached.

Pharmacological Evaluation of Naproxen Metal Complexes on Antinociceptive, Anxiolytic, CNS Depressant, and Hypoglycemic Properties

Purpose. The present study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive, anxiolytic, CNS depressant, and hypoglycemic effects of the naproxen metal complexes. Methods. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing method and radiant heat tail-flick method while anxiolytic activity was evaluated by elevated plus maze model. The CNS depressant activity of naproxen metal complexes was assessed using phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time test and the hypoglycemic test was performed using oral glucose tolerance test. Results. Metal complexes significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the number of abdominal muscle contractions induced by 0.7% acetic acid solution in a dose dependent manner. At the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight p.o. copper, cobalt, and zinc complexes exhibited higher antinociceptive activity having 59.15%, 60.56%, and 57.75% of writhing inhibition, respectively, than the parent ligand naproxen (54.93%). In tail-flick test, at both doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, the copper, cobalt, silver, and zinc complexes showed higher antinociceptive activity after 90 minutes than the parent drug naproxen. In elevated plus maze (EPM) model the cobalt and zinc complexes of naproxen showed significant anxiolytic effects in dose dependent manner, while the copper, cobalt, and zinc complexes showed significant CNS depressant and hypoglycemic activity. Conclusion. The present study demonstrated that copper, cobalt, and zinc complexes possess higher antinociceptive, anxiolytic, CNS depressant, and hypoglycemic properties than the parent ligand.

Changes in brain interleukin-1β following the coadministration of norfloxacin with biphenylacetic acid in rats

We sought to determine the changes in brain interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) following the coadministration of norfloxacin (25 mg/kg, i.p.) with biphenylacetic acid (100 mg/kg, p.o.) in rats. Norfloxacin provoked clonic convulsions in rats treated concomitantly with biphenylacetic acid, a major metabolite of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenbufen. Seizure activity was analyzed by EEG monitoring. Behavioral changes were also monitored. IL-1beta expressions in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus at different time intervals were studied by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The epileptiform discharges appeared in all the rats, accompanied with limb twitching and clonic-tonic seizures after administration of norfloxacin coadministered with biphenylacetic acid. Norfloxacin plus biphenylacetic acid-induced convulsions rapidly and transiently enhanced IL-1beta mRNA in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. IL-1beta mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was detected as soon as 30 min after norfloxacin injection, and decayed to control levels by 6 h. ELISA analysis revealed significant increase of the IL-1beta protein in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus at 2 h and 6 h. Administration of either norfloxacin or biphenylacetic acid alone did not elicit convulsions and increase in IL-1beta mRNA and protein expressions. The results suggest that the increased IL-1beta expressions in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus induced by norfloxacin with biphenylacetic acid relate to seizure activities, and that these brain regions play pivotal roles in norfloxacin-induced convulsions.

Inhibition by fluoroquinolones of K(+) currents in rat dissociated hippocampal neurons

The effects of four fluoroquinolones (sparfloxacin, fleroxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin) on K(+) currents were investigated in pyramidal neurons acutely isolated from rat hippocampus, to evaluate their relative potencies for inhibiting these channels. Using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques, we found that all four compounds inhibited the delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)), but with different potencies. Sparfloxacin was the most potent compound, displaying an IC(50) value of 6.44 x 10(-4) M, followed by fleroxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin, their IC(50) values being 7.09 x 10(-3), 8.42 x 10(-3) and 1.10 x 10(-2) M, respectively. In contrast, the fast transient K(+) current (I(A)) was blocked only by sparfloxacin (IC(50)=2.86 x 10(-3) M) and fleroxacin (IC(50)=4.38 x 10(-3) M), but not by ofloxacin and levofloxacin even at concentrations up to 1 mM. The K(+) current inhibition was reversible after washout of the compounds. Further study is needed to clarify the possible involvement of this novel action in the adverse effects of fluoroquinolones in the central nervous system (CNS).

Convulsant and subconvulsant doses of norfloxacin in the presence and absence of biphenylacetic acid alter extracellular hippocampal glutamate but not gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in conscious rats

Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics with central excitatory side effects. These adverse effects presumably result from inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) binding to GABA(A) receptors. This GABA antagonistic effect is greatly potentiated by the active metabolite of fenbufen, biphenylacetic acid (BPAA). Nevertheless, it remains questionable whether GABA receptor antagonism alone can explain the convulsant activity potentials of these antimicrobial agents. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible effects of norfloxacin, both in the absence and in the presence of BPAA, on the extracellular hippocampal levels of GABA and glutamate, the main central inhibitory and excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters, respectively. This in vivo microdialysis approach with conscious rats allows monitoring of behavioral alterations and concomitant transmitter modulation in the hippocampus. Peroral administration of 100 mg of BPAA per kg of body weight had no effect on behavior and did not significantly alter extracellular GABA or glutamate concentrations. Intravenous perfusion of 300 mg of norfloxacin per kg did not change the rat's behavior or the concomitant neurotransmitter levels in about half of the experiments, while the remaining animals exhibited severe seizures. These norfloxacin-induced convulsions did not affect extracellular hippocampal GABA levels but were accompanied by enhanced glutamate concentrations. Half of the rats receiving both 100 mg of BPAA per kg and 50 mg of norfloxacin per kg displayed lethal seizures, while the remaining animals showed no seizure-related behavior. In the latter subgroup, again no significant alterations in extracellular GABA levels were observed, but glutamate overflow remained significantly elevated for at least 3 h. In conclusion, norfloxacin exerts convulsant activity in rats, accompanied by elevations of extracellular hippocampal glutamate levels but not GABA levels, even in the presence of BPAA.

Biphenylacetic acid enhances the antagonistic action of fluoroquinolones on the GABA(A)-mediated responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum

This paper examines the effect of biphenylacetic acid on the antagonistic action of norfloxacin and enoxacin on the GABA(A)-mediated responses of the isolated guinea-pig ileum. GABA produced transient contractions followed by relaxation. The contractile effect of exogenously applied GABA was concentration-dependent with EC(50)= 9.8 x 10(-6) M. This contractile effect was not significantly modified by biphenylacetic acid, and the EC(50) value for GABA in the presence of 10(-5) M biphenylacetic acid was 1.15 x 10(-5) M. The GABA contractile effect was inhibited, dose-dependently, by either norfloxacin or enoxacin, but only at concentrations higher than 10(-5) M. The response of the ileum to GABA (at EC(50)) was reduced to 35 and 36% by pretreatment with 10(-5) M norfloxacin or enoxacin, respectively. However, in the presence of 10(-5) M biphenylacetic acid, the response of the ileum to GABA was reduced to 2.2% by pretreatment with 10(-5) M enoxacin, while it was completely abolished by pretreatment with 10(-5) M norfloxacin and the IC(50) values were 5.5 x 10(-7) and 1.5 x 10(-6) M for norfloxacin and enoxacin, respectively. These data show that biphenylacetic acid whilst having no effect at the GABA(A)-mediated contractile response of the guinea-pig ileum, enhances the antagonistic effect of both enoxacin and norfloxacin. This suggests that combined administration of fluoroquinolones and biphenylacetic acid synergistically inhibits GABA(A)-receptors at the intestinal level.

Purification and amino acid sequence of a highly insecticidal toxin from the venom of the brazilian spider Phoneutria nigriventer which inhibits NMDA-evoked currents in rat hippocampal neurones

A new insecticidal toxin Tx4(5-5) was isolated from the fraction PhTx4 of the venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and anion exchange HPLC. The complete amino acid sequence determined by automated Edman degradation showed that Tx4(5-5) is a single chain polypeptide composed of 47 amino acid residues, including 10 cysteines, with a calculated molecular mass of 5175 Da. Tx4(5-5) shows 64% of sequence identity with Tx4(6-1), another insecticidal toxin from the same venom. Tx4(5-5) was highly toxic to house fly (Musca domestica), cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and cricket (Acheta domesticus ), producing neurotoxic effects (knock-down, trembling with uncoordinated movements) at doses as low as 50 ng/g (house fly), 250 ng/g (cockroach) and 150 ng/g (cricket). In contrast, intracerebroventricular injections (30 microg) into mice induced no behavioural effects. Preliminary electrophysiological studies carried out on whole-cell voltage-clamped rat hippocampal neurones indicated that Tx4(5-5) (at 1 microM) reversibly inhibited the N-methyl-D-aspartate-subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor, while having little or no effect on kainate-, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid- or gamma-aminobutyric acid-activated currents.

Characterization of quinolone antibacterial-induced convulsions and increases in nuclear AP-1 DNA- and CRE-binding activities in mouse brain

The quinolone antibacterials enoxacin and norfloxacin (2.5 mg/kg, i.v.) provoked clonic convulsions in mice treated concomitantly with biphenylacetic acid (BPAA, 100 mg/kg, i.p.), a major metabolite of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenbufen. Gel-shift assays showed that enoxacin-induced convulsions resulted in increases in nuclear activator protein 1 (AP-1) DNA- and cyclic AMP responsive element (CRE)-binding activities in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but not in other regions, such as the cerebellum and thalamus. In contrast, ofloxacin and levofloxacin, at the same doses, in the presence of BPAA did not evoke convulsions or increase these DNA-binding activities. Administration of these quinolones and BPAA alone elicited neither convulsions nor increases in these DNA-binding activities. These results suggest that the increased nuclear AP-1 DNA- and CRE-binding activities in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus induced by quinolones with BPAA correlated with seizure activities and that these brain regions play pivotal roles in quinolone-induced convulsions.

Fluoroquinolone-induced motor changes in the guinea-pig isolated ileum

The effects of norfloxacin and enoxacin were examined on spontaneous motor activity in the guinea-pig isolated ileum. Micromolar concentrations of both compounds caused a biphasic response consisting of relaxation followed by transient contraction. Relaxation to norfloxacin, which was unaffected by phentolamine, propranolol and hyoscine (each at 1 microM), was partially sensitive to tetrodotoxin (1 microM). This indicates that the response is partly mediated by non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerves, and partly related to a direct action on the smooth muscle. Apamin (0.1 microM) and suramin (300 microM) inhibited norfloxacin-induced relaxations to an extent similar to that of tetrodotoxin. Conversely, NG-nitro-L-arginine (300 microM) was ineffective. In the presence of theophylline (100 microM) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (10 microM), norfloxacin caused relaxation less effective than when added alone. Based on this observation, the NANC component of the relaxation apparently depends on ATP release, whereas the direct component might be due, at least in part, to phosphodiesterase inhibition. Norfloxacin-induced contractions were neurogenic and cholinergic in nature. They were reduced by indomethacin or S-ketoprofen (both at 0.01-1 microM) and suramin (300 microM), suggesting involvement of local prostaglandin production probably induced by ATP release. Previous findings revealed that norfloxacin acted as a non-competitive antagonist at enteric GABAA receptors. In this study the same property was shared by enoxacin against the contractile response to 3-aminopropane sulphonic acid (3-APS), a GABAA receptor agonist. In conclusion, fluoroquinolones exert inhibitory and excitatory effects in the guinea-pig ileum. These are mediated by ATP, prostaglandin and acetylcholine release that might underlie, at least in part, the alterations of gastrointestinal motility observed after fluoroquinolone administration. Furthermore, isolated intestinal preparations might be useful to predict the GABAA-antagonist potential of this class of compounds.

Role of nitric oxide in the convulsions following the coadministration of enoxacin with fenbufen in mice

Effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors on the enoxacin-induced convulsions were examined in mice pretreated with fenbufen. 7-nitroindazole markedly suppressed the incidence of convulsions, whereas L-arginine did not modify the convulsions at all. The suppression of the convulsions by 7-nitroindazole was not reversed by the pretreatment of L-arginine. Brain NO synthase activity was significantly raised at 30 min after enoxacin when combined with fenbufen. The increased NO synthase activity was found to be suppressed by the pretreatment of 7-nitroindazole. These findings suggest that endogenous NO may be involved as a proconvulsant substance in the development of enoxacin-induced convulsions in mice pretreated with fenbufen.

Selective antagonism of the GABA(A) receptor by ciprofloxacin and biphenylacetic acid

1. Previous studies have shown that ciprofloxacin and biphenylacetic acid (BPAA) synergistically inhibit y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors. In the present study, we have investigated the actions of these two drugs on other neuronal ligand-gated ion channels. 2. Agonist-evoked depolarizations were recorded from rat vagus and optic nerves in vitro by use of an extracellular recording technique. 3. GABA (50 microM)-evoked responses, in the vagus nerve in vitro, were inhibited by bicuculline (0.3-10 microM) and picrotoxin (0.3-10 microM), with IC50 values and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 1.2 microM (1.1-1.4) and 3.6 microM (3.0-4.3), respectively, and were potentiated by sodium pentobarbitone (30 microM) and diazepam (1 microM) to (mean+/-s.e.mean) 168+/-18% and 117+/-4% of control, respectively. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 0.5 microM)-evoked responses were inhibited by MDL 72222 (1 microM) to 10+/-4% of control; DMPP (10 microM)-evoked responses were inhibited by hexamethonium (100 microM) to 12+/-5% of control, and alphabetaMeATP (30 microM)-evoked responses were inhibited by PPADS (10 microM) to 21+/-5% of control. Together, these data are consistent with activation of GABA(A), 5-HT3, nicotinic ACh and P2X receptors, respectively. 4 Ciprofloxacin (10-3000 microM) inhibited GABA(A)-mediated responses in the vagus nerve with an IC50 (and 95% CI) of 202 microM (148-275). BPAA (1-1000 microM) had little or no effect on the GABA(A)-mediated response but concentration-dependently potentiated the effects of ciprofloxacin by up to 33,000 times. 5. Responses mediated by 5-HT3, nicotinic ACh and P2X receptors in the vagus nerve and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in the optic nerve were little or unaffected by ciprofloxacin (100 microM), BPAA (100 microM) or the combination of these drugs (both at 100 microM). 6. GABA (1 mM)-evoked responses in the optic nerve were inhibited by bicuculline with an IC50 of 3.6 microM (2.8-4.5), a value not significantly different from that determined in the vagus nerve. Ciprofloxacin also inhibited the GABA-evoked response with an IC50 of 334 microM (256-437) and BPAA (100 microM) potentiated these antagonist effects. However, the magnitude of the synergy was 48 times less than that seen in the vagus nerve. 7. These data indicate that ciprofloxacin and BPAA are selective antagonists of GABA(A) receptors, an action that may contribute to their excitatory effects in vivo. Additionally, our data suggest that the molecular properties of GABA(A) receptors in different regions of the CNS influence the extent to which these drugs synergistically inhibit the GABA(A) receptor.

Inhibition of GABAA receptor chloride channel by quinolones and norfloxacin-biphenylacetic acid hybrid compounds

Receptor binding studies have shown that the combination of some new quinolone antibacterial agents with 4-biphenylacetic acid (BPAA), a metabolite of fenbufen, inhibits GABAA receptors. In order to elucidate further the mechanism of these drug interactions, the effect of quinolone antibacterial agents on muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake in rat cerebral cortical synaptoneurosomes was investigated in the absence or presence of BPAA. In the absence of BPAA, quinolones such as norfloxacin (NFLX) and enoxacin attenuated muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake at 10 microM and above. In combination with 10 microM BPAA, the inhibitory effect of these drugs was potentiated and there was a parallel shift of the inhibition curves to the left for these drugs. BPAA alone (1 and 10 microM) did not affect basal or muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake. Hybrid molecules of NFLX and BPAA were synthesized and their inhibitory potency was also investigated. Inhibition curves of muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake revealed that a hybrid with a -CONH(CH2)3- chain between NFLX and BPAA (flexible structure) (1 nM-20 microM) inhibited muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- uptake more potently than did the combination of NFLX (10 nm-100 microM) and 10 microM BPAA. In contrast, another hybrid linked by -CONH-(stretched structure) exhibited a weak inhibitory effect at 10 microM. These results suggest that quinolones in combination with BPAA bind to GABAA receptors, thus inhibiting Cl- channel activity, and that the inhibitory potency of quinolones may be enhanced by an intermolecular interaction with BPAA.